Pretty Pastels Bath Salts Recipe For Soft Soothing Self-Care

Pastel colors bring a sense of gentle happiness to any self-care ritual. When paired with calming aromatherapy scents and skin-soothing minerals, the colorful layers in this pretty pastels bath salts recipe will transform your next bath into a moment of true relaxation.

Imagine sinking into a tub filled with gentle pastels swirling around you – calm, comfort, and a pop of color all at once.

The pretty pastel layers paired with soft hues and soothing aromas help you unwind and relax, resetting your mood after a long day.

Science shows that both color and scent anchor relaxation and boost your self-care experience.

You’ll find this rainbow-colored bath salts recipe simple to make, easy to customize, and perfect for winding down.

How Pastel Colors Make Bath Time Feel Special

The beauty of pastel shades goes beyond their Instagram-friendly look. They spark emotions, bring a sense of order to chaos, and make bath time a true retreat. The soft hues in pastel bath salts invite the mind and body to slow down in soothing ways.

Pastel colors are gentle on the eyes. Unlike bold tones, pastels don’t shout for attention – they whisper it.
Warm pinks, mint greens, and powder blues offer a gentle nudge toward relaxation. They remind us of spring flowers, clear skies, or cotton candy: all things light and positive.

Pastels are known for setting a calm mood, creating a sense of safety, comfort, and nostalgia, supporting positive thoughts, and inviting a playful spirit.

Blues and greens are linked to serenity and peace.
Lavender or light purple help you unwind and relax
Soft yellow can boost mood without overstimulation

Including a mix of these shades in a bath salts recipe offers a gentle rainbow of comfort and balance. When you pour those beautiful colors into your bath, it instantly feels like a treat.

The visual appeal lifts your spirits the moment you see it while your sensory experience is heightened through sight and smell.

This recipe is part of the Pretty Pastels Selfcare series, inspired by the joy and comfort that soothing colors and beautiful scents bring to body and mind. Another favorite in this series is the pretty pastels sugar scrub recipe for calm colorful skincare.

Pretty Pastels Bath Salts Recipe: Ingredients

1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Epsom Salt
2 tablespoons Carrier Oil (olive, sweet almond, or jojoba)
15 drops Essential Oils (optional but recommended)
Mica powder in your favorite pastel shades
Glass Jar with Cork

Each ingredient plays a part in making this DIY bath salts recipe feel like a self-care ritual, adding a spark of beauty and calm into your day.

Scroll below for tips on how to choose the right carrier oil and essential oil for you.

How to Make Pretty Pastels Bath Salts: Step-by-Step Guide

Here’s how to mix, scent, color, and store your bath salts so they look as beautiful as they feel in the tub.

Mix Baking Soda & Epsom Salt to Create the Base

Start by mixing the Epsom salt and baking soda in a clean mixing bowl.

Stir with a spoon or whisk to blend both powders well and break up any lumps.

This base sets the stage for your pastel colors, helping the mica stick and mix evenly.

Baking soda softens the water, while Epsom salt soothes tired muscles. This combo forms a gentle, cloud-like texture.

Tip: Keep everything dry at this stage – moisture can cause clumps.

Add Carrier Oil Scented with Essential Oils

Carrier oil is a necessary ingredient in any homemade bath salts recipe.

Essential oils are optional but they do enhance the bath salts by infusing the recipe with relaxing aromas. If you use essential oil, you must first dilute it in carrier oil and stir to blend completely.

Next, pour the scented oil into your dry mixture. Stir right away so the oil gets absorbed without making wet spots or clumps.

Create Your Desired Pastel Colors

Pretty pastels set this recipe apart. Divide your salt mixture into four small bowls – one for each color.

In each bowl:

Sprinkle a tiny pinch of mica powder (choose soft shades like pink, blue, green, and lavender).

Stir slowly and thoroughly. Add more mica a little at a time until you achieve a soft pastel hue.

Keep the tones light – pastels look best when subtle. If you want brighter colors, add more mica powder to the mix.

Coloring Techniques: Achieving Pastel Rainbow Layers

When your colors are ready, layer them into a clear jar or container. Pour each color in gently to keep stripes neat and sharp. You’re building your own pastel rainbow, one layer at a time.

Pro tip: Tap the jar softly after each layer to settle the salts without mixing them. Don’t press the layers or they will look compact and spoil the look. You want the layers to look loose and fluffy.

A Closer Look at the Ingredients for Pretty Pastels Bath Salts Recipe

Creating your own DIY bath salts in a rainbow of colors is like setting up a mini art project for your self-care routine. The right mix of ingredients brings scents, soothing texture, and a swirl of soft colors to your bath.

