5 DIY Bath Recipes to Transform Your Tub into a Spa

Bath bombs are easy to make and even easier to use. Simply create a batch of bath bombs, and drop one into the tub every time you take a bath. They’ll fizz up like your favorite glass of bubbly, soothing the skin.

Ingredients: (makes 6-10 bath bombs)

• 1 Cup Baking Soda
• ½ Cup Citric Acid
• 2 Tbsp. Jojoba Oil
• 5 drops of peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil
• 5 Drops of Lemon Essential Oil
• 1 Tbsp. Witch Hazel

Directions:

1. Combine baking soda and citric acid in a large mixing bowl
2. Add jojoba oil and essential oils while mixing until smooth
3. Add witch hazel while consistently stirring to stop the ingredients from fizzing
4. Once ingredients are moist, roll together, pressing firmly into molds (cookie cutters work best)
5. Allow bombs to dry for three to four hours before removing from molds
6. Drop in one to two bath bombs into a warm bath and relax!

Recipe courtesy of Indie Lee

If you have wilting roses left over after Valentine’s Day, this DIY recipe is perfect to make sure they don’t go to waste. Since rosewater is a natural anti-inflammatory and packed with antioxidants, your skin will thank you.

1. Boil water in a saucepan.
2. Turn off heat but leave water on the stove.
3. Add rose petals to hot water, slightly pushing petals against the pan with the back of a spoon in order to bruise them and release their natural oils.
4. Let mixture cool and remove half of the petals to separate bowl. Grind petals to a paste; return the mixture to the saucepan and let sit for an hour.
5. Strain mixture, making sure to squeeze as much liquid from the petals as possible.
6. Add in lavender essential oil, and pour mixture into tub.

If the above seems like too much work, simply throw all the petals into your bath for a subtler feel and more dramatic look. Just beware that clean up might get messy!

Recipe Courtesy of Indie Lee

From bug bite relief to a hair volumizer, epsom salt has a variety of benefits. For athletes it can be especially beneficial due to it’s anti-inflammatory properties, making it perfect to help relieve sore muscles after an extra tough workout. Epsom salt is known to give immediate cold and flu relief since it eases muscle aches and promotes restorative sleep. Try Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt Soaking Solution for a soothing sensation.

1.  Add two cups of Epsom salt to a bathtub of hot water.
2. Let yourself soak for at least 12 minutes, and repeat two to three times a week for maximum benefits.

Recipe courtesy of Dr. Teals

Jamie Ahn, Founder and Creative Director of Townhouse Spa in New York, formulated this bath recipe as a lavish exfoliator to brush on your skin while taking a bath in order to soften skin. The sugar in this recipe will slough away dead skin, and the oregano’s anti-bacterial healing properties will help protect your immune system during the harsh winter months.

1.  In a bowl, combine one cup granular sugar and a half a cup of warmed olive oil.
2. If you have oil of oregano, use 30 drops. If you have fresh or dried oregano, use six tablespoons.
3. Blend ingredients together until you have a paste-like consistency; add olive oil if needed. Use as a scrub on your skin and then wash off.

Recipe courtesy of Jamie Ahn

To really infuse your skin with vitamins and minerals, try a dried herb bath to soothe, soften and stimulate healthy skin regeneration. Gather dried herbs from your local health food store, and mix thoroughly. Spoon about six or six tablespoons of the blend into a white muslin bag to use during your bath (kind of like a tea bag!).

Ingredients:

•  Lemongrass
•  Lemonbalm
• Chamomile
• Alfalfa
• Lavender
• Calendula
• Spearmint
• Fennel

Separately, mix together:

• 1 cup powdered milk
• 1 cup Epsom salts
• 1/2 cup baking soda

Once thoroughly blended, drop in three to five drops of your favorite relaxing essential oil; we’d recommend lavender or rose. (You’ll use all of this in one bath, but you can make this in bulk and store it in a dark, dry place for future use.)

Finally, run hot water, and pop in one tea bag and your salt mixture towards the beginning. Allow it to fully dissolve before you getting in the water. Enjoy your aromatic experience!

Recipe courtesy of Tata Harper