With winter fast approaching, many people will be incorporating more natural beauty products into their routine.
Mango butter is an excellent alternative to petroleum-based lotions and moisturizers because it is natural and highly effective.
One thing that most people grapple with when using mango butter is how to keep mango butter soft.
It can get rock hard in the winter, so here are some great tips on how you can keep your mango butter soft and useable all year round!
If you have ever used mango butter, you know how sensitive it can be to temperature changes. It will melt and become very soft if you get it too hot.
If you store it in your bathroom or kitchen cupboard where the temperature fluctuates the most, it will slowly but surely harden and become unusable.
However, the good thing is that you can fix this problem and make your mango butter soft again. How, you might ask? Continue reading to find out!
Why Mango Butter Hardens In the First Place
Before exploring in detail how to keep mango butter soft, let’s have a look at why this amazing product becomes so hard in the first place.
1: Extreme Room Temperatures – Mango butter is a natural product extracted from the seed of the mango fruit. However, it is not as easy to work with as other natural products because it has a high melting point and becomes extremely hard in low temperatures.
In fact, it has been known to become congealed and even develop crystals if stored at low temperatures for long periods. Mango butter is composed mainly of saturated fatty acids.
These are known as “solid at room temperatures.” That’s why it melts and gets absorbed when in contact with your body but hardens at room temperature.
2: Improper Storage- How you store your mango butter can hugely impact how long it keeps its soft texture. How you store it can affect the temperature at which it melts and thickens.
If you put mango butter where there is a lot of heat, for example, in a hot closet or the trunk of your car, it will melt and become very soft.
Read: How to fix grainy lotion
3: Exposure to Air and Moisture – If you keep mango butter in an open jar, too much air and moisture will get to it. Air contains water molecules that can speed up the hardening process.
Moisture can also cause your mango butter to become moldy, so the ideal storage place for it is in an airtight jar with a lid.
4: How Often You Use It – If you use your mango butter regularly, you are helping yourself to keep it soft. If you only use it once every 2-3 months, the natural oils in the product will have time to thicken and make your mango butter hard, which can make using it difficult.
Read: Mango butter benefits on skin
How To Keep Mango Butter Soft: Different Ways
Tip 1#: Use An Air-Tight Container With A Lid
The easiest and most effective way of keeping your mango butter soft is to use an airtight container with a lid. If you put your mango butter in a small, sealed jar, it will keep its softness and flavor much longer.
Ensure that you put the lid back any time you use your mango butter to avoid exposure to moisture and other elements that can cause it to harden. The ideal size for these jars would be around two ounces or less.
Read: Is mango butter good for oily skin?
Tip 2#: Store It In A Refrigerator
Another good way of keeping mango butter soft is to store it in the refrigerator. You can leave it in there for as long as you like, but it is recommended that you take it out and let it soften for about 20 minutes before using it.
You can also store your mango butter in the freezer for a maximum of two years if you want to keep it fresh and soft. However, you will probably be surprised at how often you need to use it if you do this.
When you want to use it, simply take it out of the freezer and let it thaw for about an hour or two before use.
Tip 3#: Store It In A Warm Area
If you keep your mango butter soft by storing it in a warm area, make sure that the temperature does not go past 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. You can simply wrap your jar in a towel to make sure that it does not get too hot.
When mango butter is stored in a warm area, it will retain its softness for a more extended period. For example, if you store your mango butter on top of the fridge at room temperature, it will still keep its soft texture and give off a fantastic scent.
Tip 4#: Add Vegetable Or Soybean Oil
Adding vegetable or soybean oil can help you keep mango butter moisturized and soft. This is because the natural oils will balance out the natural solidness of mango butter to maintain its smooth texture for much longer than usual.
The added benefit of this method is that you are adding nutrients to your mango butter, making it even more beneficial for your skin. You should only use the oil sparingly, though.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mango Butter Texture
How Long Will Mango Butter Keep Its Soft Texture?
Mango butter can keep its soft texture for as little as a few months or as long as a few years. If you keep your mango butter in the fridge, it will be able to maintain its texture for much longer than if you let it melt in the trunk of your car during summer.
Does Mango Butter Get Hard?
Yes, mango butter might get hard if not stored properly or used regularly. If this happens, mix the harder mango butter with vegetable or soybean or heat it up a bit to make it softer.
Is mango butter a soft butter?
No, mango butter is not a ‘soft butter’ in the sense that it melts quickly. It is very similar to other natural butters, so it is not ‘soft’ in the usual sense.
Mango butter is wonderful for your skin. Keeping it soft can be difficult, but with the above methods on how to keep mango butter soft, you can ensure that it remains moisturizing and gentle for years to come.
This will not only let you enjoy its benefits for a long time, but it will also allow you to give your skin the luxurious moisture that it deserves.
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