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What you need
Dry Ingredients
1 cup baking soda – helps soften water and make the mix fizzy
1/2 cup cream of tartar – gives that airy, light texture
1/2 cup cornstarch – keeps the bars firm but not crumbly
1/4 cup SLSA (Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate) – your bubble power! It’s gentle on skin but creates those rich, foamy bubbles we love
Wet Ingredients
2 tbsp vegetable glycerin – adds silkiness and helps hold the dough together
2 tbsp melted coconut oil or shea butter – moisturises skin and adds richness
1 tsp Polysorbate 80 (optional) – helps disperse oils and colours evenly in water (and keeps your tub clean!)
Red and green mica powder or gel colour
Essential oil blend – try peppermint + vanilla or orange + clove for that true Christmas spa scent
Instructions
If you’re anything like me, the holidays tend to sneak up somewhere between “I’ll start my shopping early this year” and “how is it December 20th already?” This easy DIY Christmas Bubble Bar is one of my go-to solutions for that last-minute panic. It’s festive, fun to make, smells like a cozy holiday hug, and best of all—it’s a homemade LUSH dupe that actually works!
These red and green swirled bubble bars fizz and foam under running water, releasing a Christmassy scent that fills the bathroom. Whether you’re treating yourself after a long day of shopping or need a thoughtful handmade gift for teachers, neighbors, or your kids’ bestie’s mum, this project checks all the boxes.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Festive Christmas Bubble Bars
1. Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, gently stir together baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, and SLSA. Tip: wear a mask while handling SLSA—it’s a fine powder and can tickle the nose!
2. Add the Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, mix your melted oil, glycerin, essential oils, and polysorbate 80 (if using). Slowly drizzle the liquid into the dry mix, stirring continuously. It should look like soft cookie dough that holds together when squeezed but doesn’t stick to your hands.
3. Divide and Colour
Split your dough in half. Add red mica to one portion and green to the other. Knead the colour in gently (wear gloves to keep your hands from looking like Christmas elves).
4. Roll, Stack & Swirl
Roll each colour into a flat rectangle on parchment paper. Stack the green layer on top of the red, then carefully roll them into a log like a festive Swiss roll.
5. Slice Into Bars
Use a sharp knife to slice your log into thick bubble bar rounds. Each bar should be about 1–1.5 inches thick.
6. Let Them Cure
Place on parchment paper and leave to dry in a cool, dry spot for 48–72 hours. No peeking or poking—let them firm up naturally.
How to Use a Bubble Bar
Break off a chunk (about a golf ball size) and crumble it under warm running water. The key is friction—more running water = more bubbles. For a mountain of fluff, use a mesh strainer under the tap.
Wrapping & Gifting Ideas
Here’s where the fun really starts. These bubble bars are super giftable—just pair them with:
- Cellophane wrap + red and green twine
- A handwritten gift tag with a message like “Have a bubbly Christmas!”
- A mini spa kit with handmade lip balm, sugar scrub, or bath salts
- Or pop one in a mason jar with faux snow and a ribbon for a snow globe effect
Perfect for teacher gifts, Secret Santa, holiday markets, or your self-care-loving sister-in-law who already has everything.
Scent Ideas for the Holidays
- Classic Christmas: Peppermint + Vanilla
- Spiced Orange: Sweet Orange + Clove
- Gingerbread Hug: Cinnamon + Nutmeg + Brown Sugar fragrance
- Winter Walk: Eucalyptus + Fir Needle + Spearmint
I added a dusting of eco-glitter and a mini candy cane to mine last year—and the kids thought I bought them at a boutique! And let’s be honest… after the madness of December, us mums deserve a long soak too.
These DIY Christmas Bubble Bars are more than just a fun craft—they’re a beautiful way to slow down and connect during a hectic season. Whether you’re crafting them solo with a mug of mulled wine or hosting a bubble bar-making night with friends, it’s a moment of calm and creativity wrapped in red and green.
What do you think of this project? Let us know!