While traditional body lotions are a common skincare staple, lotion bars have been steadily gaining popularity thanks to their solid, spill-free nature and environmentally friendly packaging. These compact and travel-friendly skincare products can be used in a multitude of ways. In this article, we introduce you to the concepts of lotion bars, potential ways to use them, and answer some frequently asked queries. We’ve also included a handy guide with 5 essential tips for using lotion bars effectively.
How to Apply a Lotion Bar
To use a lotion bar, follow these steps:
- Warm the Lotion Bar: Start by warming the lotion bar between your hands. This can be done by simply holding the bar in your palms for a moment. The heat from your body will gradually melt the bar surface, making it easier to apply.
- Apply to Skin: Once the bar is warmed, gently glide it across the skin area you want to moisturize. Whether it’s your hands, legs, elbows, or any dry patches, gently rubbing the lotion bar will deposit a thin layer of the moisturizer on your skin.
- Massage: After you’ve covered the desired area with the lotion from the bar, use your hands to massage the product into your skin until it is fully absorbed. This not only helps the skin to better absorb the lotion, but it also promotes good circulation.
- Repeat as Required: Depending on the dryness of your skin and the climate, you might have to repeat this process once or twice a day to keep your skin moisturized and healthy.
4 Uses for that Lotion Bar of Yours
Here are 4 ways to use a lotion bar:
| Tip | Usage |
|---|---|
| 1 | Use after the shower |
| 2 | Massage into cuticles |
| 3 | Smooth onto frizzy hair |
| 4 | Use as a lip or beard balm |
1. Post-Shower Moisturizer
Lotion bars are also ideal for use after showering. The heat from the recently cleaned skin will help the lotion bar melt more easily, allowing the active ingredients to soak into the skin effectively.
So if you are dealing with dry or sensitive skin, applying the lotion bar post-shower can lock in the moisture and create a protective barrier that helps to keep your skin hydrated throughout the day. It’s important to remember that the best time to hydrate your skin is immediately after you’ve washed it, while it’s still mildly damp.
2. Nourish Your Cuticles
Is there anything more painful than cuticles that are dry, cracked, and splitting? That’s where a lotion bar can become your new best friend. The compact form makes it easy to precisely target those areas around the nails. Simply rub the bar into the cuticles, allowing the moisturizing ingredients to sink in and offer relief. Regular use can help keep your cuticles healthy and prevent painful peeling. This practice not only nourishes your cuticles but could also promote stronger and healthier nail growth.
Think of a lotion bar as effectively a hand lotion on the go. It’s small, portable, and doesn’t require application with fingers, making it perfect for on-the-spot moisturizing in situations where a traditional lotion might be inconvenient.
3. Smooth Frizzy Hair
Believe it or not, your lotion bar can also be the answer to taming frizzy hair for some men. To do this, you’ll want to slightly warm up the bar in your hands and then run your hands lightly through your hair. Focus on the ends and avoid the scalp, as too much can make your hair look greasy. Remember, a little goes a long way!
The reason why this works is that the cuticles on our hair shafts open up when they’re dry or damaged, which results in frizz. The oils and butters in the lotion bar can help smooth down these cuticles, reducing the frizz and leaving your hair looking shiny and well-moisturized. But remember, this tip isn’t for everyone and might work better for those with curly or wavy hair.
Attempting this on thin hair could result in it looking flat and oily. Always start with a small amount and add more if necessary. Here’s a tip: if you’re unsure about how a lotion bar will affect your hair, try applying it over a weekend or on a day when you’re not leaving the house. That way, you have time to wash it out if needed.
4. Double as a Lip Balm or Beard Balm
Believe it or not, lotion bars contain a lot of the same nourishing ingredients as lip balms, beard balms, and other similar conditioners. The reason is that they all rely on many of the same core ingredients:
- Beeswax
- Shea butter
- Carrier oils
- Essential oils
It’s completely safe and effective to use your lotion bar as a lip balm or, for the guys, as a beard balm. Beeswax, which is typically a core ingredient in lotion bars, provides a protective layer to lock in moisture. Shea butter, another common ingredient, is highly emollient, meaning it locks in moisture and can help lips or facial hair to stay soft and well-conditioned. The carrier oils and essential oils also aid in hydration and provide a pleasant scent.
Can You Use a Lotion Bar on Your Face?
This is a tricky one as skin complexions vary so much from person to person as well as lotion bar formulations.
So we advise great caution here. While there’s nothing inherently harmful in most lotion bars, if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, you may want to avoid using them on your face. That’s because some of the rich butters and oils used in lotion bars could potentially clog pores and lead to breakouts. For this reason, many dermatologists suggest using non-comedogenic (non-pore clogging) products on the face.
The AAD has a good primer on moisturizers that is worth reading.
If you prefer to use natural skin care products and want to try using a lotion bar on your face, opt for one that uses non-comedogenic oils like sunflower, safflower, or hemp seed oil.
Can You Use a Lotion Bar in the Shower?
Given that lotion bars are water-free, they won’t dissolve or wash away in the shower. However, they work best when applied to damp skin just after a shower, when the pores are open, and the skin can easily absorb the moisturizing agents.
Attempting to use them in the shower would not be very effective as the water would create a barrier between the lotion bar and your skin, making it hard for the moisturizing agents to penetrate the skin.
Additionally, the heat and steam from the shower could cause the lotion bar to melt faster, which would make it difficult to handle and could lead to wastage.