11 Moisturizing Household Products You Can Use Instead Of Lotion

The human body is more than 70% water, so keeping it hydrated is essential. In addition to drinking lots of fluids, you must also keep your skin moisturized. Dry skin can be painful, and it can cause long-lasting health problems. While lotion is the most common way to stay moisturized, you can use other items in your home to keep your skin hydrated and healthy.

Some common household products you can use instead of lotion include aloe vera and cooking oils like coconut, olive, and avocado oil. You can even use fresh avocados, cucumber, and freshly infused rose water to moisturize your skin. Petroleum jelly, shea butter, and cocoa butter are excellent for treating dehydrated skin. Colloidal oatmeal and buttermilk can hydrate skin and reduce inflammation.

Staying moisturized isn’t always easy, especially if you live in a cold or dry climate. While lotion is often helpful in keeping skin moisturized, it can be expensive. Furthermore, some lotions have lots of fragrances, which can dry out and irritate sensitive skin. If you want to try something instead of lotion to add moisture to your skin, read the list of common household items below that you can use in place of hand and body lotion.

11 Moisturizers You Can Find In Your Home Instead Of Lotion

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a medicine cabinet staple. It is one of the most popular sunburn remedies on the planet. The aloe vera plant has many uses, and one use is it helps lock moisture in your skin when you are out of lotion.

Apply aloe vera to dry and itchy skin after you shower or whenever you notice dry skin. While it doesn't work exactly like lotion, it is high in polysaccharides, which help increase moisture in the skin. Aloe works great in tandem with other items on this list to create a completely natural skincare routine.

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is not only a great oil to keep in your kitchen pantry, but it’s also fantastic for your skin. This oil is already found in tons of body scrubs and soaps, so it's no surprise this plant-derived oil is great for keeping your skin hydrated.

When you apply coconut oil to dry skin, it will help heal the dry top layer. It is also known for its ability to restore your skin to its natural pH levels. It is one of the few items that can be used on your face and your entire body (even your hair) with great success.

3. Olive Oil

Olive oil is one of the healthiest oils on the planet for your body. It is great to cook with, and it can even help lower your cholesterol. This popular miracle oil can also be used instead of lotion if you’ve run out or want to try something more organic.

You can find olive oil lotions and soaps in markets, but you can use pure olive oil as a lotion substitute directly on your skin. Olive oil is high in Vitamin E, which is one of the best vitamins for your skin. It is also rich in other antioxidants, which help revitalize and moisturize your dry and damaged outer layers of skin.

4. Colloidal Oatmeal

Colloidal oatmeal is one of the more popular natural poison ivy remedies, as it’s known for its anti-itch and anti-inflammatory properties. Taking a colloidal oatmeal bath isn’t just for soothing poison ivy though, it can also be great if you want to find a natural way to hydrate your skin with household products.

Colloidal oatmeal is another pantry item that contains high amounts of the antioxidant vitamin E. It also has natural sugars in it that help your skin stay healthy and moisturized. You can apply it as a paste, or soak in it to enjoy its hydrating properties.

5. Petroleum Jelly

One moisturizing classic that has stood the test of time is petroleum jelly. This medicine cabinet staple is used for everything, from a lubricant to a remedy for dry lips. It is also very effective when you suffer from dry skin.

If the harsh winter weather seems to chap your entire body, you might find lotion simply doesn’t cut it. This is when petroleum jelly, Vaseline, or even Aquaphor is the better choice. 

This ointment is not ideal for all parts of your body. It can clog pores on your face and cause you to break out. Avoid areas of your face that are prone to pimples.

6. Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is a natural cream that can work wonders for dry skin, and in some ways can be more effective than many body lotions. Cocoa butter is so great because it has a thick creamy texture and is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. Not only is cocoa butter a common ingredient in many lotions but it is also sold in its pure form.

Cocoa butter can penetrate deep into the skin and thus can provide long-lasting relief. Its thick consistency makes it great for those who suffer from dry patches of skin, especially in the winter months.

7. Honey

Just the thought of honey on your skin might make you feel sticky, but this natural sweetener can be a surprisingly effective natural moisturizer as well. Honey has a unique ability to absorb moisture and add it to your skin. 

It essentially acts as a moisture sponge, feeding extra moisture to the skin. This makes it a great natural moisturizer in dry climates and in the winter months when humidity is low. 

For best results, apply a layer of honey directly to the skin (slightly diluted with water works well to make it more spreadable), and rinse it off in the shower 20 minutes later.

8. Buttermilk

If you have leftover buttermilk, consider applying it to your skin to give it a full makeover. The lactic acid in buttermilk has great exfoliating properties, helping remove dead skin. It also goes one step further and moisturizes it as well. 

You can soak dry skin in buttermilk, or mix it with a binding agent like calamine powder to make a moisturizing skin mask.

9. Avocado And Avocado Oil

Avocados are loaded with nutrients like healthy fats and oils. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a big shock to learn you can use this magical green fruit as a skin moisturizer in place of store-bought lotion.

The natural fatty acids both moisturize and rejuvenate your skin better than most other naturally occurring oils. Both freshly mashed avocado and avocado oil work well to help lock in moisture to your skin. You can even use it in your hair if it is dry and brittle.

10. Cucumber

If you’ve ever wondered why people at the spa have cucumbers on their eyes, you’re about to find out why. Cucumbers are known for their great anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. They help tighten and relax your skin. This makes them great to place on inflamed and irritated skin.

They also have lots of polysaccharides, just like aloe. This means they can form a strong moisture barrier on the skin, locking in all your body's existing moisture, so it doesn’t escape into the dry air.

11. Rose Water

Lastly, if you aren’t sure what to do with the roses in your garden or a bouquet you received as a gift, consider making rose water. Rose water is a popular beverage and cure-all in Southern Mediterranean cultures like Turkey. 

Rose-infused water is not only consumed to add floral aroma to beverages but it is also used on the skin. It can clean, hydrate, and rejuvenate your skin in ways similar to lotion, especially on your face. Its antioxidant and antibacterial properties simultaneously clean your skin and lock in moisture.

Summing Up Moisturizing Items In The Home You Can Use Instead Of Lotion

Lotion might be the most popular way to keep your skin moisturized, but there are all sorts of household products you can use to keep your skin soft and hydrated. Several cooking oils, including olive, coconut, and avocado oil, have antioxidants and help add moisture to the skin. You can use plants like aloe vera, cucumber, and avocado to moisturize your skin naturally. You can even use colloidal oatmeal, buttermilk, and rose water to fight off dry and itchy skin.

Related Guides:

• 11 Reasons Your Home Is Causing Your Dry, Itchy Skin
• All The Ways To Use An Aloe Plant
• How To Fix Dry Air In A House