So you want to learn how to make black bath bombs? Want to make your bath water black? I've got you!
Last year, black bath bombs blew up on Instagram (check out black bath bombs on Instagram here).
For the most part, black bath bombs are made black by their use of activated charcoal rather than black dye or soap coloring.
Activated charcoal has been used in traditional health care settings as something you take internally (you swallow it!) to help poisoning or overdose for basically forever (learn more about medical use of activated charcoal here).
It has recently become a popular skin care ingredient. Its purifying and detoxifying powers are thought to help improve oily skin, shrink pores, treat acne and more. (read more about common uses for charcoal in skin care products here)
If you suffer from backne or body acne, you may find that the activated charcoal in a bath bomb like this will help soothe your skin and help your skin find a healthy balance.
Lush released their black bath jelly bomb called Secret Arts in 2017 and people have been clamoring to figure out the Lush black bath bomb secrets ever since.
Here are answers commonly asked about making black bath bombs.
Absolutely! Activated charcoal is a common skin care ingredient using for its purifying, oil absorbing and detoxifying properties. When used in conjunction with polysorbate 80 (a derivative of sugar alcohol), the charcoal stays suspended in the water and able to work its magic on your skin.Last year, black bath bombs blew up on Instagram (check out black bath bombs on Instagram here).
For the most part, black bath bombs are made black by their use of activated charcoal rather than black dye or soap coloring.
Activated charcoal has been used in traditional health care settings as something you take internally (you swallow it!) to help poisoning or overdose for basically forever (learn more about medical use of activated charcoal here).
It has recently become a popular skin care ingredient. Its purifying and detoxifying powers are thought to help improve oily skin, shrink pores, treat acne and more. (read more about common uses for charcoal in skin care products here)
If you suffer from backne or body acne, you may find that the activated charcoal in a bath bomb like this will help soothe your skin and help your skin find a healthy balance.
Lush released their black bath jelly bomb called Secret Arts in 2017 and people have been clamoring to figure out the Lush black bath bomb secrets ever since.
Lush Secret Arts Bath Bomb. See it on the Lush website here.
|
Black Bath Bomb FAQ
Black bath bombs are a little different than a regular bath bomb, which is basically some variation of this easy bath bomb recipe with essential oils and soap dye (and maybe some extra bubbly ingredients) added.Here are answers commonly asked about making black bath bombs.
Can you use gel food coloring to make bath bombs?
Don't do it! I wouldn't use gel food coloring to make bath bombs in any scenario - but especially not for making black bath bombs.
Gel food coloring is very very concentrated and you really risk staining both your tub and skin if you use it in your bath products.
Gel food coloring is very very concentrated and you really risk staining both your tub and skin if you use it in your bath products.
For this recipe, the activated charcoal does a great job giving your bath water a nice black color while also being good for your skin and not staining you or your tub.
What is activated charcoal good for?
Activated charcoal is often used in health care settings to prevent poisoning or overdose. In skin care or bath products, activated charcoal is used to help absorb excess oil, detoxify, and promote healthy skin.
Can you bathe in activated charcoal?
What does polysorbate 80 do for bath bombs?
While it sounds like a scary ingredients, polysorbate 80 is derived from sugar alcohol and used in bath bombs to help ingredients stay well blended. For this bath bomb recipe, it means the tiny activated charcoal granules will stay suspended in the water instead of sinking to the bottom and creating sludge (ew).Soap Queen has an interesting write up about the use of polysorbate 80 to help keep charcoal from clumping up in bath bombs.
How do I make my bath water black?
With my awesome activated charcoal bath bombs, of course!
Scroll down to learn how to make the charcoal bath bombs. If you scroll all the way to the bottom, I have have a printable bath bomb recipe to make it easy to reference while you are working!
How do you make black bath bombs?
Read on, friends. The black bath bomb recipe is below!
Looking for more bath bomb recipes?
I have lots more homemade bath bomb recipes to share!
Get my full list of DIY bath bomb recipes here >> Bath Bomb Recipe List
Get my full list of DIY bath bomb recipes here >> Bath Bomb Recipe List
Activated Charcoal Bath Bomb Recipe
Supplies
Some of the links below may be affiliate links where a purchase made after clicking will support this website without costing you extra!
Some of the links below may be affiliate links where a purchase made after clicking will support this website without costing you extra!
- 2 cups baking soda
- 3/4 cup citric acid
- 1/4 cup SLSA (Sodium Laurel Sulfoacetate)
- 1/4 cup cream of tartar
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons polysorbate 80
- 10-20 drops of cardamom essential oil
- 10-20 drops of rosemary essential oil
- Activated charcoal powder
- Black decorative sugar (optional)
- Spray bottle of rubbing alcohol
- 1 large mixing bowl
- Bath Bomb Molds
Directions
How to Make Bath Bombs with Activated Charcoal STEP 1:
Add dry ingredients (except charcoal or sugar) to a large bowl and sift or whisk together.Pro Tip: The reason you use baking soda and citric acid is because their chemical reaction when water is added is what causes a bubbling effect!
