Homemade bath melts are the perfect way to soothe itchy skin while you soak. Get the easy recipe and rescue your skin with this all-natural bath soak that leaves skin feeling silky soft and supple.
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I’m not an exercise buff by any means, but I do love working out in the pool. A friend of mine recently hurt her leg and had to downgrade from her more dangerous sounding boot camp classes to more tame workouts of water cardio and deep water conditioning.
I am happy to follow her into the pool every morning for a few hours of laughter and fitness.
(Fun fact: I found out that I am virtually incapable of standing on a pool noodle while floating in the deep end. You win some, you lose some!)
Pool = Dry Itchy Skin
There is ONE part of me HATES working out in the pool… my skin! It has been dry and prickly since I started my chlorine filled workouts despite layers upon layers of lotion and homemade chlorine neutralizing spray. (Aurgh, winter!)
Skin Rescuing Bath Melts
Have you ever used a bath melt? They are fabulous little bath bombs of moisturizer that melt into the water and hydrate your skin. They turn your bath into a softening sanctuary!
I decided to whip up a batch of bath melts with natural oils and butters to soothe and soften my dry, itchy skin during my evening soak.
Milk and honey bath melts gently hydrate dry, irritated skin with all-natural ingredients including:
- rich mango butter
- sweet almond oil
- organic powdered milk
- luxurious honey
Land of Milk and Honey
The powdered milk and honey in this recipe bring to mind the land of milk and honey… a symbolic reference to the Promised Land, a place of peace where there is comfort and plenty, a heavenly land.
The bathtub is a great place for a little peace and comfort! A decadent bath is a lovely escape from the stress of daily life. PLUS it costs very little, has no calories, and can quiet the mind before bed.
Milk and Honey
Milk and honey are all-natural ingredients that are great for skin care.
Milk baths contain lactic acid which:
- Gently exfoliates away dead skin cells.
- Softens and smooths rough patches.
- Accelerates skin cell renewal.
- Tones and tightens the skin.
Honey is a natural humectant that:
- Attracts moisture and keeps in locked inside.
- Supports the skin's ability to rejuvenate
- Helps promote healing
How to Make Milk and Honey Bath Melts
Ingredients
1/3 cup mango butter or shea butter
1/3 cup almond oil
¼ cup honey
1 cup powdered milk
½ cup powdered milk (for rolling)
Directions
- Melt the mango butter, almond oil and honey together is a glass bowl set into a small saucepan filled with boiling water. Do not get water in the mix.
- Stir in 1 cup of powdered milk. The mixture will be slightly crumbly.
- Measure 2 tablespoons of mix and roll into tight balls.
- Place bath melts onto wax paper or parchment paper to cool.
- Roll bath melts in ½ cup powdered milk for a decorative finish.
*Recipe makes approximately 9-10 bath melts.
How to Use Bath Melts
- Fill the tub 1-2 inches with hot water, place one or two bath melts in and allow to melt. (You can crumble the melts with your hands to speed the process or rub them onto your skin for extra moisturizing.)
- Continue filling tub with water of your desired temperature then soak for 20-30 minutes.
- When exiting the tub be carefully, surfaces can be slippery!
Tip: Rub a bath melt over heels, knees and elbows to deliver extra lactic acid and moisturizer directly to trouble spots. Allow the rest of the bath melt to dissolve in the tub.
More Easy DIY Bath Recipes
These easy all-natural bath products soften skin, promote detox, aid in sleep, and relax tired muscles. Try one today!
- Fresh Snow Moisturizing Detox Bath – This moisturizing bath soak looks like freshly fallen snow. It contains natural oils to soften skin and magnesium rich Epsom salts to help relax your body and mind before bed. You can make and use this easy recipe in minutes!
- Rosemary Chamomile Detox Bath Soak – Detox bath salts help remove toxins and promote peaceful sleep. This all-natural Rosemary Chamomile Detox Bath recipe uses dried herbs and essential oils to create an inexpensive but luxurious detox bath soak.
