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At the end of a stressful day, many find that nothing restores their spirits faster than a soak in the bathtub, especially with bath bombs. Most contain Epsom salts, skin-nourishing natural oils, and blends of botanical extracts. Some bath bombs have recently gotten an upgrade and include hemp extracts to help ease away stress and put you in a better headspace. Just like the tincture products for stress, these are designed to help you relax naturally.
Should you consider adding a CBD bath bomb to your self-care routine, and if so, which brands are worth the investment? Here’s an overview of what this CBD bath product really delivers and the five best CBD bath bombs to try today.
What is a CBD Bath Bomb?
CBD bath bombs aren’t that different from the standard home spa option. They are designed to dissolve upon contact with hot water to fill your tub with a blend of soothing salts, scents, and natural oils that promote relaxation while nourishing your skin, similar to CBD skincare products.
Adding CBD changes this equation slightly. CBD (cannabidiol) is a cannabinoid derived from the hemp plant. It interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system to potentially help keep some of your body’s systems in a state of homeostasis.
Note that CBD affects your body differently than THC, which is the cannabinoid in marijuana responsible for its psychoactive properties. CBD won’t change your mental state in the same way, but instead offers potential anti-inflammatory properties—particularly for healthier skin and pain relief. This is why many people now seek CBD oil for pain and inflammation.
Using a CBD bath bomb fills your tub water with these nourishing cannabinoids for a variety of skin benefits, which may include helping to reduce acne, soothing dryness and itching, and even counteracting wrinkles and other effects of aging. Some believe the hot water improves CBD’s effectiveness by opening your pores for better absorption.
Our Picks for the Top CBD Bath Bombs
Here are our choices for the five best CBD bath bombs available today.
Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. You can learn more about our review methodology here. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
- Best Overall – Prima CBD Bath Gem
- Best for Beginners – Joy Organics CBD Bath Bomb
- Best Value – cbdMD Bath Bombs
How We Picked the Best CBD Bath Bombs
To create this list of recommended CBD bath bombs, we compared them based on several criteria. Here’s what we looked at with each product.
- Type of CBD – Does the brand use broad spectrum CBD, full spectrum CBD, or CBD isolate?
- Strength – How many milligrams of CBD are contained within each bath bomb?
- Variety – What fragrances are available, and are there multiple to choose from?
- Value – How much does each bath bomb cost, and what is the price per milligram of CBD?
- Transparency – Can you easily access third-party lab test results?
- Packaging – Are the bath bombs packaged in ways that are eco-friendly?
These criteria made it possible to narrow down our search to the five best CBD bath bombs.
Top 3 Best CBD Bath Bombs
Best Overall: Prima CBD Bath Gem
prima.co
Prima CBD’s bath gem includes a blend of natural scents and botanical extracts, including meadowfoam, eucalyptus, lavender, and camphor. Meadowfoam seed oil is a natural emollient, meaning it may moisturize your skin while you bathe. Likewise, camphor oil is often added to skincare products for its ability to cool the skin and relieve pain, irritation, and itching.
- CBD – Broad Spectrum
- Strength – 25 mg per 6-oz cube (
.64/mg) - Other Ingredients – Epsom salt, safflower seed oil, cornstarch, hemp seed oil, meadowfoam seed oil, kaolin, hemp flower/leaf/stem extract, eucalyptus oil, camphor, lavender oil
Why buy: We love that these bath gems contain broad spectrum whole-plant hemp extract to a wide range of beneficial cannabinoids beyond CBD (but no THC). Note that each gem includes just 25 mg of CBD, which is a fraction of what other brands listed here contain.
Best for Beginners: Joy Organics CBD Bath Bombs
joyorganics.com
Joy Organics CBD bath bombs come in four-packs and are formulated with broad spectrum CBD purified to remove all traces of THC (guaranteed 0.0% THC through third-party labs) while leaving other beneficial cannabis cannabinoids intact. While each bomb contains only 25mg of CBD, it’s possible to add two or more to the tub to customize the intensity.
- CBD – Broad Spectrum
- Strength – 25 mg per bath bomb,100mg per box (
.20/mg) - Other Ingredients – Organic coconut oil, lavender oil, maltodextrin, organic cocoa seed butter
Why buy: We like that these bath bombs also contain a blend of soothing lavender essential oil with coconut oil and cocoa seed butter, both of which show medical evidence for soothing skin and easing signs of inflammation. These bath bombs are an excellent option for anyone who prefers smaller doses of organic CBD or is new to using CBD skincare products.
Best Value: cbdMD Bath Bombs
cbdmd.com
cbdMD bath bombs offer the broadest range of fragrances and purchasing options for a truly customizable CBD bath experience. We love that you can choose from six varieties depending on your mood: Resist (lavender), Relax (lavender), Rejuvenate (eucalyptus), Restore (fragrance blend), Romance (frankincense), and Rise (eucalyptus).
