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- Lotion bars and lotion sticks are solid moisturizers with low water content, which means they need less preservatives.
- Solid moisturizers deep moisturize your skin and coat it in a protective nourishing layer.
- Compared to regular lotions, lotion bars are also travel-friendlier and easier to use without making a mess.
Traditional moisturizers sure have a lot going for them, but they are not the only way to supply your skin with all the moisture it needs. In fact, the best lotion bars and lotion sticks are just as efficient, but they offer a couple of added benefits.
There are a few reasons why you’d want to ditch your regular lotion for a solid one, or to use them in tandem. So let’s talk about what lotion bars and lotion sticks even are, why they are becoming more and more popular, how to use them and which are the best lotion bars and lotion sticks on the market right now…
What Are Lotion Bars & Lotion Sticks?
Lotion bars are exactly what they sound like – moisturizers in a solid form that often look like bars of soap. Though solid at room temperature, they start to melt as soon as they come in contact with your skin. They are often made of natural oils, butters and waxes, while their water content is usually lower than in regular lotions.
Lotion sticks are the same thing but packed in tube-like containers. So, instead of soap bars, think deodorant-like products that are actually meant to be used to keep the whole body’s skin well hydrated.
There are a few things that the best lotion bars and sticks have over regular lotions. First, because of their low water content, lotion bars actually require less preservatives. That is why you can find many natural, chemical-free versions of these products.
Lotion sticks are also easier to use without making a mess – and handy if you need to moisturize the dry patches often (knees, elbows, etc.), but you don’t want to make your hands sticky every single time. Lotion bars and sticks are also travel-friendly – easier to carry around and you don’t need to worry they will spill in your bag.
Basically, they are compact, concentrated little things that look adorable, often smell great and protect your skin as any lotion would. But they take less space and allow for a more precise application.
How to Use a Lotion Bar or a Lotion Stick?
Using a lotion bar couldn’t be any simpler. All you have to do is place your solid moisturizer against the skin you want to treat. Give it a few seconds until it softens and starts to melt. Once it gets slippery, it will be easy to glide the bar effortlessly across your skin.
Same thing with lotion sticks. You actually kind of use them as you would use a deodorant, except you can apply them all over your body. You can always carry one in your bag and add moisture to your dry skin areas throughout the day.
Just like any lotion, you will get the best results if you apply a lotion bar or stick right after the shower, while your skin is still warm and slightly moist. That is when your skin can absorb the lotion better, and the oils and waxes in the lotion will prevent the evaporation of moisture.
12 Best Lotion Bars and Lotion Sticks
If all we’ve mentioned above sounds good to you and you’d like to try these adorable skin enhancers for yourself, you must be wondering where to start and which of these products really are worth giving a shot. So here are some of the best lotion bars and lotion sticks you can find, based on their ingredient lists and many positive reviews…
*All prices mentioned are from September 2022.
Best lotion bars:
1. Kate McLeod Daily Stone
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Price: $45.00/3.5 Oz.
Now, don’t these look just adorable? A slick design and subtle scent, plus some pretty impressive skin pampering abilities… Just knowing you have one of these around can put you in a good mood.
The simplicity of the ingredient list is also more than appreciated. Daily Stones are made of two groups of natural oils – nourishing carrier oils (cocoa butter, sweet almond, apricot kernel, avocado and fractionated coconut oil) and aromatic essential oils (rose, frankincense, and neroli).
2. Pretty Frank Natural Lotion Bar Vanilla Lavender
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Price: $15.00/2 Oz.
Similarly to the previous product, this lotion bar also has a short and simple ingredient list. A great way to keep track of what goes onto your skin without having to google long unpronounceable ingredient names.
The scents of lavender and vanilla make this moisturizer a relaxing, spa-like experience. As for the skin nourishing components, this lotion bar contains beeswax, cocoa and shea butter, coconut and olive oil, and vitamin E.
3. Moon Valley Organics Herbal Lotion Bar Coconut Lemon
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Price: $13.99/1.9 Oz.
This solid moisturizer comes in several different fragrances, including lavender, lemon-vanilla and bergamot-geranium. But coconut-lemon was our first choice – subtle, warm and refreshing.
Safflower and coconut oil, as well as cocoa butter are in charge of providing your skin with natural lipids. And, in tandem with beeswax and vitamin E, they will also protect the skin against harsh, drying environmental influences.
4. Ethique Coconut & Lime Mini Solid Body Butter
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Price: $5.00/0.53 Oz.
