Helloooo and Happy February!
So, my latest obsession is taking baths. Partially because it’s frigid out, partially because the epsom salts I add to my baths draw out Lyme toxins, mostly because they are sooo relaxing. It’s safe to say I’ve dropped a pretty penny on bath bombs in the past few years so I decided to take a stab at making my own. I found this recipe on Wellness Mama’s blog and adapted it a little bit. Try it for yourself if you’d like!
You can make these bath bombs just in time for Valentine's Day. If you’re spending the night solo (or with a loved one!) this is a great way to indulge and treat yourself on what can sometimes be an overwhelming and emotional day. It bothers me that Valentine’s Day is marketed to those of us that are paired off. Why do couples get to have all the fun, right? I’ve personally always loved February 14th. In elementary school we got to make tissue box mailboxes and everybody would get a valentine no matter what. We had big classes where I grew up so I got up to 35 one year. In middle school my girlfriends and I used to get each other romantic gifts like roses that sang and a box of heart shaped chocolates so we wouldn’t feel left out.
A lot of people hate on Valentine’s Day because it’s a made up holiday. So why celebrate it? Well, I’m definitely not one to complain because I love any excuse to celebrate love! I do however believe there needs to be more attention put on single peeps too. V-Day is a day of love right? So why NOT practice unapologetic self-love on this day in every way possible? You don’t have to be left in the sad Necco heart message dust. If you don’t have plans on February 14th consider spending an evening of indulgence with yourself. Cook a gourmet dinner, grab your favorite book or turn on a rom com, paint your nails, give yourself an Ayurvedic self-massage, smear on a face mask or hell a whole body mask and take a luxurious bubble bath. Also, you totally don’t have to be alone - call your girlfriends over for a proper Galentine’s Day, Parks and Recreation style.
If you decide that a bath is in your future try out this bath bomb recipe (or go buy one at Lush). And if you want to be extra like me you can add bubbles, rose petals, thin slices of citrus, or 1/2 cup of raw oats to your bath, light a candle, turn on chakra meditation music or Alt-J, sit back and relaxxxxx.
Luscious Bath Bomb Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 (unscented) epsom salt or himalayan pink salt
3/4 cup cornstarch (ideally organic)
2 tbsp oil of choice (I like fractionated coconut oil or olive oil)
2 tsp witch hazel (or water or rose water) plus a little more if needed
1 tsp vanilla extract (or more water)
30-40 drops of essential oils (I like a combo of lavender, rose and jasmine)
Optional: dried herbs like rose, chamomile, hibiscus or lavender
Tools
Heart silicone mold or muffin mold or donut mold
Mixing bowl
Spray bottle
Instructions
Combine dry ingredients (baking soda, salt, citric acid, and cornstarch) in a large bowl and mix well until combined. Add optional dried herbs at this stage.
In a small bowl, combine the oil, witch hazel and vanilla extract and stir well. Add essential oils.
Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients a few drops at a time. Mix well with hands (wear gloves if you have sensitive skin).
Mixture should hold together when squeezed without crumbling. You may need to add slightly more witch hazel if it hasn’t achieved this consistency yet. I recommend using a spray bottle with additional liquid to evenly add.
Quickly push mixture into molds (heart-shaped are adorable for Valentine’s Day), greased muffin tins, donut tins or any other greased container. Press in firmly and leave at least 24 hours (48 is better) or until hardened. It will expand some and this is normal. You can push it down into the mold several times while it is drying to keep it from expanding too much. Using the metal molds will create a stronger and more effective final bath bomb.
When dry, remove and store in airtight container or bag. Use within 2 weeks.
Voila!
Have you ever made bath bombs? Let me know if you end up making these! I’d love to see the final product. If you want more support and are interested learning self-care tips to keep yourself balanced I can help with that. You can schedule a complimentary call here and together we’ll find a program that works for your goals and your budget. XO.