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Gentle lotion: fragrance-free labels and price per ounce
Updated · By the RipePrice team
For a gentler lotion, choose by texture and ingredient list, take fragrance-free as a starting point, and compare by price per ounce, remembering that thicker products often contain less water.
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At a glance
Lotion, cream or ointment
The names describe texture.
Reading a lotion label
Fragrance-free: no fragrance ingredients were added.
Our angle: pumps, tubs and how fast you use them
A pump bottle gives a consistent dose, which makes your cost predictable.
Quick picks
Fragrance-free lotion
Read the ingredient list, then compare the price per ounce.
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Unit price calculator
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Lotion, cream or ointment
The names describe texture. Lotions are the thinnest and spread easily. Creams are thicker. Ointments are the heaviest and usually feel greasy. Thicker products generally contain less water and more oils or waxes, so a small jar of ointment can last longer than a similarly priced bottle of lotion. The right one depends on your skin, the season, and where on the body you apply it.
Reading a lotion label
Fragrance-free: no fragrance ingredients were added. Unscented can mean a masking ingredient, so check the list for fragrance or parfum.
Dye-free: no colorants were added.
Dermatologist-tested and hypoallergenic: hints, not guarantees. Hypoallergenic has no single legal definition in the United States.
For dry skin: a marketing category. It tells you what the maker is aiming at, not what will happen on your skin.
If a lotion lists an SPF, it is a sunscreen product and is regulated as an over-the-counter drug. See our mineral sunscreen guide, and read its Drug Facts panel.
Our angle: pumps, tubs and how fast you use them
A pump bottle gives a consistent dose, which makes your cost predictable. A tub is easy to scoop from but can be hard to keep clean, so check how the product is meant to be stored. Because thicker products contain less water, compare them by how long they last for you, not only by ounces. Track the date you open a container and the date it runs out, and divide the price by the weeks.
Comparing prices
Buy a small size first if your skin is sensitive.
Check the period after opening on the label, if there is one, before you buy in bulk.
Find the ounces on the label and divide the price by it.
Compare similar textures with each other: lotion with lotion, cream with cream.
Compare refill pouches and large pumps with the small bottle, and check what the container is made of and whether it can be recycled where you live.
Mostly texture. Lotions are lighter and spread easily, creams are thicker, and ointments are the heaviest. Thicker products usually have less water, so a small jar may last longer.
Is fragrance-free the same as unscented?
No. Fragrance-free means no fragrance ingredients were added. Unscented can mean a masking ingredient was used, so check the ingredient list.
Does a lotion with SPF count as sunscreen?
In the United States, sunscreen is regulated as an over-the-counter drug, so a lotion that lists an SPF should have a Drug Facts panel. Read it and follow the directions.
How do I compare lotion prices?
Divide the price by the ounces, and compare similar textures. Also track how long a container lasts in your daily use.
When should I see a doctor about my skin?
If your skin is painful, very red, cracked or getting worse, or a product seems to bother it, stop using the product and ask a dermatologist or doctor.