Moisturizing Aloe Vera Bath Melts Recipe with Epsom Salt for Dry Skin

This aloe vera bath melts recipe is a great way to moisturize skin in the bath. Made with moisturizing cocoa butter and skin soothing aloe vera, this recipe for bath melts also includes an emulsifier as well as Epsom salt for a relaxing bath experience. If you need some pampering self care, or even a dry skin remedy, then learning how to make bath melts at home is a must for your natural skin care routine. Try this aloe skin care recipe today for soft, beautiful skin.

 

What is a bath melt?

Bath melts are similar to a solid lotion bar without beeswax, but formulated to be used in a bath. Whereas lotion bars melt into skin on contact, bath melts melt and dissolve when added to bath water. Both offer moisturizing benefits for skin. However, bath melts also offer the extra enjoyment of taking a long, relaxing bath.

A recipe for bath melts typically consists of a combination of moisturizing body butters and carrier oils. However, other ingredients with benefits for skin can also be added to improve their ability to soothe, soften and moisturize skin. Some bath melts may also contain color or fragrance. 

What are the benefits of bath melts?

If you suffer from dry or problem skin that’s easily irritated by commercial solutions, bath melts recipe are a great natural alternative to soothe and moisturize dry or irritated skin! By soaking in a tub with a lush bath melt, your skin will benefit from the moisturizing properties of the ingredients found in a recipe for bath melts. Butters and oils soften and moisturize skin as you soak. Therefore they are for dry skin relief.

In addition, bath melts that contain essential oils also have aromatherapeutic properties. These essential oils can help you relax in a bath to further ease away the stress of the day.

Aloe Vera Bath Melts with Epsom Salt

I made my aloe vera bath melts recipe with ingredients that benefit dry or irritated skin. By adding additional ingredients to my recipe for bath melts, I am able to improve on the natural skin care benefits it offers.

The key additions to my bath melts recipe are aloe vera and Epsom salt. Combined, these ingredients create the perfect aloe recipe for skin care. 

Skin Care Benefits of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera, a versatile plant hailed as a magical skin saver, has a long history of use in skin care products. It has the ability to promote healing, as well as soothe and moisturize dry skin. It’s also commonly used to help relieve dandruff and promote hair growth.

In Ayurvedic medicine aloe vera is also used help relieve problem skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis. As aloe vera has anti-inflammatory, astringent, antibacterial and antiseptic properties, it is also beneficial if you have acne prone skin. Therefore, if you have issues with your skin, this aloe skin care recipe can really help with symptoms!

Skin Care Benefits of Epsom Salt

Epsom salt also has numerous benefits in skin care. It’s one of the reasons why soaking in Epsom salt baths is so popular. 

Epsom salt is rich in magnesium, a necessary mineral that  many of us don’t get enough of. When Epsom salt is dissolved in water, it releases both magnesium and sulfate ions. By soaking in water with Epsom salt, the magnesium then offers relief from sore muscles or pain. It can also help to promote relaxation and relieve stress.

Should I make bath melts with an emulsifier?

Do I need to use an emulsifier in my bath melts recipe? While you don’t have to use an emulsifier to make bath melts, I do recommend using a solubilizer, which is similar to an emulsifier. Emulsifiers are meant more for products that don’t need to be completely water soluble. Whereas solubilizers are able to suspend smaller amounts of oils, such as essential oils, and are completely water soluble. 

I use Polysorbate 80 as a solubilizer in my bath melts recipe. It prevents the carrier oils and fragrance from sitting on top of the water in your tub. It also helps to prevent color rings in your bathtub when using a colorant such as mica powder.

While a solubilizer is optional, it is especially useful in the absence of a carrier oil in a recipe that includes essential oils, as it prevents skin from coming into contact with undiluted essential oils.

Should you choose not to use Polysorbate 80 to make bath melts, you can substitute it with vegetable glycerin to create this aloe skin care recipe.

Aloe Vera Bath Melts Ingredients

My DIY bath melts with aloe are quick and easy to make. They also a great homemade gift idea for friends and family. Here are the ingredients you need to make my recipe for bath melts with an emulsifier.

