Taking a bath is such a great experience. I don’t get to do it very often, but I love that “me” time when I can get it. Warm water, bubbles, and a non-toxic scented candle create an atmosphere that offers ultimate relaxation.
Have you ever used a bath bomb? They’re so fun to use, and they can make your bath experience even better (as long as they’re safe, of course).
How do you find safe, non-toxic bath bombs though? Whether they’re for you or you’re buying them as a gift or stocking stuffer, we’ve found some of our favorites and linked them below, and you can keep reading to learn more about why you should be looking for them instead of the ones that are commonly found on your drugstore shelves.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I could be compensated if you decide to make a purchase. You can read my full disclosure here.
Our Favorite Natural & Non-Toxic Bath Bombs
When doing my research, I was amazed at the number of companies that are very vague in their descriptions and ingredients lists. In fact, reading through customer reviews, I found several companies that had a different list of ingredients on their product page compared to the list that was on the product packaging.
That is not ok.
The two brands I’ve selected below are both very open about their ingredients. They don’t contain any chemicals that could be harmful to your health, and they have incredible reviews.
Beauty by Earth Bath Bombs
One of our favorite clean beauty brands, Beauty by Earth, has an incredible set of bath bombs that we highly recommend.
These bombs are made with all-natural and organic ingredients, and they’re made right here in the U.S.
What we really love about Beauty by Earth though is that they’re committed to making sure all of their products are free from parabens, phthalates, sulfates, petroleum, and other toxic substances that can do more harm than good.
You can buy these on Amazon too.
Rejuvelle Bath Bombs
Rejuvelle was founded by a mother-daughter team. When the daughter was young, she and her parents learned that she had an autoimmune disorder that affected her skin. After her diagnosis, the family was unable to find non-toxic bath products that didn’t irritate her skin. So, as these stories often go, they decided to create their own.
These bath bombs aren’t colored, so they won’t stain your skin (or your tub), and you can easily purchase them through Amazon or on the company’s website.
What is a Bath Bomb Anyway?
If you’ve never used a bath bomb, you’ve probably heard of them (or at least seen them on store shelves).
Bath bombs are fizzy balls that dissolves when you drop them into water. They can actually come in a variety of shapes and sizes (I’ve even seen some unicorn ones).
The three main ingredients in a bath bomb are baking soda, citric acid, and cornstarch, but they may also include epsom salt, dyes, perfumes, and little surprises (like glitter, faux crystals, and even toys).
Unfortunately, some of these ingredients can be harmful to our health (and to the environment). Below are some ingredients you should avoid.
Ingredients to Avoid in Bath Bombs
Parabens
Parabens have been added to products since the 1920s, and they are a hot topic in the health & beauty industry today. They’re typically used as a preservative to keep mold and bacteria at bay. In turn, they increase a product’s shelf life and overall stability.
As great as that may sound, however, parabens have the tendency to mimic estrogen, so when they pass through our skin and into our bodies, they can disrupt hormone function and harm the reproductive system in both men and women. Some studies show that parabens can accelerate the growth of cells in breast tissue, leading to breast cancer.
Phthalates
Phthalates are a popular plasticizer used to soften plastics. They’re also used in many cosmetic products as a binding agent.
Unfortunately, phthalates can harm brain development in children and can cross the placenta and affect an unborn child (so you shouldn’t use products with phthalates if you’re pregnant).
They can also damage your kidneys, liver, lungs, and reproductive system.
In fact, phthalates are so bad that they’ll be banned in California beginning in 2025.
Fragrance
You know we can’t talk about non-toxic beauty products without talking about fragrance.
As nice as they may smell, they can carry toxic chemicals into your body, including phthalates, which we talked about above. This is because there is no regulation on fragrances. They’re considered a trade secret, so companies are not required to disclose the ingredients that they use in them.
For this reason, when you see the word “fragrance” or “parfum” on an ingredients list, you should read it as “undisclosed chemicals” and head for the hills.
Dyes
Some bath bombs give off a pretty color (or a rainbow of colors). These colors are typically made from toxic dyes. Some of these dyes are major allergens and can cause skin reactions and rashes similar to a chemical burn. And if they’re that bad on your skin, imagine the harm they can pose to more sensitive areas (like your vagina).
Glitter
I’ve never been a huge fan of glitter, and I’m glad. That’s because glitter can be a detriment to our environment. Glitter is essentially a bunch of shiny microplastics, and when you rinse it down your drain, you’re putting it into our water system, harming the animals in the environment, and ultimately allowing that plastic back into your body when you eat the animals (if you’re not vegan).
Glitter can also irritate your vaginal area and can be very difficult to wash away.
Now, you may see some bath bombs that are glitter-free, but still sparkly. They may be using mica instead of glitter, which we’ve written an entire article about. Learn more about mica and the risks it poses to people around the world.
What Can I Use Instead of a Bath Bomb?
If you’re not really interested in using a bath bomb anymore, but you still love the feeling of getting into a warm, fizzy bath, try putting some baking soda and Epsom salt into your bath water before hopping in (just make sure it’s fragrance-free!).
You can also try a simple bath soak, like this one from Pursoma. You can get it from Thrive Market at a discount!
(and if you’re not a member of Thrive Market, you should be! You can even get a free 30-day membership.)
While you’re in the bath, you may be interested in finding some of our favorite non-toxic body washes. And if you’re not able to wash your hair, check out these amazing natural dry shampoos.
