a favorite DIY: bath bombs

Taking baths is a great way to unwind, soothe achy muscles & offer your nervous system a serious reboot.

Of course, an epsom salts bath is often recommended post massage here at Sore Spots. According to the Epsom Salt Council health benefits range from treating skin conditions, flighting off seasonal colds & flu as well as soothing tired & achy muscles. The general recommendation is to utilize about 2 cups of epsom salts in your bath water & soak for about 10 minutes.

One of our favorite ways to enjoy a touch of epsom salts & relax in the tub is by utilizing a bath bomb. They are super easy to make at home & can be a fun rainy day activity with kids.

Here’s a recipe we suggest:

Baking soda ~ 1 cup

Epsom salts ~ 1/2 cup

Cornstarch ~ 1/2 cup (you may substitute arrowroot or tapioca flour, but their ‘holding’ capacity is not as strong as cornstarch ~ so they are great for silicone moulds but not great if your shaping ball bombs)

Water ~ 2 tablespoons

Oil (olive, jojoba, grapeseed, almond or melted coconut oil) ~ 3 tablespoons

Essential oils ~ 2 teaspoons

Dried flowers (optional but if used should be ground up)

Citric acid ~ 1/2 cup

Optional: 4 cocoa wafers chopped up, these can add a creamy, hyper-moisturizing effect to your baths….a little goes a long way, just make sure you shred or chop finely so they don’t affect the ‘clumping’ ability of your bath bombs when they are curing.

Directions:

  1. Whisk your baking soda, epsom salts & cornstarch.

  2. Next use a small jar with a lid to add your water, carrier oil & essential oils then secure the lid on & shake for 10 seconds.

  3. Add the liquid to the dry bowl & hand mix until you have evenly distributed the wet in the dry ingredients. At this point you should have a ‘crumbly’ sort of texture that feels more on the dry side.

  4. NOW, add the citric acid. It is VERY important that you add the citric acid as the last step. If the citric acid is added before the liquids than the liquids could activate the ‘bubbly foam’ action to release and your bath bomb will dissolve with little fan fair when your ready to utilize for bath time.

  5. Utilize a ‘bath bomb’ mould to make perfect rounds or try silicon moulds. If you are using silicone moulds than you will have to leave your ‘bomb’ mix in the mould for a day to allow it to cure before removing. Either way, bath bombs should air dry for a day before using. This will allow them to dry & stabalize their form to prevent breakage.

  6. Take a bath & enjoy the aromatic & ceremonial element of adding a home made bath bomb to your time in the tub.