Homemade Bubble Bath

Did you know most store-bought bubble bath products are loaded with toxic chemicals? Here’s a DIY Homemade Bubble Bath recipe – it’s just 4 ingredients.

Closeup of bubble bath bottles with towels and soap on a table

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It never fails. Every time I take my toddler to the store and we pass by the bath and body aisle, he asks asks for the colorful bottle of bubble bath. It’s got cute cartoon characters on it. It’s in a bright red or yellow bottle. He wants it. He begs for it. EVERY single time. So I decided to have a go at a Homemade Bubble Bath!

A Great Bubble Bath For Kids and Adults

It’s actually really easy to make, and the kids will love it. But I will say without the SLS, this bubble bath won’t be as sudsy or bubbly as the brands that use those chemical ingredients. Let’s face it, those bubbles aren’t natural at all and aren’t worth exposing your family to harmful ingredients.

And I’m happy to report that my little guy absolutely loves this Homemade Bubble Bath. We have fun choosing essential oils to use in this recipe. A current favorite is Lavender and Sleepylze from Young Living). Both are relaxing, calming and suitable for kids.

Store Bought vs. Homemade Bubble Bath

Here’s a popular, store bought, budget brand that promotes itself to be paraben-free, pH balanced, hypoallergenic and dye free. Sounds great, right? Keep reading the ingredient list and why you should be concerned:

Water, PEG 80 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG 30 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG 7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG 120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Polysorbate 20, Styrene Acrylates Copolymer, Laureth 23, Carbomer, Polyquaternium 7, Quaternium 79 Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Fragrance (Parfum) (Lavender, Chamomile), Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Citric Acid

According to the Environmental Working Group, these are the three ingredients you need to avoid:

  • Synthetic fragrance – ranked 7 out of 10 on the EWG’s Skin Care Database*, linked to allergies, immunotoxicity, irritation to skin and eyes
  • Propylparaben – ranked 7 out of 10 on the EWG’s Skin Care Database*, linked to developmental/reproductive toxicity, endocrine (hormone) disruptor, allergies and immunotoxicity
  • Imidazolidinyl urea (a formadehyde releaser) – ranked 7 out of 10 on the EWG’s Skin Care Database*, linked to cancer, allergies, and immunotoxicity

*The EWG’s Skin Care Database rates ingredients in skin care and personal care products on a scale from 0-10 (0 = least hazardous, 10 = most hazardous) in terms of toxic ingredients and links to health issues or health concerns.

Read more about it here. But this isn’t the full list of ingredients to be concerned about. The sodium laureth sulfate is what makes the bubbles in bubble bath products last longer. SLS can irritate the skin and it’s linked to organ toxicity. YIKES!

This is why I avoid conventional bubble bath products. But I know what you’re thinking. There’s a ton of organic and so-called natural products available. In fact, the product I listed above with all the questionable ingredients? They tout it to be natural because there’s lavender and chamomile in it. It’s green-washing at its worst.

What About Organic Bubble Bath?

There are some good organic brands out there, but have you checked the price tag? They are upwards of $20-30 dollars. FOR BUBBLE BATH?! No thanks. The only ready-made bubble bath I’ll use is the Bath & Shower Gel from Young Living. I can get it for wholesale price (find out how you can too).

Ingredients in This Bubble Bath

  • Liquid Castile Soap is a coconut-based soap that is non-toxic and non-irritating to the skin. It’s gentle enough to use on baby’s skin, yet great for cleaning skin naturally.
  • Vegetable Glycerin is a natural moisturizer and gives this homemade bubble bath the sudsy, bubbly effect, as well as lather to use to wash the skin.
  • Aloe Vera Gel helps to moisturize and soothe skin.
  • Essential Oils provide a natural, non-toxic fragrance and help to soothe skin. I only use Young Living essential oils (how to order) for my baby. These are therapeutic-grade, organic essential oils.

How to Make This Homemade Bubble Bath – Step by Step

Ready to learn how to make your own Homemade Bubble Bath? Check out this easy recipe and tutorial.

  • 1. In a pint-sized pump bottle, add castile soap, vegetable glycerin, essential oils and aloe vera juice.
  • 2. Replace lid securely and shake vigorously for a few seconds.
  • 3. Use 2-3 tbsp in a bath and agitate the water with your hands to create bubbles. Add more bubble bath as needed.
  • 4. Store for up to 6 months. Use as needed.

