Do you love to fill your bathtub full of hot water and bubbles after a long day at work? Or perhaps when you’ve been stressed and just need a break? This recipe for natural bubble bath is a great way to let the cares of the day be soaked away.
If you haven’t checked out some of the labels on store-bought bubble bath, maybe you should! They often contain sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium chloride and cocamidopropylamine oxide. Do you even know what any of these ingredients are or what they do?
Here’s a great rule to live by: if you can’t pronounce ingredients, then you shouldn’t be using them. After all, your skin is the largest organ of your body so you want to make sure that what comes into contact with it isn’t harmful. This bubble bath gives you the peace of mind to know that you’re using natural, non-harmful ingredients.
Castile soap is made with 100 percent olive oil, lye and water. It is a vegetable soap that does not have any animal fats in it like other soaps do, therefore it is considered vegan. It is thought to have originally come from a region in Spain called Castile.
Castile soap contains no harsh or synthetic ingredients. It does not have any skin irritating colorants, preservatives or any other additives. For these reasons, you can use Castile soap for many things, from cleaning your patio furniture to scrubbing down your car.
Vegetable glycerine is an odorless, clear liquid produced from the oils of plants. Usually it comes from coconut oil, soy or palm oil.
Many products that we use everyday include vegetable glycerin, like lotions, shampoo and toothpaste. It is added to the products because it helps skin retain its moisture and leaves it feeling hydrated.
I don’t know about you, but my skin tends to run dry year round. Therefore, when I soak in a tub with Castile soap and vegetable glycerine, I can be sure my skin is getting some much-needed moisture. Plus, the soap will not dry my skin like other store bought soaps tend to do.
Lavender essential oil
We all know that lavender essential oil helps to calm and relax you. In addition, many herbalists use lavender oil to treat skin ailments including fungal infections, wounds, eczema and even acne. A study published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology found that lavender could be very effective for combating the incidence of antifungal-resistant infections. The research revealed that it has a potent antifungal effect against strains of fungi that are responsible for common skin and nail infections.
Peppermint essential oil
If you want an essential oil to give you a boost or more energy, choose peppermint.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is a highly fragrant herb that is actually a hybrid cross between watermint and spearmint. For centuries, this herb has been held in high esteem due to its healing effects and aromatic properties.
Adding peppermint essential oil to a bath has been shown to help relieve headaches, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. It is also used to reduce itching and inflammation from hives and dermatitis.
Simple DIY All Natural Bubble Bath
Feel free to substitute any of your favorite oils in this recipe. It’s totally up to you and what mood you are in at the moment! Let’s get to mixing.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup Castile soap
- 1/2 cup vegetable glycerine
- 1/2 cup water
- 20 drops lavender essential oil
- 20 drops peppermint essential oil
- 20 drops of your choice of essential oil
Equipment
- 16 oz pump bottle with a lid
Instructions
1. Combine all ingredients into pump bottle and put the lid on tight.
2. Shake it up well — you will need to do this before each time you use it.
3. Run a warm bath with as much bubble bath as you’d like.
Relax and enjoy!
— Leilani Hampton
