Relaxing DIY Bath Bomb Recipe Without Cornstarch
As a busy mom and wife, one of my absolute favorite ways to relax at the end of a long day is to drop into a warm bath filled with bubbles and essential oils to soak my worries away.
One bath-time accessory that I always have on hand, for both me and my kids, are bath bombs! I love utilizing essential oils and Epsom salts for everything from relaxation to relief from sore muscles and even cold and flu symptoms.
Often times the bath bombs that you find at beauty and department stores are filled with artificial colors, artificial fragrances, and other questionable ingredients – not to mention expensive!
Making your own fizzy bath bombs at home allows you to control the ingredients being used and is a more cost-effective option if you love indulging in relaxing baths – and honestly who doesn’t?
In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to make your own homemade bath bombs with clean and natural ingredients. These bath bombs are not only great for a little self-love and relaxation but for giving as a thoughtful gift as well!
DIY Bath Bomb Recipe Without Cornstarch
Benefits of Bath Bombs
Of course, we all know that bath bombs are great for self-care and relaxation but based on the ingredients and essential oils you include in your DIY recipe, these bath bombs can have many more physical and mental benefits as well!
Epsom salt, one of the key ingredients in most bath bombs, is made up of magnesium sulfate. This natural mineral has been used for centuries for its therapeutic properties and natural remedies.
It is most commonly known to soothe sore and achy muscles while reducing inflammation but is also known to draw out toxins. Epsom salt (magnesium) will also help to promote sleep and aid in stress management.
Bath bombs are great for soothing dry skin as they will always contain some sort of moisturizing agent such as coconut oil, shea butter, or even olive oil.
Lastly, the benefits that essential oils add to bath bombs are limitless! I love making a variety of bath bombs using various essential oils so that I always have something on hand for different ailments – like the cold and flu.
Many essential oils have been found to have the following benefits:
- Help to relax and relieve stress
- Reduce anxiety
- Improve sleep
- Relieve muscle aches and pains
- Reduce inflammation
- Improve digestion
- Even help with PMS symptoms
When deciding which essential oils to use in your bath bomb, check out this post on 10+ Herbs for Self Confidence.
You can mix and match the oils for all the benefits of whatever type of self-love you may need at any given time!
Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/epsom-salt-benefits-uses/
Best Essential Oils for Bath Bombs
Essential oils are key to making bath bombs so relaxing! While you can certainly benefit from countless oils when making your own bath bombs, these specific oils are great for relaxing and all have lovely scents.
Lavender – lavender essential oil is one of the most popular and relaxing oils for bath bombs! It smells wonderful and the scent is extremely calming as well.
Eucalyptus – this essential oil has so many health benefits and is one of the best to include in your bath water if you’re fighting off a respiratory illness like a cold or the flu. In addition to being a natural cold remedy, eucalyptus oil has been shown to help relieve stress, ease achy joints, and promote relaxation.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/9-ways-eucalyptus-oil-can-help
Vanilla – this is another oil that is perfect for relaxing and helping the stress of the day to slip away. The scent of vanilla has soothing effects on the brain and has been shown to aid in reducing blood pressure.
Vanilla essential oil is great used on its own or mixed with any of the other oils listed here for a delicious and relaxing scent.
Source: https://aromasenseusa.com/blogs/blog/how-you-can-benefit-from-vanilla-oil
Tea Tree – tea tree oil is a great natural remedy for everything from skin irritations, to inflammation and the common cold. It has both anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties but can be irritating to the skin if used in too high of a concentration.
Tea tree oil should be used more sparingly and even mixed with a more calming oil like lavender or chamomile.
Chamomile – like lavender oil, chamomile is another oil that is soothing, calming, and helps you to unwind after a long day. The scent is also one of the mildest making it a great option if you’re sensitive to fragrance.
Whichever oil you choose to use, be sure it’s of high quality from a reputable source!
Homemade Bath Bomb Ingredients
Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) – Baking soda and citric acid are the main ingredients of a bath bomb. I like to buy this ingredient in bulk as it has so many great household uses – aside from making homemade bath bombs!
Citric Acid – this is the key to a great and fizzy bath bomb! The chemical reaction between the baking soda and the acid (citric acid), when added to the bath water, is what makes the it fizzy as the bath bomb dissolves.
