Salt baths can easily irritate and dry out your skin, but these moisturizing bath salts are pre-combined with two super hydrating ingredients—cocoa butter and sweet almond oil. This recipe is fantastic for those who suffer from dry skin, especially in harsher weather conditions.
We've talked about how good baths are for stress, muscle aches—pretty much whatever ails you. Now it's time to think about giving the gift of a great bath to your friends, family, or favorite teacher.
A few bath salt test tubes caught my eye at Anthropologie ages ago, and I finally found a few test tubes so I could try them out with herbal bath salts. Follow the moisturizing bath salt recipe below to learn how to make a soothing soak of your own!
Ingredients
Cocoa butter and sweet almond oil are excellent choices for creating luxurious, moisturizing bath salts. Both ingredients are renowned for their skin-softening and hydrating properties. Here’s a recipe that combines these with soothing salts and essential oils for a truly spa-like experience.
- 1 cup Epsom salt: Helps relax muscles and relieve stress.
- ½ cup Sea salt or Himalayan pink salt: Provides minerals and helps to detoxify the body.
- ¼ cup Baking soda: Softens the water and the skin.
- ¼ cup Cocoa butter: This rich butter is high in fatty acids, which help to hydrate the skin and improve elasticity. The fat in cocoa butter forms a protective barrier over the skin to hold in moisture.
- 2 tbsps Sweet almond oil: Easily absorbed by the skin, it helps to keep it soft and supple.
- 20-30 drops Essential oils: Lavender for relaxation, eucalyptus for invigoration, or a citrus blend for a refreshing scent.
- Dried flower petals or herbs (like rose petals or lavender buds) for added aesthetics and aromatherapy benefits.
- Test tubes (I found mine in a specialty cooking store but you can find them online here. I've also seen plastic ones in the dollar section of Michaels.)
Instructions
Step 1: Melt cocoa butter
Gently melt the cocoa butter in a microwave-safe dish or in a double boiler. Be sure it’s just melted and not too hot.
I use a makeshift double boiler approach with the bowl sitting on top of a saucepan with a couple of inches of boiling water. You could also use a couple of quick bursts in the microwave.
Remove from heat and stir in almond oil and essential oils.
Step 2: Add salt mixture
In a large bowl, mix the Epsom salt, sea salt, and baking soda. Pour the oil mixture over the dry salt mixture and stir thoroughly to ensure an even distribution.
Step 3: Dry the salt mixture
Spread the salt out on a cookie sheet and let it air dry (this will take about a day). Then mix in any dried herbs or flowers.
Step 4: Pour into containers
Pour salt into test tubes with desired ingredients. My test tubes each held between ⅛ and ¼ cup of salt so you can make several gift sets at once. Tie the tubes together with a bit of twine and you're all set!
Substitutions
Other Oils
- Coconut Oil: This oil is deeply moisturizing and also has antibacterial properties.
- Jojoba Oil: Closely mimics the skin's natural oils for excellent absorption and hydration.
- Argan Oil: Great for skin conditioning and rich in Vitamin E.
- Olive Oil: A heavier oil that's deeply nourishing for dry skin.
Other Butters
- Shea Butter: Melt a small amount of shea butter and mix it into your salt blend for its soothing and moisturizing properties.
Dry Skin? 6 More Ways To Make Bath Salts Extra Moisturizing
To make your DIY bath salts even more moisturizing, you can incorporate several ingredients that enhance their hydrating properties. Here are some ways to boost the moisture content and leave your skin feeling extra soft and pampered:
1. Use Humectants
- Glycerin: A powerful humectant that attracts moisture to the skin, helping to keep it hydrated.
- Honey: Natural honey is great for attracting and retaining moisture, plus it's full of antioxidants.
2. Incorporate Milks
- Powdered Goat’s Milk: Adds creaminess to bath water and gently exfoliates with natural lactic acid.
- Powdered Coconut Milk: Provides moisture and a pleasant, tropical scent.
3. Add Aloe Vera
- Aloe Vera Gel: Mix in some aloe vera gel for its skin-healing and moisturizing properties. Be sure it's well incorporated and doesn't clump.
4. Experiment with Essential Oils
- Sandalwood Oil: Known for its hydrating properties and soothing scent.
- Chamomile Oil: Excellent for calming irritated skin and adding a gentle, healing touch.
5. Add Vitamin E
- Vitamin E Oil: Acts as a preservative to extend the shelf life of your homemade bath salts and is also very nourishing for the skin.
6. Luxurious Extras
- Silk Peptide Powder: Adds a silky, luxurious feel to the water and can help bind moisture to the skin.
By incorporating these ingredients, your bath salts can provide a much richer, moisturizing experience, transforming your bath into a deeply soothing, spa-like ritual.
9 Floral + Herbal Bath Salt Recipe Ideas
Incorporating essential oils and herbs into your moisturizing bath salt recipe can enhance the sensory experience and offer additional therapeutic benefits. When creating your bath salts, it’s essential to ensure the herbs are thoroughly dried to prevent mold and extend the shelf life of the product.
Here are some essential oils and herbs that pair well with the cocoa butter and sweet almond oil base:
1. Soothing Rose Blend
Crumble in few rose petals + rose essential oil if you have it
2. French Lavender Fields Blend
Add a few dried lavender buds + a teaspoon of French green clay + a few drops of lavender essential oil
3. Grapefruit Detox Blend
Add a teaspoon of citrus zest or ground dried citrus peel + 10 drops of grapefruit essential oil
4. Lavender + Chamomile Relaxation Blend
This classic combination of lavender and chamomile essential oils is perfect for calming the mind and relaxing the body. Add dried lavender buds and chamomile flowers to complement the essential oils and enhance the soothing effect.
5. Peppermint + Rosemary Rejuvenation Blend
Peppermint and rosemary is an invigorating mix for refreshing your senses and stimulating circulation. Mix in dried rosemary leaves and crushed peppermint leaves to intensify the fresh, minty aroma and provide a tingling sensation.
6. Citrus Uplift Blend
Sweet orange and bergamot uplift the spirits and energize the body. Include dried lemon zest or dried orange slices to amplify the citrusy fragrance and add a colorful twist to your salts.
7. Floral Sensation Blend
Floral oils like ylang-ylang, geranium, and jasmine are excellent for boosting mood and creating a sense of luxury and relaxation. Sprinkle in dried rose petals and jasmine flowers to make the mixture visually appealing and enhance the floral scent.
8. Eucalyptus Muscle Soothing Blend
Eucalyptus and wintergreen are both known for their properties in soothing sore muscles and easing tension. Add eucalyptus leaves and dried wintergreen leaves to strengthen the therapeutic benefits, especially after physical activity.
9. Cinnamon + Orange Sweet and Spicy Blend
Incorporate cinnamon sticks and dried orange peel for a warm, comforting aroma that is both sweet and spicy.
This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in medical, cosmetic and surgical dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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