I highly recommend slapping on a pair of rubber gloves while you make this–any residual moisture on your hands will make the salts fizz prematurely and if you have any tiny cuts or scratches or irritations on your hands, the straight-up citric acid isn’t going to make them feel better (don’t worry, it’ll be fine in the tub, partially because it’s diluted and partially because the fizzy reaction is actually the baking soda neutralizing the acid. Science, yo.)
Instructions
Pour the salts into a large and completely dry bowl. If you’re going to use food coloring, you’ll add it now. I actually like to make this without coloring. A fun idea if you’re not using food coloring is to put the plain white mixture in a pink jar! If you do want to add color (it’s super cute, pink) I don’t like to add a lot because I don’t want to cause any problems leaving a film on my or anyone’s tub. So maybe just go light on that. But do keep in mind that whatever color you have at this point will be diluted a bit since you’ve still got more ingredients to add. I went for a super pale pink in this batch. You’ll also add the essential oil at this point and mix in really well until completely combined.
Next you’ll add in the baking soda and the citric acid and mix until it’s completely combined. I like to use my hands, and I wear gloves. Transfer into containers. Note: I always keep these in glass jars. Someone commented that mixtures containing baking soda and citric acid can react and cause the glass to break or even explode if the mixture is introduced to moisture, which is good to know! I’ve never had that issue but I thought it was worth noting here to be aware, especially when stored in a bathroom where it could get wet. If you live in a particularly humid climate, or are worried about your ability to keep the mixture itself dry before using, it might be better to put in a breathable container, or plastic.
To use: You can use 1-2 cups of these salts if you’re doing a therapeutic epsom salt bath (epsom salts are actually a form of magnesium and, when you soak in them, some of the magnesium absorbs through your skin. Magnesium is great for aches, sprains, bruises, muscle cramps, and relaxation. Funny side note: I am a terrible sleeper and my doctor had me start taking a magnesium supplement at night. After a year of every prescription and over-the-counter sleep medication on the market, it is the only thing that helps me fall asleep and stay asleep, plus I don’t send weird texts or buy $300 worth of stuff from Etsy like when I take Ambien.) If you’d rather just add something fun and yummy-smelling to your bath, you can just use a few tablespoons.
Tie a cute string around it and add a label and you’ve got cute gifts for all your girlfriends!
