So you've switched from a liquid body wash to a more sustainable natural bar soap - awesome! You are reducing plastic waste, avoiding palm oil and petrochemical derived ingredients, and in time you should notice softer, less irritated skin.
One problem you may encounter, though, is that a bar of soap doesn't always last as long as a bottle of body wash. There are ways to make your soap bar last longer though. Here's how.
Keep the soap bar dry
Keep your soap bar away from water. Nothing will make your soap disintegrate faster than keeping it constantly wet. Avoid storing your soap in a place that is constantly in contact with water, like in the direct stream of the shower.
Use a natural shower puff or washcloth
Use a shower puff or washcloth instead of your hands. Skin is less able to produce and retain lather from soap than other materials. If you use a washcloth while you are bathing, the whole process will use less soap overall because the washcloth will create more lather and it the suds it creates will go farther in cleaning your body than simply using your hands alone.
Take cooler showers
Hot water will make your bar soap dissolve more quickly and will require more effort to make lather. A cooler shower will help your bar soap last longer by allowing it to maintain its shape and consistency for a longer period of time.
Use a soap rack to drain soap between uses
Don't let your bar soap sit in a puddle of water! Look for a soap dish or soap rack that allows for decent air circulation so the bar can dry after each use. Some soap dishes have raised textured beds. Others may have a removable top rack that allows for drainage.
Cut your bar soap in half
Divide it up! Cut your bar of bar soap in half and use only one half at a time. This way, you can store the other half in a dry place and prevent it from getting wet and soft.
Store the last soap slivers in a soap saver bag
What do you do with bar soap when it gets really small? Once your soap bar breaks down into smaller pieces that are difficult to use, put those smaller pieces inside a soap saver bag. This small bag will work to contain the pieces for reuse, but it also acts as a type of exfoliating washcloth that you can use to bath yourself with the soap remnants inside.
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