What better way to plunge into your dreams, plans, and ideas after a hectic day than with a delicious-smelling and body-caressing bubble bath? If you’re lucky enough to have a bathtub where you live and are in the market for a new bubble bath to enhance your bathing experience, keep reading! We have gathered the best bubble baths that will satisfy your budget, your skin, and your nose!
While Philosophy holds a special place in my heart as my grandmother loved their Amazing Grace perfume, I’ve never given their bath products a shot! Philosophy is easily recognized on shelves by its simplistic, text-based packaging that states the philosophy of each product. Like many of their other scented products, this 3-in-1 shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath features a lime margarita recipe. While you can use this as a shower gel or shampoo, for a bubble bath, drizzle a generous amount into your tub for an uplifting experience. Get it directly from Philosophy!
Key Features:
Size: 16 oz.
Format: 3-in-1 gel
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, sunflower seed oil, aloe leaf juice
Skin Type: Oily, combination, dry
Cruelty-Free/Vegan: No/No
Fragrance: Citrus
Pros
Robust and energizing lime scent
Multipurpose product
Perfect for traveling
Cons
Contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate and several other chemicals
L’Occitane is a French retailer founded in 1976 by Olivier Baussan. His goal was to create a company that celebrated his native Provence. Their products range from skincare to hand care, hair care, fragrance, and body and bath products. They put a focus on sustainability by working with French farmers to care for their lavender fields. This lavender foaming bath is one of their most popular fragrances and features lavender essential oils that will transport you to the French countryside as you relax in your bath. The rich formula foams and bubbles for a spa-like experience, leaving your skin delicately scented. It’s available at Sephora.
Key Features:
Size: 16.9 oz.
Format: Foaming bubble bath
Key Ingredients: Lavender oil, citric acid
Skin Type: All
Cruelty-Free/Vegan: No/No
Fragrance: Lavender
Pros
Formulated without parabens, phthalates, or triclosan
L’Occitane essential oil is by a P.D.O. (Protected Designation of Origin), ensuring quality and traceability of the essential oil
Refill bags are available to cut down on packaging waste
Cons
Some customers report the metal can leaves an unpleasant scent
It can be drying
3
Best Budget
Dr. Teal’s Lavender Sooth & Sleep Foaming Bath with Pure Epsom Salt
Dr. Teal’s is an easily recognizable drugstore brand that provides a variety of body care products. While their Epsom salts are particularly popular, this bubble bath uses the same Epsom salts and lavender to lull you into relaxation at a wallet-friendly price. The Epsom salts work to revitalize and soothe tired muscles, while the lavender essential oil promotes relaxation. This bubble bath would be a perfect addition to your evening soak after a long day of work, a taxing workout, or just because! Order it from Amazon!
Key Features:
Size: 34 oz.
Format: Foaming bubble bath
Key Ingredients: Epsom salt, lavender extract
Skin Type: All
Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
Fragrance: Lavender
Pros
Epsom salt soothes sore muscles
Forms long-lasting bubbles
Budget-friendly
Cons
Can cause allergic reaction to sensitive skin types
Seventy dollars for a bottle of bubble bath may not be within everyone’s price range, but if it’s within yours, this choice from Susanne Kaufmann is filled with nourishing and calming ingredients that will give you a spa-like experience. Susanne Kaufmann launched in 2003, combining the values Susanne grew up within the Austrian Alps and her expertise in natural, sustainable ingredients.
This herbal extract-based natural bubble bath uses mallow extract to reduce irritation and moisturize and essential oils like pine, chamomile, and juniper extracts to strengthen circulation and invigorate the skin. It’s an excellent choice for those with dry and sensitive skin types that want to enjoy a bubble bath. Get it from Dermstore!
Founded in 2012 by actress and mother Jessica Alba, The Honest Company focuses on gentle products for babies and adults alike. This bubble bath is hypoallergenic and also free of ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin. Anyone with sensitive skin can enjoy a calming, nourishing bubble bath, but parents can be assured that this bubble bath will not irritate sensitive baby skin. Two to four capfuls of this bubble bath can transform your bath time, no matter your age. You can get it from The Honest Company or Amazon.