- Magnesium Rose Natural Detox Bath Salts – These all-natural Magnesium Rose bath salts uses mineral salts, Epsom salt, and essential oils to create a luxurious floral detox bath soak. Epsom salt bath salts help remove toxins for weight loss and relaxation.
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Melissa
I also had the issue with oil separation and non-forming of “dough”. My only guess is it was because I used NON-FAT milk powder. I didn’t click on your link BEFORE buying the milk powder so I didn’t realize you used “whole milk powder” and since the non-fat milk powder was the only option at all my area grocery stores this is what I used. I kept adding powder until I got a dough I could work with and started forming portions using a mold. Unfortunately, the mixture cooled before I could finish and no matter how I reheated and mixed, I could not get it back to a formable dough. I gave up and will be using them as crumbles instead. Not exactly a pretty looking gift but let me tell you my hands are happily moisturized!
Bren
Sorry you had problems, Melissa. You could keep adding milk powder (maybe use a blender to evenly distribute the oils) until it get powdery and give the mix in a jar as “milk bath” with a directions to add 1/4 cup per bath. It will still work great!
Lesley
Me too, had to add wayyyyy more powdered milk to mine and still would not make balls. However I placed them in a mold, they hardened they are just not as pretty as yours in the picture. Took my bath and all was good. Glad to hear I wasn’t the only one.
Bren
I’m glad you found a solution, Lesley!
Jolene A
I just made these and after melted everything on double boiler I had to add almost 3 cups of the powdered milk just to get to consistency I could roll the balls – still wasn’t “crumbly” and I could feel the oils on my hands after rolling them. Hoping by letting them sit out to dry it will help them and by rolling in extra powdered milk. Any ideas on why it was still so runny after adding the powdered milk? I used the same brand of ingredients you recommended..
Bren
I’m not sure what happened, Jolene. Was it humid when you made them?
Hannah DeJong
I had the exact same issue! Had to add WAY more powdered milk to get the dough to a thick enough consistency to where I could roll balls out of it. Not sure what happened – followed the recipe to a T!
Bren
Sorry you had problems, Hannah.
Debbie
Could you use powered goats milk
Bren
I’ve never tried it with goats milk but it should work if it is the same consistency as powdered cows milk.
Patricia- Northern Ontario girl
hi a quick question? I have attempted to make these. when I heat the items and then add the powdered milk while still on the heat, it goes crumbly as you mention. however when I go to roll the balls the oil separates from the mixture and I am left with the heated oil mixture in bowl after I have made the balls. I am thinking this is not what is supposed to happen? any suggestions as to what I may be doing wrong. I am using fractioned coconut oil in place of the almond oil
thanks so much
Bren
Sorry you’re having trouble, Patricia. I would reheat the mixture using a fake double boiler (add the mix to a glass bowl that tightly fits over a sauce pan, fill the pan half full of water and heat until slowly boiling, place the bowl over the boiling water, be careful not to get the water in the mixture). Stir until the mixture is warm and smooth, turn off heat but leave over the boiling water, carefully shape into balls.
Also, if you read in the comments above a few people had trouble if their powdered milk was in large granules rather than a powder (like powdered sugar). You can pulse in a blender or food processor to make it more powdery.
Good luck!
Christena leonard
I attempted to make these and it was a mess.. it separated and had like a hard doughy texture in a soupy mess.. any ideas what happened and how I can fix it as these ingredients are not cheap🤦♀️🙈
Bren
I’m sorry you;re having trouble, Christena. I would reheat the mixture using a fake double boiler (add the mix to a glass bowl that tightly fits over a sauce pan, fill the pan half full of water and heat until swoly boiling, place the bowl over the boiling water, be careful not to get the water in the mixture). Stir until the mixture is warm and smooth, turn off heat but leave over the boiling water, carefully shape into balls. Good luck!