Do you love baths? For someone who loves bath, you must be familiar with the new craze called ‘bath bomb’. They are scented, frizzy and fun, but are they good for the skin? While some ingredients like oils in bath bombs are good for the skin, others can be irritating.

“The major ingredients in bath bombs are usually sodium bicarbonate and citric acid which cause the soap to effervesce. In addition, it may also have essential oils and cleansers. Sometimes the soap bombs have additives like SLS, fragrances, dyes or other agents which can irritate the skin. If the bomb is diluted in large quantities of water then these agents get diluted and may not irritate the skin. However, if a small quantity of water is used then a higher concentration of the additives may cause an irritant reaction and some rash on the skin,” Dr. Sirisha Singh, Dermatologist explained.

So, if your skin is sensitive, you might want to skip the bomb altogether. Even though the insta-worthy bath bombs are great for a sensory experience, you might want to try something more natural. Here’s how to DIY your own bath bomb at home if your skin is prone to problems.

Ingredients you will need

1. Don’t you love the fizz and foam when the bomb hits the water? For that, you will need a cup of baking soda.
2. Take half a cup of citric acid for the soap to effervesce.
3. The next ingredient is cornstarch. Take half a cup of cornstarch to give your skin that silky, soft feeling.
4. You will need half a cup of Epsom salt, also known as magnesium sulfate. This ingredient is great to ease muscle pain, treat skin problems such as acne.
5. 4 tablespoons of almond oil as a natural skin moisturizer. You can also use argon oil or olive oil if you want.
6. You will need 20-30 drops of essential oil to add a therapeutic value to the bath bombs. Try mixing lavender, vanilla and lemon to add a nice fragrance to the bath bomb.

How to make a bath bomb?

• Mix baking soda, Epsom salt, citric acid and cornstarch in a bowl. You can add dried flowers for that much-needed fragrance. Mix it thoroughly so that there are no clumps left.
• Mix essential and other oils in a spray bottle. Smell it to check if you are satisfied with the scent. You can also add some vanilla to add fragrance. But do not add more than 4-6 drops of these extra ingredients.
• Now, it is time to mix things up and let the magic begin. Add a couple of spoons of wet ingredients (step 2) and begin to mix it in the bowl of dry ingredients (step 1). Don’t let the citric acid fizz too much.
• Once it reaches a damp consistency, take it in your hands and make a sphere-like shape. This should be done as fast as you can.
• Now, press the mixture into silicon moulds of your choice. Leave them for a couple of hours or an entire day before your personal spa session.
• Throw the bomb into the bathtub and let it fill your bath with different colours and fragrances.