These festive New Years Eve bath bombs are so gorgeous and the perfect little project to celebrate the end of the year. They also make a fantastic gift, especially for that special person who need a little extra TLC as we kick off a new year.
NYE BATH BOMB RECIPE WITH GLITTERY SOAP GLAZE
What you will discover in this article!
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It’s no secret we love making bath bombs around here. We have lots of different recipes and I love the creativity it brings out in the kids. Plus it is an excellent chemistry lesson.
In this recipe we are combining bath bomb making with soap making. This is something we have really enjoyed doing in the past. It started with our Grinch Bath Bombs with their adorable soap heart, but since then we have used soap to dress up our bath bombs a few times. Including making Ice Storm Bath Bombs, Snowflake Bath Bombs, Glazed Donut Bath Bombs, and now our New Years Eve Bath Bombs!
WHAT ARE HOLIDAY BATH FIZZIES?
Bath bombs, also known as bath fizzies, are these wonderful little balls (but they can come in other shapes) that you add to your bath and they erupt into this bubbly, fragrant, luxurious little addition to your bath. It really does take bathing to the next level. I could say kids really love bath bombs, and they do, but honestly, it is rare that I don’t meet adults that love them too if they still love a nice, soothing bath.
These New Years Eve bath bombs make fantastic gifts for friends and family, or a special treat for yourself to ring in the new year. The kids will love making, gifting and using these bath bombs! They are especially perfect for your tweens and teens.
In our home, having a warm bath after a cold night out watching fireworks is the perfect way to bring in the New Year!
ACIDS AND BASES – THE SCIENCE OF BATH BOMBS
Over the many different bath bomb creations we have tackled, including the fascinating glow in the dark bath bombs, we learned that bath bombs fizz due to an acid/base reaction.For this holiday bath bomb making activity we used citric acid and cream of tartar for our acids. Our base is baking soda. And, as a filler and stabilizer (prevents premature fizzing), we used corn starch.
In addition to the acid-base reaction we also use coconut oil and avocado butter as binding agents and moisturizers. However, as anyone can tell you, acids and bases don’t mix! So we get around that issue by adding an emulsifier called polysorbate 80. It helps mix the oils into the bath water so you don’t end up with them floating on the top of your bath water sticking to everything.
CREATING A CHEMISTRY ACID/BASE UNIT STUDY
If you follow along with all of our experiments here at STEAM Powered Family you know we have recently been doing a lot ofstudies into acids and bases. Including a study into pH anda messy, fun experiment into how baking powder erupts. There are some fantastic parallels between all of these experiments and bath bomb making, which makes them fantastic activities to use together in a chemistry unit study. Studying the reactions of acids and bases from various approaches will help reinforce these importantchemistry concepts for kids.
So now we have explored all the science, let’s make some New Years Eve Bath Bombs!
NYE Pink Champagne Bath Bombs Recipe
2 cups baking soda
1 cup citric acid
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup cream of tartar
1 tablespoon Epsom salts
1/3 cup coconut oil
2 tablespoons avocado butter
1 tablespoon polysorbate 80
1 teaspoon pink champagne fragrance oil
Light pink colored mica powder
Glitter
Bath bomb molds
2-3 cubes of white melt and pour soap base
Dry glitter sprayer (if you don’t have one, you don’t need one, but they are fun if not messy!)
Spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol
1 large mixing bowl
2 small bowls
Disposable gloves (optional)
New Years Eve Holiday Bath Bomb Making
In a large mixing bowl, add the baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, cream of tartar and Epsom salts.
In a small bowl add the coconut oil and avocado butter. Warm in the microwave to melt if needed.Add the polysorbate 80. Mix it all together completely, then add it to the dry ingredients in the large bowl.
Mix everything together using your hands. Really work it and blend it well. The mixture is perfect when it holds together when you press it into your hands and feels like wet sand.
Add the mica color powder and glitter and mix well.
Take one mold and fill each side with the mixture until it is a bit over-flowing.
Press both sides together, using a twisting/grinding motion to get rid of any excess mixture. Gently tap each side and carefully remove the bomb. As you progress through making the bath bombs, you may need to spray them with the rubbing alcohol to moisten them, so they bind together. Allow the bath bombs to dry a minimum of 24 hours. My rule of thumb is that when it is hard to the touch, they are ready for the final stage…the glaze!
Place soap cubes into a microwave safe bowl and melt for 30 seconds and stir. Continue to melt in 30 second intervals until completely melted.
Using a condiment or hair coloring bottle or spoon, drizzle the soap over the bombs.
Before the soap hardens too much, spray the glitter onto the bath bomb. If you do not have a sprayer, just sprinkle the glitter on.
Allow to the bath bombs to harden overnight. Store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag.
When the clock ticks down run yourself a warm bath and drop it into the water.
Happy New Year!!!
