Hydrate your skin – let’s talk lotions

Yes, Bath and Body Works has a beautiful selection of scented body lotions which make your skin feel soft and smell nice.  I hydrate my skin after every shower but these products are not for everyday use – they are expensive!! In my opinion, it is also an overpriced way to treat a friend or family member to some fragrant lotions or soaps.  

Bath and Body Works has periodic sales where you can buy 3, get 3 free. Initially it might sound like a bargain but let me work the numbers for you. If you buy three 8 oz bottles of lotion at 14.95 each you’re spending $44.85. Even if you get 6 bottles of lotion you’re still spending $7.475 per bottle during this “sale”. $7.48 for an 8 oz bottle of lotion is expensive as far as I’m concerned. That’s $0.93 for every ounce of lotion – which is ridiculous! How does this store stay in business?

I only shopped at Bath and Body Works when they had their 75% off sale which is twice a year – in July and the week after Christmas. Note: if you’re getting together with friends or family after Christmas it pays you to wait until a few days after Christmas to buy body lotion as a gift if you want to buy from Bath and Body Works. At 75% off that’s, let’s do the quick math here, $3.73 a bottle. That is more reasonable. But I really don’t go there anymore.

Ever heard of the brand Renpure?  They make wonderful body and hair products right here in the United states. It is a family owned and operated business and they do not test on animals. All of their products are tested on the Redmond family. Products are plant based, gluten free and void of sulfates parabens, dyes, gluten, phthalates and propylene glycol. The retail price for a 16-ounce bottle of coconut milk and vitamin E body lotion is around $4.99. I was able to get a bottle on sale for $2.99 at Burlington (what used to be the Burlington Coat Factory). I bought a 16-ounce bottle for less than the 8-ounce bottle from Bath and Beauty Works! I don’t shop at Burlington on a regular basis but there’s a Burlington in the same shopping center as a Marshalls, not too far from me. So, it’s tempting to pop in for a few minutes and check select departments after skimming the shelves and racks at Marshalls. Sometimes I come across these wonderful bargains. This particular day I went home with two bottles of body lotion which should last 3 to 6 months. After all, it is important to hydrate your skin after you shower.

Some of my favorite places to buy body and hand lotion from are Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Burlington, and Ross. Occasionally I’ll even find lotion on sale at the supermarket. And I really strike GOLD I find lotion on clearance!

Hundreds of companies that you may not even be aware of make exquisite body and hand lotions, shower gels and soap. I don’t buy nationally branded body lotion or soap (e.g. Jergens, Aveeno, Cetaphil, etc) because they are not cruelty free (this is a topic for another blog). May I suggest that you refrain from buying items that are mass produced by companies that test on animals such as Proctor and Gamble (Olay), Johnson and Johnson (Neutrogena) and Loreal to name a few? Some of my favorite manufacturers are:

  1. Renpure  [https://www.renpure.com/]
  2. Organix – LOVE their shea soft and smooth lotion (I got not one, but two, 29.25 oz bottles for $4.50 each at Marshalls)  [https://www.ogxbeauty.com/body/]
  3. Love Beauty and Planet [https://www.lovebeautyandplanet.com/us/en/home.html]
  4. Hempz [https://hempz.com/]
  5. Kiss my Face [https://www.kissmyface.com/]
  6. Yesto (Yesto carrots, Yesto grapefruit, Yesto tomatoes, etc.) [https://yesto.com/]
  7. Queen Helene (an oldie but a goodie) 
  8. The Clean Standard [https://losangelesbrands.com/collections/the-clean-standard]
  9. Alba Botanica [https://www.albabotanica.com/]
  10. Dr. Bronner’s

All of which you can sometimes (not always) find at one of my favorite stores – Marshalls!

And here is one I have not tried yet – “Meow Meow Tweet”. You know I am going to have to try this!

I feel even better when I discover new brands that are manufactured here in the United States as opposed to overseas.

This all goes back to my point of being willing to experiment a little (see Frugaphile Fundamentals)

Happy shopping and remember – hydrate that skin!,