- CBD – Broad Spectrum
- Strength – 100 mg per bath bomb (
.075- .10/mg) - Other Ingredients – Epsom salt, corn starch, kaolin clay, coconut oil, fragrance and essential oils (varies by variety), artificial dyes
Why buy: These CBD bath bombs contain coconut oil with kaolin clay added in for its skin-nourishing properties and can be purchased alone or within variety packs. Each one contains 100 mg of broad spectrum CBD oil to offer the best value of CBD-per-dollar of any bath bomb here.
The Research on CBD Bath Bombs
To date, no studies are available that look specifically at CBD bath bombs. However, the research on the benefits of CBD topicals is growing, and the results are encouraging.
Studies show that CBD oil may help moisturize the skin for overall health. Cannabidiol contains high concentrations of antioxidants, which could make it effective for treating inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
There’s also evidence that CBD may reduce acne breakouts by slowing down sebum production and fighting off skin infections caused by bacterial and fungal pathogens. A study with rodents from 2016 indicates that using CBD oil topically may help manage the inflammation associated with arthritis for natural pain relief.
Bathing with a CBD bath bomb may also promote relaxation as you breathe in the water vapor. A systematic review from 2020 found that inhaling CBD can reduce your fear response and promote a sense of calm.
Likewise, taking a warm bath offers its own health benefits. One 2018 study found that participants who took a daily hot bath for two weeks reported less fatigue, stress, and pain than when they took showers. There’s also evidence from a 2019 clinical review that ending your day with warm water through a bath can help you fall asleep.
Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum, or CBD Isolate: What’s the Difference?
New CBD shoppers often become overwhelmed by terminology. One crucial distinction is the difference between various forms of CBD extracts.
Broad-spectrum CBD refers to products made with a wide range of beneficial cannabinoids, meaning it includes more than just CBD. However, these products are processed to remove even trace amounts of THC.
Full spectrum CBD products, in contrast, contain all of the naturally-occurring hemp cannabinoids, including up to 0.3% THC.
Finally, products that contain CBD isolate don’t include any other cannabinoids. This means you won’t experience the peripheral benefits from other hemp compounds. However, this pure form of CBD is the best form to use on your face and other sensitive skin because it won’t clog pores.
How to Choose the Best CBD Bath Bomb for You
Determining which CBD bath bomb is best comes down to personal preferences. Here are a few of the things to keep in mind.
Concentration
Those with large soaker tubs will likely prefer the bath bombs that contain 100 mg or more of CBD to maintain a high concentration in the water. Others may prefer smaller bombs that allow them to add as many as desired to the water so they can start light and add more throughout the bath.
Fragrance
A bath bomb’s fragrance is also an important consideration. Some brands offer CBD bath bombs designed for cultivating different moods, from boosting alertness to helping you relax. The essential oils used can offer additional benefits. For example, eucalyptus oil is often used to relieve muscle aches and joint pain, while inhaling lavender can ease anxiety and promote feelings of relaxation.
Ingredients
Finally, pay attention to the coloring and other added ingredients. Some bath bombs use artificial dyes that your skin may react to. If in doubt, choose a brand that uses natural botanicals instead of synthetic colors, fragrances, or preservatives. Also look for organic CBD bath bombs that are made without parabens, phthalates, or other chemicals.
How To Use CBD Bath Bombs
Using a CBD bath bomb is straightforward. First, fill a tub with warm water. Drop in the bath bomb and gently swirl the water as it fizzes to disperse it. Sink into the water and relax, staying in the bath for at least 20-30 minutes for the most benefit.
Rinsing your skin afterward isn’t necessary. In fact, doing so will remove the hemp cannabinoids from your skin and may diminish the treatment’s benefits. However, many people choose to lightly rinse their skin with cold water after bathing to reduce the lingering scent on their skin.
Safety and Side Effects
To date, there is minimal research available about the risks or long-term safety concerns associated with using CBD topically.
Even so, side effects from CBD bath bombs are rare. As with all skincare products, it’s crucial to stop bathing immediately and rinse your skin off if you see signs of irritation, swelling, or a rash developing after using it.
Some of the more common side effects associated with CBD use may include:
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhea
- Drowsiness
- Reduced appetite
- Fatigue
Make sure you talk with your doctor before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or are on medications that might be affected by prolonged exposure to hot temperatures. CBD can also potentially interact with certain medications, so be sure to ask your physician about CBD use if you take any prescription drugs.
Are CBD Bath Bombs Right For You?
CBD bath bombs offer a relaxing way to take time for yourself during a hectic day. Taking time each evening for a warm bath can ease your anxiety and make it easier to fall asleep, while CBD may offer additional benefits for your skin by increasing moisture, reducing irritation, and making you less prone to breakouts.
Consider trying one of these recommended CBD bath bomb brands today if you’re interested in expanding your self-care routine with a natural compound that has potential benefits for your body and your mind.
Lydia Noyes is a freelance writer specializing in health and wellness, food and farming, and environmental topics. When not working against a writing deadline, you can find Lydia outdoors where she attempts to bring order to her 33-acre hobby farm filled with fruit trees, heritage breed pigs, too many chickens to count, and an organic garden that somehow gets bigger every year.