Learning how to use bath bombs is a fun way to turn your regular bathtime routine into a luxurious spa-like experience. Not only do they fill the space with a heavenly aroma, they also contain ingredients such as essential oils, Epsom salts, and butters that can help soothe tired muscles and nourish your skin.
With a few simple steps, you can easily learn how to use bath bombs to create a relaxing and rejuvenating soak.
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By choosing the right aromatic bath accessory for your needs, you can enjoy a truly unique and indulgent soak that will leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated.
What Are Bath Bombs?
Bath bombs are little spheres or blocks that fizzle and dissolve when they come in contact with water. Colored fizzy bombs will also change the color of the water.
These bath spheres are made from a combination of ingredients, each with its own benefit for the skin. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and aromas to suit all types of preferences and desired results.
Most bath fizzies are made of citric acid, baking soda, and a blend of essential oils and carrier oils. Each one produces a different effect when added to water depending on its specific ingredients.
These fizzy balls offer more than just an aesthetic experience. While they add a touch of color to your bath water, they also fill the bathroom with an appealing aroma, soften your skin, soothe sore muscles, and help you relax.
How Do Bath Bombs Work?
So what makes these delightful colored orbs fizzle, pop, and dissolve? To understand how bath bombs work, it helps to take a look at their ingredients.
Bath bombs contain a few different ingredients, which may vary among brands. But the main ingredients in every scented sphere are sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), citric acid, and cornstarch. These three ‘secret’ ingredients give these colorful balls their characteristic fizzing bubbles.
The three ingredients do not react with each other in the absence of water. But when they do come in contact with water, that’s when the magic happens…
When a bath ball is dropped in water, the citric acid and sodium bicarbonate react with water, producing carbon dioxide. It’s this carbon dioxide that causes the fizzing bubbles as the scented sphere breaks apart and starts to dissolve on coming in contact with water.
Meanwhile, the cornstarch slows down the fizzing and the dissolving by binding to both citric acid and baking soda. This causes the bubbling and fizzing to last longer.
As it dissolves, the fizzy sphere also releases the essential oils, skin-conditioning emollients, and pigments that it contains. The best bath bombs contain rich, moisturizing body butters such as cocoa butter or shea butter. Or they may contain skin-nourishing carrier oils such as coconut oil or olive oil.
How To Use Bath Bombs In A Bathtub: Step By Step
Using bath bombs in a bathtub is an easy and convenient way to enjoy a relaxing, de-stressing, and rejuvenating spa-like experience.
If that’s your plan, here’s a step-by-step on how to use a fizzy bath bomb in a bathtub the right way:
Step 1: Fill the tub with warm water that’s comfortable to the touch. Never fill a tub with very hot water when using any type of bath accessory. The high heat damages the delicate components in the product, especially the essential oils.
Step 2: Unwrap your favorite scented fizzy concoction and enjoy the mesmerizing show that unfolds as the colors are slowly released amidst the fizzing and bubbling. In a few seconds, you’ll start to get the aroma of the essential oil component. Swirl your hand in the water gently to ensure the mixture is evenly mixed before getting in.
Step 3: Step into the bathtub and breathe deeply as you relax and enjoy your own home spa exploding with essential oils and plenty of fizzy fun. Put on a face mask to nourish your face skin at the same time.
That’s it!
You can soak in your ‘bombed’ bath for as long as you want, depending on how comfortable you are.
When you’re done, you may want to rinse your body quickly under the shower. This depends on the type of bath bomb you used and how you feel. If you used an oil-rich bomb that makes you feel a bit sticky, a quick 2-minute shower can help. If you don’t feel sticky, you can avoid this step.
Bath Bomb Benefits
The big question is, do bath bombs really have any health benefits? The short answer – yes they do. They aren’t just added just for the fun show.
The exact benefits of a bath bomb will depend on the ingredients that it contains. Some ingredients, such as citric acid, soda bicarbonate, and corn starch, are the same in all types regardless of brand. These components give the sphere its structure and fizziness.
However, the other ingredients are variable and they give each sphere its distinctive benefits and physical properties.
The essential oil in the fizzy bomb gives it specific therapeutic properties. For example, one with lemongrass essential oil is great for soothing sore muscles. One with lavender essential oil helps you unwind and relax.
Soaking in a bath with a bath bomb offers these general benefits:
– Helps you unwind and de-stress
– Promotes better sleep
– Eases muscle soreness
– Detoxes and hydrates the skin
How To Choose The Right Bath Bomb For You
Not all bath bombs are the same.
Every fizzy sphere is composed of a combination of different ingredients. The essential oils and the carrier oils are what give you the benefits of using a bath bomb.
When choosing the best bath bomb for you, look at the ingredients it contains and select the one that will benefit your skin the most. Also, consider what benefits you are looking for.
Lastly, you need to take into account what scent you want from your spa session. Some of the fragrances can be too strong for those with sensitive noses.
The best bath bombs for a relaxing spa session are those that contain lavender essential oil.
Bath bombs with any citrus essential oil are great for when you’re feeling exhausted and could do with an instant citrusy boost.
Rose bath bombs will add an aphrodisiac element to your bath.
