The hand lotion we make at Full Circle Central is made from simple, natural ingredients: olive oil, emulsifying wax, essential oil, and water. Until recently, we hadn't used any preservatives, but because the product contains water, there's a chance for bacteria to grow and mold to form. This hopefully won't happen for months (I've had jars last over a year), but I've also seen it happen much sooner, depending on the conditions.
We've been experimenting with using a natural preservative (made from fermented radish root!) to extend its shelf life, but while we're vetting how well that works, we thought we'd pass on a couple tips to make your lotion last longer:
- Make sure it's not trapping moisture. If there's any condensation inside the lid, wipe it off so bacteria doesn't grow.
- Avoid dipping into the jar with dirty hands. You could use a popsicle stick or little spatula to scoop it out if that works best for you.
- Keep it cold. Refrigeration should increase the shelf life, but you probably don't want to put cold lotion all over on your body...at least not in prime dry-skin season! If you have a larger container, you might consider putting it in the fridge and keeping a smaller amount in the bathroom, bedroom, or wherever else you regularly use it.
We'll keep trying to find ways to make your lotion last longer, and we appreciate your understanding about the limitations of natural body care products!