Gaye Straza, the founder of kai fragrance, created her fragrance after years of avoiding popular fragrances that didn’t agree with her. She wanted to embody the white flowers of the tropics where she grew up, eventually developing the basis for kai fragrance. This bubble bath is gentle and soothing, based on natural oils and sugar-derived ingredients known. Customers love that the odor of this bubble bath is not overpowering but still leaves them with the sweet gardenia scent. Coconut and argan oils leave the skin moisturized without any oily residues. Purchase it from Dermstore!
Key Features:
Size: 12 oz.
Product Type: Bubble bath
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, argan oil, coconut oil
Skin Type: All
Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
Fragrance: Sweet gardenia
Pros
Gentle formula based on natural oils and softening sugar-derived ingredients
Paraben-, sulfate-, phthalate-, phosphate- and gluten-free
Alaffia products were born out of a desire to provide safe, effective, fair-trade products while supporting the communities that help create these products. Founder Olowo-n’djo Tchala met and fell in love with a peace corps volunteer in 1996, later moving to the States with his wife and forming his first shea butter cooperative in 2003. Alaffia products are produced with ethically traded, non-GMO virgin coconut oil and yarrow, lemon, and lavender. Their bubble bath is made for children and directly supports them through the Alaffia foundation, which funds maternal care, education, and eye care in Togo, West Africa.
This is a natural, plant-based formula that is gentle enough for every skin type, including sensitive baby skin. It forms sulfate-free bubbles to gentle cleanse along the way while calming with the lemon lavender aroma. Raw shea butter nourishes and protects the skin. It also comes in a jumbo bottle at a very budget-friendly price. Pick it up from Amazon!
The purchase of Alaffia products directly supports breaking the cycle of poverty
Gluten-free, vegan, and free of parabens, sulfates, and dyes
Cons
May cause UTIs
Some bottles have included Phenoxyethanol in the list of ingredients, a preservative that can irritate. Current ingredients on Alaffia’s website do not list Phenoxyethanol
CBD, a.k.a. Cannabidiol, while from cannabis plants, does not contain THC and will not get you high. Many skincare, body care, and hair care products on the shelves today contain CBD, as well as many bath products to soothe sore muscles. Truly’s bubble bath includes 300mg of CBD, as well as vitamin A, glycolic acid, and caffeine to nourish and soothe your skin while you relax. Truly specializes in vegan and clean formulations, working with physicians, microbiologists, and chemists to create their products. You can purchase this ultra-relaxing bubble bath at Ulta.
Key Features:
Size: 16 oz.
Product Type: Liquid bubble bath
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, vitamin A, caffeine, aloe vera, papaya extract, cannabis sativa seed oil, green tea leaf extract, glycolic acid
Skin Type: Oily, combo, dry
Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
Fragrance: Yes
Pros
Pleasant, lasting fragrance
Gentle and moisturizing formula
Cons
Does not bubble heavily
The pump is defective
9
Best Bubble Bath Bombs
Nubian Heritage African Black Soap Bubble Bath Bomb
Nubian Heritage products got their start on the streets of Harlem, where founders Richelieu Dennis and Nyema Tubman set out to bring the shea butter and African black soap products they loved to the masses. After twenty years of word of mouth and connecting with the community they served, Nubian Heritage is now on shelves nationwide at Whole Foods, Wegmans, and other retailers.
Their shea butter is sourced from seven women’s co-ops in Northern Ghana, where they work with over 700 women who are paid ethical wages. The shea butter and nourishing oils found in their bath bombs gently cleanse and moisturize the skin, leaving it lightly fragranced with the woody, musky scent of African black soap. Find it online on Amazon!
If you have tried oil cleansing for your face and enjoyed it, imagine doing that for your entire body! The Lalicious shower oil begins as an oil and transforms into a luxurious lather. Lalicious creator Jessica Kernochan started her company with the goal of creating a moisturizing body scrub, which ballooned into a growing collection of luxurious, moisturizing body products. The grapeseed oil in this bubble bath profoundly moisturizes, while the sugar molecules and probiotics provide anti-inflammatory benefits and deeply cleansed skin. You can also feel good about the recyclable packaging, fair-trade ingredients, and zero animal testing.
To use this product as a cleanser, apply to a loofa. For a bath oil, pour directly into a bath. Need shaving oil? Apply directly to damp skin before shaving. You can snag it from Nordstrom.
