Meet Bubbabub, your DIY bubble bar!

Bathtime is better with Bubbabub!

Meet Bubbabub: it creates bubbles, makes bathtime better, and elicits giggles from kids and grownups alike. But what exactly is this underwater marvel?! Bubbabub is a homemade bubble bath bar!

Bubbabub doesn’t just make great bubbles, he’s also lots of fun to make! You can make your bubble bar in any colour or shape, and you can scent it as you please. From craft-time to bathtime, Bubbabub is loads of fun!

There’s just one drawback to Bubbabub: we never want to get out of the tub! As soon as bathtime is over, we’re wondering when we can enjoy our next soak.

Don’t hesitate to share photos of your creations with us on Facebook or Instagram. We can’t wait to see how your Bubbabubs turn out!  

How to make a bubble bar

Before you begin

• Sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI) can irritate your respiratory tract, so handle it with caution: work in a well-ventilated space or wear a dust mask.
• In this bubble bar recipe, we use coco glucoside (pH 12). It is very important to wear gloves and safety glasses when handling this ingredient. Rest assured, the pH of the final product is skin-compatible. 

Ingredients

• 82 g (41%) arrowroot starch
• 28 g (14%) cream of tartar
• 28 g (14%) coco glucoside
• 33 g (16.5%) SCI
• 5 g (2.5%) essential oil(s) and/or aromatic essence(s) of your choosing
• 24 g (12%) coco betaine
• A few drops of liquid colourant

Tools

• 2 small stainless steel bowls
• 1 small silicone spatula
• 1 scale, accurate to 1 g
• 1 pipette
• A few ramekins
• Protective gear
• 1 dust mask or stove hood
• 1 coffee grinder or mortar and pestle
• 1 or more molds of your choosing, ideally made out of hard plastic to make it easier to pack the mixture in

Good to know!

• We chose to use arrowroot starch for its lovely softening properties, but you can use a different starch if you prefer. 
• SCI, coco glucoside, and coco betaine are gentle cleansing agents. They are suitable for people with all skin types, even sensitive skin.
• Careful: some essential oils are dermocaustic (for example: cinnamon, clove, peppermint, and thyme, among others). They should not make up more than 0.5% of your bubble bar recipe, as they can irritate, or even burn, your skin.
• You can also use mica or oxides to colour your homemade bubble bars. These powder colourants can constitute up to 3% of your total recipe, but keep in mind they will end up floating on the surface of the bathwater. 

Steps to follow

1. Prepare and disinfect your equipment and workspace.
2. Weigh the SCI and carefully grind it in a coffee grinder or with a mortar and pestle. Be sure to wear a dust mask or to work under the hood of your stove, with the fan on.
3. Weigh the other dry ingredients (arrowroot starch and cream of tartar) and add them to the first bowl, along with the SCI.
4. Weigh the liquid ingredients (coco glucoside, coco betaine, and scents) in a second bowl. 
5. Add the liquid ingredients to the bowl containing the dry ingredients. Mix well with the spatula, then mix with your hands until the batter is compact and homogeneous.
6. Add a couple drops of liquid colourant and mix well by hand until the batter is evenly coloured.
7. Put the batter in the molds and pack it down well.
8. Leave your bubble bars to dry for two to three days, until they’re completely dry, before unmolding.

Use and conservation

This recipe is formulated for all skin types.

To use your DIY bubble bar, place the whole bar or just a piece of it under the stream of water as you fill your bath. The stronger the stream, the more bubbles you’ll get.

Store unused pieces in a dry place. When made in optimal sanitary conditions, they will keep for at least six months.