7 Incredible Zero Waste Lotion Options Guaranteed to Keep Your Skin Nourished and Glowing

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Have you been on the hunt for the best zero waste lotion options? This post covers all the best zero waste lotion bars and butters that are effective and affordable. You will have plenty of options to choose from no matter if you prefer lotion bars, diy zero waste lotion or a classic zero waste lotion with a pump! 

Personally, I have struggled with dry skin and I know how annoying it can be. I have tried a lot of different zero waste lotion brands and have found the simple ones work the best.

 Not only are these zero waste lotion options safe and effective for your skin, they will also help you achieve your low waste living goals since they come mostly package free. 

This post is all about the best zero waste lotion options. 

Benefits of lotion bars and zero waste lotion options 

• Since lotion bars come in a solid form, there are no liquid limits when you are flying! 
• Lotion bars are easy to carry around and don’t spill like normal lotion tubes. I like to keep mine in a jar or stainless steel container. 
• And of course, minimal packaging! Most zero waste lotion bars come wrapped in paper and other low waste lotion comes in recyclable packaging! 

The Best Zero Waste Lotion Options  

1. Ethique Lotion Bar 

Ethique carries a wide variety of products from zero waste shampoo bars to zero waste deodorant! All of their products are sustainably made and use compostable packaging. They have six different lotion bars (including an unscented option). 

Their lotion bars come in two different forms: a stick and a cube! The stick is a great option if you want a lightweight lotion to bring on the go since you won’t have to store your lotion in another container.

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has been my go-to skin moisturizer for forever! (even before I found low waste lotion bars!) You can pretty much find it at any grocery store. It is affordable and will last you a while since a little goes a long way. 

Most coconut oil comes in a glass jar so you can repurpose the jar or bring it to your local zero waste store to refill your coconut oil if you have that option! 

Another benefit to having coconut oil on hand is that it can be used for cooking and oil pulling for your teeth! 

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3. Shea Butter Lotion Bar  

You really can’t go wrong with a simple skincare routine. Even if that’s just one ingredient! Shea butter is a must have within the eco-friendly skincare world. 

Shea butter smells amazing and naturally comes in a solid form. It is mostly grown in West Africa and has been used for hundreds of years to naturally moisturize the skin.

Your skin will feel nourished and possibly a bit greasy after using straight shea butter so allow it some time to soak in before heading to bed.

Overall, shea butter is an excellent addition to any zero waste skincare routine since it’s generally gentle on most skin types and comes package-free! 

4. Plaine Products Refillable Lotion Bottles with Pump 

I absolutely love the concept of zero waste lotion refill products! When you are done using Plaine’s lotion you can order a refillable bottle. You keep the pump, clean out the old bottle and send it back to Plaine. This refillable option makes the lotion practically zero waste! Hopefully, more companies will offer refill options like this in the future. 

They offer three scent options which include unscented, rosemary/mint/vanilla and citrus lavender.

Some other impressive aspects of the company are that they are: 

• Vegan & Cruelty free
• Made in the USA 
• Non GMO
• Part of 1% for the Planet

If you are not into the idea of lotion bars and prefer a classic pump option, Plaine’s refillable lotion is the best option for you! 

5. The Good Fill Refillable Lotion Pouch 

Refillable lotion products need to become the norm! That’s why I am putting two zero waste lotion refill products on this list so you have extra options to choose from. 

The Good Fill sells glass amber bottles, aluminum pump bottles and a recycled plastic pump bottle.

You can then purchase their refill pouches and fill up whichever bottle you have at home. Once you empty the pouch you rinse it out and return it in the envelope you received your lotion in. Good Fill will then reuse the pouch for other lotion orders. It even has pre-paid postage for this process! 

This lotion only comes in one scent but it is shea butter and mango butter so I’m sure it will be a crowd pleaser in your home! 

6. Upcircle Zero Waste Body Cream 

Upcircle is a unique skincare brand because they use leftover food waste to create natural skincare! 

They have a wide range of products but their zero waste body cream is incredible and boasts a 4.8 out of 5 rating on their website.

It comes packaged in a glass container with an aluminum lid. When you’re finished using the lotion you can recycle the entire container in your recycling bin (or repurpose it!). Just be sure to rinse it out well. The company is also vegan and cruelty-free. 

If you are looking for a zero waste hand lotion they also carry their Hand + Body Lotion with Bergamont Water which is a great option to leave on your bathroom countertop since it’s in a beautiful green package and has a pump top for convenient use! 

7. Lush 

Lush has been around forever and because of this, they have their plastic-free body lotion options perfected! 

Most of their body lotions come in the iconic black tub that is made from recycled plastic and can be sent back to Lush to be recycled again. They carry 6 different natural body lotions in this type of packaging. They also have a body butter in the classic recycled tub. 

Lastly, Lush carries a lotion bar (wrapped in paper) which is part of their charity pot collection. 100% of the proceeds are donated to a grassroots organization. You get soft skin and help others while purchasing this product. It’s a win-win all around! 

How do you use body lotion bars? 

Don’t feel embarrassed if you are confused! There is quite a learning curve when it comes to using zero waste products. 

To use a lotion bar you simply rub the bar between your hands or directly onto your skin. Continue to massage the lotion onto your skin to help it melt into your skin. 

Be sure to keep your lotion bars in a spot that stays at room temperature because they can melt if they overheat. They are created to melt with your body temperature so anything hotter than that will make them deteriorate faster.

You can store your lotion bars in a jar or another other air tight container to help preserve the ingredients and to help them not melt. 

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How to make zero waste lotion 

This is about as far as I will go when it comes to diy skincare and zero waste lotion diy. 

It is extremely simple because why add more ingredients than you need? 

To make zero waste lotion at home, simply mix a couple of drops of essential oil with your base of coconut oil or shea butter. 

Be sure to choose high quality essential oils and don’t add too much! If you have sensitive skin you may want to stay away from adding essential oils and stick with the unscented version. 

I told you, this zero waste lotion recipe is extremely simple but why complicate things that work well?! 

This post was about the best zero waste lotion options! 

What are your favorite zero waste lotion brands? If you have tried any that are not on the list please leave a comment below! I would love to try them out! 

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Stay well, 

Maggie 

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