Iridescent Pearl Bath Bomb Project
The great thing about this bath bomb technique is that it’s simple to do. Apply the mica directly to the bath bomb with your fingers and spread it around until you’re happy with the effect. There is no right or wrong way to do it. The process is a little bit messy though, so gloves and something to cover your surface is recommended.
Wild Rose Fragrance Oil is the perfect complement for the shimmery design. It's a fresh mix of orange peel, lily of the valley, vanilla, and musk.
Need more DIY bath bomb supplies? Try these bath bomb kits.
What You Need:
Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
- Sodium Bicarbonate - 1 lb
- Citric Acid - 1 lb
- Shea Butter - 1 lb
- Wild Rose Fragrance Oil - 2 oz
- Polysorbate 80 - 1 oz
- Super Pearly White Mica - 1 oz
- Rose Gold Mica - 1 oz
- Aqua Pearl Mica - 1 oz
- Witch Hazel - 1 lb
EQUIPMENT:
- Stainless Steel Bath Bomb Mold, 2 pieces - 12 molds
- 8 oz Clear Bottle with White Spray Cap - 10
Instructions
You will need:
- 8-10 Stainless Steel Bath Bomb Molds
- 3 cups Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
- 1.5 cups Citric Acid
- 3 oz. Shea Butter
- 0.5 oz. Wild Rose Fragrance Oil
- 0.5 oz. Polysorbate 80
- Super Pearly White Mica
- Rose Gold Mica
- Aqua Pearl Mica
- Witch Hazel in a Spray Bottle
Follow these steps:
1
Add 3 ounces of shea butter to a small heat-safe glass container and melt in the microwave using 30 second bursts. Add 0.5 ounces of polysorbate 80 and 0.5 ounces of Wild Rose Fragrance Oil. Use a spoon to fully mix the ingredients together. The polysorbate 80 is an emulsifier that helps the color and butter mix into the water instead of pooling on top.
2
In a large bowl, mix together 3 cups of baking soda and 1.5 cups of citric acid. To get rid of clumps in the mixture, you can push the powders through a sifter or break them up with your fingers. Citric acid has a tendency to take off nail polish, so wear gloves to protect your manicure.
3
Add the shea butter mixture to the baking soda and citric acid. Use your hands to thoroughly mix all the ingredients together.
4
Test the consistency of the bath bomb mixture. The perfect consistency for molding is a similar to wet sand and holds its shape when squeezed. If it’s too dry, use one hand to spritz the mixture with witch hazel and one to mix. Below, you can see that the mixture forms a ball when squeezed. This means that the mixture will hold its shape in the mold as well.
5
Fill the two halves of the molds, gently pressing the bath bomb mixture in each so they hold their shape. Mound a little extra powder in the center of each half of the molds. Wipe away any powder from the seams of the mold and press together. Continue filling up the bath bomb molds until the mixture is gone.
6
Allow the bath bombs to harden in the mold for 24 hours. Then, carefully remove them from the molds. Fill a bowl with a few tablespoons of Super Pearly White Mica. The following steps can get a little messy, so you may want to lay down newspaper or another cover.
7
Spritz the outside of one bath bomb lightly with 99% isopropyl alcohol. Gently roll the bath bomb in the mica until completely covered. Use your fingers to carefully brush off any excess mica.
8
Dip your finger into the Rose Gold Mica and brush it onto the surface of the bath bomb. You can always add more color, so start with a light application. There is no right or wrong way to place it, so just have fun. Once you’ve covered about 1/4 to 1/2 of the bath bomb, move onto the next color.
9
Dip your finger into the Aqua Pearl Mica and spread it onto the bath bomb in a different area. Once the colors begin to touch, blend them together with your finger. Continue blending the micas on the bath bomb in different areas until you’re happy with the effect. If necessary, sprinkle more Super Pearly White on the bath bombs to help blend the colors, add more sparkle, or lighten the colors.
10
Repeat this process for each bath bomb until all are covered with color. To use, place the bath bomb into a hot bath and enjoy!
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman
Iridescent Pearl Bath Bomb Project
- LEVEL Intermediate
- TIME 30 minutes
- YIELD About 8 bath bombs
Project Description
The great thing about this bath bomb technique is that it’s simple to do. Apply the mica directly to the bath bomb with your fingers and spread it around until you’re happy with the effect. There is no right or wrong way to do it. The process is a little bit messy though, so gloves and something to cover your surface is recommended.
Wild Rose Fragrance Oil is the perfect complement for the shimmery design. It's a fresh mix of orange peel, lily of the valley, vanilla, and musk.
Need more DIY bath bomb supplies? Try these bath bomb kits.
You will need:
- 8-10 Stainless Steel Bath Bomb Molds
- 3 cups Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
- 1.5 cups Citric Acid
- 3 oz. Shea Butter
- 0.5 oz. Wild Rose Fragrance Oil
- 0.5 oz. Polysorbate 80
- Super Pearly White Mica
- Rose Gold Mica
- Aqua Pearl Mica
- Witch Hazel in a Spray Bottle
Follow these steps:
1
Add 3 ounces of shea butter to a small heat-safe glass container and melt in the microwave using 30 second bursts. Add 0.5 ounces of polysorbate 80 and 0.5 ounces of Wild Rose Fragrance Oil. Use a spoon to fully mix the ingredients together. The polysorbate 80 is an emulsifier that helps the color and butter mix into the water instead of pooling on top.
2
In a large bowl, mix together 3 cups of baking soda and 1.5 cups of citric acid. To get rid of clumps in the mixture, you can push the powders through a sifter or break them up with your fingers. Citric acid has a tendency to take off nail polish, so wear gloves to protect your manicure.
3
Add the shea butter mixture to the baking soda and citric acid. Use your hands to thoroughly mix all the ingredients together.
4
Test the consistency of the bath bomb mixture. The perfect consistency for molding is a similar to wet sand and holds its shape when squeezed. If it’s too dry, use one hand to spritz the mixture with witch hazel and one to mix. Below, you can see that the mixture forms a ball when squeezed. This means that the mixture will hold its shape in the mold as well.
5
Fill the two halves of the molds, gently pressing the bath bomb mixture in each so they hold their shape. Mound a little extra powder in the center of each half of the molds. Wipe away any powder from the seams of the mold and press together. Continue filling up the bath bomb molds until the mixture is gone.
6
Allow the bath bombs to harden in the mold for 24 hours. Then, carefully remove them from the molds. Fill a bowl with a few tablespoons of Super Pearly White Mica. The following steps can get a little messy, so you may want to lay down newspaper or another cover.
7
Spritz the outside of one bath bomb lightly with 99% isopropyl alcohol. Gently roll the bath bomb in the mica until completely covered. Use your fingers to carefully brush off any excess mica.
8
Dip your finger into the Rose Gold Mica and brush it onto the surface of the bath bomb. You can always add more color, so start with a light application. There is no right or wrong way to place it, so just have fun. Once you’ve covered about 1/4 to 1/2 of the bath bomb, move onto the next color.
9
Dip your finger into the Aqua Pearl Mica and spread it onto the bath bomb in a different area. Once the colors begin to touch, blend them together with your finger. Continue blending the micas on the bath bomb in different areas until you’re happy with the effect. If necessary, sprinkle more Super Pearly White on the bath bombs to help blend the colors, add more sparkle, or lighten the colors.
10
Repeat this process for each bath bomb until all are covered with color. To use, place the bath bomb into a hot bath and enjoy!
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman