Guide

How long does a solid cosmetic really last?

A 90 g solid shampoo lasts up to 60 washes, which is around €0.25 a wash on a €14.90 bar. A 40 g solid cleanser covers up to 4 months of daily use. How long it lasts depends far less on the formula than on one thing: whether the bar dries between uses.

How long each one lasts

ProductFormatLastsPriceCost per use
Solid shampoo90 gUp to 60 washes€14.90Around €0.25 a wash
ÉCLIPSE cleanser40 gUp to 4 months of daily use€15.00Around €3.75 a month
Scented candle270 gAround 70 hours of burn time€29.00Around €0.41 an hour
Guest-size soap20 gA one to three night stayfrom €1.25A few cents a night

For soaps and for the conditioner, the answer depends too much on hair length, water hardness and how often you wash for a single figure to mean anything. We would rather not invent one.

Why a bar disappears quickly

A solid cosmetic wears down when it stays wet, not when you use it. A bar left sitting in a pool of water softens and melts far faster than one that dries in the air.

  • Keep it out of the shower stream and off the edge of the bath where water collects.
  • Use a holder that lets it dry on every side, not a closed dish.
  • Rub the bar on wet hair or lather it between your hands: you only take what you need.
  • When travelling, wait until it is dry before closing it in a box.

The one habit that changes everything

The magnetic soap holder keeps the bar hanging on the wall: it dries on every face and never sits in water. It is the accessory that extends the life of a soap or a solid shampoo the most, and it costs €8.90. The cork box is for travelling, because it stands up to damp without holding water.