Relaxing Bath Bombs with Epsom Salt for Wellness and Skincare

See how to make relaxing bath bombs with Epsom salt! These relaxation Epsom salt bath bombs are made with natural ingredients and essential oils. The easy tutorial shows how to make bath bombs, and also includes ideas for bath bomb scents and tips for bath bomb storage.

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DIY relaxing bath bombs with Epsom salt and shea butter

Do bath bombs help you relax?Yes, I absolutely think they do! When I’m not using these relaxing bath salts, I often go for DIY bath bombs! Lying in a warm bath, doing some deep breathing and letting natural ingredients work their magic on your skin is pretty close to a spa treatment. Better even, you enjoy this wellness treat in the comfort of your own bathroom!

What relaxation benefits do bath bombs have?

Bath bombs offer a number of relaxation benefits for your mind and body. Self-care and wellness are important for your overall health and well-being, especially during times of stress and unrest. And my natural bath bomb recipe makes the experience even more enjoyable!

Homemade bath bombs can help to:

• relax and unwind
• clam down and find inner balance
• deal with stress and negative emotions
• soothe sore muscles and achy joints

Relaxing aromatherapy bath bombs

Of course, I’m not talking about any bath fizzies. I’m talking about aromatherapy bath bombs with essential oils! While taking a bath is very relaxing in itself, it’s essential oils that provide these amazing wellness benefits. And I know just the best essential oil blends for bath bombs!

Relaxing bath bomb scents

Relaxation bath bombs with lavender and eucalyptus essential oil are my favourite, but by no means the only option. Here are a few other bath bomb scents to try:

Relaxation blend

 A wonderful blend to feel refreshed!

• 50 drops lavender +  20 drops eucalyptus + 10 drops sandalwood

Calming blend

This soothing blend is excellent for a bath bomb recipe for sensitive skin.

• 60 drops chamomile + 40 drops blood orange +  25 drops patchouli

Balance blend

This is an excellent blend for a bath bomb recipe for kids.

• 40 drops tangerine + 30 drops lavender + 15 drops sweet orange + 7 drops ylang ylang

Sleepy blend

A good blend for bedtime bath bombs.

• 45 drops cedarwood + 35 lavender drops + 20 blue tansy drops

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Skincare benefits of Epsom salt bath bombs

And these relaxing bath bombs have even more to offer! The bath fizzies are packed with skin-loving ingredients that will really soften and nourish the skin. This is what you need to know:

Baking soda cleanses

There are several benefits of baking soda for skin. Baking soda is mildly cleansing, and its anti-bacterial properties help to dry out pimples and prevent further breakouts. The ingredient softens callous skin and is also said to lighten dark spots.

Epsom salt relaxes tired muscles

Why make Epsom salt bath bombs? Epsom salt can help to relax muscles and relieve pain in the joints, shoulders, neck, and back. It also revitalizes and hydrates dry skin. A hydrating salt? Wait, what?! Unlike table salt, Epsom salt is made of magnesium, which interacts with water differently than regular salt:

“Magnesium is an essential electrolyte that enhances hydration. It’s actually a key component in rehydration tablets, sports drinks and other concentrated electrolyte supplements. Epsom salt lotions and gels are essentially an electrolyte supplement for the skin. Magnesium sulfate helps the skin retain moisture on a molecular level by maintaining cellular electrolyte balance.” (source)

Clay detoxifies

People have used kaolin clay to remove impurities on the skin for thousands of years. Clay may absorb excess oils, sebum and sweat, and draw toxins from the body. Clay also contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, which may provide additional benefits.

Shea butter nourishes

I made this hydrating bath bomb recipe with unrefined shea butter. Shea butter pampers the skin and is excellent for natural skin care. Adding shea butter makes the bath bombs wonderfully moisturising and hydrating, and your skin will feel softer afterwards.

Sounds good? Then let’s find out how to make bath bombs for relaxation!

Bath bomb ingredients and supplies

Let’s talk about what’s in a bath bomb. I wanted to keep this bath bomb recipe as simple as possible, so I divided the ingredients list into essential and optional materials:

Must-have bath bomb ingredients

• baking soda/bicarbonate of soda and citric acid – Both ingredients are necessary to create a fizzing reaction. You can also learn how to make bath bombs without citric acid in this post.
• Epsom salt – We already discussed the benefits of Epsom salt. However, coarse Himalayan sea salt is the better option for those living in high-humidity states. I don’t recommend magnesium flakes or dead sea salt for this project.
• kaolin clay –  I used white kaolin clay. Of course, other clays work, too.
• shea butter – I love the nourishment shea butter provides, but feel free to sub for coconut oil or cacao butter.
• essential oils – I already showed you my favourite relaxing essential oil blends above.

