Ready to Start Making Bath Bombs?

Have you made bath bombs before, but they came out clumping? Well, here’s a little trick I learned to avoid bath bomb clumps!

I promise you won’t find a single clump in the mixture after using this bath bomb tip!

You can use natural mica powder to create a rainbow of colors. Or you can turn to other natural methods for coloring bath bombs, such as colorful food ingredients.

Another option is to use food coloring made from 100% natural vegetable juices and spices like Watkins natural food coloring. It works just as easily as standard food coloring but without the chemicals. I’ve successfully used it to color bath bombs and soaps!

Just remember to add any dry color ingredients to your dry ingredients after you’ve thoroughly combined all the other dry ingredients. The same goes for liquid coloring ingredients—add them to the wet ingredients after mixing together all the wet ingredients.

What can you use instead of citric acid in bath bombs? To make bath bombs without citric acid, all you need is a baking staple you likely already have in your kitchen.

That’s right. Cream of tartar can be substituted for citric acid. Cream of tartar is an acid but has a different pH, so the results will be different. I have tried it for making bath bombs and found it does work, but it creates less fizz than citric acid.

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How To Avoid Crushing Bath Bombs 

How do you get bath bombs out of the mold without crushing them? 

For bath bombs made in stainless steel molds versus silicone molds, make sure you let them sit for a minute or two before you remove them. This step allows them to compress and stick together.

Additionally, when working with stainless steel molds, make sure to overpack each side of the mold before pressing them firmly together.

You may also want to consider adding a drop or two of sweet almond oil to a towel and rubbing the oil into the mold—just like you would grease a baking dish for cakes or brownies. This can help you remove them more easily.

Also, if you’re bath bombs are crumbling after you’ve successfully removed them from the mold, then add a stabilizer such as white Kaolin clay to strongly bind bath bombs.

I’ve noticed baking soda irritates my skin if I use too much of it in a natural deodorant. No worries if you have similar issues with baking soda; simply cut the amount used in a bath bomb recipe in half and add arrowroot powder in its place.

Or substitute baking soda altogether for arrowroot powder. I love using arrowroot powder for beauty, hair, and natural skin care recipes. Find it one of my favorite milk bath recipes for a warming spiced chai latte bath!

How to Find Ingredients to Start Making Bath Bombs

Picking up ingredients to make bath bombs at your local brick-and-mortar stores can be challenging. Sometimes, it’s quite overpriced when you need a few pounds of an ingredient versus a few ounces in a spice jar.

That’s why I compiled this list of bath bomb ingredients and links to where you can easily and affordably find them.

Epsom Salts

Thanks to Epsom salts, bath bombs do much more for our bodies than moisturizing the skin. Named after a small town in England where it was discovered in 1618, Epsom salts are known for their powerful ability to relieve aches and pains.

They break down the build-up of lactic acid, which causes muscle pain. Add ½ cup of Epsom salt to your next bath, or try them in my recipe for a bubbling lemon-vanilla bath soak.

Carrier Oils

Natural carrier oils can make a big impact on the health and condition of your skin. They are packed with vitamins and antioxidants essential for healthy skin.

There are a variety of carrier oils available, such as apricot kernel oil, grapeseed oil, and sweet almond oil. You may want to experiment with your choice of carrier oil to make bath bombs. I use sweet almond oil in my bath bomb recipes.

Baking Soda

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a naturally occurring substance best known for its use as a scouring agent and odor absorber. It is also used as a binding agent in bath bomb recipes.

It’s easy to find and very affordable at your local grocery store. The beauty experts at Hello Glow say it’s one of the most versatile ingredients!

Citric Acid

Want to know the secret ingredient to make bath bombs fizz? It’s citric acid and it’s an all-natural ingredient often used to preserve food at home when canning.

Sometimes, you can find it at your local grocery store in a very small spice jar for a very steep price. I’ve found it here in a one-pound resealable bag for so much less. I use it in a handful of my natural cleaning recipes, too!

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is a plant-based substance made from the witch hazel shrub. It’s a staple in my homemade facial toner for its skin-soothing benefits.

I use it in place of water to make bath bombs. Why? Because it doesn’t cause as much fizzing loss to occur when you need to add just a little more moisture to a bath bomb mix.

Related: Fizzy Lemon Meringue Bath Bombs

Now, Let’s Start Making Bath Bombs With A Basic Recipe

Once you have mastered making this basic recipe, then you can begin to experiment with unique variations. I love to add dried herbs and flower petals to my bath bombs, as I did in my recipe for garden rose bath bombs. You can even go as far as to add hidden surprises like small toys inside a bath bomb!