Alternatives to Bath and Body Works

[susquehanna]

Does anybody have any recommendations for alternatives for Bath and Body Works? Especially the lotions and the foaming hand soaps.

I usually stock up twice a year on items that are 75% off at the winter and summer Semi Annual Sales. I use my stockpile for myself and also for  birthday and holiday gifts for other people whom I know appreciate receiving these items. (I know that some people HATE receiving B&BW items as gifts. I only give this stuff to people very close to me whom I already know enjoy and use it. )

The semi-annual sale online is not great so far. So far, the online sale is only 50%. There is a 75% off sale in the open Brick and Mortar stores. I know somebody who visited an open store in person today. This is the same store that is local to me. She told me that the selection for the 75% off items for the in-store sale is pretty poor. (I'm not going to get into the whole complications of the "social distancing" while shopping in person at a mall store. I'm not going to get into the ethics of visiting a mall store in person. I'm just repeating what she said about the in-store selection.)

So, does anybody have any recommendations for Bath and Body Works alternatives?

For me personally, I used to stock up on the foaming hand soaps whenever they were on sale for 10 for $30. I haven't seen this promotion ever since the Covid-19 crisis hit.  I know that hand soap is a commodity now everywhere for every brand. I am just wondering if I am missing out on another brand that is comparable or better than B&BW at a similar or lower price.

Fortunately, I have part of my stockpile remaining  from the most recent after-holiday Semi Annual Sale.

[winecat]

DIY foaming hand soap? masonjarlifestyle.com/product/foaming-soap-pump-dispensers-for-mason-jars/

I buy all sorts of lotions so I don't know what's special about B&BW lotions to offer a good dupe.

[af1212]

Jun 27, 2020 12:23:54 GMT -5 susquehanna said:

Does anybody have any recommendations for alternatives for Bath and Body Works? Especially the lotions and the foaming hand soaps.

I usually stock up twice a year on items that are 75% off at the winter and summer Semi Annual Sales. I use my stockpile for myself and also for  birthday and holiday gifts for other people whom I know appreciate receiving these items. (I know that some people HATE receiving B&BW items as gifts. I only give this stuff to people very close to me whom I already know enjoy and use it. )

The semi-annual sale online is not great so far. So far, the online sale is only 50%. There is a 75% off sale in the open Brick and Mortar stores. I know somebody who visited an open store in person today. This is the same store that is local to me. She told me that the selection for the 75% off items for the in-store sale is pretty poor. (I'm not going to get into the whole complications of the "social distancing" while shopping in person at a mall store. I'm not going to get into the ethics of visiting a mall store in person. I'm just repeating what she said about the in-store selection.)

So, does anybody have any recommendations for Bath and Body Works alternatives?

For me personally, I used to stock up on the foaming hand soaps whenever they were on sale for 10 for $30. I haven't seen this promotion ever since the Covid-19 crisis hit.  I know that hand soap is a commodity now everywhere for every brand. I am just wondering if I am missing out on another brand that is comparable or better than B&BW at a similar or lower price.

Fortunately, I have part of my stockpile remaining  from the most recent after-holiday Semi Annual Sale.

Any hand soap could be a foaming hand soap if you buy the dispenser. If you are looking for fancy scents or something, method has lots to choose from.

[orval]

Method has good foaming hand soap. You can get it at Target etc. I get foaming hand soap at the Dollar Tree -- I am cheap, the scent is decent enough.
I did make my own foaming soap at the beginning of lockdown. I was almost out and stores were out so I used a BBW body wash and added water into an empty foaming soap bottle. Works just fine! I found the ratio of soap/water online.

[susquehanna]

Thanks for the recommendation about Method!

[susquehanna]

There was a question asking about what is "special" about Bath and Body Works.

So, I will give one example: I have an extended family member who has a husband who controls all of her spending. I won't get into it, because it's complicated and this isn't the only thing that I side-eye about their relationship, but they've been married for several decades and it's not my business. This person's husband won't "allow" her to buy Bath and Body Works hand soap because it's an extra expense when they can just get inexpensive hand soap at the grocery store or Wal-Mart or something. So, I slip Bath and Body Works hand soap into the bag of homemade bread that we give her at Christmas time. That's just one example, and I will probably suck it up and pay the "non-semi annual sale" price for this stuff for her for Christmas since she gets so excited every time that I buy it for her.