• Cocoa Butter: I used cocoa butter in my bath melts recipe for their moisturizing properties as well as to harden the bath melts. It helps to alleviate dry skin and promote skin elasticity.
• Carrier Oil: I chose safflower oil as the carrier oil in my recipe for bath melts. This non-comedogenic oil won’t clog pores and also has moisturizing properties that help smooth and soften skin. In addition, safflower oil also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. And some research suggests it may also have pain relieving effects.
• Salt: As previously stated Epsom salt has a number of benefits in bath melts. This magnesium rich salt can help soothe pain, help you relax and ease stress. In addition to Epsom salt I also used fine sea salt. Sea salt helps to absorb dirt and toxins to cleanse pores. The mineral content of sea salt can also assist in restoring skin’s protective barrier to help it stay hydrated.
• Aloe Vera: As fresh or liquid aloe vera can mold and requires a preservative, I used aloe vera leaf powder to make my bath melts. Aloe helps to promote healing, moisturize skin, and soothe sunburns. It can also help to fight aging and acne breakouts.
• Solubilizer: I use polysorbate 80 as an alternative to an emulsifier to make bath melts. This solubilizer bonds with the oils in the recipe and is completely water soluble.  

Optional Bath Melt Ingredients

In addition to the above ingredients used to make this bath melts recipe, you can also include several optional ingredients you can use to make these aloe vera bath melts for natural skin care.

I’ve included the option for using colorants in my aloe skin care recipe for bath melts for those of you who love colored bathwater. This is perfect if you love colorful bath bombs but bath bombs don’t exactly love you, and you find they dry out or irritate your skin. In addition you can also scent your bath melts with either a fragrance oil or essential oils. I used a fragrance oil when making this recipe. However, you can use half the amount for essential oils.

• Fragrance: You can scent your bath melts with either a fragrance oil or essential oils, if desired. I used a fragrance oil when making this recipe for bath melts. However, you can also use up to .15 oz. of essential oil (roughly half the amount of fragrance oil.) These spring essential oil blends are great natural fragrance ideas for your bath melts. 
• Colorant: I’ve included the option for using colorants in my recipe for bath melts for those of you who love colored bathwater. This is perfect if you love colorful bath bombs but bath bombs, but find they dry out or irritate your skin. I used a combination of majestic green mica and gold mica to achieve the green color of these bath melts.
• Dried Flowers: You can use dried flowers to decorate the tops of your bath melts. Mountain Rose Herbs has a variety of beautiful dried flowers such as calendula flowers and rose petals. I chose to use cornflowers for my recipe as I liked the way the blue complimented the green color of my bath melts.

How to Make Bath Melts with Aloe Vera

Following are instructions on how to make bath melts with aloe vera and cocoa butter. If you prefer to make all natural bath melts, you may simply omit the optional ingredients when making this aloe recipe for bath melts.

1. Begin by using a digital scale to weigh out the cocoa butter and safflower oil. Combine in a large glass Pyrex measuring cup or glass bowl then heat at 30% power in the microwave until the cocoa butter has melted. (Alternately you can also use a double boiler.)
2. Remove from heat once the cocoa butter has melted. Then weigh out the polysorbate 80 and fragrance oil. (You can also use an essential oil of your choice at half the amount or omit the fragrance entirely.)
3. Stir the polysorbate 80 and fragrance oil into the melted cocoa butter and safflower mixture.
4. Next, weigh out the Epsom salt, fine sea salt and aloe vera leaf powder. Then combine in a separate container, such as a large glass bowl. Mix well with a fork or whisk until the dry ingredients are thoroughly combined.
5. Now use a measuring spoon to measure out the mica powders. Add the mica powders to the dry ingredients. Mix well with a fork, until the colorants are evenly distributed throughout the dry ingredients.
6. Now pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Use a fork to combine the wet and dry ingredients together.
7. Once there are not clumps, place the container with the melted aloe vera bath melts mixture in the refrigerator. Allow the mixture to cool slightly. Once it starts to thicken, and the salt stays suspended when stirred, remove the ingredients from the refrigerator.
8. Now place a small amount of cornflowers into fourteen of the fifteen cavities of mini silicone ice cube mold.
9. Then pour the bath melts mixture into the cavities of the prepared mold, over top of the cornflowers.
10. Set the mold inside your refrigerator until the aloe vera bath melts harden.
11. Once the DIY bath melts have solidified, remove them from the mold. Then package your bath melts as desired. 

 

How to Package Bath Melts

There are many ways you can package your DIY bath melts. Here I demonstrate two packaging ideas for my aloe vera bath melts with Epsom salt.

I used packaging from SKS Bottle & Packaging as containers for my bath melts. Pictured above are their Amber PET Heavy Wall 8 oz. Plastic Jar. These look cute, however the 25 oz. jar actually works better for this specific product as you can easily fit more bath melts inside. The 8 oz. only holds about three melts.

