There was another thread here that mentioned lotion bars for $17. I guess it all depends on the size, the ingredients, and of course, what the local market views as acceptable. Personally, I like lotion bars for traveling (no leakage, and doesn't have to go in the liquids bag), but I do prefer regular lotion at home.
The exception is that I do keep a lotion bar at my home office desk in the winter. I'm often in online meetings that drag on forever, or waiting in the online queue for an hour or more for the court to call a client's case. That's when I'll grab a lotion bar to quickly relieve dry hands or heels. I may also be stretching, lifting weights, folding laundry, or cruising SMF, but I digress...
A couple of my friends were converted to lotion bar fanatics after trying some of
@Zing's recipe. One of them in particular let me know that she cannot ever be without these again during the winter season. She's had cracked and bleeding skin every year since she can remember, and the lotion bar was the only thing that relieved this.
UPDATE ON CONDITIONER BARS: This morning they feel pretty firm. They definitely don't melt as easily to the touch as my original recipe. I'll have to try one in the shower next time I wash my hair, but my sense is that they may be a bit draggy. If that is the case, I will remelt and add a bit more oil and/or BTMS 50 to see if they will loosen up. Another good case for making very small batches when experimenting!!
Speaking of which, last night was apparently mad scientist experimentation night. After the conditioner bar mess-up, I pulled out a half-full bucket of Stephenson's Jelly Soap Base. The grandsons liked making it one time, and then they were done with it. For a long time the thought had been to make sugar scrubs with it. So, I played around with whipping in some DIY B&B foaming bath butter base, sugar, colorant, and scent.
It feels wonderful for washing: scrubby, foaming, and a moisturizing finish. Unfortunately, it is a marshmallow creme consistency -- way too sticky for easy removal from the container. One cookie-shaped lump was left out overnight to see if it would dry up enough to become like a bubble-scoop. It is drier but still too tacky. I will try baking one in the oven to attempt a dry cookie-type of bath scrub, and will also try adding more of the foaming bath base to attempt more of a traditional scrub that can be more easily scooped out of the container.