Abstract

FORMULATION AND COSMETOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF HERBAL BATH BOMBS

*Rani K. Kuriakose, Abin Ghee Varghese, Adrin Samson, Kesiya Baby and Nesmin Banu V. S.

ABSTRACT

Bath bombs, renowned for their skin-nourishing properties and therapeutic effects, have gained significant attention as a form of self-care. This research aims to formulate and evaluate herbal bath bombs, incorporating plant-derived ingredients known for their skin benefits. Herbal extracts, such as Psidium guajava leaves powder and Curcuma aromatica rhizomes powder were selected based on their anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and soothing effects. The formulations of bath bombs were developed by combining a blend of essential oil, herbal powders, citric acid, baking soda, Epsom salt, and additional ingredients to achieve the desired effervescent action and skin benefits. Four formulations were prepared named as F1, F2, F3 and F4 respectively. The formulated bath bombs were subjected to a series of cosmetic evaluations, including skin sensitivity tests, pH measurement, foam height, effervescence time, and sensory evaluations were conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of the product. The results demonstrated that the herbal bath bombs exhibited excellent foaming and effervescence characteristics, with a pleasant, soothing sensoryprofile. The herbal extracts contributed positively to the overall quality of the bath bombs, enhancing the bath experience with both relaxation and skin care benefits. Among the four formulations, F2 was found to be better than others according to the evaluation test. This study concludes that herbal bath bombs serves a viable alternative to synthetic bath products, offering users an eco-friendly, skin-sensitive, and aromatic self-care experience. Future research may focus on optimizing the formulation to enhance stability, skin sensitivity tests, and the therapeutic effects of the herbal ingredients.

Keywords: Bath bomb, Psidium guajava, Curcuma aromatica, Effervescence, Sodium bicarbonate, Citric acid.