To keep your skin salves fresh and effective, here are some key storage tips:
1. Cool, Dry Place
- Store the salves in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, which can break down some of the ingredients and shorten the shelf life. A cupboard, drawer, or other shaded spot is ideal.
2. Avoid Heat Exposure
- Heat can cause natural oils in the salve to separate or melt which would make you see white beeswax in your salve/Shea or cocoa butter can form crystals if it melts and resolidifies slowly at room temperature. If possible, keep your salves away from heaters, stoves, or other heat sources. Shipping salves in hot weather may cause them to melt. If they do melt, you can pop them in the fridge to firm them back up.
3. Refrigeration (Optional)
- While not necessary, storing your salves in the refrigerator can help extend their shelf life. This is especially useful if you’re in a warm or humid climate, or if the salve contains ingredients like essential oils that benefit from cooler temperatures.
4. Tight-Sealing Containers
- Always keep the lid tightly sealed when not in use to prevent the salve from drying out or absorbing moisture and odors from the environment.
5. Clean Hands or Tools
- When using the salve, ensure your hands are clean or use a small spatula to scoop it out. This reduces the chance of contamination and keeps the salve fresh for longer.
Following these tips will help preserve your K&T Nurch’d By Nature skin salves for optimal effectiveness!