If you’ve ever tried to make something red — like, actually red — you already know the struggle.
It’s either:
- brick red
- muddy
- weirdly brown
- or suddenly… hot pink
No matter how much colour you add, it never quite looks right. After a lot of trial and error, we finally figured out a simple trick that works across bath bombs, cold process soap, melt & pour soap, and yes — it even translates to lip products.
Why Red Is So Tricky
Red colorants have their own personalities.
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Reds like Red 40 Lake or Ruby Red Oxide give depth but can read dull or brick-toned alone.
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Bright pinks are fun and vibrant but… well, they’re still pink.
The secret isn’t more colour — it’s balancing depth with brightness.
The Simple Colour Hack That Works
Instead of relying on a single red colourant, we mix two complementary reds.
For Bath Bombs
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Bath Bomb Red Colour – Red 40 Lake
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Neon Hot Pink Kisses Powder
The Red 40 Lake gives a strong base, and the neon pink lifts it so it doesn’t go muddy. The result? A bright, true red that actually reads red in the tub.
For Cold Process & Melt & Pour Soap
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Ruby Red Oxide
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Neon Hot Pink Kisses Powder
Ruby Red adds depth, neon pink adds brightness. Together, you get that rich, classic red without any brick or magenta undertones.
How Much Should You Use?
Here’s the truth: there isn’t a magic ratio.
It depends on:
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your base (more on that in a second)
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your batch size
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your personal vision of “true red”
Starting points that work well for most makers:
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1:1 ratio – equal parts red + neon pink (classic, balanced)
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1:2 ratio – more red than pink (if it looks too pink)
Our approach? We usually add a little at a time, mix, step back, and keep adjusting until it looks right. Trust your eyes — they’re your best tool. 👀
One More Thing That Really Matters: Your Base Colour
This is often overlooked, but it can totally change your final red.
Not all bases are pure white. Depending on ingredients, your mix might start off:
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slightly off-white
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creamy or ivory
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tinted from oils, butters, clays, botanicals, or milks
Even if two makers use the same colour ratio, their reds may look different simply because one started with a brighter white base than the other.
So, strict “use X grams of this and Y grams of that” rules rarely work perfectly. Always adjust by eye until it feels right for your batch.
How We Used This for a Valentine’s Project
For our Valentine’s bath bomb:
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The larger portion was colored with Red 40 Lake + Neon Hot Pink Kisses Powder to create a deep, true red for the rose.
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The smaller portion was colored with blue and yellow lake powders to make the leaves.
Same batch, same scent — just divided and colored separately. Simple, clean, and it worked beautifully.
This method is flexible and works across bath bombs, soap, and even lip products (both Ruby Red Oxide and Neon Hot Pink are lip-safe).
Pro Tips for Better Reds Every Time
- Mix your colourants together before adding to your batch.
- Start lighter than you think — you can always add more.
- If red looks dull → add brightness (neon pink).
- If red looks pink → add depth (red lake or oxide).
- Keep notes so you can recreate your favourite shade later.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes the simplest tweaks make the biggest difference. Getting a true red doesn’t require fancy pigments or overloading your mix — it’s just about balancing depth, brightness, and the starting colour.
Try this hack in your next project — we’d love to see what you create! And if you’re into colour mixing, keep an eye out for more tips coming soon. There are so many fun combos waiting to be explored.
Mold and Colorants used in this Blog:
Blossoms Milky Way Soap Mold
Bath Bomb Red Colour - Red 40 Lake
Ruby Red Oxide
Neon Hot Pink Kisses Powder
Bath Bomb Blue Colour - Blue 1 Lake
Bath Bomb Yellow Colour - Yellow 5 Lake