Epsom Salt – epsom salt is what gives bath bombs most of their benefits. From easing aches and pains to reducing inflammation.
Kaolin Clay or Tapioca Starch – These are both great ingredient substitutes for cornstarch. They are necessary for drying out the bath bomb after it’s placed in the mold.
Cocounut Oil or Moisturizer – Coconut oil is a great option due to its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. You may also already have it on hand. However, shea butter, cocoa butter, almond oil, or olive oil will all work as well!
Essential Oils – these add wonderful scents and benefits to bath bombs.
Natural Food Coloring – this is an optional ingredient but if you want to add some color to your bath bombs, natural food coloring like blue spirulina powder is a great choice! Simply add a very small amount to the dry ingredients when mixing.
Dried Flower Petals – this is another optional ingredient, but adding dried flower petals to the tops of bath bombs makes them look so beautiful and is great for wrapping and gift-giving!
Equipment Needed to Make Homemade Bath Bombs
Before we get to the actual bath bomb recipe, you should make sure you have all your equipment ready! Here’s a list of the things you will need to make bath bombs at home:
Bath Bomb Mold – these metal molds are very popular and work well. You can also use silicone molds to create fun bath bombs in various shapes and sizes.
Shrink Wrap or Plastic Wrap – is needed for storing the bath bombs.
Homemade Bath Bomb Ingredients & Directions
Ingredients:
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup citric acid
- 1/2 cup epsom salt
- 1/2 cup kaolin clay or tapioca starch
- 2 1/2 tsp coconut oil, melted (you can also use almond oil, shea butter, or cocoa butter)
- 1-2 tsp essential oils
- natural food coloring, optional
- dried flower petals, optional
Directions:
- Add the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and combine well.
- In a small bowl melt the coconut oil and stir in the essential oils. If using shea butter or cocoa butter it will also have to be heated as it naturally comes in a solid form.
- Add the wet ingredients (the oil mixture) to the dry ingredients and mix slowly. A small amount of fizzing at this point is normal, however, if you mix too quickly it will activate the chemical reaction between the baking soda and citric acid.
- The bath bomb mixture should be the consistency of damp sand – when pressed into a ball with your hands it should hold its shape.
- Place the mixture into the bath bomb molds making sure the mix is packed tightly, though not overfilled.
- Allow the bath bombs to dry in the mold overnight – though they may need more time in more humid environments.
- Carefully remove the bath bombs from the mold once dried and wrap for storage.
DIY Bath Bomb Tips
- The most important thing is that the texture is just right before placing the bath bomb mixture into the molds. The mixture should not be too wet or too dry. The consistency should be that of damp sand.
- If the mixture is too dry you can add a small amount more oil or use a spray bottle to spritz it with witch hazel until you get the desired consistency! Do not use water under any circumstance.
- A small amount of fizzing after adding the oils to the dry mixture is normal. If the mixture begins to fizz excessively at any point, the ingredients have activated and unfortunately, you may need to start over.
- When it comes to the amount of essential oil to use in your mixture, keep in mind that some oils are more potent than others and should be used sparingly. For example, if the use of tea tree oil and eucalyptus is too concentrated it may be irritating to the skin. For these oils specifically, it’s best to use less or even add in another calming oil like lavender.
- If using a “hot” oil such as peppermint oil in your bath bomb, you will need to greatly cut down on the amount used – less than 1/4 tsp – to prevent skin irritation. This is even more important for those with sensitive skin.
- If you live in a high-humidity environment you may want to consider starting with less coconut oil and adding more as needed to achieve the desired consistency. You will also need to make sure the bath bombs are wrapped tightly with plastic wrap for storage. If not, the humidity and moisture will ruin the bath bombs.
FAQ’s
What’s the best way to store homemade bath bombs?
Bath bombs must be protected from any amount of moisture.
After the bath bombs have dried completely, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or seal them in shrink wrap and store them away from a humid environment – like the bathroom. They can also be placed in an airtight container like a glass jar.
How long do these bath bombs last?
If kept properly, and away from moisture, these bath bombs will remain fresh for up to six months!
What’s the best way to give bath bombs as a gift?
Shrink-wrapping bath bombs and then placing them in a beautiful box (or cellophane) and wrapping them in a festive bow makes such a fun and thoughtful gift for any occasion!
Hopefully, you found this DIY bath bomb recipe without cornstarch helpful.
