How to Use a Bath Bomb to Create the Perfect Bath Experience

Bath Bombs Benefits

Bath bombs are often packed with different oils and butters that can help repair the skin while making it look more youthful. Shea butter is one of the ingredients commonly found in bath bombs, and it has sun-protective, anti-aging, and moisturizing properties [source]. 

They are great for detoxing—thanks to the citric acid and bicarbonate they contain. 

Some bath bombs are infused with stress-relieving scents, helping reduce your anxiety in the process. Lavender is one of the best scents for helping you unwind and feel better [source]. 

Bath bombs can provide hydration for dry skin. 

And they’re fun! A bath bomb turns your water into something like art with all of the colors, fizzing, and bubbles.

How to Use a Bath Bomb

Everyone seems to have a different bathing routine. And that’s a good thing because everyone should use products that make the experience feel special for them. If you need help creating a game plan for your soak, here’s how I use a bath bomb to create a self-care ritual.

Step 1 | Choose Your Bath Bomb & Set the Mood

Make bathtime a date with yourself! Start by choosing a bath bomb that fits your needs. For instance, you may want to soothe sore muscles, relieve anxiety and stress, or enjoy a better night’s beauty sleep. 

Different bath bombs have unique properties—thanks to the ingredients added to them. Some contain shea butter that can repair and soothe your skin, while others have calming scents like rose [source] or lavender to make you feel like you’re in heaven. Others contain almond or coconut oil to hydrate your skin. 

Then lower the lights and light a candle or two. Put on some music. Get a glass of cold water (or wine) in a plastic cup.

Step 2 | Prep Your Body + Supplies

Before hopping in, make sure you’re all set for while you’re in the bath and when you’re ready to hop out. Make a bath cocktail by adding extras like bubble bars, bath oils, bubble bath, or bath salts. You can add those before or after putting your bath bomb in.

Grab any body scrub, hair mask, or shaving supplies you plan to use. Keep a hand towel close by to wipe your hands (if you need to touch your phone) or face. Get your cozy towel out and set out a robe or PJs.

To prep your body, do a few minutes of dry brushing, or give your body a rub down with a massage bar. Pre-bath is a great time to apply a hair and/or face mask because you can rinse it off in the bath.

Step 3 | Fill Your Bathtub Halfway and Add the Bath Bomb—or Don’t!

Do you put the bath bomb in before you get in? Or after? That seems to be the question everyone asks! And the answer is it depends on the bath bomb or just your personal preference.

Team Dissolve First

Start filling the tub, adjusting the temperature as needed. When the tub is about half full, drop in the bomb.

It can be nice to add the bath bomb first if you’re trying out a new bath bomb or using one with dramatic colors. That way, you can stand back for a few seconds and watch it do its thing. Plus, this is the perfect time to take bath art photos.

You can wait for it to stop fizzing or hop in right away. If your bomb has bright colors or glitter, you might let the color completely disperse before getting in to avoid any staining.

Plus, if you’re using the bath bomb with something like a bubble bar, you’ll get more fizz and bubbles if you wait to get in.

Team Get In First

I’m a fan of getting in the tub and then adding the bath bomb. If your bath bomb is designed to moisturize, your skin has more time to soak up the softness while the bomb is melting.

And if your bath bomb is only one color (or you’ve seen its show already), feel free to get in first and enjoy it up close. Relax with a bath pillow and zone out while watching the bath art.

I find watching the bath bomb to be a good opportunity to work on mindfulness. You can focus on what your body is experiencing. How does the water feel, what colors do you see, and what scents are you picking up? It’s a great way to help yourself learn how to relax.

Step 4 | Relax

Now that the bath bomb has fizzled out, are you wondering what to do? Sometimes the hardest thing to do is relax and let yourself enjoy the experience! Think of it as a whole body experience for 30 to 60 minutes.

