Most of us have experienced the relaxation and stress relief that comes along with a proper, soothing bath. But some of us have taken this “me time” activity to a whole new level with the help of bath bombs.
If you’ve never heard of something called a “Bath Bomb”, we assure you there is nothing dangerous about them. Besides the original fizziness when thrown into your bath, you shouldn’t expect anything about this wonderful invention to explode.
Humans have been adding “stuff” to their baths for centuries. Ancient Romans and Greeks built elaborate bathhouses, which included in them a room in which perfumes and oils were massaged into the skin.
Luckily, times have changed and we don’t have to rely on some stranger to incorporate revitalizing oils and perfumes into our bath time. We can do it on our own, in the privacy of our own home with the help of bath bombs.
Who Invented the Bath Bomb?
One of the most vital effects that a bath bomb produces is aromatherapy. The idea of aromatherapy was invented by a French chemist by the name of René-Maurice Gattefossé. Apparently, Gattefossé burnt his hand in his laboratory one day and afterwards plunged it into a vat of lavender oil by accident instead of water.
Surprisingly, the lavender oil produced rapid healing effects on his hand, which drove him to researching the effects of essential oils on both the skin and the mind.
The modern bath bomb incorporates aromatherapy in its design along with many other revitalizing oils and minerals that help your skin, body, and mind relax and heal quickly. The invention of the first bath bomb was coined by Mo Constantine, one of the co-founders of Lush Retail LTD, in 1989.
Ever since then, the company has been producing various bath bombs with different soothing ingredients and mesmerizing colors.
What Are Bath Bombs Made Out of?
While there are dozens of different ingredients that can be found in each bath bomb and they vary amongst themselves greatly, there are two key components that are usually found in nearly every bath bomb on the market.
The two main ingredients are baking soda and citric acid. They are responsible for the fizzing action you see whenever you use a bath bomb. In addition to these two main ingredients you can also find Coconut Oil, Milk, Grape Seed oil, Shea Butter, or even Avocado oil in your bath bomb formula.
These ingredients are used to promote relaxation of the body and mind, to clean your skin from toxins and dirt that you might have accumulated throughout the day, and to strengthen and elasticize, resulting in silky and smooth skin.
It is also common to find some type of aromatherapy ingredient incorporated in each bath bomb to help with mental relaxation, for which lavender is very commonly used.
What Health Benefits Do Bath Bomb Ingredients Have on My Skin?
Answering this question might be somewhat difficult since each bath bomb has different ingredients in it, but what we can do is go over some of the most commonly used ingredients that are found in bath bombs.
While not all of these ingredients will be found in your specific bath bombs, we strongly suggest you try and look for bath bombs that do incorporate these some if not most of these ingredients since we know they can be highly beneficial for your skin health and also for your overall health.
Baking Soda and Citric Acid
Baking soda is found in nearly every single bath bomb out there, also known by its chemical name of bicarbonate of soda or sodium bicarbonate. Often this chemical is found in hot springs and mineral springs, already dissolved in the water from natural sources.
It has an excellent ability to smooth, clean, and detoxify the skin, as well as offer some deodorant like capabilities. It can also be used to help with indigestion and heartburn since it is an antacid.
Citric Acid is also used in pretty much every bath bomb out there. It’s a weak organic acid which many cosmetic companies use as a preservative. Fruits such as lemons and limes contain a huge amount of citric acid in them, which gives them such high praise.
This is because it’s capable of repairing your skin and fortifying blood vessels, resulting in significant reduction of aging effects. This weak acid is also capable of removing layers of damaged skin, which exposes the healthier skin underneath and in turn gives your complexion a much younger and cleaner look.
When dry, both of these ingredients are inactive, meaning that there is no chemical reaction that can occur without any water. But as soon as you throw both of these ingredients into a bath, a chemical reaction takes place.
This creates the fizzy effect in your bath whenever you throw the bath bombs into your bath water. This effect also allows the bath bomb to release other ingredients which are added to the bath bombs when they are made.
Shea Butter
First and foremost, shea butter has amazing moisturizing capabilities due to its high content of natural vitamins and fatty acids. This moisturizing capability helps remedy dry skin and ensures that your skin can retain its natural oils to keep it from going dry. Reducing inflammation is another fantastic property that Shea butter contains.
A compound found in Shea butter named lupeol cinnamate offers huge anti-inflammatory benefits and can help you fight acne problems with ease. Lastly, Shea butter is capable of strengthening your skin over time. Stearic, oleic, linolenic, and palmitic acids are found within Shea butter and can nourish your skin resulting in softer and stronger skin.
Olive oil
Surprisingly, olive oil has amazing effects on your skin as well. It contains vitamin E, polyphenols, and phytosterols, all of which are antioxidants which can reduce the effects of aging. Vitamin E plays a huge role in this anti-aging effect because it’s able to protect your skin against UV rays and restore your skin’s smoothness.
Olive oil is also used frequently in natural cosmetics because of its uncanny ability to cleanse the skin without clogging your pores, something that many commercial moisturizers usually fail at. The fatty acids which are found in olive oil are capable of balancing out the natural oils found in your skin and keep it from drying out.
