Saturday, December 6, 2008

Bath Snowballs from Martha Stewart

In the December 2008 issue of Martha Stewart Living there are some body product recipes that appear on pages 118 - 122. There are recipes for lip balms, body scrubs, bath fizzies, and snow balls. I wanted to particularly share this one because it seemed unique. And I want to try this one out for size.

These fragrant spheres for the bath (we scented ours with peppermint oil) are made by packing Epsom salts into a plastic mold. The bath "snowballs" can be tinted any color. You'll need 3 to 4 days to make the bath balls because of the drying time between steps.

Recipe Yields: 2 large or 4 small balls.

Tools and Materials

2 cups Epsom salts
2 tablespoons water
A few drops essential oil(s)
1 drop food coloring, plus more if desired (blogger note: I would recommend a skin safe liquid colorant rather than food coloring. You can find a liquid colorant in the soap making/candlemaking section at your local Michaels or Joann or whoever carries Life of the Party soap making products)

Special equipment: plastic pipette, large or small round bath-ball molds, storage jars

Directions

1. Stir together Epsom salts and water in a mixing bowl. Using pipette, add oil, 1 drop at a time, until strength of scent is to your liking. Add food coloring, 1 drop at a time, until desired shade is achieved; stir until color is even throughout.

2. Spoon a generous amount of mixture (more than necessary) into 1/2 of a bath-ball mold. Pack firmly. Repeat, packing mixture into second half of mold. Press pieces together until they connect. Remove top half of mold very carefully. Let bath ball stand, mold side down, overnight (set ball on an overturned jar lid to keep it from tipping over).

3. Remove mold carefully. Invert, and let ball dry completely, 2 to 3 days more. Transfer to jars.

Gift-Packaging Idea

Use a glass kitchen canister to present the bath balls, which the recipient can then display on a vanity. Wrap the jar with ribbon, tying a bow at the top, and add a vellum gift tag threaded with cord in a matching color.

Source: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/natural-beauties-bath-snowballs

2 comments:

mamabear said...

This might be another obvious questions- but where did you get the molds? Michaels? JoAnn's

Do you recommend any particular oils? (Brands)

Lori Stoia said...

I would suggest for using as a mold, there are those plastic ball ornaments that come apart in the center. I found some at Michaels. Fill and pack one half and do the same for the other and then force them together.

As for oils. I cannot give you a particular brand. But you should decide what kind of oil you want to use. Whether it is a lighter oil like grape seed or a heavier oil like Olive Oil. I do not know what your skin type is but find out what works for your skin type.

Have Fun!