How to Use a Lotion Bar: A Simple Guide for Dry Skin

One question I hear about our lotion bar is, "Okay, but what do I do with it?"

That's a fair question. A lotion bar looks a little like a bar of soap, but it's not soap at all. It's lotion you can hold in your hand. So today I want to walk you through what it is, how to use it, and how to take care of it so it lasts.

What Is a Lotion Bar?

A lotion bar is a solid moisturizer. There's no water in it and no pump bottle. It stays firm at room temperature, and when it touches your warm skin, it starts to melt just a little. That thin layer is what you rub in.

Our Ultimate Moisture Solid Shea Butter Lotion Bar is made with three main things:

• Shea butter – rich and nourishing for very dry skin.
• Mango butter – soaks in and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.
• Candelilla wax – a plant wax that holds the bar together and helps lock in moisture.

Then I add a light scent. You can pick from French Lavender, Orange Patchouli, Manuka Honey & Oats, Champagne Kisses, Pink Peony, Watermelon, Vanilla Bean, or Rose Bouquet. Each bar is 3 oz and made by hand in small batches.

How to Use a Lotion Bar, Step by Step

This is the part that surprises people. It's really simple.

1. Start with clean skin. Right after a shower or after washing your hands is best.
2. Pat, don't rub, your skin dry. Leave it just a little damp if you can. Moisturizer works best when it goes on slightly damp skin.
3. Hold the bar in your hand for a few seconds. Your body heat softens the surface.
4. Glide it over your skin. Think of it like a crayon on paper. A few slow passes is plenty. You don't need to press hard.
5. Rub it in with your hands. Give it a minute or two. It may feel a little rich at first, and then it settles in.

That's it. A little goes a long way, so start small. You can always add more.

Where I Like to Use It

A lotion bar is great for the spots that get the driest. Here's where I reach for mine:

• Hands and knuckles, especially after a lot of hand washing or dishes.
• Elbows and knees, which always seem to be the first to feel rough.
• Heels and feet. Rub it in at night, then put on a pair of cotton socks. You'll wake up to softer feet.
• Cuticles. Just touch the corner of the bar to each nail and rub it in.
• Shins and arms after a shower, when the air is dry.

One quick note: if you have a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, please talk with your doctor about what's right for your skin. A lotion bar is a moisturizer, not a medicine.

Why I Love Lotion Bars Here in Arizona

We make everything in Waddell, Arizona, and our air is dry. Even now in November, when the heat finally lets up, the low humidity keeps pulling moisture from our skin. A rich, water-free moisturizer like a lotion bar is a nice fit for that kind of weather.

But living in the desert also taught me the number one rule of lotion bars: keep it cool. If you leave a lotion bar in a hot car in Arizona, you'll come back to a puddle. It will firm back up once it cools down, but it may lose its shape.

How to Store Your Lotion Bar

A little care helps your bar last a long time.

• Keep it out of the sun and away from heaters, stoves, and hot cars.
• Keep it dry. Don't leave it in the shower like a bar of soap. Water and steam can make the surface soft and slick.
• Use a small tin or dish. A little tin is perfect for a purse, desk drawer, or diaper bag. A small dish works great on a nightstand or by the kitchen sink.
• If it gets soft, pop it in the fridge for a few minutes and it will firm right back up.

Lotion Bar, Body Butter, or Both?

I also make a Soothing Aloe Hand & Body Butter that comes in a glass jar. People ask me which one they should get. Here's how I think about it:

• The lotion bar is best for small, very dry spots and for taking with you. No spills, no lid to lose, and it's easy to toss in a bag.
• The body butter is best for covering a lot of skin at once, like your legs and arms after a shower. It's thick and very hydrating, and it spreads easily.

Using both works well too. Keep the body butter by the shower and a lotion bar in your purse or desk. That way you're covered at home and on the go.

A Little Less Plastic

One more thing I love about lotion bars: there's no plastic bottle. You don't have to squeeze the last bit out of a tube or toss a pump in the trash. I've been moving all of our packaging away from plastic, and solid products like lotion bars and our shampoo and conditioner bars are a simple way to cut back without giving anything up.

Lotion Bars Make Great Little Gifts

With the holidays coming up, I'll mention this too. A lotion bar is a sweet, useful gift. It fits in a stocking, it's easy to mail, and almost everyone has dry hands in the winter. Pair it with one of our soaps and you've got a thoughtful gift that will actually get used.

I hope this helps you get the most out of your lotion bar. If you have questions, I'm always happy to help. Just reach out. And as I make each batch, I'm thankful for every one of you who trusts us with your skin.

A little about us: I'm Gracie, a third-generation soap maker. My grandmother started our family's soap making, and I'm proud to carry it on. We're a small, faith-centered family business in Waddell, Arizona, and we make everything by hand in small batches.