Corn Oil
This ingredient, which is also commonly used in bath bombs, has the ability to improve your skin texture. Corn oil is a host to many different types of vitamins and mineral which can help your skin rejuvenate and look smooth and shiny again.
The antioxidants which are present in corn oil not only help your skin but can also make your hair stronger than ever before and even deter hair loss. Lastly, corn oil has amazing capabilities when it comes to combating cellulite.
Milk Powder
It might sound slightly strange at first, but using milk powder can do wonders for your skin. Milk powder can help you shed pigmented skin cells and reduce tanning, dark spots, and patches. The enzymes, proteins, and minerals found in milk were used to revitalize skin and reduce wrinkles.
If you have sensitive or sunburnt skin, milk can also help you recover. It can even help exfoliate dead skin around any cracked skin you might have on your body while rejuvenating the damaged skin in those specific areas.
Who Makes the Best Bath Bombs?
Since bath bombs have been around for a long time, many companies have realized the benefits of making and selling them. Recently, bath bombs have become the new craze and many have started using them frequently to rejuvenate their body and mind.
This sudden rise in popularity has produced a huge amount of new bath bomb brands. Deciding on the best one can be somewhat difficult, so we have compiled what we think are the best companies out there that produce bath bombs. Take a look and see which one of these is perfect for you.
Bath Bombs by LUSH Cosmetics
It makes perfect sense that the company which was co-founded by the inventor of the original bath bomb, Mo Constantine, is at the top of our list. But this isn’t the only reason why we are mentioning LUSH Cosmetics. They have been in business for a very long time and have earned the reputation and knowledge needed to produce some of the best bath bombs on the market.
LUSH Cosmetics offers a huge verity of different bath bombs. Some of the bath bombs they offer include the Dashing Santa Bath Bomb, the Guardian of the Forest Bath Bomb, the mystifying Intergalactic Bath Bomb, and many more interesting and creative products.
Rejuvelle Vegan and All Natural Bath Bombs
While the Rejuvelle company hasn’t been around for nearly as long as LUSH Cosmetics have, they are still one of the top bath bomb making companies out there. They are known for making products that incorporate gluten-free and non-GMO ingredients like cocoa butter, Shea butter and essential oils to ensure your skin is properly moisturized and revitalized.
They don’t have as many different options as other companies do, but their six bath bombs offer different experiences like peppermint to relieve sinus, eucalyptus for congestion relief, and vanilla for detoxification. They are also one of the least expensive companies on our list.
Oliver Rocket Bath Bombs
This company is known for making a few different products for your Home and Kitchen. Thankfully, a delightful 6 set of bath bombs is amongst one of their products. Their set comes with six extra-large bath bombs in the following awesome varieties: Lavender, Cucumber Melon, Moonlight Rose, Grapefruit Tangerine, Black Raspberry Vanilla, and Cool Water.
Just like Rejuvelle, Oliver Rocket decided to make their bath bombs with natural, organic, gluten-free, and vegan ingredients, which puts your mind at ease when wondering what ingredients are being used for these fantastic products. The price is pretty affordable as well, considering that the six-pack is extra-large.
Large Lush Bath Bomb Gift Set by Divine Botanics
Devine Botanics also decided to jump onto the whole bath bombs scene and produce some of the best bath bombs we have seen on the market. Yet again, with the help of organic ingredients, these bath bombs are able to revitalize your whole body and mind with relative ease.
The names of their different bath bombs are a bit more eccentric than others: Enchanted, Early Morning, Breathe Free, Bliss, Romantic, and Happy. But with a bit of imagination we are sure you can guess as to what type of an effect each of these bath bombs will have on you.
Bath Bombs Health Benefits Final Words
There are many natural products on the market that can help you rejuvenate your skin and help you relax mentally. Bath bombs aren’t an exception. Taking a hot bath by itself is already capable of offering relaxation and muscle tension relief.
You can take it even further by introducing bath bombs to your already rejuvenating bath. The release of all the nourishing minerals, vitamins, and ingredients will elevate your bath to the next level.
In addition to standard ingredients which are used in all bath bombs, some incorporate essential oils. These oils can release fragrances which have a fantastic effect on your mind. You will be able to de-stress and relax much easier with the help of these essential oils.
We urge you to take a few things into consideration when choosing the right bath bomb for you. First, you need to make sure that you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients that are found inside of bath bombs.
While most of these ingredients are natural and organic, there is a chance that you might have sensitivity to some of them, so double checking the ingredients label is always suggested.
Second, choose the bath bomb that you find the most alluring. The last thing we want is for you to be forced to smell the scent of something you don’t enjoy or have bad memories of. This can produce unwanted effects, so always make sure that the fragrance incorporated in your bath bomb of choice is one that you enjoy. Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of bath bombs.
Some offer mesmerizing colors while others are more single toned. Some might have a strong scent while others are softer and more calming. The best way to find out which ones you will like the most is to try them, but always remember to stay away from scents and colors that you already know you don’t enjoy.
