All you need to know about solid beauty bar cosmetics
Cosmetic bars have revolutionized our bathrooms for several years now and the questions about them are numerous. After decades of reigning without sharing, or questioning the shower gels in rainbow colored bottles, a serious and useful competitor wanted it's share of the battle. Soap bar pebbles (but not only) celebrate their thunderous return. The return to simplicity and to essentials is at the core of this approach for « better living », « living more responsibly » or « zero waste living ». We are talking about going back here, because indeed the appearance of cosmetic bars is only a look in the time's mirror as this all is already well known to our grandmothers. Soap bars, shampoo bars, deodorant bars, balms, make-up remover oil bars ... why bother with so many plastic or glass bottles and pay for water that nota bene flows in quantity from our taps? We wanted bring the various recurring questions we all have together and bring you some solid answers regarding cosmetic bars.
What are solid beauty bars ?
A soap bar or shampoo bar is the basis, the essential, the heart of conventional cosmetics. Why ? Because solid cosmetics only contain what is most important in our shampoos, soaps or even face treatments: active agents. They do not contain water which, for the record, constitutes at least 80% of shower gels or shampoos in bottles. The cosmetic bar manufacturers have taken great care to elaborate concentrated versions of our traditional cosmetics. Thus, these pebbles will contain only what is best and necessary to take good care of our body but at a much higher level than those made 30 years ago.
Imagine your bottle of shampoo sold in supermarkets: it contains at least 80% water and the rest is mainly produced industrially and chemically. Everything else, in an improved version of course, forms the basis of solid cosmetics. Perfected, because most of the time they are made exclusively of natural ingredients, are organic on more than 90% of elements in their formula, are vegan and cruelty-free. However, be careful: not all soap bars or solid shampoos rhyme with natural, organic or vegan ingredients. The most important thing is to choose the right brands, responsible, labeled Vegan or Cruelty Free, which do not use synthetic ingredients. They are essentially petrol derivatives that prevent the skin from breathing while polluting, starting at production until the end of their life in nature. On our site, we have taken care to select only brands that excel in the quality and choice of their ingredients and their local suppliers, all natural and organic for the vast majority of them.
Are soap bars or shampoo bars plastic free or zero waste ?
The zero waste or plastic free conversations often evoke solid cosmetics. There are several reasons for this. First, most solid product manufacturers have completely eliminated the use of plastic to package their products. It’s a huge step towards a cleaner, healthier and greener life. Each year the number of plastic bottles made to contain liquid cosmetics keeps growing. It is for that reason that the use of bar products for your daily wash drastically reduces our carbon and plastic footprint.
Unfortunately, some bar soap manufacturers and brands still pack them in mini plastic packaging, often recycled. Again, it's up to you to choose brands using only cardboard or paper packaging (compostable and biodegradable), glass jar, or tin cases - practical because refillable. Or buy your soap bars in bulk without any packaging!
Using bar cosmetic items every day greatly reduces the amount of waste produced annually. It is a new art of living and new habits to take, but like our planet, your body and skin will thank you!
How long do solid beauty bars last?
One of the many undeniable advantages is the shelf life of solid cosmetics. Thanks to their concentrated formula, you get to profit from them much longer than liquid products (shower gels, shampoos in bottles, milky makeup removers or tube toothpastes). Two main reasons to this:
1. A longer conservation
The storage capacity of a bar cosmetic is much higher than its equivalent in bottles. Natural degradation is much slower because solid products contain very little or no water. The main thing is to take care of your solid cosmetics, to leave them in dry places away from light. Ceramic or wooden soap dishes will let the water drain out and dry your soap or shampoo bar in your bathroom, it is more than enough.
2. A concentrate of natural active agents
Produced only with the essentials necessary for the creation of pebbles and therefore devoid of water, makes them last significantly longer. This drastically delays bacterial growth and eliminates the need to add preservative chemicals found in liquid versions. A toothpaste in a 100 ml glass jar will last as long as 2-3 toothpastes in a plastic tube, a shampoo bar will easily replace two bottles of liquid shampoo. As for solid deodorants or balms, their uses are about one and a half to two times longer than those more liquid because you need significantly less balm or deodorant for an often better result.
In addition to avoiding waste and making our planet healthier, bar cosmetic consumers will make real savings on their beauty products!
Can we take bar cosmetics on the plane?
Solid travel soap or solid travel shampoo will pass any airport security without any worries, so you can take them in the plane cabin. It will be particularly easy for you to transport them as they are small and the fact that they are void of water.
For each trip or get away, put them in small travel boxes or transport baggies (light and space-saving) and use them during your travels. Thanks to this, you will enjoy a zero waste and plastic free approach even outside the house
They will easily reduce the volume and weight of your bags and suitcases. A big advantage: they can be used by the whole family, so there is no need to adapt the plastic bottles according to individual needs. For our little loves, opt for soap and shampoo bars without essential oils having only a few natural ingredients in the bar cosmetic formula. They are also well suited for babies, children and adults. Save space in your suitcases and no more headache for carry-on luggage. Not taking the "checked baggage" option will no longer be a problem and you will no longer need to buy liquid cosmetics once you arrive. These brick cosmetics will serve you even during long layovers if necessary. Instead of using industrial airport soaps, you can refresh yourself with your natural, organic and vegan soaps.
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