How to make gorgeous bath bombs easily using a moon cake press.
Equipment
two medium-sized bowls
a small bowl for each color you want to make (we made 3)
sifter or mesh strainer
whisk
spoon
moon cake press mold
small spray bottle
parchment or wax paper
Ingredients
1cupbaking soda
1/2cupcitric acid
1/2cupSodium Laurel SulfoacetateSLSA
1/4cupcream of tartar
1Tablespoonskaolin clayoptional but highly recommended
2Tablespoonscoconut oil
2Tablespoonsrubbing alcoholplus a few extra tbsps for spray bottle
1tsppolysorbate 80optional but recommended
Essential oils of your choice
Mica powder pigments
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients: baking soda, citric acid, SLSA, cream of tartar, and kaolin clay. Using a sifter or mesh strainer, remove any hard pieces of the dry ingredients.
Using a whisk, break down any lumps remaining in the dry mixture.
In a small bowl, whisk liquid ingredients together: coconut oil, rubbing alcohol and polysorbate 80.
Add liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients slowly, about 1 tablespoon at a time.
Whisk well to ensure the ingredients are fully combined. When you can press the mixture together in your hands and it stays together, it is ready (as seen in image above). If the mixture won't stick together and falls apart, you an add 3-4 sprays of rubbing alcohol, mix well, and try again. Repeat until mixture holds. Be careful not to go overboard with the rubbing alcohol and make the mixture too wet. A little bit goes a long way.
Divide mixture evenly into separate bowls for each color you want to make. Add essential oil and color of your choice to each bowl and whisk to combine. Keep your bottle of rubbing alcohol handy. You will need this if your mixture begins to dry out.
Pack mixture firmly into moon press, pressing it down firmly with a spoon.
Place moon press down on parchment or wax paper. Press down firmly once or twice to further pack in the mixture.
Hold the moon cake press about 1/2 inch above your surface (as shown in photo) and carefully push down on handle of the press. While pressing on the handle, slowly lift the press up to release the bath bomb.
Allow your bath bombs to dry overnight on a tray or plate. Then, transfer then to an airtight container for storage until use. When you are ready for some relaxation and aromatherapy simple drop a bath bomb or two into your bath and enjoy!
Notes
This bath bomb recipe will work with other molds if you prefer not to use a moon cake press.
Kaolin oil is used to harden the bath bombs and give them more stabilization.
Polysorbate 80 works to make the bath bombs bubble up when put into bathwater.
We used Chamomile, Bergamot and Eucalyptus essential oil but you can use whichever oils you prefer.
Number of bath bombs made will depend on size of moon cake press used and how far you fill it