Or if the coconut and lime combo sounds good to you, try out this one. It is a solid body butter – super moisturizing, super nourishing and just perfect to quickly and easily add some extra moisture to all the areas of your skin that need it.
Cocoa butter, babassu oil, lime oil and lecithin are some of the ingredients your skin will love the most in this lotion bar. Like most moisturizers, this one works best if applied on damp skin, but you can also use it on the go.
5. GoodJuJuHerbal Lotion Bar
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Price: $24.00/4 Oz.
The fact that this is a handmade, natural, unscented product suitable even for sensitive skin or eczema makes this hands down one of the best lotion bars ever. It protects the skin, soothes irritations and prevents drying out.
The unscented version of this solid lotion contains several skin friendly natural moisturizers, such as shea and cocoa butter, beeswax, carrot and pomegranate oil and calendula infused rice bran oil. There is also a scented version, fragranced with lavender and lemongrass essential oils.
6. Honey House Naturals Bee Bar
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Price: $12.95/2 Oz.
Another lotion bar that comes in several different scents, to match everyone’s preferences and skin needs. Great to have around all around the house, especially during the cold months, or if your skin is dry or damaged.
The great thing about this moisturizer is that you can wash your hands a few times without needing to reapply because the beeswax will seal in everything. Every scent comes with a little different ingredients list, but most of them are formulated with shea butter, sweet almond and jojoba oil.
Best lotion sticks:
1. Vaseline All-Over Body Balm Jelly Stick
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Price: $7.77/1.4 Oz.
Just like some of the best lotion bars we talked about above, Vaseline’s body balm stick offers superb nourishment for your skin, plus a mess-free application. And since it prevents friction and chafing, it is a great solution for anyone who enjoys sports and intense physical activities.
Similarly to all Vaseline moisturizers, this lotion stick also uses petrolatum, to form a barrier over the skin. This barrier protects the skin, enhances healing and prevents the loss of moisture.
2. Kosmatology Organic Lotion Bar
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Price: $12.00/2.65 Oz.
Kosmatology lotion bar sticks also come in different scents, including the unscented version. When applied, they reinforce the skin’s natural lipid barrier and that way keep the hydration in.
Shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil and candelilla wax are in charge of maintaining the skin smooth and well-moisturized. And all of the scents have their own aromatherapy benefits (grapefruit, for example, is refreshing, energizing and uplifting).
3. Cococare 100% Cocoa Butter Stick
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Price: $1.75/1 Oz.
Pure cocoa butter body stick – a natural and efficient emollient that thoroughly moisturizes dry, sensitive skin. It makes the skin soft and smooth and enhances the healing process. A must have in your winter bag.
Cocoa butter is high in fatty acids and phytochemicals, which diminish the effect of free radicals and elements. This butter stick is nourishing, restoring and soothing. You can use it as often as your dry skin requires it.
4. Kora Organics Noni Glow Body Balm
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Price: $27.00/2.65 Oz.
Definitely on the more expensive side compared to other products on our list of the best lotion bars and lotion sticks. But if you can afford to splurge – certified organic ingredients, slick elegant design and gorgeous scent make it worth it.
The skin loving ingredients that make this product special include noni fruit extract, shea and cupuacu butter, coconut, sunflower, rosehip and jojoba oil, beeswax and carnauba wax, licorice root extract, etc. You can use this lotion stick to moisturize your whole body skin, but also as a foot or cuticle treatment and even on dry hair ends.
5. Eczema Honey Gentle Face & Body Lotion Stick
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Price: $13.95/2.2 Oz.
If your skin is prone to extreme dryness, irritation and eczema, you know how hard it can be to find products that won’t irritate it even further. Your best bet would be a gentle, natural moisturizer. And this one you can use both on your face and body skin.
Gentle Face & Body Lotion Stick is mildly scented with lavender and chamomile essential oils. It is also packed with skin soothing ingredients, such as mango butter, beeswax, coconut oil, honey, vitamin E and colloidal oatmeal.
6. Yes To Coconuts Ultra Hydrating Coconut Oil Stick
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Price: $9.99/2 Oz.
This lotion stick you can also use on both your face and body, as it has a fast-absorbing, non-greasy texture. It is Leaping Bunny certified, with 98% natural ingredients and no parabens, SLS or silicones.
Yes To Moisturizing Coconut Oil Stick will also work best for people with dry skin, as it is formulated with some of the best natural moisturizers out there. These include coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, castor oil and glycerin.
