Let’s take a moment to mourn all the body lotions that burst open in a suitcase or spilled onto the bathroom…everything. Luckily, the best lotion sticks can help you avoid the messiness of their viscous siblings. These concentrated body butters, serums, and skin protectants come in easy-to-use stick forms that are easier to travel with than traditional lotions and provide targeted hydration to areas of concern, such as dry hands, flaky T-zones, or sensitive inner thighs.

But what exactly constitutes a lotion stick? It's pretty straightforward: It's “essentially a lotion in solid form,” as Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of clinical research at New York Dermatology Group, puts it. Lotion sticks “can look similar to a deodorant stick and are often made from a blend of oils, butter, and waxes that are solid at room temperature, but melt onto your skin when applied,” she says. Now you’ve got the low-down, shop the best lotion sticks on the market to hydrate and soothe skin anytime, anywhere.

Our Top Lotion Sticks

• Best Overall: Hanni The Fatty, $28
• Best for Eczema-Prone Skin: Cocokind Ceramide Body Oil Stick, $20
• Best Multitasker: WYOS All Over Moisturizer Star, $20
• Best Drugstore: Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick, $10
• Best Scented: Being Frenshe Soothing Body Serum Stick, $17
• Best for Face: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Skin Barrier Repair Balm, $32
• Best for Chafing: Megababe Thigh Rescue, $14
• Best for Undereyes: Tatcha The Serum Stick, $49

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the benefits of lotion sticks versus traditional lotions?
• How much do you apply?
• How long do lotion sticks last?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: Hanni The Fatty

Why it’s worth it: If you have sensitive skin, we have good news: Hanni The Fatty is fragrance-free and approved by the National Eczema Association (NEA). This travel-friendly 2.5-ounce lotion stick is named after the formula’s super-packed 70% concentration of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. It’s made with cocoa butter to improve skin texture, along with coconut oil and carnauba seeds to trap moisture. Other nourishing ingredients include moisturizing avocado oil and skin barrier-supporting sunflower seed oil. Lastly, we'd be lying if we said the aesthetic pink packaging wasn't a draw—in the depths of our work bags, this cute stick is easy to spot.

Key ingredients: cocoa seed butter, coconut oil, glycerin, sunflower seed oil, carnauba seed wax, avocado oil | What skin type it's best for: all, especially sensitive or dry | Fragrance-free: yes

Best for Eczema-Prone Skin: Cocokind Ceramide Body Oil Stick

Why it's worth it: Dry elbows and eczema flare-ups don’t stand a chance against Cocokind’s Ceramide Body Oil Stick. A seriously soothing concoction of shea butter, squalane, vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, and a five-ceramide blend, this formula is safe for sensitive and eczema-prone skin—and it has the NEA-accepted seal to prove it. As the name implies, this product nourishes the skin like a body oil would, but is far less messy to apply than traditional body oils. While you can use it all over the body, it hasn’t been tested for the face—but you can do a patch test to see if it’s compatible with your skin needs.

Key ingredients: shea butter, squalane, ceramides, sunflower seed oil, vitamin E | What skin type it's best for: dry, sensitive, eczema-prone | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Multitasker: WYOS All Over Moisturizer Star

Why it's worth it: There’s pretty much nothing the WYOS All Over Moisturizer Star can’t do. With just a few swipes, you can moisturize your body, add a dewy glow to your face, tame flyaway hairs, prevent and soothe chapped lips, and add a little shine to your tattoos. For an added dose of refreshment, stick it in the refrigerator before application. Other standout features: It’s scented with the WYOS's signature bergamot-mint fragrance, leaves a nonsticky finish, and clocks in at just 1.5 ounces.

Key ingredients: safflower seed oil, fragrance, vitamin E, ginseng root extract | What skin type it's best for: normal, dry | Fragrance-free: no

Best Drugstore: Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick

Why it's worth it: Aquaphor really is that girl. The budget-friendly balm helps prevent chafing, lock in moisture, care for chapped lips, heal cracked heels, remove eye makeup, and smooth flyaway hairs, among other uses. The key ingredient is petrolatum (also known as petroleum jelly), which forms a protective layer on the surface of your skin to prevent moisture loss and the unwanted effects of environmental hazards. Also at play are avocado oil and shea butter, two moisturizing powerhouses.

Available for less than $11 at Amazon or many drugstores, you may as well buy a few of these body balm sticks to keep in your gym bag, purse, suitcase, and wherever else they might be useful. Pro tip from a chronically dry-skinned person: Apply this over your moisturizer for soft and glowy skin—even in the dead of winter.

Key ingredients: petrolatum, shea butter, avocado oil, beeswax, glycerin | What skin type it's best for: normal, dry | Fragrance-free: yes

Best Scented: Being Frenshe Soothing Body Serum Stick

Why it's worth it: This easy-gliding body lotion stick from Being Frenshe not only hydrates your skin but also leaves a pleasant scent behind that might just boost your mood. The Soothing Body Serum Stick is available in Cashmere Vanilla, Lavender Cloud, and Palo Santo fragrances. (Fun fact: Founder Ashley Tisdale told us Cashmere Vanilla was inspired by her love of Trader Joe's jasmine rice!) Along with avocado oil and squalane to lock in moisture, this calming formula also features magnesium, which has a myriad of benefits.