For bath salts that calm your senses and bring a pastel rainbow to your tub, you’ll need a blend of simple, skin-safe ingredients and a few easy-to-find extras.

Here’s what goes into making this recipe both beautiful and functional.

Epsom Salt and Baking Soda: The Dynamic Base

These two ingredients form the heart of your bath salts mix.

Epsom salt, made of magnesium sulfate, is popular for relaxing muscles and easing tired feet. It supports relaxation, and helps with soaking out everyday stress.

Baking soda brings extra softness, helping your bath water feel silky and soothing on the skin, while providing a gentle fizz for spa-like comfort.

Using one cup of each creates the ideal texture and ensures your homemade relaxing bath salts feel indulgent without being over-the-top.

Carrier Oil: Nourishing and Binding

Carrier oil does double duty in this recipe. It dilutes the essential oils and adds a touch of moisture to your bath salts. The result? A softening effect on your skin as you relax.

Sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, or grapeseed oil are all great choices. For added skincare benefits, use an infused oil. This gives you the benefits of the botanicals as well as the carrier oil.

I used calendula infused oil in this recipe for extra skincare benefits. You can also use rose infused oil for a gentle floral aroma or rosemary-lavender infused oil for the combined benefits of both herbs.

Start with 2 tablespoons of your choice of oil.

The oil gives bath salts a soft shimmer and helps hold the pastel powders in place for even color.

Essential Oils: Aromatherapy Boost

Essential oils are optional, but they really make your pretty pastels bath salts recipe even more special. A few drops can turn your bath into an aromatherapy treat. Choose gentle, calming scents that blend well with soft colors.

Some favorites for pastel-themed baths:

Lavender: Calms the mind and pairs well with purple or blue salts.

Chamomile: Soft and floral, perfect for yellow or green shades.

Ylang-ylang: Adds a tropical touch, great for pinks and peaches.

For using or gifting in summer, add these cooling essential oils for a refreshing, revitalizing bath.

For a batch this size, use 15-25 drops total. It’s important to dilute essential oils in carrier oil before adding to the dry mix.

Mica Powder: Pastel Color Magic

Mica powder is the secret to those gorgeous pastel layers. It’s a safe, skin-friendly coloring that creates gentle, shimmery hues when stirred into bath salts.

You can find mica in almost any shade, but for this recipe, soft pink, mint green, sky blue, and lavender work best.

Tips for the best pastel colors:

Add a small pinch at a time, stirring until you see the right shade.

Use separate bowls to create a variety of colors.

Mica stays bright without staining your tub—just don’t use too much.

Storage Jars: The Final Touch

Choosing the right storage makes your DIY rainbow bath salts look and feel finished. Clear glass jars with cork or white lids let the soft layers show through, turning your bath salts into a decor piece as well as a treat.

Look for a jar that holds about 16 ounces.

Layer each color carefully to create a pastel rainbow.

Seal tightly to keep moisture out and scents fresh.

Storing & Presenting Your Pastel Bath Salts

Presentation is the finishing touch for your pretty pastels bath salts recipe.

Pick a clear glass jar with a cork or white lid. The clear glass lets the soft pastel layers stand out while the lid keeps the bath salts fresh and dry.

Seal tightly to keep out humidity and preserve scent.

Label your jar: Write the date on a tag or sticker. Bath salts stay fresh for up to six months if stored well.
If you plan to gift your bath salts, use a ribbon or label to add charm. A tag with soaking directions makes it even more special.

Store in a cool, dry spot away from sunlight.

Avoid contamination: Use a clean, dry spoon to scoop out the salts each time. Wet hands or scoops can introduce moisture that leads to clumping.

A jar of pastel bath salts isn’t only for the tub. It becomes a cheerful sight on your shelf, ready to spark a calm moment whenever you need one.

If you love the idea of making layered bath salts, you’ll also enjoy this layered coffee bath salts recipe for an aromatic rejuvenating soak.

Personalizing This DIY Bath Salts Recipe for Maximum Calm

Everyone’s idea of calm feels different. With bath salts, the magic is in making every detail fit you.
Customizing your pretty pastels bath salts recipe puts you in control. You get to choose the scents, colors, and little extras that make your soak feel like a mini retreat.

Here’s how to adjust your bath salts recipe so every bath fits your mood and brings the color therapy you crave.

Pick Your Calming Color Palette

Start by deciding which pastel colors help you unwind the most. Each shade can stir up a different peace. Some days call for soft blue; others need a hint of pink or mint green.