How to Make This Homemade Bubble Bath Sudsy

Homemade bubble bath is not going to have the same crazy foam and suds as store-bought bubble bath that use chemicals to get those extra suds. While you can get bubbles in this recipe, just know it’s not going to be a bathtub overflowing in bubbles. You want to avoid those chemicals that do that as they irritate the skin and can lead to a lot of health issues.

To get bubbles in this recipe, I just use agitation (going back and forth with my hands in the bath) and run the bubble bath liquid under running water. It’s a great alternative to conventional bubble bath products without the toxic ingredients. Plus, if you’ve got a fussy kid, essential oils can help to bring a sense of calm and relaxation.

I’m Not Getting Any Bubbles. What Can I Do?

This is the biggest comment I get on this post. If you have hard water, then it could affect the volume of bubbles you get. Here are 3 ways you can get more bubbles:

  1. You could increase the vegetable glycerin in this recipe to 1/2 cup (so add another 1/4 cup of glycerin). Or if you want to do a spot test first – do a 2:1 ratio of liquid Castile soap and vegetable glycerin. Mix 2 tbsp of liquid Castile soap and 1 tbsp of vegetable glycerin, and add to the running water of the bath. Agitate to see if you get more suds and foam. If it works well, then make a bigger batch and add the essential oils.
  2. You could also try an egg white. Beat 1 egg white and pour it into the bath under the running water along with the 2-3 tbsp of this bubble bath. The egg white helps to create more foam.
  3. Now if you don’t want to add an egg white or more vegetable glycerin, the other option is opt for a natural bath gel instead of using liquid Castile soap. I love the Young Living bath gel base and use it along with essential oils to make a personalized scent, like Lavender + Stress Away blends. I skip the liquid Castile soap, vegetable glycerin, and aloe vera gel and just use the bath gel base and essential oils. Simple and it suds up so well.

What’s the Shelf Life of This Bubble Bath?

Since there’s no water in this bubble bath, it’ll last for up to 3-6 months. Use it regularly and refill it as needed.

Top Tips for This Homemade Bubble Bath

  • You can make the bubble bath more bubbly by agitating the water
  • Store in a covered bottle, lasts for up to 6 months
  • The aloe vera is optional but it’s great to help moisturize your skin
  • Use therapeutic, organic essential oils like these
  • Opt for a natural bath gel base instead of liquid Castile soap if you have hard water

How to Get Started with Essential Oils

More DIY Recipes You Might Like

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Homemade Bubble Bath in brown dispensers

Homemade Bubble Bath

Don’t Mess With Mama
Did you know most store-bought bubble bath products are loaded with toxic chemicals? Here's a DIY Homemade Bubble Bath recipe – it's just 4 ingredients.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 8 uses

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • In a pint-sized pump bottle, add castile soap, vegetable glycerin, essential oils and aloe vera gel.
  • Replace lid securely and shake vigorously for a few seconds to mix well.
  • Use 2-3 tbsp in a bath and agitate the water with your hands to create bubbles. Add more bubble bath as needed.
  • Store for up to 3-6 months.

Notes

Note: If you have hard water, you may not get as many bubbles. Here are 3 options to increase the foam and suds naturally:
  1. You could increase the vegetable glycerin in this recipe to 1/2 cup (so add another 1/4 cup of glycerin). Or if you want to do a spot test first – do a 2:1 ratio of liquid Castile soap and vegetable glycerin. Mix 2 tbsp of liquid Castile soap and 1 tbsp of vegetable glycerin, and add to the running water of the bath. Agitate to see if you get more suds and foam. If it works well, then make a bigger batch and add the essential oils.
  2. You could also try an egg white. Beat 1 egg white and pour it into the bath under the running water along with the 2-3 tbsp of this bubble bath. The egg white helps to create more foam.
  3. Now if you don’t want to add an egg white or more vegetable glycerin, the other option is opt for a natural bath gel instead of using liquid Castile soap. I love the Young Living bath gel base and use it along with essential oils to make a personalized scent, like Lavender + Stress Away blends. I skip the liquid Castile soap, vegetable glycerin, and aloe vera gel and just use the bath gel base and essential oils. Simple and it suds up so well.
Keyword bubble bath, diy bubble bath
Tried this recipe?Mention @dontmesswithmama on Instagram

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Photo credit: Shutterstock / Igisheva Maria

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