Who doesn’t enjoy a cup of chamomile tea before bed? Now you can have that same soothing fragrance, coupled with lavender and vanilla, in your evening bath. One of Vitabath’s best sellers, this bubble bath is enriched with vitamins A, B3, C, E, and pro-vitamin B5 to nourish your skin. You also can’t beat the amount of product you get for the price. You can find it online at Ulta.
Kneipp was created by a naturopath, Sebastian Kneipp, in collaboration with a German pharmacist. Kneipp’s products are vegan, silicone-, and paraben-free, and their raw materials are sustainably sourced. The energizing eucalyptus oil is perfect for if you’re feeling under the weather, complemented by essential peppermint oil to leave you breathing freely. The gorgeous emerald color of the bubble bath enriches the aromatherapy experience, promoting inner balance. Purchase it at Ulta!
Deep Steep prides themselves on creating meaningful moments of self-care through their bath products. The company was created by Paul and Peggy Lieber, a husband and wife who focus on quality, natural ingredients without compromising the integrity of their ingredients. Their products are free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, gluten, petroleum, and dyes.
While lavender may be a typical fragrance for relaxing bubble baths, the lavender and chamomile combination from Deep Steep is made with organic shea butter, coconut oil, argan oil, and aloe vera. Combined with essential oils, this formulation will give you luxuriously soft skin by the end of your bath. Get it from Amazon!
What to Look for in the Perfect Bubble Bath Product for You?
The most fun way of destressing and spending a self-indulgent hour a day, a bubble bath soak is undoubtedly worth it, but how do you choose the perfect product with loads of skin benefits? Here are the aspects to consider when shopping for one!
Skin Type or Sensitivity
Everyone’s skin is different. If you have concerns such as eczema, psoriasis, or other skin sensitivities, you probably put a lot of thought into the products you use. Looking for a bubble bath that dermatologists approve may be beneficial.
No matter your skin type, a tub of suds can certainly cause skin dryness or irritation. So, it’s always a good idea to opt for gentle, natural formulas free from sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), fragrances, artificial colorants, and any other chemical additives.
Moisturizing Ingredients
Whether you want something all-natural, vegan, fragrance-free, or plant-based, make sure that you read the ingredients of your bubble bath product carefully. If you have allergies to commonly used oils or fragrances, double-checking is always a good thing.
We mentioned how important it is to keep your skin well moisturized. Some soaps and bubble baths can contain detergents that can strip your skin of moisture. Go for bubble baths with skin-boosting moisturizing ingredients, such as glycerin, natural oils, and aloe vera. Additionally, after your soak, try to apply a moisturizer, like a lotion or body oil, within three minutes of leaving the bathtub.
Scent
Of course, you want your bubble bath to smell great. Lavender, jasmine, or chamomile have great relaxing abilities, while citrusy and berry-based bubble baths are excellent at invigorating. For the safest scent, natural essential oils are the best, although those with sensitive skin might have allergies to them too. If you are sensitive to scents or have skin sensitivities, you can choose an unscented option. In any case, patch-testing is the safest way to go.
Bubble Bath FAQ
If you have more bubble bath-related questions, we answer them below!
Are Bubble Baths Safe?
For adults, the safety of a bubble bath may not be much cause for concern. But when it comes to kids and babies, bubble baths can be hazardous if they aren’t monitored. Common sense practices are best when giving your child a bubble bath, such as not leaving them unattended. Still, you should also consider the water level and the temperature, as those can also be factors in bubble bath safety.
How Often Can I Use a Bubble Bath Product?
If you’re a lover of bubble baths, there are some general hygiene concerns regarding the products you’re using, especially if you’re a woman. Bubble baths, bath bombs, and bath salts can all be harmful to your vaginal health in some way if not used properly. These products can cause changes in your pH levels and leave you more prone to UTIs, yeast infections, and vaginal irritations.
If you’re prone to these types of infections and still want to take a bubble bath, avoid products with added fragrances, oils, or glitter, as well as additional rinsing post-bath to ensure you aren’t leaving behind any residue on your skin is recommended.
Should You Shower After a Bubble Bath?
Many bubble baths double as body washes (not all), which means you might be cleaning yourself while taking a bath. However, after the bath, it’s always a great idea to rinse yourself in the shower to get rid of any product residue.
Photos via Sephora, Nordstrom, Dermstore, Ulta
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