Dry skin · A side-by-side comparison

We compared 4 ways to moisturize dry skin. Our Body Butter had to earn its place.

We put Pretty Farm Girl’s 5.4 oz Lavender Vanilla Bean Tallow Body Butter beside a basic lotion, a pharmacy ointment, and a lower-priced tallow balm. Here’s where each option makes sense — and what actually separates them.

See the Body Butter →

5.4 oz · Water-free · Handmade in small batches in Florida

By Jen
By Jen 5 min read
Sponsored by Pretty Farm Girl
We compared 4 ways to moisturize dry skin. Our Body Butter had to earn its place.
Dry-skin products can feel similar for five minutes — then behave very differently.
If you keep reapplying, the useful question may be what kind of formula fits your skin — not whether you used enough.

Dry-skin products can feel similar for five minutes — then behave very differently.

A lotion, a petrolatum ointment, and a water-free body butter can all make dry skin feel better. They just get there differently.

So we compared four common options on formula, feel, price, transparency and who each one is best for.

Lotions are lightweight, water-based emulsions. Ointments focus on sealing moisture in. Water-free body butters trade some of lotion’s easy slip for a richer, concentrated blend of fats and oils.

None of those formats is automatically “better.” The right one depends on the texture you like, the price you’re comfortable with, and what you want the product to do.

Jump to the side-by-side comparison ↓
Water isn’t a bad ingredient. It just changes what you’re buying.

Water isn’t a bad ingredient. It just changes what you’re buying.

Most body lotions are water-based emulsions. That makes them easy to spread and quick to use — which is exactly why many people love them.

The useful question isn’t “Is water bad?” It’s “Which texture, formula and trade-offs fit the way I actually moisturize?”

A water-free body butter is different: there is no water phase, so the jar is built around the fats, oils and other ingredients listed on the label. It feels richer, and you generally start with less.

A pharmacy ointment is different again: simple, highly occlusive, inexpensive, and deliberately heavy. For some people, that is exactly the point.

$44.99 gets you 5.4 oz — so the formula has to justify itself.
5.4 oz. Amber glass. $44.99.

$44.99 gets you 5.4 oz — so the formula has to justify itself.

Ingredient List: Grass-fed tallow. Organic jojoba oil. Organic olive oil. Organic sunflower seed oil. Propolis extract. Vitamin E. Organic lavender oil. Vanilla planifolia fruit oil. Proprietary probiotic blend. Organic honey.

Pretty Farm Girl’s Lavender Vanilla Bean Tallow Body Butter is a 5.4 oz whipped, water-free formula made with ten listed ingredients.

The base is grass-fed tallow with jojoba, olive and sunflower oils, plus propolis, vitamin E, lavender oil, vanilla planifolia fruit oil, a probiotic blend and honey.

There’s no generic “fragrance” line on this ingredient list. The scent comes from the lavender and vanilla ingredients named on the label.

See the Body Butter →
An amber glass jar candle labeled 'PRETTY FARM GIRL lavender vanilla TALLOW BODY BALM' sits on a rustic wooden table outdoors, surrounded by lavender flowers, vanilla beans, and white blossoms, with a blurred field and fence in the background.
Lavender oil + vanilla planifolia fruit oil are listed by name.

And yes, tallow has a smell question.

If the scent makes you not want to use the jar, nothing else on the label matters.

This version is scented with lavender oil and vanilla planifolia fruit oil. It is not trying to be fragrance-free, and scent preference is personal.

That is worth saying plainly because the comparison is not only about ingredients. A body product has to feel and smell good enough that you actually reach for it.

Four options can all help dry skin, but they are not selling the same experience.

What each one proposes — and what it doesn’t.

PFG product facts reflect the current product page. Competitor columns describe common category formats; exact formulas and prices vary by brand.

One of 3

What kind of formula are you buying?

A light emulsion, a heavy occlusive, and a concentrated body butter can all moisturize — but they feel very different.

