Slitesterk Dark Blue Shoe Polish 711 – 50ml Beeswax and Carnauba Polish

Description

Slitesterk Dark Blue Shoe Polish 711 – 50ml Beeswax and Carnauba Polish – proper food for navy leather

Navy shoes are the quiet workhorses of a wardrobe, and they are also the ones most often let down by whatever tin happens to be in the cupboard. Reach for black and you flatten the blue. Reach for neutral and the toe caps stay pale. What navy leather actually wants is pigment in the right shade sitting in a wax that feeds the hide underneath.

That is exactly what this dark blue shoe polish is built to do. Slitesterk is our own line, and with this one we set out to make a polish that was ecological but did not skimp on the ingredients most brands quietly leave out. We brought back old-fashioned beeswax, added carnauba, and kept everything else simple so the price could stay sensible.

It arrives in a 50ml glass flask with an iron lid, which is a nicer thing to keep on the shelf than a thin pressed tin, and it holds plenty. Used the way a polish should be used, thinly and patiently, one flask will keep a favourite pair of navy Derbies looking sharp for a very long time.

Why choose the Slitesterk dark blue shoe polish?

• Real beeswax and carnauba. Beeswax feeds and softens while carnauba is the wax that takes a proper shine, so you get nourishment and gloss from the same flask rather than choosing between them.
• Navy pigment, not black. The dark blue tops up the shade where wear has thinned it, evening out toe caps, heel counters and flex creases without dragging the shoe towards black.
• Genuinely nourishing. The polish sinks into the leather rather than sitting on it. Saturated leather is far less likely to drink up water and dirt, and it creases softly instead of cracking.
• Ecological formula. We built this one to be kind about what goes in it, without the long list of fillers that pad out cheap polish.
• Glass flask, iron lid. The 50ml flask seals properly, so the polish stays workable to the very bottom instead of drying into a brick halfway through.

How to use the Slitesterk dark blue shoe polish

1. Brush the shoes first to lift off sand, mud and dust. Polishing dirt back into the leather is the fastest way to scratch it.
2. Take a small amount on an application brush or a soft cloth. Small really does mean small, about the size of a pea for a whole shoe.
3. Work it into the leather with even circular motions, covering the whole upper including the welt and the area around the laces.
4. Leave the shoes to rest for about ten minutes so the waxes can settle into the grain.
5. Buff firmly with a polishing brush or a clean polishing cloth until the shine comes up. Repeat on the toe cap if you want more depth.

My tip from behind the counter

On navy, thin layers beat thick ones every single time. A heavy coat leaves blue pigment sitting in the creases, which goes chalky and pale the moment the shoe flexes. I put on a layer so light it looks like nothing has happened, wait the full ten minutes and then brush hard. The depth comes from the brushing, not from how much polish you used.

Specifications

• Volume: 50ml glass flask with iron lid
• Type: Pigmented wax shoe polish, ecological formula
• Shade: 711 Dark Blue
• Key ingredients: Carnauba wax, beeswax, paraffinic wax, non-toxic pigments
• Suitable for: Smooth leather shoes, boots and bags in navy and dark blue
• Brand: Slitesterk
• Price: £6.99

Frequently asked questions

Will it turn my navy shoes black?

No. This is a proper dark blue rather than a near-black, so it refreshes navy leather and leaves it looking navy. If your shoes are a mid or bright blue, test on the inside quarter first, because the shade will deepen a lighter blue noticeably.

Can I use it on suede or nubuck?

Please do not. A pigmented wax polish flattens the nap of suede and nubuck permanently and there is no undoing it. Napped leather wants a suede spray, a dabber or a penetrating dye instead. This flask is for smooth leather only.

How is a polish different from a shoe cream?

A cream carries more pigment and more nourishing oils, so it is the better choice for restoring faded colour. A wax polish like this one carries more wax, so it protects harder and shines brighter. Many people use a cream first and finish with a polish, and that is exactly how I do my own.

Where can I buy Slitesterk dark blue shoe polish in the UK?

You can order the Slitesterk dark blue shoe polish directly from Shoespecialist.co.uk. We offer free delivery on orders over £50, same-day dispatch when you order before 5pm, and a 60-day return policy.