Best Self Care Ideas At Home + How To Make Bath Bombs
Learn how to make bath bombs at home and grab this list of self care ideas that you can do from the comfort of your home. You deserve some self care and these are the BEST ways to do so! We even have some fun DIY apothecary jars for you to make. Let’s get started!
One thing this year has shown me is that I really love being at home! I have always been a homebody and this past year forced me to slow down and enjoy the little things more often. One of the things I started doing was making bath bombs! I have developed the BEST bath bomb recipe and I’m sharing it with you now!! These bath bombs leave your skin feeling silky soft and amazing. They soothe and nourish skin while giving you an amazing self care experience that you will look forward to at the end of a long day!
First, we are going to make the most AMAZING DIY apothecary jars though! Then we will make bath bombs to put in our jars and finally, we will go over my favorite self care ideas!
How To Make Bath Bombs
I have made a LOT of bath bombs to find the perfect recipe. Some never fizzed. Some didn’t leave my skin feeling soft. Some just plopped into the tub and didn’t do anything! After MUCH trial and error, this is my favorite bath bomb recipe. It fizzes, leaves skin feeling soft and moisturized and smells amazing too! The best part? They are ALL NATURAL!! No icky chemicals or toxins in these bath bombs. They make the perfect self care idea and they also double as the BEST self care gifts.
These fresh orange vanilla bath bombs are perfect for spring and summer!! The vibrant scent will leave you feeling pampered and blissful.
Bath Bomb Recipe
Supplies
Here is what you’ll need to make these Orange Vanilla bath bombs
- bath bomb mold (I used the largest size in this mold set)
- 1.5 cups baking soda
- 1 cup citric acid (I use this citric acid)
- 1/2 cup coconut oil (this is the brand I use)
- 20 drops essential oil (I used orange and vanilla oils)
- optional: orange mica powder for coloring
Directions
In a large bowl, combine baking soda and citric acid together and mix well.
Add coconut oil and essential oils and work together, using your hands. I like to wear gloves for this part!
Once the mix is the consistency of wet sand and starts to stick together it is ready to mold into bath bombs.
Use half of the mold and scoop up a heaping scoop of the mixture. Repeat with the other half of the mold. Don’t pack them in, just let them be heaping. Then, press the two halves together and give them a gentle twist to lock them together. Brush away any excess mixture that came out the sides.
Carefully open up the mold and see if your bath bomb is formed enough to remove from the mold. You may need to let it sit for a few minutes and firm up. We usually take them out right away though. It will depend on the consistency of your mixture.
If needed, you can add extra dry ingredients or coconut oil depending on if your mixture is too dry or too wet. This will vary depending on your local climate.
Remove onto a tray and allow to sit undisturbed for 24 hours or until dry and firm. Store in a glass container for up to 6 mos. We will be making the glass container next!
*Print this recipe at the bottom of this page*
Now we need a gorgeous glass jar to store those amazing bath bombs in! Let’s make our own inexpensive DIY apothecary jars! I feel like crafting is a form of self care. It isn’t often that I allow myself the time to be creative and create things that bring me joy. Crafting does that. Crafting = Self Care! This only applies if you enjoy crafting though 😉
I picked up all of the supplies for this project at Hobby Lobby and of course, I waited until they went on 50% off sale! If they aren’t on sale when you go just wait a week and they probably will be on sale.
I picked out some gorgeous farmhouse style candle holders in varying heights. I also chose three different glass jars which were also half price. You’ll also need some E6000 glue.
Use the E6000 glue to attach each of the glass jars to a wood candle base. These will make your apothecary jars complete! The candle bases give them height and I love the mixed medium of wood and glass together. It’s beautiful! Allow to dry according to package instructions.
Now we are ready to add some gorgeous kraft paper labels to our apothecary jars to finish them up.
I used my Cricut Joy to make these writable labels. It’s super useful because my handwriting isn’t my favorite. I love that the Cricut Joy will write and cut the labels so all I have to do is stick them on!
Apothecary Label Supplies
You’ll need the following supplies for this Cricut Joy project:
- Cricut Joy
- Cricut Joy Smart Label Writable Paper
- Cricut Joy tool set
- Cricut 0.4mm fine point black pen
Making these labels on your Cricut Joy is SO easy!
First, grab the free project template in Design Space here.
Adjust the size as needed for your own jars.
Click to “Make” and then follow the on screen prompts to put the Cricut pen in first and then the blade. It will write first and then cut.
If you’ve never done a write and cut project then this is a great first project to try. It’s super easy and done for you already!
Now use your weeding tool to remove the little strip of paper cut between the inner and outer cuts as shown in the photo.
After I finished weeding each label, I then peeled back one side of the paper and stuck it onto the jar. I then used my scraper tool to gently push it down as I peeled away the backing, making sure there were no air bubbles as I went.
Repeat for all three jars.
Now your apothecary jars are finished! Fill them with your homemade bath bombs and use them in your bathroom.
Alternatively, you can use these apothecary jars as decor anywhere in your home depending on what you fill them with! Fill with candy for hosting a party.
These also make great self care gift ideas! I would LOVE if someone surprised me with one of these jars filled with natural bath bombs!!
Aren’t these apothecary jars the cutest?!
Print Bath Bomb Recipe
Print the recipe below and save it for when you make your bath bombs!
Vanilla Orange Natural Bath Bombs
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups baking soda
- 1 cup citric acid
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 20 drops essential oil I used vanilla and orange
- mica powder optional for coloring
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine baking soda and citric acid together and mix well.
- Add coconut oil and essential oils and work together, using your hands. I like to wear gloves for this part!Once the mix is the consistency of wet sand and starts to stick together it is ready to mold into bath bombs.
- Use half of the mold and scoop up a heaping scoop of the mixture. Repeat with the other half of the mold. Don't pack them in, just let them be heaping. Then, press the two halves together and give them a gentle twist to lock them together. Brush away any excess mixture that came out the sides.
- Carefully open up the mold and see if your bath bomb is formed enough to remove from the mold. You may need to let it sit for a few minutes and firm up. We usually take them out right away though. It will depend on the consistency of your mixture. If needed, you can add extra dry ingredients or coconut oil depending on if your mixture is too dry or too wet. This will vary depending on your local climate.
- Remove onto a tray and allow to sit undisturbed for 24 hours or until dry and firm. Store in a glass container for up to 6 mos.
Self Care Ideas
If you enjoyed making these fun projects then congrats! You just took the first step to having a self care routine! Having a self care routine simply means that you set aside time for yourself each day or each week to do something that brings you joy and helps you relax. For me that is usually taking a hot bath with one of my homemade bath bombs while I read a book. It’s my favorite thing to do! Here are some more ideas:
- reading a book
- meditating
- journaling
- going on a walk outdoors
- listening to a podcast or audible while comfy in your favorite chair
- taking a bath with a book or magazine
- enjoying coffee or tea with a good book
- doing a facial scrub or sugar scrub
- spending time crafting
All of these are great ideas to start doing some self care. It is important to nurture your physical health, spiritual health and emotional health. The rewards in doing so will be evident.
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