—Read a book or magazine

—Listen to music or a podcast

—Watch a show

—Zone out and do nothing

If you need a task:

—Do a face mask

—Exfoliate your whole body with a sugar scrub

—Do a hair mask

—Shave your legs

—Trim cuticles and scrub feet

When you’re done with the bath, hop out, lotion up, grab a warm cup of tea, and revel in the relaxation. You don’t need to shower or rinse off after. Ideally, you let the moisturizing contents of the bath bomb linger on your skin. If you want to wash your hair afterward (mine always ends up wet), tip your head into the water to just get your hair wet so you can avoid getting your body wet.

Step 5 | Clean the tub

I’ve learned the lesson that it’s best to take a minute after each bath to clean any lingering color, petals, or glitter. Just give everything a quick scrub with a washcloth and then rinse. It’s sooo much easier than letting the tub walls get grimy and gross.

Bath Bomb DIY Recipes

If you love bath bombs, you’ll be happy to know that you do not have to limit yourself to the options you have in your local shop – you can make your own—even Lush bombs! Here are some great recipes you can try.

1. Orange Bath Bomb

Ingredients

—1/2 cup citric acid

—1/2 cup cornstarch

—1 cup baking soda

—1-¼ cups Epsom salt

—2-½ tablespoons melted coconut oil

—1 tablespoon water

—1 tablespoon dried orange peel

—10 drops orange essential oil 

—1 tablespoon mica powdered soap dye 

—5 bath bomb molds

Instructions

1. Take a large bowl and mix the citric acid, mica powder, Epsom salt, baking soda, and cornstarch using a whisk. 

2. In a small bowl, mix your essential oil with some coconut oil that you melted, then add some water. Use a whisk for this too.

3. Pour your oil mixture into the dry ingredients very slowly. Stir and mash them until the mixture resembles wet sand. 

4. Take the mixture and add it into two mold halves. 

5. Twist the halves together to close them. Repeat with additional bath molds and remaining ingredients.

6. Let them dry for 24 hours. 

7. Remove the bath bombs from their molds, and then store them in an airtight container until you are ready to use them. 

2. Dried Flowers Bath Bomb

Ingredients

—1/2 cup Epsom salt

—1/2 cup citric acid 

—1 cup baking soda

—1 teaspoon essential oil of choice

—3/4 tablespoon water

—2 tablespoons oil

—Bath bomb molds

—Food coloring drops

—Dried flowers

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients.

2. Put all liquid ingredients into a jar. Close it with a lid and give it a proper shake. 

3. Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients, then mix and mold them using your hands. 

4. Add the mixture tightly into the molds. Twist the halves together to close them. Repeat with additional bath molds and remaining ingredients.

5. Let the bath bombs dry for 1–2 days. 

3. Coconut Bath Bomb

Ingredients

—1 cup citric acid

—2 cups baking soda

—1 tablespoon coconut milk powder

—1 teaspoon essential oil of choice

—2 tablespoons coconut oil

—Witch hazel as needed

—Bath bomb molds

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix the coconut milk powder, citric acid, and baking soda. 

2. Take a separate bowl and mix the coconut oil with your essential oil of choice. 

3. Take the liquid mixture and add it to the dry one, then mix with a whisk. 

4. With your hands, squeeze some of the mixture into a ball shape, and if it crumbles, add 3–5 witch hazel spritzes into your mixture and stir, then try again. Add the mixture tightly into the molds. Twist the halves together to close them. Repeat with additional bath molds and remaining ingredients.

5. Let the bath bombs air-dry for a few hours. Then put them in airtight packaging, and keep them there until you want to use them. 

Final Thoughts

Bath bombs can make your baths more relaxing. You can make your own bath bombs using one of these recipes and enjoy the full benefits of their ingredients.

Bath Bomb FAQs

References:

1. Malachi O. Effects of topical and dietary use of shea butter on animals. Am J Life Sci. 2014.

2. Ghavami T, et al. The effect of lavender on stress in individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2022.

3. Hongratanaworakit T. Relaxing effect of rose oil on humans. Nat Prod Commun. 2009.