Home made bath salts challenge

Many products we use in our daily routines can be damaging to the environment. It is estimated that liquid soap has a carbon footprint 25% greater than of a bar soap.

This is largely due to the chemicals required for manufacture and the use of single use plastic packaging. In recent years the vast reach and devastating impact of microbeads used in exfoliating products has come to the fore, leading many countries including the UK to ban their use. Microbeads are now found in humans, animals and fish across the world, and a new study in Brazil has demonstrated that microbeads can act as a carrier for other chemical pollutants, adding to the risks posed to animal and human health.

Your challenge, should you choose to accept it… is to make your own natural bath salts!

Bath salts are incredibly quick and easy to make and are very cost-effective. They make excellent presents, but best of all you’ll know exactly what you are putting into your bath. Soaking in bath salts can be incredibly beneficial from a wellness perspective.

As well as a 20-30 minute bath being incredibly relaxing, bath salts may also help to relieve tension and muscle soreness, aid in detoxing the body, soften the skin, calm itchy skin, improve sleep, and fight off a cold.

You may need to order some of the vital ingredients to do this challenge, but they are readily available.

What you’ll need

Equipment

• 1 Large mixing bowl
• 1 Large spoon

Materials

• 2 Cups Epsom salts
• 1/2 Cup sea salt
• 1/2 Cup baking soda
• 15 Drops lavender and orange essential oils
• 1 Bottle food or soap colouring (optional)
• 6 Mini mason jars or other glass jars

Method

1. Combine the ingredients: stir the salts and baking soda together in a large mixing bowl.
2. Next, add the essential oils and colouring, if using. Use a spoon to incorporate the liquids into the salts, breaking up any clumps to ensure that the colour and scent are evenly distributed.
3. When it comes to fragrance, play around. Lavender and orange is a great combination to start with because it’s perfect for a long, relaxing soak in the tub, but feel free to choose different scents based on your personal preferences or their aromatherapy benefits. If you’re going to mix scents, smell both bottles simultaneously to make sure the combination is a good one.
4. If you’re using traditional food colouring, you’ll only need about five drops. (Soap colouring, which you’ll find at craft stores, will be less intense, so you’ll need closer to 15 drops.) It’s best to start with a small amount of colouring and add more if needed.