7 Solid Lotion Bars For Zero Waste & Zero Dry Skin
It’s not about the size of the bottle, it’s about the motion of the lotion.
Sometimes, bigger isn’t always better—especially in the case of a bigger carbon footprint.
You see, the global disposal of cosmetics and packaging containers account for up to 70% of the whole industry’s carbon emissions.
So, if you were to ask us, “Are lotion bars better than lotion?” we’d say, absolutely!
Not only are zero waste lotion bars more eco-friendly, but they also are more convenient and cost-effective since you aren’t paying for water or cleaning up liquid spills.
Without further ado, here are our favorite solid body lotion bars that don’t get under our skin, or the planet’s.
Are lotion bars effective?
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The Best Lotion Bar Brands That Butter Us Up
We can’t speak for all of them, but those by these sustainable skincare brands are pretty solid.
For sustainable vegans, we’d root for EcoRoots’ best-selling lotion bar recipe. It includes simple plant-based ingredients that hydrate the skin without clogging pores.
If you’re not vegan, Butter Me Up Organics makes incredible beeswax lotion bars (using ethical sourced beeswax, of course). Housed in a push-up cardboard applicator, you can wave goodbye to greasy hands.
Smooth on down to the bottom of the article for our secret behind homemade lotion bars or to see how we chose which bar lotions leave you feeling like a zero waste baby’s bum.
The Full & Complete List Of Zero Waste Moisturizing Bars
- EcoRoots | Visit Store
- Ethique | Visit Store
- Butter Me Up Organics | Visit Store
- ATTITUDE | Visit Store
- Linear Beauty | Visit Store
- Bee You Organics | Visit Store
- etee | Visit Store
- DIY Lotion Bars
1. EcoRoots
*Note: Most products offered by EcoRoots are palm oil free.
EcoRoots’ Zero Waste Lotion Bar
Price Range: $20
Like a smooth criminal, EcoRoots zero waste lotion bar has robbed us of all our cash.
With only six ingredients, the solid moisturizer bar works wonders for our chapped lips, dry hands, and rough elbows.
While non-comedogenic candelilla wax seals in moisture, shea butter regenerates the skin cells and cocoa butter reduces the appearance of skin imperfections.
The plant-based lotion bar is available unscented or scented with coconut or lavender essential oils.
It’s been tried, tested, and granted the SJ supple skin seal of approval—for both the formula and the super handy tin that’s perfectly pocket-sized. Once it runs out, you can order a refill only and reuse the solid lotion bar container.
About EcoRoots
As our go-to zero waste online store, EcoRoots keeps us grounded.
The small-business stocks all of our favorite home and body essentials, from reusable dryer balls to floss and everything in between.
Not only are all of their products plastic-free, but they are also vegan and cruelty-free, too, though some products contain sustainably sourced palm oil.
A portion of their annual sales are donated to organizations that give back to the planet, like the Ocean Conservancy.
Also available on Amazon
2. Ethique
Ethique’s Lotion Bar
Price Range: $10–$17
We don’t mean to rub it in, but Ethique has some of the best lotion bars on the market.
Their gentle formulas are made with natural ingredients suitable for all skin types—even sensitive skin like ours, which we were thrilled to find out firsthand.
One of the primary ingredients, Babussa oil, is exceptionally great at preventing trans-epidermal water loss. It’s light, non-greasy, and predominantly wild-harvested by women.
Each body moisturizer bar—like the dreamy Coconut & Lemongrass scented one— is packed into a handy compostable tube for mess-free storage in your vegan handbag.
Concentrated bars that turn into liquid zero waste lotion are also available.
About Ethique
The crowdfunded business is the highest-rated, fastest-selling zero waste shampoo & conditioner brand on Amazon, and for good reason.
Ethique is one of those soap bar brands with ethics (and a great deal of lotion commotion.)
Not only are their ingredients cruelty-free, plastic-free, palm-oil free, and vegan, but they are also fairly sourced via direct trading.
The best part?
Each Ethique lotion bar (or any of their products) is carbon-neutral and purchased will support ‘adopted’ animals from wildlife conservation projects around the world.
3. Butter Me Up Organics
*Note: Butter Me Up Organics’ solid body bars contain beeswax.
