DIY Bath Bombs

April 5, 2017

Bath bombs have become a rave with teenage girls. Once you try one, you’ll also be a fan! But buying bath bombs can be expensive. This do-it-yourself version is easy and cheap. Keep the bombs you make for yourself, or give them as gifts.

Ingredients:

The amounts may vary depending on the recipe. These ingredients come from this instructional video.

• 1 cup baking soda – if you plan on making a bunch of bath bombs, consider buying a bulk size bag at a warehouse store.
• ½ cup Epsom salts – you can find Epsom salts at any drug store. The Epsom salts will help relax muscles and adjust magnesium levels in your body.
• ½ cup cornstarch – buy in bulk as above. Cornstarch soothes dry skin.
• ½ cup citric acid –  combined with baking soda, this ingredient creates the fizz for your bath bombs. You can find this ingredient in most grocery store, usually near the canning materials.
• 1 teaspoon water
• 2 teaspoons essential oil or fragrance oil. Essential oils tend to have a stronger smell, so you may not want to use the full 2 teaspoons. You can even mix together fragrances like lavender and chamomile. Research different fragrances and their benefits to create your personalized bombs.
• 3 teaspoons olive oil – I saw recipes using coconut oil or coconut butter. All three ingredients will hydrate your skin.
• Food coloring – The recipe calls for a small amount, so it won’t stain you or your tub.If you are hesitant about using regular food coloring, you can try mica or clay powders.

Supplies:

• Bowl – for whisking the dry ingredients first.
• Whisk
• Jar – for mixing the liquids together.
• Molds – you can buy molds at stores like Holly Hobby or Michaels. One video I watched used plastic Christmas globes that snap apart. Or try using plastic Easter eggs. You really just need a mold that has 2 halves that click together. You can use any shape, but a simple one makes it easier to get the bomb out of the mold. Some people even use muffin tins.

Directions:

1. Whisk the baking soda, Epsom salts, cornstarch, and citric acid together in a large bowl. If you are going to make multiple bath bombs at the same time, double or triple the recipe.
2. In the small jar, combine all the wet ingredients. Stir together.
3. Add food coloring until you get the color you want (usually about 10 drops).
4. Very slowly add a small amount of the liquids to the dry ingredients. You don’t want to add all the liquid at once as this may activate the Epsom salt and baking soda.
5. Add and whisk until everything is mixed together.
6. Add more color if it is now too diluted.
7. Fill each half of the mold above the rim. Push the two halves together until they click. This tightly compacts the bomb.
8. Let dry, preferable overnight, or place in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Some recipes instruct you to remove the mold right away and place the bomb on wax paper until it dries. To remove, lightly tap one side of the mold and slowly pull it off. Tap on the other side and the bomb should pop out.
9. Drop into a full tub of hot water.

If you want swirls or multiple colors, make two batches using different coloring. As you fill the molds, swirl the two different colors together. You can also add a trinket to the center of the mold, like a special ring or pendant. Just push the trinket into one filled side of the mold before putting the two halves together.

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