An all-encompassing guide to a clean and green bubble bath
We see you. You’re out there everyday hustling to make this world a better place. You work hard, you’re a natural caretaker, and guess what – you’ve earned a little “you” time. That’s why we’re helping you learn to create the ultimate self care experience: a bubble bath!
So you don’t have to go to an expensive spa, or cancel your weekend plans to engage in a little self-care. That’s what makes bubble baths so ideal: you can enjoy total relaxation in the privacy and comfort of your own home.
But before you drop that shimmering, unnaturally colored bath bomb into your tub: let’s go over some key points! If you’re not sure how to make bubble bath time perfect, we’ll share tips for creating a totally clean, safe, and risk-free bubble bath experience.
1) Make Sure the Tub is Squeaky Clean
There’s nothing more unsavory than sitting in a tub that looks like veggie broth. OK, so your tub may not be that bad, but you’ll still want to make sure it’s free of any harmful microbes and germs.
Before you get in the mood to relax, do a little meditative cleaning with all-natural ingredients. After all, you’re going to be sitting in the water. What’s the point of killing germs if you’re just going to replace them with harsh chemicals?
We recommend cleaning your bathtub with a 50/50 vinegar and water solution. Use a clean microfiber cloth or a fresh sponge to remove soap scum and kill bacteria. When you’re done, give your bathtub a good rinse to wash away the vinegar scent.
2) Use a Safe Bath Bomb
Before you jump into the bubbles, make sure your bath bomb is free of any chemicals that might be harmful to your skin.
Here are a few ingredients to avoid:
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS/SLES) – This surfactant may be intended to create bubbles and clean your skin during bath time, but it’s actually quite harsh. In fact, scientists use it during lab testing as a control. They literally compare other chemicals against SLS/SLES to measure how irritating it is to the skin. You don’t want to be sitting in a tub full of that!
- Synthetic Fragrances & Colors – A common ingredient in bubble bath is the relaxing scent of… chemicals? While they may smell nice, synthetic fragrances and colors often contain phthalates: chemicals used to melt PVC pipe. Manufacturers are not required to tell you what’s in synthetic fragrances, so you should probably steer clear of them altogether.
Synthetic colors are typically coal tar derivatives and petroleum by-products, which have contamination concerns. They’re always on our “no” list. - Propylene Glycol – This is an ingredient used to make your skin feel silky smooth after bath time, but it’s actually pretty hard on your skin – especially if you have atopic dermatitis (excessively dry skin or eczema). Since a relaxing soak envelopes your whole body, we don’t recommend using products with this ingredient.
- PEGs – Often used to create extra bubbles, PEGs are known irritants and should be avoided.
- Glitter – You’ve seen those sparkly glitter bath bombs: the kind that look like the love-children of cotton candy and jawbreakers. If you’ve ever done arts and crafts, you know glitter gets everywhere… and it’s a nightmare to clean up. It’s no different with glitter in bath bombs.
Glitter hides in skin folds and can cause micro-abrasions in sensitive areas. You want to know how to make a bubble bath that cleanses and soothes – not cuts you and makes a mess. - Salts – Sodium chloride, or salt, is known to dry out skin. What’s more, it can alter the natural pH levels in your vaginal area. Bottom line: avoid sitting for too long in bath salts. They might smell nice, but it’s not worth the risk.
3) Set the Mood with Scent
Fortunately, you’re not completely out of luck when it comes to a relaxingly fragrant bubble bath. How to make bubble bath bliss, you ask? Start with the aromatherapeutic ambiance. Go ahead and bring your essential oil diffuser into the bathroom. Or better yet, use a drop or two of nutrient-rich organic essential oils like lavender or jojoba oil for a nourishing and therapeutic boost.
4) Find the Right Temp
This part is one of the most important! We go about our daily lives adjusting to various temperatures without a thought about what they might be doing to our skin. In the case of how to make a bubble bath, you’re in complete control – and that’s therapeutic in itself!
You’ll want to find a temperature that is warm enough to stay comfortable in for 20-25 minutes, but not too hot. While hot water might feel like it’s bringing all the blood flowing to your skin – which is indeed a good thing – warm water will accomplish that cardiovascular encouragement without drying out your skin. In the long run, exposure to water that’s too hot saps your skin of essential lipids that keep it plump and moisturized.
And you don’t want to use water that’s only luke-warm or even cold, because where’s the fun in that?
5) Set Your Timer
As we mentioned above, you’ll want to set your timer to 20-25 minutes. This is enough time to receive the calming, self-loving benefits of a bubble bath without putting your body at risk.
The fact of the matter is that it’s difficult to know how to make a bubble bath that is 100% safe. In case you decide to go with a glittery bath bomb, you should only stay in the tub for enough time to achieve maximum relaxation.
Sitting in any kind of soap for too long can alter the pH down there and invite bacteria to a warm and snuggly place to call home. You don’t want to step out of the tub and into the urgent care because of a urinary tract infection, that’s for sure.
Anyway, after 20-25 minutes, the water will be cooling and your skin will begin pruning. Know when it’s time to go!
6) Moisturize When You’re Done
You might feel like you just got a hydrating, skin-loving soak, but it’s important to lock in that moisture while you’re nice and clean to really appreciate its benefits. Plus, it’s a little extra self-care, and self-care is self-love. Go ahead, show your skin some love!
After you get out of the tub, pat yourself dry with your freshest, fluffiest towel. It’s OK if you’re still a little wet – that moisture will help keep your skin sponge-like so your moisturizer can really do its thing.
Gently massage your moisturizer into your skin. We recommend using a thicker moisturizer for your hands and feet, and a gentle non-comedogenic moisturizer for your face. You can even make your own for a totally custom moisturizing experience.
Final Thoughts on How to Make a Bubble Bath?
Our goal is to provide you with all the information you need to feel safe, healthy, and beautiful – and we definitely understand your need for relaxation. If you follow our tips, you’ll have even less to worry about!
For the best results, always be sure to research the ingredients listed on your bath and beauty products – because as we deeply believe here at FreeBunni, knowledge is power!
