Theresa’s talking: Lately I’ve noticed a trend toward solid skin lotion bars. I saw it first with Lush (mmmm, Lush) but now I see other boutique brands that offer them, like Soap Lady. Are these solid bars as good as a regular lotion?
The Right Brain Responds:
The most difficult part of answering your question was deciding which Beauty Brain would respond. When Sarah Bellum saw the word “bar” she automatically assumed SHE should be the one to answer. Fortunately for you, I explained to her that THIS kind of bar is not a drinking establishment, but a highly portable, solid moisturizer that you could use to touch up dry skin. Whether or not you chose bars over lotions is your personal preference but to help you make up your mind, here are the Beauty Brains’ top five pro’s and con’s of solid moisturizers.
1. Pro: Convenient to carry
You don’t have to worry about a bar leaking in your purse or suitcase like you do with bottles and tubes. You can even tuck a bar in your pocket and carry it around (as long as you put it in a protective tin like Lush provides.)
2. Con: Tricky application
Bars are great for touch up areas like elbows, but the bar form makes them harder to use over large areas like legs and arms. It can also take longer to apply than regular lotion.
3. Pro: Super-sustainable
These products tend to be made with sustainable plant based ingredients like beeswax, avocado oil, and cacao butter. They also use less packaging in general. Instead of a bottle and cap, all you have is the wrapping paper.
4. Con: Minimally moisturizing
While these formulas are good at providing instant emolliency, they generally don’t contain the types of ingredients that provide a high degree of long lasting moisturization like dimethicone or petrolatum.
5. Pro: Wrap it up 
Lotion bars are unusual and they come in cute designs so they make great gifts.
What do you think? Would you go bar-hopping and leave your lotion behind? Leave a comment and let the rest of the Beauty Brains community know how you feel about solid lotion bars like Lush’s Fever Massage Bar
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Pros: no preservative needed
Pros: no water, therefore more concentrated
Pros: fewer ingredients by far
Pros: superior for hands that get washed frequently, if it contains beeswax (has staying power)
I’m going to try it. My dd is a productaholic so at least 2 of us will use it. My concern is…one of the reviews at Amazon said her hair is “virgin”. What does she mean? Freshly grown after a process? Never been processed? And why is the shampoo recommended for the post-menopausal woman?
Unfortunately they’re made with cocoa butter (at least the Lush ones), which is pore clogging so they’re not good for people with acne-prone skin.
Cindy: I really like your additional “pro’s” for solid lotion. Thank you!
I agree with this except for your statement that dimethicone and petrolatum are better for moisturizing. They coat, rather than adding oils. This is why lotion bars are better than liquid lotions: most liquid lotions contain petroleum products, -cones and other nasty things… Lotion bars contain real oils that your skin can use.
“ustainable plant based ingredients like beeswax” Since when bees have become plants?
Um, things like silicone, cyclomethicone or dimethicone are derived from sand. Last time I checked sand was organic and a naturally occuring material. Mineral oil and other petroleum products are by products of natural occurring materials as well…and are potent antioxidants. Mineral oil molecules are TOO large to penetrate the skin so they ARE NOT clogging. They actually guard the skin from pollutants such as SMOG or EXHAUST from cars. Thus resulting in moisture loss.
Do a little investigative research instead of repeating what you have heard from “so called” natural or organic hype-sites. Much of the “organic” or “all-natural” info being marketed is not accurate and down right misleading these days for those easily swayed or uneducated.
As much as I adore my essential oils, many of them are TOXIC and extremely irritating to sensitive skin. Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s superior to a lab derived equivalent.
And btw, Lush breaks some very well known FDA laws on a daily basis in packaging and manufacturing for consumer knowledge and safety.