Butter Me Up Organics’ Homemade Lotion Bars
Price Range: $16–$20
Butter Me Up Organic has cracked the code for our cracked skin.
Packed with beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil, the ultra-hydrating formula in their Organic Lotion Bar quenches even the driest of dry skin.
We’re talking “post vacation spending a week soaking in hot springs” dry—at least that’s how we put it to the test.
Even more, it is also beneficial for the treatment of stretch marks, insect bites, eczema, and skin allergies among other things.
The potent formula comes housed in a convenient cardboard solid lotion bar container for mess-free application.
If you’re looking for something a little more fun, you can also buy mini organic lotion bar stars. The cute stars make for a great eco-friendly gift.
About Butter Me Up Organics
The women-owned Etsy shop makes top-rated organic and natural skincare products including natural sunscreen, bath bombs, and body butters.
All of which are organic, non-GMO, and zero-waste.
Every single item is hand packaged, labeled, and shipped from a small batch studio based in California.
Whenever possible, upcycled shipping material is used.
4. ATTITUDE
*Note: ATTITUDE uses RSPO’s Mass Balanced certified sustainable palm oil. Some other moisturizing products are not zero waste.
ATTITUDE’s Vegan Body Butter Bars
Price Range: $20
What is the difference between a lotion bar and body butter?
If you ask ATTITUDE, there isn’t one.
Their Leaves line of plastic-free body or hand lotion bars combine the thick, rich moisturizing power of body butters with the mess and waste-free convenience of a bar.
Contained in a compostable cardboard stick, you can choose between dry body oil or body butter bars, of which we’ve tested out the Sandalwood variety.
The neutral, earthy scent makes it perfect for all genders and isn’t too overpowering.
While we’re soaking up the magic of the smell, our skin is soaking up EWG VERIFIED™ ingredients like sunflower seed oil, jojoba esters, grape seed oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter.
The real secret is in the Indian Cress and Watercress leaf extracts, which leave skin supple thanks to high vitamin and mineral content.
About ATTITUDE
From protecting it from harmful UVA/UVB rays with biodegradable sunscreen to healing it when you inevitably forget to reapply, ATTITUDE has your back (and legs and face) when your skin develops an attitude.
This Canadian brand protects animals through PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program, and protects workers through ethical factory conditions and ingredient sourcing.
They’re steadily expanding their plastic-free range (to hopefully phase out their recyclable #2 plastic bottles, perhaps?) and plant a tree for every order through Eden Reforestation or One Tree Planted.
5. Linear Beauty
Linear Beauty’s Beeswax Lotion Bar Recipe
Price Range: $18–$32
The path to soft skin can be a linear one with Linear Beauty’s all-in-one lotion bar for hands, feet, lips, elbows, knees, scars, and all else.
Scented like chocolate, simple ingredients like cocoa butter, sunflower oil, shea butter, and beeswax will leave you smelling sustainably sweet.
Given the nature of these ingredients, the bar moisturizer is naturally high in antioxidants and Vitamin E, A,& D which help increase blood flow and reduce wrinkles and age spots.
It can be purchased with a reusable aluminum tin or as a zero waste refill.
About Linear Beauty
Sensitive skin and Linear Beauty products go together like zero waste toothpaste and sustainable toothbrushes: it just makes sense.
The clean beauty brand was founded after the owner’s personal battles with skin sensitivities to conventional drugstore products.
All of their beauty and skincare products are made with a combination of high quality oils, butters, hydrosols, and CO2 extracts suitable for all skin types.
6. Bee You Organics
Bee You Organics’ Body Lotion Bar
Price Range: $11–$47
You can’t spell bee-you-tiful skin without Bee Your.
Bee You Organics’ top-rated organic body lotion bar is a favorite among men, women, and kids alike due to its abilities to soften skin.
Among its all natural ingredients you’ll find beeswax, unrefined shea butter, coconut oil, and sweet almond oil.
If you opt for a scented version, lavender or vanilla and sweet orange essential oils will be added to the mixture also.
The adorable bars come stamped with a bee in the center or in mini-heart shapes that make for perfect gifts.
