What is a bath bomb?
- A combination of a weak base (BS) + a weak acid (CA) that when in water releases C02 or carbon dioxide. This is your bubbly action! As the bomb dissolves in your bath water, the bomb will release fragrance, glitter, botannicals, colors, salts, oils, and/ or butters.
In this Part 2 of my Bath Bombs for Beginners Tutorial, we are going to go over common bath bomb ingredients and what their purpose serves in your bath bomb recipe. Hopefully this information can help you start to formulate your very own bath bomb recipe! If I have forgotten anything please feel free to comment below! I want this to be as informative as possible!
As always, do your own research and come to your own conclusions about each ingredient. Please test your final products before selling to the general public, if you decide to eventually sell.
DRY INGREDIENTS
Baking Soda- a weak base that aids in the effervescence of a bath bomb. A must have ingredient. Found at grocery stores and bulk stores.
Citric Acid- a weak acid that aids in the effervescence of a bath bomb. A must have ingredient.
Clays- Kaolin clay is a popular ingredient although many other clays can be used for a natural colorant. Also adds hardness to a bath bomb. Use sparingly as it may leave sediment in the bottom of the tub. Can attract moisture in very dry climates.
Corn Starch- Usually a “filler” to bulk up a recipe but lends a silky feeling to the water.
Cream of Tartar (COT)- Adds hardness to your finished product. Can be pricy.
Milk Powders- Popular ones include Coconut, Buttermilk and Goat’s milk. These are high in vitamins and have many skin benefits. Also adds a foamy effect to the bombs as they dissolve in water. Research to see what would best fit your needs.
Salts- Epsom is very popular- breaks down into magnesium and sulfate which is said to absorb into the skin and ease muscle tension. Also known for its soothing properties. May draw moisture from the air. Other Salts may be used as well like Himalayan and Dead Sea Salt- will draw moisture from the air.
SLSA- Sodium Laurel Sulfoacetate- a mild surfactant (bubbling agent) usually in powder form. It is derived from coconut and palm oils. Said to be less harsh, and not to be confused with SLS. Check manufacturer for safe usage rate. Slows the fizz in your bath bomb recipe down.
LIQUID INGREDIENTS
Butters/ Oils- This list is endless! Choose what you like best! Research and choose what suits your needs. Adds moisturizing properties and gives the water a really lovely silky feeling. Common butters include cocoa, shea, and mango. Some popular oils include include sweet almond, rice bran, grape seed, avocado, olive, and coconut. Consider using Polysorbate.
Polysorbate 80- an emulsifier that allows water and oils to incorporate. Keeps an “oil slick” from forming on top of the water. Typical usage rate is half the amount of oils. Ex- 20g Coconut Oil= 10g poly
Fragrance Oil- Many different scents to choose from. Just ensure they are skin safe and follow the manufacture recommended usage rate. Fragrances that contain Vanilla may discolor products.
Essential Oil- A natural way to fragrance bath products. Please do research on each oil and ensure you are confident using them. These are extremely concentrated! Some oils can be quite dangerous and come with extensive warnings so please do your due diligence!
Isopropyl Alcohol- Binding liquid that allows your bombs to stick together and hold their shape. Various percentages like 70, 91, and 99 are most common. The higher the number, the more alcohol content that is present. If you use 70%, that means that 70% contains alcohol and the other 30% is water. I happen to prefer 70!
Witch Hazel- an astringent that is used as a binding liquid. Use sparingly
Water- Binding liquid. Use sparingly as this may cause premature activation of your bath bombs.
***SIDE NOTES***
As stated in Part 1, no food coloring to color your bombs, especially if you want to sell. If these will be for personal use, use your own discretion. Check Part 1 for your favorite colors to use!
Cosmetic grade glitter only! Biodegradable works awesome and is environmentally friendly.
Sugar/ candy sprinkles are “frowned upon” because of the colorants, sugars and other ingredients in them. Many sellers use them so choose what you think is best. But, you must list all ingredients on your labels, not just “sprinkles”.
Stay tuned for part 3 where I will provide a basic recipe, how to mold, tips, tricks and we will make a batch together!
Favorite Ingredient Suppliers/ Vendors
Wholesale Supplies Plus
Two Wild Hares on Etsy (SLSA)
Brambleberry
Save on Citric
Bulk Apothecary
7 сен 2024
