How To Make a Bubble Bath for the Perfect Escape
Looking for a way to relax at the end of the day? A bubble bath may be just what you need. Read on for our tips and natural recipes.
After a long day, a bath is a perfect way to unwind and calm your body and mind. Add some fun to your evening by filling the tub with bubbles to accompany the soothing warm water.
When it comes to making a bubble bath, you can choose between store-bought bubble baths (the moisturizing bath bombs or the detergents mixed with eucalyptus and bath salts), or you can opt for a homemade bubble bath using your own methods (that we’ll teach you more about here).
Of course, buying your bubbles at the store is the quickest option, but they may contain harsh ingredients that can harm your skin or the environment. For those with skin concerns, seeking a product marked for sensitive skin is a good idea. However, to fully control the ingredients you’re soaking in, creating your own bubble bath recipe is the best bet.
Luckily, the DIY version is fairly simple, so read on for the best tips we have to offer here at The Good Patch!
What Are the Benefits of Taking a Bath?
Before we dive into hot water and suds, let’s discuss the overall benefits of baths. Baths aren’t just for kiddos — there are compelling reasons for adults to awaken their inner child and make bath time a habit.
Mental and Emotional Health
Bath time can be the pinnacle of self-care when paired with your favorite playlist, essential oils, and a mug of chamomile tea.
For some of us, a nice warm bath is our way to relax before bed. It is one of the best environments for meditation, deep thinking, or just escaping our responsibilities for a while. Plus, who doesn’t love slipping into bed all fresh and clean?
Research suggests a link between warmth (around 104 degrees Fahrenheit) and improvements in mood. In addition, there is evidence that warm baths reduce stress hormones in our body, further helping our mood regulation.
If you need a little extra boost decompressing at the end of a long day, try our Relax patch for the ultimate chill after your bath.
Mend Aches and Pains
Along with mental well-being, switching out your daily shower for a bath every few days can help tend to soreness and make it easier to get your 30 minutes of exercise each day.
To squeeze out all the soothing properties of a bath, combine it with Epsom salt to calm all your aches and pains. Magnesium sulfate, commonly known as Epsom salt, is a naturally occurring mineral with wonderful benefits. Once you step out and dry off, pop on our Relief patch for some soothing comfort.
Do’s and Don’ts
While you start to figure out the best bath routine for you, here are a few do’s and don’ts to keep in mind:
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Don’t take a bath every day. Daily baths are much more likely to lead to dry skin.
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Don’t use bath products like Epsom salt daily. Doing so can also cause irritated and dry skin.
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Do keep the temperature of the bath water manageable. Turning up the temp too much runs the risk of burning yourself.
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Do find products that work for you. Everyone’s body reacts differently, so don’t worry if your first try doesn’t go well.
How To Make a Natural Bubble Bath
Science of Bubbles
The first thing to understand is, what exactly are bubbles? Without getting too deep into the nitty-gritty science of it, bubbles form because water sticks to itself in a sphere. Then air gets trapped in the water, forming larger spheres. Soap is a surfactant (meaning it sits on the surface) that works its way between water molecules to create a bubble.
To get the bubbliest bath, you’ll want to add your store-bought or DIY bubble bath directly to running water from the faucet. Generally, the higher the water pressure, the bigger the bubbles will be.
Basic Ingredients
Virtually every homemade bubble bath recipe you’ll find works with the same core natural ingredients:
- Water
- Soap
- Glycerin
To create the mixture, you’ll need around ¼ warm water, ½ cup liquid soap, and ¼ cup vegetable glycerin.
Many DIY recipes call for liquid castile soap since it contains healthy oils (such as olive oil and jojoba oil) and is nontoxic and biodegradable. Glycerin is a moisturizing agent often added to soap. If you have trouble finding it in stores, coconut oil is another great option.
Spice Up Your Bubble Bath
Once you’ve got the basics, you can start getting creative with your ingredients! The best thing about doing this all yourself is you can make it just how you want.
Here are our favorite additions to relax, relieve, and revitalize:
- Essential oils: Get your daily dose of aromatherapy by adding a few drops of chamomile or lavender essential oils.
- Other oils: For a little extra skin care, test out jojoba, vitamin E, or almond oil in the mix.
- Egg whites: Though it has no scientific research to back it, there is much anecdotal evidence that egg whites help make lots of bubbles.
- Honey: Staying on the food trend, honey has both aromatic and medicinal properties. It will leave you with a sweet smell and antibacterial and anti-inflammatory advantages.
- Coconut milk: Solely for textural benefit, coconut milk will make your bath richer and smoother in feel.
- Flower Petals: Fill your bathroom with pretty flowers and fragrances! Dry petals and other herbs, such as rose, hibiscus, and peppermint, are great additions.
- Aloe vera: A cooling and moisturizing plant, aloe vera is perfect for soothing your skin, especially after being out in the sun too long.
Wrapping It Up
Most importantly, have fun with your bubble baths! This is a time for you to unwind after a long day, so make the most of it.
If it works for you, try out our homemade recipe and give your skin a break from the harsher chemicals you might find in a store. Often the ingredients you need are even cheaper than the premade stuff.
Now set down your phone, tablet, or computer and enjoy a nice warm soak!
Sources:
4 Reasons to Take a Bath – Cleveland Clinic
Turn Up the Heat to Turn Down Depression? | University of Arizona
The Effect of Magnesium Sulfate on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness | TX State