In a previous report about the efficacy of magnesium supplements, Elizabeth Sharp, MD, a board-certified medicine physician and founder of Health Meets Wellness, said that magnesium can potentially help with sleep by relaxing your muscles, helping signal to your nervous system to calm down, and aiding melatonin production. Just keep in mind: Topical magnesium isn't as potent as dietary sources (e.g. green leafy vegetables, whole grains, bananas, etc.) but it can help promote relaxation in small doses.

Key ingredients: avocado oil, squalane, magnesium, sea water extract, essential oils | What skin type it's best for: normal, dry | Fragrance-free: no

Best for Face: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Skin Barrier Repair Balm

Why it's worth it: While many lotion sticks are intended for the body, this one is specifically designed for the face. (That being said, you can use it below the neck if you'd like.) It’s everything you love about Kiehl’s ultra-hydrating facial lotions in an easy-to-use stick form. With squalene, ceramides, and hydrating glacial glycoproteins, this balm is ideal if you’re looking to heal flaky, dry skin. You can apply it as part of your a.m. or p.m. skin-care routine, or even swipe it over your makeup for a glowy boost.

Key ingredients: squalane, ceramides, glacial glycoproteins, salicylic acid | What skin type it's best for: dry, normal, combination, and oily | Fragrance-free: no, contains less than 1% synthetic fragrance

Best for Chafing: Megababe Thigh Rescue

Why it's worth it: Megababe Thigh Rescue works wonders, full-stop. "It sounds so corny to say out loud, but this product is downright freeing," senior news editor Nicola Dall'Asen wrote in her review. "It's a whole lot easier to love and embrace your own body when you aren't constantly seeking relief from ‘chub rub’ or other causes of chafing—take it from someone who's been there." This creamy anti-chafing product creates a slick barrier on the surface of your skin, minimizing skin-irritating friction between your thighs or other body parts. It's also infused with aloe extract and vitamin E to further soothe inflammation.

Key ingredients: aloe, pomegranate seed extract, grapeseed oil, ginger root extract | What skin type it's best for: normal, combination, and dry | Fragrance-free: available in unscented

Best for Undereyes: Tatcha The Serum Stick

Why it's worth it: Think of Tatcha’s The Serum Stick as a purse-friendly companion that plumps fine lines, hydrates dry patches, and moonlights as highlighter. (Hello, dewiness!) Formulated with 80% squalane, hyaluronic acid, green tea, and Japanese lemon balm, this compact hydrator can be applied under or over your makeup and won’t leave a sticky residue. "I shave off pieces of Tatcha the Serum Stick and put it into little pots to use as lip balm or reconstitute creased eye shadow—it brings makeup back to life," says makeup artist Daniel Martin and Tatcha's global director of artistry.

Key ingredients: Japanese lemon balm, squalene, rice bran wax, green tea, hyaluronic acid | What skin type it's best for: dry, sensitive, combination, normal, and oily | Fragrance-free: yes

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of lotion sticks versus traditional lotions?

“Lotion sticks are perfect for targeted application on dry areas like elbows, knees, and cuticles,” says Hannah Kopelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Kopelman Hair Restoration and host of the Derm Club podcast. She adds they’re also often more travel-friendly since they won’t spill or leak.

Another benefit you might not think of at first? “Those with sensory issues around applying lotion who may find traditional formulas sticky, slimy, or otherwise uncomfortable to apply may prefer sticks as they don't feel as wet on the skin,” notes Geeta Yadev, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology. She also notes that lotion sticks may be more nourishing than traditional lotion—perfect for especially dry spots. Since lotions may contain water to make the formula fluid, stick products often have high concentrations of emollients and occlusives like plant butters and beeswax.

How much do you apply?

A little goes a long way with lotion sticks. “I generally suggest gliding the stick over the area a few times until you feel a light, even layer. From there, you can massage it in with your hands for better absorption if needed,” says Dr. Kopelman. For especially dry or cracked skin, she recommends applying a thicker layer and leaving it to absorb slowly overnight.

How long do lotion sticks last?

“How long it lasts really varies depending on how often you are using the stick, the body surface area you are applying it to, and the size of the stick,” explains Dr. Castilla. In general, she says you can expect it to last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. “Make sure to store it in a dry cool place to avoid it melting or becoming too soft which may lead to faster wear down,” Dr. Castilla suggests.

Meet the experts

• Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of clinical research at New York Dermatology Group
• Hannah Kopelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Kopelman Hair Restoration and host of the Derm Club podcast
• Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology in Toronto, Ontario

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best lotion sticks, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-ceritifed dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Give your body care routine a well-deserved boost:

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Now, watch Kenzie Ziegler's 10-minute clean face makeup routine:

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