Alternately you can also use mason jars as packaging. These 16 oz. Clear Glass Mason Jar with an Antique Pewter Lid look cute with a ribbon tied around the top of the jar.

How to Use Bath Melts for a Moisturizing Bath

To use your bath melts simply the desired amount of melts to warm, running bath water. Once dissolved, slip into the tub and enjoy.

You can also use these bath melts in the shower. Therefore taking a bath isn’t a necessity for their use. Simply use these aloe vera bath melts the same way you would a solid salt scrub or sugar scrub bar.

To use these bath melts as an exfoliating solid salt scrub, simply massage a cube onto damp skin in the shower and enjoy the benefits of the aloe in addition to exfoliation from the salts! Check out my recipe below to get started.

Yield: 14 bath melts

Aloe Vera Bath Melts Recipe

Print

This aloe vera bath melts recipe with Epsom salt and cocoa butter is formulated to moisturize and soothe dry skin. Create a pampering self care experience and enjoy a relaxing bath when you make this lush recipe for bath melts.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

• 4 oz. cocoa butter
• 2 oz. safflower oil
• 2 oz. Epsom salt
• 10.5 oz. fine sea salt
• 1.25 oz. aloe vera leaf powder
• .25 oz. polysorbate 80
• .15 oz. fragrance oil
• 1 teaspoon majestic green mica
• 1/4 teaspoon gold mica
• cornflowers, to suit

Tools

• 1.25 sq. inch ice cube mold tray
• digital scale
• large Pyrex measuring cups
• utensils
• measuring spoons
• microwave or double boiler
• containers for packaging

Instructions

1. Use a digital scale to weigh out the cocoa butter and safflower oil. Place the ingredients into a large glass Pyrex measuring cup or glass bowl. Then heat either in the microwave at 30% power or in a double boiler, just until the cocoa butter melts.
2. Remove from the melted cocoa butter and safflower from heat. Then weigh out the polysorbate 80 and fragrance oil.
3. Stir the liquid ingredients into the melted cocoa butter.
4. Now weigh out the Epsom salt, fine sea salt and aloe vera leaf powder into a separate container. Mix well to combine.
5. Use a measuring spoon to measure out and add the mica powder. Whisk the colorant into the dry ingredients using a fork.
6. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix well to combine.
7. Place the container with melted bath melts mixture in the refrigerator. Once the mixture starts to thicken, and the salt stays suspended when stirred, remove from the refrigerator.
8. Prepare the mold by placing a small amount of cornflowers into fourteen of the fifteen cavities of mini silicone ice cube mold.
9. Then pour the ingredients into each of the mold cavities you filled with cornflowers.
10. Place the mold in the refrigerator until the aloe vera bath melts harden.
11. Once they have solidified, remove the melts from the mold. Then package as desired. 

More Ways to Use Cornflowers for Skin Care

Cornflowers have a long history of use in herbal skin care. It’s natural pigment, flavonoids known as anthocyanins, possess antioxidant properties that are believed to promote healing. In addition, cornflowers also contain biotin and possess antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory skin care properties.

Cornflowers’ toning and cooling properties make it especially beneficial when used in beauty applications to soothe tired, itchy or puffy eyes. It’s also used in cosmetic applications to firm both mature and crepey skin. As such, these properties make cornflowers especially suited for facial masks. (Learn more about cornflowers at Herb & Hedgerow.)

Anti-inflammatory Cornflower Mask

To create a cornflower anti-inflammatory mask infuse 2 Tablespoons of cornflowers in 3.5 oz. of boiling water. Strain, then allow the water to cool.

Next, combine 3 Tablespoons of the infused water with 2 Tablespoons white kaolin (cosmetic) clay and 1 Tablespoon colloidal oatmeal. Mix well then apply even to a freshly washed face. Rinse off after ten minutes and pat dry.

If you like my aloe vera bath melts recipe, then be sure to follow my DIY Bath & Body Pinterest board for more great skin care recipes.

Aloe Vera Skin Care Recipes

For more natural ways to use aloe vera for skin care, and enjoy the benefits of aloe vera, try some of these other aloe vera skin care recipes:

• Aloe Vera After Sun Lotion Bar
• Hand-Milled Aloe Vera Soap Balls
• Aloe Vera Soap Recipe
• Aloe Vera Shaving Cream Recipe

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