Ours

Lavender Vanilla Bean Tallow Body Butter

Water-free body butter

5.4 oz. Ten ingredients, each listed by name.

Pharmacy ointment

Occlusive ointment

Often very simple and highly occlusive. Excellent at sealing; intentionally heavy.

Basic body lotion

Water-based emulsion

Light, familiar and easy to spread. Exact ingredient list varies by formula.

Lower-priced tallow balm

Tallow-basedFormula varies

A lower-cost way to try tallow. Ingredient detail and sourcing vary by seller.

Two of 3

What the shelf price actually buys

Price matters. So do formula format, size, transparency and the experience you want.

Ours

Lavender Vanilla Bean Tallow Body Butter

$44.99for 5.4 oz

What you’re paying for

Water-free, small-batch formula

A rich body butter designed to be used in small amounts. Highest upfront price in this comparison.

Pharmacy ointment

Lower upfrontvaries by brand

What you’re paying for

Simple occlusive barrier

The budget-first choice when sealing dry skin matters more than cosmetic feel.

Basic body lotion

Lower upfrontvaries by brand

What you’re paying for

Lightweight everyday moisture

Easy, familiar and quick to apply. A good fit if you dislike rich textures.

Lower-priced tallow balm

Often lowervaries by seller

What you’re paying for

Lower-cost tallow trial

Lets you try the format for less; formula detail and sourcing can vary.

Three of 3

Which one fits the way you actually moisturize?

The best format is the one you will use consistently.

Ours

Lavender Vanilla Bean Tallow Body Butter

Handmade in small batches in Florida.The full ingredient list is published and the brand story is easy to trace.

Scent

Lavender + vanilla oils.

Best for

Dry body areas; people who prefer a rich, water-free body butter.

Pharmacy ointment

Usually mass-produced.Simple, accessible and easy to replace.

Scent

Often fragrance-free.

Best for

Barrier sealing, very dry patches and budget-first shopping.

Basic body lotion

Usually mass-produced.Easy to find locally and familiar to use.

Scent

Varies by formula.

Best for

Lightweight daily moisturizing and fast application.

Lower-priced tallow balm

Varies by seller.Transparency depends on the listing and maker.

Scent

Varies by render and added scent.

Best for

Shoppers mainly comparing on upfront price.

Four options. Different jobs. We kept the comparison simple: formula, feel, price, transparency and who each format is best for.

PFG Tallow Body Butter Pharmacy ointment Basic body lotion Lower-priced tallow
Formula base Grass-fed tallow with plant oils, honey, propolis and more. Typically petrolatum-based. Water-based emulsion. Tallow-based; exact blend varies by seller.
Added water None. Typically none in petrolatum ointments. Yes — it is part of the emulsion. Varies by formula.
Ingredient transparency 10 ingredients, each listed by name. Can be extremely simple. Varies by formula and brand. Varies by seller and listing detail.
Scent Lavender + vanilla oils. Often fragrance-free. Varies by formula. Varies by render and added scent.
Feel on skin Rich body butter. Start small and let it absorb. Heavy and highly occlusive. Usually the lightest, fastest-feeling option. Varies from dense to whipped.
Who made it Pretty Farm Girl; handmade in small batches in Florida. Varies by brand. Varies by brand. Varies by seller or maker.
Can you buy it locally tonight? Usually no — it ships. Usually yes. Usually yes. Usually no.
Upfront price $44.99 for 5.4 oz. Usually lower. Usually lower. Often lower.
What the price is buying Water-free formula, ingredient transparency and small-batch production. Simple occlusive performance. Convenience and lightweight feel. A lower-cost way to try tallow.
Best for Dry body areas and people who want a rich, water-free body butter. Barrier sealing and budget-first shopping. Lightweight everyday moisturizing. Trying tallow at a lower entry price.

The comparison gets to the real objection pretty quickly.

