Homemade beauty solutions... make your own bath bombs and salts

Bath bombs and salts are a wonderful combination of easy to use ingredients that create an indulgent scented bathing experience that soothes the skin and sometimes even the mind.

Making your own bath products at home is a lot easier than some may think and with most of the ingredients found in your kitchen cupboards (or local supermarket) it is also a great cost effective option to not only spoil yourself but others as bath bombs and salts make wonderful homemade gifts.

Making your own bath bombs

Is a lot easier than it sounds, and is one of the reasons its often used in kids craft pages or science experiments, and therefore make a great kick start for any homemade beauty range.

The combination of bicarbonate soda with citric acid appears rather dull when dry, but once these two ingredients are combined and dropped into water,dull becomes magic.

As the bath bomb dissolves carbon dioxide is released which creates a fizzy bubbly reaction in the water, the oils that are used are mixed into the water creating a moisturizing effect on our skin, while the aroma of the oils can have an therapeutic effect helping to relax the rest of our senses…

Simple and easy bath bombs

As the title suggest this bath bomb is easy to make and can be adjusted easily just by changing the coloring and essential oil used.

10 tablespoons of bicarbonate soda

3 tablespoons of citric acid

Sweet almond or avocado oil

Essential oil of your choice

Food colouring or soap colouring

10 tablespoons of bicarbonate soda

3 tablespoons of citric acid

Sieve

Large glass mixing bowl

Small mixing bowl

Mini cake or muffin tray, (to be used as moulds)

Step one

Use oil to grease the tray or mould’s if you have them

Step two

Sieve and mix the bicarb soda with the citric acid

Step three

In the small bowl combine 10 drops of essential oil with 10 teaspoons of sweet almond oil with no more than 3-6 drops of food coloring (too much food coloring may cause staining)

Step four

Slowly add your oil mix to the dry ingredients stirring well and thoroughly until you have a wet sand like consistency .

Step five

Pack tightly into your chosen moulds and leave for at least 24 hours before removing,

shelf life is roughly a year making this recipe a perfect start for gift giving J

Softening bath bomb

The use of cornstarch is a great way to give your bathwater a softening effect for your skin that is true luxury no matter what your budget is

4 tablespoons of bicarbonate soda

2 tablespoons of citric acid

3 tablespoons of cornstarch –also known as corn flour

2 tablespoons of almond oil (or another soft oil such as sunflower or avocado)

Essential oil

Food or soap colouring

Sieve

2 bowls one large than the other

Mini cake or muffin moulds

Step one

Grease moulds thoroughly

Step two

Sieve and combine dry ingredients until smooth

Step three

In the smaller bowl combine the wet ingredients being careful with the measurements

Slowly mix the wet mixture with the dry until you have a wet sand like consistency

Step four

Pack firmly into your chosen moulds being careful to keep the mixture tight to avoid flaking

Leave for at least 24 hours before removing and packaging how you like

Milk bath bombs

Milk has been used in beauty products almost from the beginning of time, Cleopatra made this wonderful practice famous, her legendary beauty often attributed to her milk baths, a routine that we can easily emulate today with these wonderfully easy to make milk bath bombs

Milk bath bomb

2 tablespoons of bicarbonate soda

1 tablespoon of citric acid

1 tablespoon of corn flour

1 tablespoon of table salt

1 tablespoon of powdered milk

2 tablespoons of olive oil, sunflower oil or sweet almond oil

Essential oil

Glass bowl

Mini cake molds

Step one

In the glass bowl sieve together the bicarb soda with the citric acid adding the other dry ingredients in the order that they are listed above mixing until well combined

Step two

combine your essential oil with the olive oil adding it slowly to the dry mixture

Step three

Pack into your moulds tightly and leave to set for at least 5 hours before removing

Due to the powdered milk used in this recipe, this milk bath bomb should only be stored for a month

Milk, honey and oatmeal bath bomb

There is nothing like the combination of milk and honey to make ones skin supple and oh so soft . with both of those ingredients in the following recipe I am sure you will love this as much as I do

2 cups of bicarbonate soda

1 cup of citric acid

3 tablespoons of finely ground oats

3 tablespoons of powdered honey

3 tablespoons of powdered milk

Spray bottle

Mini cake trays, muffin trays or store brought moulds

Step one

Mix the bicarb soda together with the honey and milk powder adding the oats and citric acid, stirring well

Step two

Pour the witch hazel into the spray bottle and spray the dry mix stirring slowly until the mixture is like wet sand, being careful not to overdo it as too much can ruin the entire mixture (try at least 8-10 sprays first)

Step three

Pack the mixture into your chosen mould tightly and leave to dry for at least 24 hours before removing

Again due to the milk and honey powder this bomb should be used within a month to ensure freshness

Bath salts

I used to think bath salts were something only my nanna used, to ease her aching old body. But the more that I have explored making my own homemade bath recipes the more I realize how truly wonderful a deep soak with bath salts can be for both body and mind

Lavender bath salts

One of the easiest and most popular type of bath salts

1 cup of salts (I like using a mixture of Epsom and fine sea salt, but dead sea salt and rock salt are also good options)

5-10 drops of essential lavender oil

1-2 drops of soap colouring (most use purple)

Dried lavender buds can make a great optional finishing touch

1 large glass bowl

Clean dry glass jars

Step one

Mix your combination of salts together in a large bowl (can use only one type of salt if you like)

Step two

Slowly add the essential oil, stirring continuously to work out any salt clumps that may form, add a few more drops if you want a heavier scent.

Step three

Add the colour slowly as you stir, one drop at a time to be sure to get the clour tone that you want

(food colouring can be used but it may stain the bath)

Step four

Add the petals of the lavender bud to the mixture saving some of the fully formed heads for decorating the inside of your chosen jar.

This very easy bath salt recipe can be varied by the use of different soap colour and essential oils.

Softening bath salts

This wonderful bath salts are great for not only relaxing your body but also smoothing the skin

1 cup of bicarbonate soda

2 cups of sea salts

4 cups of Epsom salts

Essential oils (as required)

Step one

Mix all three dry ingredients together thoroughly

Step two

Choose your essential oil (or oils and mix together )

Step three

Stir the essential oil into the salt mix being careful to break up any clumping before bottling in jars

Note

This bath salt recipe can be adjust to smaller amounts by turning the cups into tablespoons making it easy to make for immediate use

Last minute notes

When making your bath bombs at home try to remember the following

* Don’t use wet items

* Wear gloves

* Try to use soap coloring over food coloring as it is less likely to stain ceramic

Be careful not to add the wet mixture too quickly, for if the oil pools, it may cause the mixture to fizz prematurely

BUT most of all have fun, it’s exciting when you realize how quickly you can create your own recipes and masterpieces with just a little trial and error

So light a candle, play your favourite music and relax while the scents of essential oils help to wipe away the stresses of your day as you indulge in your homemade bath products ... Enjoy

©K.A.E Grove