Optional ingredients

PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate

PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate is a naturally-sourced coconut-based emulsifier, which ensures that the shea butter and essential oils actually mix with the bathwater, not just pool on top.

Polysorbate 80 is another option if you can’t find PEG-7. It’s not strictly natural, but acceptable in my opinion, since we only need a tiny amount.

Blue spirulina powder

I used blue spirulina powder to colour my bath bombs naturally. The algae powder will tint the bath water blue, won’t stain your tub and is all-natural. Making bath bombs with mica powder is also an option. The bath bombs will be white without a colourant, which is pretty, too.

In case you’re wondering, yes this is a bath bomb recipe without cornstarch. You also don’t need witch hazel or Isopropyl alcohol.

Tools to make relaxing bath bombs

We need the following tools for this natural bath bomb recipe:

• glass mixing bowl – I love this set of mixing bowls and use it daily.
• whisk – This silicone whisk is very hand to mix ingredients and break apart any lumps.
• measuring cup – I melted the shea butter in a heat-resistant glass measuring cup like this one.
• bath bomb molds – These sturdy bath bomb molds are my preferred choice for classic round bath bombs.

How to make relaxing bath bombs

I have included the instructions for how to make bath bombs with Epsom salt in the DIY box below. Here are some tips to help you make the best bath bombs:

Get the right texture

After mixing the ingredients, the bath bombs mixture should have a texture similar to barely damp sand, not wet cookie dough. The amount of shea butter I listed in the recipe will do just that.

Do this test: take a little of the mixture and squeeze it tightly in the palm of your hand. If the lump is compact and holds together, then you’re good to go.

Does humidity affect bath bombs?

Yes, humidity and moisture in the air can affect bath bomb making. Depending on the humidity in your area, the amount of shea butter might vary.

• Humid environment: You may use slightly less shea butter if you live in a humid environment.
• Hot and dry: You can add a little more melted shea butter if the climate you live in is very hot and dry. If you notice that your mixture dries out while forming bath bombs, rehydrate the mix with a few spritzes alcohol or witch hazel.

I can’t get my bath bombs out of the mold – what did I do wrong?

You might think that you have to pack and press the mixture tightly into each part of the mold before assembling to get a nice shape. But that is not the best method as the mixture might stick to the mold, and the bath bomb can break in half.

The best way to fill round bath molds

Instead, loosely overfill both parts of your bath bomb mold with a generous amount of mixture. There should be a high heap of mixture in each piece. Then press both halves firmly together and brush off any excess.

Another tip is to clean the mold after each use or use a new mold for every bath bomb. Even small mixture residue in the mold can make it more difficult to get the bath bomb out.

Storage instructions

How to store bath bombs with Epsom salt

DIY bath bombs are made of materials that attract water (baking soda, citric acid and Epsom salt). To preserve them and avoid a premature reaction, wrap each bath bomb tightly in plastic wrap/cling film. Then store them in an airtight container, out of direct sunlight and heat sources.

If you live an area with high humidity, swapped Epsom salt for coarse Himalayan sea salt, like we already talked about!

How long do homemade bath bombs last?

You can store this homemade bath bomb recipe with Epson salt for up to a year.

More bath bomb recipes

If you like this relaxing bath bombs recipe, you might also like some of my other relaxing bath ideas:

• bath bombs without citric acid
• lavender bath bombs
• aromatherapy bath bombs
• milk and honey bath bombs
• pink Himalayan salt bath bombs
• lavender bubble bar scoops
• eucalyptus bath bombs

And check out these seasonal bath bomb ideas too:

• speckled egg bath bombs
• pumpkin spice fall bath bombs
• peppermint bath bombs
• moisturizing snowflake bath bombs
• candy cane bubble scoops

Over to you

Cyna and I had a lot of fun coming up with these easy sugar scrub recipes and hope you enjoy them as much as we do! If you make one of the scrubs, tag @chcottage on Instagram or post a photo on Pinterest!

Thanks so much for visiting Country Hill Cottage – we’re so happy you’re here! Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

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Irena xx