Here's another example: my husband and his sisters get really excited about having the stuff around because their mom purchased large quantities of the stuff to have around the house before she died. So, in this case, I will probably just suck it up and buy it at the non-sale price. 

[darthnbjenni]

Method and JR Watkins are my new go to foaming hand soaps. They don't smell as overpowering as BBW.

[AdaraMarie]

susquehanna I think she was just saying that she doesn't know what qualities you are looking for in lotion, not that you need to justify why you buy it.

[sparty04]

I love splurging on BBW soaps (that’s the only thing I ever buy there) but I also like Method and Mrs. Meyers

[susquehanna]

Thank you for all of the suggestions!

[juliachild]

Hempz lotion is great and has a lot of different scents.

[readyin07]

They can have nice scents at even like TJ Maxx, Marshalls and those types of places. Not sure about the foaming soap as I usually use gel.

[winecat]

susquehanna- AdaraMarie is right. "Because I like it" is all the reason you need to buy something. I wasn't sure if you were looking for specific qualities that B&BW lotion has so that's why I was asking. Buying it for your friends because they love it and no dupe will do because they love the brand is a whole other reason and if it makes them happy, it's worth the money. Though I totally understand chasing sales.

[puppyluv]

Lotion no advice. Foaming Soap- both Dial and Method brands have foam soap refills. It is easier, greener, and and cheaper than buying a new pump bottle each time it runs out. They aren't exactly gift worthy but I love them. You could maybe make some of Method brands into a fancy basket with a basket and some other items.

[readyin07]

And thanks a lot for this post, I just looked up the sale and now I NEED strawberry poundcake in my life lol. I'm definitely more of a buy the cheap stuff from the grocery store because it gets used in a blink in my house, but I will splurge from time to time.

[af1212]

Ok so now that I read your reasons I’m not sure another brand will do but Body Shop and Lush Come to mind as similar to Bath and Body Works. They both have lotions. Not sure about foaming hand soap but definitely lots of other bath-y stuff.

[VillainV]

Grove Collaborative has some nice products, and they are more eco friendly/sustainable. They have beauty and personal care items and nice hand soaps with good scents. I haven’t shopped at B&BW for a long time so I have no idea how the price compares. But they are nice and might feel like a splurge or more of a luxury product.

Target also has some nice personal care items from smaller companies.

[steph96]

Jun 27, 2020 12:43:57 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Jun 27, 2020 12:23:54 GMT -5 susquehanna said:

Does anybody have any recommendations for alternatives for Bath and Body Works? Especially the lotions and the foaming hand soaps.

I usually stock up twice a year on items that are 75% off at the winter and summer Semi Annual Sales. I use my stockpile for myself and also for  birthday and holiday gifts for other people whom I know appreciate receiving these items. (I know that some people HATE receiving B&BW items as gifts. I only give this stuff to people very close to me whom I already know enjoy and use it. )

The semi-annual sale online is not great so far. So far, the online sale is only 50%. There is a 75% off sale in the open Brick and Mortar stores. I know somebody who visited an open store in person today. This is the same store that is local to me. She told me that the selection for the 75% off items for the in-store sale is pretty poor. (I'm not going to get into the whole complications of the "social distancing" while shopping in person at a mall store. I'm not going to get into the ethics of visiting a mall store in person. I'm just repeating what she said about the in-store selection.)

So, does anybody have any recommendations for Bath and Body Works alternatives?

For me personally, I used to stock up on the foaming hand soaps whenever they were on sale for 10 for $30. I haven't seen this promotion ever since the Covid-19 crisis hit.  I know that hand soap is a commodity now everywhere for every brand. I am just wondering if I am missing out on another brand that is comparable or better than B&BW at a similar or lower price.