About Bee You Organics
Would you bee surprised if we told you that this organic skin and makeup brand was started by an accident (literally.)
When owner Larissa was 16 she was left with scarred skin and half an eyelid after getting hit by a drunk driver.
For years, she struggled to find products to heal and hide her scars without inevitable inflammation and acne. As a result, she started researching and creating her own products.
Now, she shares her secrets in the form of natural eyeshadows, natural sunscreens, sugar scrubs, and other clean beauty products—all free water, alcohol, gluten, and plastic.
7. etee
etee’s Hand Lotion Bars
Price Range: $12–$15
etee’s hand lotion bar comes in handy for those rough patches in life (that is, the knees and elbows.)
Made from six powerful ingredients, the solid lotion bar recipe is designed to moisturize without leaving greasy skin and clogged pores.
Refined kokum butter, ultra-refined cocoa butter, beeswax, organic sunflower oil, arrowroot powder, and tangerine essential oil do just the job.
Each one ounce bar lasts 2–3 months with proper storage.
About etee
If you embrace a minimalist lifestyle and are all about that one-stop shopping, etee won’t disappoint.
They’ve got everything you need in one completely plastic-free place, from zero waste laundry detergent to eco-friendly shampoo and conditioner.
By supporting etee, you are also supporting one of the various organizations they donate to including food banks and medical clinics.
8. DIY Lotion Bar Recipe
So, how can you make lotion bars at home?
We’ve got the homemade lotion bar recipe of your dreams.
It calls for equal parts shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax (or Candelila wax if you’re vegan.)
Simply pop all these ingredients into a double boiler and melt them over low heat. Once melted, add in essential oils of your choice.
Pour the mixture into silicone molds and leave to cool until solid. If you want to avoid silicone, old mint tins make for great molds.
There you have it—a homemade solid body moisturizer to warm skin, and the heart!
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Why Choose Zero Waste Lotion Bars?
Before we answer that question, let’s get a solid foundation on lotion bars.
What is a lotion bar and how do you use it?
Lotion bars are solid emollients that turn into a cream when activated. Though they look and feel like bar soap, they don’t require water to activate. Instead, they are activated with body heat. Take a small amount of the bar and rub it in your hands for a few seconds and bam- moisturizing magic.
Since lotion bars are concentrated, they have a much longer shelf life than conventional lotions.
A win for your sustainable wallet and the planet, considering that means saving 3 plastic lotion bottles from entering the landfills with each bar.
Not to mention they are an incredible eco-friendly travel product due to their size and convenience.
Why choose that pesky plastic-filled lotion when you can opt for a planet-loving lotion bar instead?
How We Found The Best Solid Lotion Bars
How did we set the bar for our lotion bars?
We referred to our ethical and sustainable beauty guidelines, like always. Here are our conditions when it comes to solid moisturizer bars that condition:
- Non-toxic: There are quite a few ingredients in skincare to avoid. Under no circumstance do we let them slide. Instead, we look for our favorite natural skincare ingredients (like shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, essential oils, mango butter, etc.).
- Vegan & cruelty-free: Beeswax is common among lotion bar ingredients, but if you want a vegan alternative, look for candelilla wax. Cruelty-free means no animal testing, but it also means not selling to countries that require animal testing by law.
- Palm-oil free: If palm oil is used, it must be RSPO-Certified
- Ethical ingredient sourcing: No being should have to suffer in the name of skincare. We look for above minimum-wage pay and a healthy work environment, among other things.
- Thoughtful packaging: We understand zero waste isn’t always possible, so at minimum we look for low waste.
Final Thoughts On Zero Waste Moisturizing Bars
Life is already rough enough, your skin doesn’t need to be too.
That’s why you should finally tell that lackluster liquid lotion to kiss your ash.
Whether you opt for one of our solid lotion bar picks or make your own homemade lotion bars, remember to store lotion bars away from direct sunlight to avoid a meltdown.
Now that you’re one step closer to your zero waste bathroom AND sustainably smooth skin, it’s time to shower others with your secrets.
Make some lotion and slide this article into the DMs of that BFF who’s always slathering on cocoa butter that there are butter options in the form of the best solid lotion bars.
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