Homemade bath bombs are a breeze to make, and easy treat that you or your tween can enjoy, or a fabulous DIY gift idea for friends, teachers, and neighbors. Made from common, budget- and planet-friendly ingredients most of which you probably already have at home, this bath bomb recipe with a glow in the dark twist is even more special!

Bath bombs are HUGELY popular for self-care and at-home relaxation. Fizzy Bath Bombs like these make bath time relaxing for adults and great fun for kids!

While you can buy bath bombs at a store for $3.50+ a piece, this homemade Bath Bomb Recipe makes it easy for you to treat yourself to luxury at home much more affordably.

And as anyone with tweens can probably tell you, bath bombs are a HOT commodity!

But First – Love Kid-Friendly DIY Projects? Grab These Too!

What are Bath Bombs?

Given that you can find bath bombs in displays in practically every store (and grocery store), if you've never seen them, then I have to assume you've been living under a rock.

And if you HAVE been living under that rock and don't know what bath bombs are, they're are hard-packed balls of dry ingredient mixtures that bubble and fizz when wet.

They make bath time extra fun!

And normally you find them in single colors or maybe a mix of a couple of colors. But today, I have a recipe for you to make DIY glow in the dark bath bombs!

DIY Bath Bombs for the Win

Now here's the thing. When you buy bath bombs, they can contain a bunch of unknown and unwanted ingredients including artificial colors and fragrances. AND you're paying a lot of money for that on top of it.

OR, you can make them yourself and know EXACTLY what's in them – and save a TON of money in the process.

Plus, since they're in such high demand, you can make them as easy DIY gifts…or even items that your kids can sell for a fundraiser!

They're Super Easy to Make

Companies want you to think that you can't make many things on your own, because that's how they make money, right?

And I admit that I've fallen into that trap much more than I'd like to admit – even with bath bombs!

But there's actually SUPER easy – and even fun – to make! And if you have kids, they'll love to watch them fizz away in the bath.

Use this step-by-step tutorial to make your own homemade bath bombs!

Ingredients Needed for this Bath Bomb Recipe

• Baking soda – the base of this recipe and the one that reacts most for that nice fizzy reaction. Baking soda is SO useful for so many household purposes, that it's totally worth buying it in bulk.
• Citric Acid – a natural ingredient in citrus fruit, citric acid mixed with the baking soda, is what makes the fizzy reaction.
• Epsom Salt – a.k.a. magnesium sulfate. It works wonders as a soak for sore muscles.
• Cream of Tartar – activates the baking soda to help create that fizzy fun as well as provides integrity to your bath bomb recipe.
• Mica Powder: a natural soap colorant used to add color to your bath bombs (or other DIY beauty recipes).
• Cosmetic glitter – totally optional, but I include it for fun color and sparkle in this recipe.
• Coconut Oil: this is the liquid that holds your bath bombs together. You could use Almond oil if you prefer.
• Polysorbate 80 – an emulsifier used to ensure the colors and essential oils and colors in your bath bombs disperse evenly in the bathwater so they don't pool on top. It also keeps the mica and oils from clinging to the tub, making it super slippery.
• Essential Oils – they're optional in bath bombs but add a pleasant fragrance to your bath. You can 100% skip them if you prefer. I use cardamom in this recipe, but you can use other scents such as lavender or tea tree oil if you want to.

Tools Needed

• Stainless steel bath bomb molds or silicone molds
• Spray bottle filled with Rubbing Alcohol
• 1 large mixing bowl
• 6 small bowls
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons

Optional Items

• Mini muffin tin (optional)
• Rubber gloves
• Plastic bath bomb molds (if giving away)

More DIY Projects You'll Love

• Holiday DIY Soap Bar: Sparkling Snowflake Soap Gift Idea
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Important Notes & Tips

You probably already have most of the ingredients for this project already. If not, they're all items I recommend stocking up on because they can be used in MANY other recipes and other ways around the house.

Storing Your Bath Bombs

You can store them in an airtight container for up to six months. Another option is to wrap them in plastic wrap.

If you want to get really fancy, you can use shrink wrap sleeves to wrap your bath bombs. Heat them with a blow dryer or heat gun to shrink the wrap around your homemade bath bombs.

How to Use a Bath Bomb

Wondering how to even use a bath bomb? I couldn't be EASIER!

When you're ready to use it, simply drop it in water and let it fizz and dissolve. It should take about 30 seconds or up to a minute for it to dissolve completely.

Customize it

Feel free to play with essential oils and mica powder to customize different looks and scents.

Love Kid-Friendly DIY Projects? Grab These Fun Projects Too!

How to Make Homemade Bath Bombs

Follow these step-by-step instructions, and before you know it, you'll have your own incredible bath bombs at home!

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, add the baking soda, citric acid, cream of tartar and Epsom salts and whisk together.

Step 2

Add the coconut oil. This binds all the ingredients together, so your bath bombs don’t crumble when you touch them!

Also add the polysorbate 80, which helps disperse the colorant and helps it not stick to the tub. [*The polysorbate 80 is mixed in with the coconut oil in the supplies picture.]

Step 3

Add in essential oil.

Step 4

Add in cosmetic glitter.

Step 5

Mix everything together thoroughly. You may need to use your hands to break down any lumps and make sure everything is mixed in.

The mixture is ready when it holds together as you press it into your hands and feels like wet sand.

Step 6

Separate mixture into 6 small bowls.

Step 7

Add 1 tablespoon of each mica powder into each small bowl. Mix in thoroughly. If you want a darker color, add in an additional tablespoon of color.

Step 8

Fill both sides of the mold with the mixture, until slightly overflowing. If the mixture gets dry while making your bath bombs, mix in a spritz or two of the rubbing alcohol.

Step 9

Press molds together and grind to remove excess mixture.

Step 10

Gently tap each side of the mold to release the bombs. To avoid the bombs breaking during the drying phase, I put them in a mini muffin tin. They fit perfectly!

Allow to dry for a minimum of 24 hours. If your climate is wet or cold, allow an additional 24 hours. My rule of thumb is that when it is hard to the touch, they are ready for the tub! Store in an airtight container until ready for use.

There you go! I hope you love this bath bomb recipe! I KNOW the kids will whether they help make it or just enjoy using it!

Love Kid-Friendly DIY Projects? Grab These Fun Projects Too!

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