The best bath bombs to soothe dry, itchy skin are those that contain oatmeal and honey.
Whether you’re after a relaxing, petal-laden floral soak or an invigorating multilayered explosion of color and scent, there’s a bath bomb perfect for every bathing experience.
How Long Do Bath Bombs Last?
Bath bombs have a shelf life of about six months to a year. The expiry date will always be mentioned on the wrapper of individual fizzies or on the box of a set of fizzies.
As a rule of thumb, it’s best not to keep bath bombs for too long. When stored for very long, they are less likely to fizz when you drop them into the water. This is because citric acid tends to lose its potency when exposed to the air. They also lose their scent when kept for very long.
Never use a bath bomb that smells funky, looks moldy, or has started to crumble within the wrapper itself.
What’s the difference between bath bombs, bubble baths, and bath salts?
All three guarantee a soothing and relaxing experience. However, they are completely different from each other in terms of their ingredients, structure, and benefits.
Bath bombs contain sodium bicarbonate or baking soda, which is highly alkaline. This alkaline ingredient imparts a smooth, silky feel to the bathwater and to your skin. Baking soda also removes toxins from the body. The carrier oils help to moisturize your skin as you soak in the tub.
Bubble bath is formulated with soap and other ingredients that create bubbles in the water but these last only a very short time. Its primary purpose is to clean the skin but it does not moisturize the skin.
The primary ingredient in bath salts is magnesium sulfate, more commonly salt as Epsom salts. These salts are very effective for soothing sore muscles and relieving tiredness while cleansing the body in an energetic way. They are great for use in foot soak recipes to relieve tired feet.
Want to make your own bath bombs? Get the detailed bath bomb recipe list and step-by-step instructions on how to make homemade rose bath bombs with essential oils.
Bath Bomb FAQs
Do I put a bath bomb in before or after I get in the tub?
As a best practice, you should put a bath bomb in the water before you get into the tub. This allows you to enjoy the fizzing, bubbling, and release of colors as the bath ball dissolves in water. Within a few seconds, the scents will be released, preparing you for an enjoyable bathing experience that involves all the senses.
How often can I use bath bombs?
All the ingredients are harmless so you can use these fizzy balls in every bath if you feel it enhances your experience. Basically it comes down to personal preference. It is advisable not to overdo it though.
When buying bath bombs, make sure to take your frequency of use into consideration. If you use them only occasionally, buy only one or two at a time. Don’t buy a set.
If you plan on using them more often, buying a set of bath bombs can save you money. More importantly, you’ll have a different bath experience every time.
Can I use a bath bomb without a tub?
Not everyone has a tub and even if they do, not everyone has the luxury of time to spend 20 or more minutes on a bath. The good news is you can use bath bombs even if you don’t have a tub or don’t want to use one.
To use a bath bomb without a tub, unwrap it and place it in a small breathable bag. Hang the bag from your showerhead. The spray of water from the shower will moisten the ingredients and cause them to react with each other. As the ball crumbles, you’ll be able to inhale the aroma that is released.
You can also put one in a tub of warm water to create a soothing and moisturizing foot bath.
Can I use bath bombs in a jetted tub or Jacuzzi?
You’ll have to check with the Jacuzzi manufacturer as some discourage the use of certain types of bath products in the water.
Can I divide a bath bomb in half and use it twice?
Theoretically, you could. However, these little orbs are very crumbly. When you cut through it and try putting the crumbled components in the water, it will dissolve very quickly. You’ll still get the bath bomb benefits though. Most fizzy bombs are made for single use only.
What types of bath bombs are good for dry skin?
The best bath bomb for dry skin is one that is made with a blend of oatmeal and honey. When used together, oatmeal and honey provide natural moisturizing properties that help soothe itchy skin and heal irritation.
Can I wash my hair with the water in the tub?
Yes, you can. The ingredients won’t damage your hair so you can go ahead and wash your hair with the bath bomb water.
Will bath bombs change the color of the water?
This will depend on what fragrances or external dyes are used in the bath bomb recipe. Most bath bombs will only make the bath water slightly cloudy.
Will colored bath bombs stain my bathtub?
Good brands use natural colors that won’t stain or discolor your tub. However, it’s always best to wipe the colored ring that may form when you let the water out. Leaving this on for a long time may result in a color build-up, which could be difficult to remove completely.
Bath Bombs Make Bath Time A Blast!
Taking a hot, relaxing bath can be a great way to unwind and de-stress after a long day. But why not take your spa experience to the next level with a luxurious bath bomb? Learning how to use bath bombs is a great way to add a fun twist to your bath time. Not only do these fizzy balls look and smell great, but they also provide your skin with moisturizing or exfoliating benefits.
Related Reads:
How To Use Essential Oils In The Bath
How To Use Essential Oils In The Shower
Refreshing Eucalyptus Shower Steamer Recipe: Easy DIY Packed With Benefits
Sugar Scrub Recipes With Essential Oils
Homemade Bath Salts With Essential Oils
DIY Rose-Scented Bath Salts With Rose Petals
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to serve as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before using any natural medication or if you experience any unusual symptoms. See Full Disclaimer here.