Use your mica powders thoughtfully – these are safe and won’t stain the tub, so let your mood guide you.
Powder blue: Perfect for clearing your mind and setting a restful tone.

Blush pink: Feels gentle and nurturing, like self-kindness in color form.

Lavender: Reminds you of calm fields, wonderful when stress lingers.

Mint green: For days when you want to refresh and reset.

If layering is too much trouble, fill the glass jar with just one color.

Scent Combinations for Deeper Relaxation

Scent is the secret key for deep relaxation. Your homemade bath salts can be a new experience each time, simply by changing your essential oils. Mix and match for custom blends, or stick with tried-and-true favorites.

Popular calming scent combos:

Lavender + Chamomile: Classic, soft, and soothing.
Ylang-ylang + Vanilla: Sweet floral with a cozy twist.
Peppermint + Eucalyptus: Adds a gentle, refreshing aroma.

Drop essential oils into your carrier oil first. Swirl everything in so the aroma mixes evenly. Remember, you don’t need a lot – just enough for a subtle scent is plenty.

Adjust Ingredients to Suit Your Skin

Your bath salts should fit your skin type and keep your soak feeling healthy. Switching your carrier oil is the easiest way to make the recipe personal.

Dry skin: Use sweet almond oil or jojoba oil for extra moisture.
Sensitive skin: Go with a gentle, scent-free oil like pure olive oil.
Add-ins: Mix in a tablespoon of colloidal oatmeal for soothing if you’re prone to irritation.

Feel free to skip essential oils if you prefer scent-free baths. The pretty pastels bath salts recipe still looks beautiful and feels soft without them.

Mindful Layering for Visual Calm

How you layer your colors affects how calm your bath feels before you even step in. Building pastel stripes in a jar is an easy way to turn your bathroom shelf into a comfort zone.

Tips for layering:

Alternate colors for a rainbow effect, or keep it simple with two shades for a minimalist look.
Press each layer down gently so the colors stay sharp and distinct.

If you want a marbled look, swirl the colors gently with a chopstick as you pour them in.

Pick your favorite colors and enjoy how it lifts your spirits every time you open the jar.

Bath Time: Usage Tips for the Perfect Soak

Use these tips to make the most of every colorful bath.

How much to use: Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of pastel bath salts to warm bath water. Stir with your hand so the salts dissolve and colors swirl.

Pour before you step in: Let salts dissolve fully before soaking. This gives you the softest water and helps essential oils disperse, so you don’t sit on concentrated color or scent.

Clean the tub after: Pastels rarely leave marks, but it’s advisable to give your tub a quick rinse after each bath. This clears away any leftover shimmer or oil, keeping surfaces spotless for next time.

Enjoy the ambiance: Set the mood with soft lighting and a towel nearby. Let the pastel colors and familiar scent tell your brain it’s time to relax.

Make It Your Self-Care Ritual

A truly calming bath starts long before the water runs. Turn bath-time into a soothing ritual with these few tips:

• Light an aromatherapy candle that matches your bath’s scent.
• Choose a playlist or book that relaxes you.
• As you pour the salts in, inhale deeply and set an intention to unwind.

These ideas help you use bath time as a moment to reset. Personalizing your bath salts isn’t just about the ingredients – it’s about making the whole experience feel like it belongs to you.

Let your choices in color, scent, and ritual remind you that calm is yours to create, one pastel layer at a time.

Safety Tips for Skin and Tub

A pastel bath is soothing, but it pays to use common sense, especially if you have sensitive skin or share your tub with others.

Do a patch test: If you’re using new essential oils or a different carrier oil, rub a small amount on your inner arm. Wait several hours to check for any redness or itchiness.

Watch for allergies: Some people react to ingredients like almond oil, certain floral scents, or even colorants. If irritation happens, rinse off right away and avoid those ingredients next time.

Mica safety: Mica powder in small amounts is skin-safe and won’t stain your tub. Avoid using too much – just a pinch gives a gentle glow. Never use craft glitter or colorants not labeled skin-safe.

Skip open cuts: Avoid using bath salts if you have cuts or broken skin as Epsom salts can sting on open wounds.

Keep it kid-safe: These salts look pretty but are not for eating. Store finished jars out of reach of young children and pets.

Bringing pretty pastels bath salts recipe into your self-care routine adds more than just beautiful colors – it invites calm, creativity, and a sense of comfort to your day. Every pastel scoop delivers relaxation and a soft mood boost, making each bath feel special, whether you’re using these salts yourself or sharing them as thoughtful gifts. Gifting a jar shows care, offering simple support to unwind and recharge.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.