How to Make Bath Bombs with Activated Charcoal STEP 2:
Add the cardamom essential oil.Cardamom essential oil has been thought to help reduce muscle spasms as well as act as a skin toner. Many essential oil enthusiasts claim it will give your skin a healthy glow.
Add the rosemary essential oil.
This is one of my favorite oils. It has so many benefits, including reducing muscle aches, increasing circulation, reducing stress and helping alleviate headaches.
(of course, essential oils are not drugs are not able to cure, treat or prevent any disease -- many people use them to support your body's natural processes)
How to Make Bath Bombs with Activated Charcoal STEP 3:
Add your coconut oil and polysorbate 80.Polysorbate 80 helps keep the charcoal suspended in the water and from sticking to your tub. It also combines with the other ingredients to make your bath bomb extra bubbly!
How to Make Bath Bombs with Activated Charcoal STEP 4:
Add the activated charcoal powder to your bath bomb mixture.BE CAREFUL! This stuff is like cornstarch in that it can get everywhere if you are in a hurry.
I also suggest wearing gloves if you are going to use your hands to mix your ingredients together.
Whisk the charcoal in gently. Add as much as you like to get the color you want.
Of course, the more you add, the darker your bath water will be when using your bath bomb.
How to Make Bath Bombs with Activated Charcoal STEP 5:
Keep mixing all your ingredients together. I like to use my hands to get the mixture really well blended.If the mix is still too dry, you may need to use your spray bottle of rubbing alcohol to spritz your mixture. Give a few spritzes and mix together until it has that wet sand consistency.
Pro tip: Squeeze the mixture occasionally as you are working. Once it holds it's shape, it's ready to use! Be careful not to make the mixture too wet.
How to Make Bath Bombs with Activated Charcoal STEP 6:
To get a fun black crystal look to your bath bombs, sprinkle a bit of black edible sugar into one half of the molds.Carefully add your bath bomb mixture to both sides of the mold.
Make sure they are overflowing just a bit.
Bring the molds together and press firmly. Use a grinding/rotating motion to get rid of the excess mixture. Tap the bomb gently on each end and release.
Set aside to dry for one full day. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
That's it!
If you love this tutorial for making bath bombs with activated charcoal, be sure to pin it to save it for later!
If you like this bath bomb recipe, you will also like these DIY Bath Bombs...
This is the easiest bath bomb recipe. It has only three ingredients so it's super easy to make and perfect for your kids! I even teach you how to hide a toy inside a bath bomb if desired!
These green tea bath bombs also contain ingredients to help soothe your sore muscles. It's the perfect combination of a tea bath with a bath bombs
DIY Lush Bath Bombs: AvoBath Inspired Lush Bath Bomb Recipe
This moisturizing avocado bath bomb recipe is inspired by a Lush Bath Bomb recipe best seller called AvoBath. It contains fresh avocado to help nourish your skin.
This moisturizing avocado bath bomb recipe is inspired by a Lush Bath Bomb recipe best seller called AvoBath. It contains fresh avocado to help nourish your skin.
Get the full list of all the bath bomb recipes here:
About the Author:
Carissa is an award-winning green lifestyle writer and mom of two active boys. The owner and lead writer for Creative Green Living, she most recently won the "Best Green Lifestyle Blogger" award at ShiftCon 2019 in Atlanta.
Her goal is to empower families to make healthier, more sustainable choices that are beautiful and delicious!
She is also the author of Beautiful Smoothie Bowls (Skyhorse, 2017), Proven Techniques for Keeping Healthy Chickens (Skyhorse, 2018) and The Little Green Book of Mothers' Wisdom (Skyhorse, 2020).
Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or join the Creative Green Living Tribe on Facebook.
Her goal is to empower families to make healthier, more sustainable choices that are beautiful and delicious!
She is also the author of Beautiful Smoothie Bowls (Skyhorse, 2017), Proven Techniques for Keeping Healthy Chickens (Skyhorse, 2018) and The Little Green Book of Mothers' Wisdom (Skyhorse, 2020).
Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or join the Creative Green Living Tribe on Facebook.
Do you like this post? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!
When you subscribe you can download our FREE Recycled Crafts E-book!
Does the charcoal leave a ring around the tub?
ReplyDeleteIf your tub already has grime or soap scum on the walls, the charcoal particles could cling to the grime as the water drains. If your tub is otherwise clean, it shouldn't leave a ring - though you may want to give the tub a quick rinse after you are done draining it after your bath. This will make sure any oil or charcoal particle rinse down the drain.
DeleteIt doesn’t say how much charcoal powder to add??
ReplyDeleteThere is no amount listed because you add it slowly until you get the blackness concentration you prefer.
Delete