Get the Best from Your Bare Natural Products
Hello everyone! I thought I’d pop on and share a few handy tips on how to get the best out of your Bare products. So many of you have told me how long your soap bars and body butters last, which is always lovely to hear! But if you’re new to natural products, you might find some of these little tricks really helpful. I’ve picked them up from years of making (and using!) my own products, so I thought why keep them to myself? Let’s get stuck in!
Natural Soap Bars
The biggest tip for bar soap is this: don’t let it sit in water. That might sound really obvious, but I’ve seen many a beautiful bar dissolve into mush at the bottom of a soggy dish!
Ideally, use something that drains – a slatted wooden, clay or ceramic dish or one with holes in the base is best. If you can, keep it on a windowsill or somewhere with a bit of airflow. It’ll dry between uses and last much longer.
Bonus tip: if you’re using your bar in the shower, try keeping it just outside the wet area and only bringing it in when needed.
Natural Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
Just like soap, my shampoo and conditioner bars will thank you for keeping them dry between washes. You can pop them on a draining soap dish or in a mesh bag, something that lets air circulate.
A lot of people store them in tins, which is great for travel, but at home try to leave the lid off until they’re dry again. Otherwise, they can get a bit soft and stick to the sides!
Natural Body Butters & Balms
If you’ve got one of my body butters or lip balms, you’ll know they’re made with natural oils and butters and no stabilisers or preservatives. That means a little warmth goes a long way.
Use clean, dry fingers to scoop out what you need. In cooler months it might be firmer, so warm a bit in your hands before applying. In warmer weather it might get softer, but that’s totally normal. Just keep the lid on and store it somewhere cool and out of direct sun. If you find it’s gone a bit too soft, put it in the fridge for an extra luxurious application!
Use Every Last Bit
Don’t throw away those last little slivers of soap, they’re still full of goodness! You can pop them into a small soap bag, muslin cloth, or even an old clean sock and use them like a gentle scrubby bar in the shower. The texture of the fabric gives your skin a light exfoliation while the soap lathers up nicely.
For shampoo bars, once they get too small to hold, I like to press the last pieces into my next bar while it’s still slightly damp so they stick together, no waste and no slippery little bits disappearing down the drain!
Natural Scrubs
My sugar scrubs are brilliant for exfoliating in the shower, especially before shaving or just when your skin feels a bit dull! The natural oils leave your skin soft and smooth, and the sugar gives you that gentle but effective scrub.
My main tip for these is to do your best not to get water into the jar. Because there are no preservatives in there, introducing water can cause it to get quite runny. If you do use it in the shower, make sure to keep the lid on tightly between uses and store it somewhere dry if you can!
Natural Deodorants
One thing to keep in mind with my deodorants is not to apply them straight after your shower, especially if your underarms are still warm and damp. Give your skin a little time to cool and dry first, and it’ll glide on much more smoothly.
Like many of my products, these are made with natural oils and butters, so they can soften up in warm weather. If yours feels a bit too creamy, just pop it in the fridge for a short while to help it firm up again.
And don’t forget; the tube is made from paper (much more eco-friendly than plastic!), so try to keep it away from damp spots like the bathroom windowsill or right by the shower. It’ll last much longer that way!
What About Shelf Life?
Most of my products are best used within 6-12 months. Because I use fresh, natural ingredients without any preservatives, it’s best not to leave them sitting around too long. But honestly, I don’t think any of you let them go to waste!
If you’ve got your own clever ways of storing or using Bare products, I’d love to hear them, just leave a comment below or send me an email.
Be sure to follow Bare Natural on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated on my latest creations and updates. Until next time! 🫧
Dinah x