Fortunately, I have part of my stockpile remaining  from the most recent after-holiday Semi Annual Sale.

Any hand soap could be a foaming hand soap if you buy the dispenser. If you are looking for fancy scents or something, method has lots to choose from.

Can you recommend a dispenser?

[winecat]

Jun 27, 2020 14:40:37 GMT -5 steph96 said:

Jun 27, 2020 12:43:57 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Any hand soap could be a foaming hand soap if you buy the dispenser. If you are looking for fancy scents or something, method has lots to choose from.

Can you recommend a dispenser?

I linked one above that goes on a mason jar.  It's great.  

[ska]

Jun 27, 2020 15:08:26 GMT -5 winecat said:

Jun 27, 2020 14:40:37 GMT -5 steph96 said:

Can you recommend a dispenser?

I linked one above that goes on a mason jar.  It's great.  

I have mDesign and Cuisipro ones that are still going strong after 2 years.

[foundmylazybum]

Its not very pricey, but I really like the Everyone brand. Its widely available and their scents are really light and fresh. They have tons of products from hand sanitizer to soap to lotions to shampoo.

Their lemon coconut hand sanitizer was a small blessing in the quarantine.
www.target.com/b/everyone/-/N-559qb?Nao=0

[pinkballoons]

I second the Method for foaming soap. You can also get bulk refills to mix with water. Mrs. Meyers is great too. We order both from Grove.

I just tried the Seaweed Bath Co body creams, and I really like them. The scents aren’t as “fun” but are more subtle. The thickness is pretty similar to the body creams from B&BW.

[tripleshot]

Jun 27, 2020 13:45:09 GMT -5 juliachild said:

Hempz lotion is great and has a lot of different scents.

Yes! I love the blue one. 

For soap, I have a glass foaming soap bottle from Grove (steph96) in each bathroom and the kitchen and use Method foaming soap in it.  I like the grapefruit and sweet water scents.

[keyslover]

Jun 27, 2020 14:40:37 GMT -5 steph96 said:

Jun 27, 2020 12:43:57 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Any hand soap could be a foaming hand soap if you buy the dispenser. If you are looking for fancy scents or something, method has lots to choose from.

Can you recommend a dispenser?

I have just used old foaming soap dispensers. I didn't buy anything new.

[ksun]

This is funny because DD asked for some B&BW lotion a week ago & for the first time in probably 15 years I bought a couple lotions, shower gels and foaming soaps only because they were on sale. I can't remember the last time I bought something there.

My favorite foaming hand soap is also Method. For scented lotions I use Love Planet Beauty (or whatever that's called at Target), but it's probably just as pricey as B&BW. I always wait for a Cartwheel coupon to come up.

[TBM]

Ulta has a line of their own that reminds me of b&bw...a lot of different fragrances and products. That's all I know about them though, since I have only seen them and usually avoid that aisle (and b&bw), because of allergies.

They seem to have sales pretty often, and they have a rewards program of sorts.

[fumbalina]

I order Avon products on occasion. You can order online and have them delivered to you.

[turnipthebeet]

I am not a B&BW stan or anything, but retail is getting hammered now due to covid. I would just buy as usual if you can. I do think their soap is the best smelling stuff!

[breezy8407]

For soap, I like Method and usually buy the refill pouches at Target. I noticed last week they didn't seem to have any hand soap, but I've been able to find it online. I recently bought Ever Spring brand from there, and this scent is really nice: www.target.com/p/geranium-38-herbs-foaming-hand-soap-10-fl-oz-everspring-8482/-/A-75663150

I also started making my own during quarantine with castile soap and reusing the Method bottles I had.

[regencygirl]

I've 'splurged' on the Ulta Brand of Hand Soaps and lotions before. They usually have a buy one get one 50% sale or a buy 2 get one free sale going on Ulta brand products and I've managed to convince myself that is a good price. They're maybe $1-2 less than Bath and Body works normally. I love some of the Bath and Body works scents, but can't justify the prices all the time and I'm the only one who will use them. With two kids, we get Dial or Up and Up brand from Target and refills - better for my budget and the environment.