The $44.99 question

$44.99 is not impulse-buy body care. That is the first thing worth being honest about. The current jar is 5.4 oz, water-free, and made with ten ingredients listed by name.

Because it is water-free, you are buying a concentrated body butter rather than a water-based emulsion. PFG’s directions say to start with a small amount and warm it before applying. Verified buyer Joy S. put the practical version more simply: a little goes a long way, and her skin still felt moisturized the next morning.

That does not make it the cheapest option. A basic lotion or petrolatum ointment will cost less upfront. The reason to choose this jar is if you specifically value the richer format, the fully named ingredient list, small-batch production and the lavender-vanilla experience.

If you are comparing it to a $6 lotion purely on shelf price, it loses. If you are comparing the kind of formula and experience you actually want to use, that is the decision this page is here to make easier.

See the 5.4 oz Body Butter →
Two jars of tallow balm, softened on the left and settled on the right

One thing to know before it ships

Pretty Farm Girl explicitly warns that tallow-based body butters may soften or melt during warm-weather transit, especially from May through September.

The brand says the texture change does not affect product quality. Let the jar cool in a dry place or refrigerate it to re-solidify.

If receiving a perfectly whipped texture on day one is non-negotiable for you, this is a real trade-off to know before ordering.

Warm-weather softening is normal for tallow-based body butter; cooling restores a firmer texture.

What buyers notice after using it

“I was concerned since the container was a little small in my opinion, but a little goes a long way. I can use a little over a tablespoon for my whole body. When I woke up the next morning, my skin still felt moisturized.”

Joy S., verified buyer

“The smell isn’t too strong. My skin is always dry… in the morning my skin is still glowing.”

Tanya G., verified buyer

“Feels so soft on skin and smells amazing. Brightened up my tattoos instantly. Incredibly moisturizing.”

Falishadine, 5/5 review

This won’t be the right jar for everyone

If lowest upfront price is your priority.

A basic lotion or petrolatum ointment will cost less. PFG’s reason to exist is not to beat them on price.

If you want a weightless, disappears-in-seconds texture.

This is a rich body butter. Start small and give it a moment to absorb.

If you avoid animal-derived ingredients.

Tallow is rendered beef fat. There is no version of this formula that changes that.

If you want a treatment for an acne-prone face.

This page is about body care. Pretty Farm Girl has separate facial products designed for facial routines.

The person behind the jar

Jen Keel at work, Pretty Farm Girl, Myakka City, Florida.

Jen Keel, Myakka City, Florida.

The person behind the jar

Jen and her family bought a small farm in Myakka City, Florida, in 2017. Pretty Farm Girl began after she started making skincare for her own family and sharing it with the people around her; soap was the first product she made.

Today, Pretty Farm Girl says its products are still handcrafted in small batches and, when possible, made with ingredients sourced from its farm and other small farms in the community.

Small-batch · Handmade in Florida · Ingredient list published in full

“We never wanted skincare to feel like more noise. We wanted it to feel like coming home to something simple.”

Before you buy

Is this a lotion?

No. It is a water-free whipped body butter, so expect a richer texture than a pump lotion.

How much should I use?

Start with a small amount and warm it between your fingers or palms before applying. Add more only where you need it.

Will it transfer to clothes?

It can if you use too much or get dressed immediately. Let it absorb some minutes first, especially before putting on delicate fabrics.

Can it melt in transit?

Yes. Tallow-based body butters may soften or melt in warm weather. It does not affect product quality; cool or refrigerate the jar to firm the texture again.

Lavender Vanilla Bean Tallow Body Butter jar held in two hands

5.4 oz. Ten listed ingredients. No water.

$44.99. Handmade in small batches in Florida with grass-fed tallow, organic oils, lavender + vanilla, propolis, honey and a probiotic blend. Free U.S. shipping on orders over $75.

See the Lavender Vanilla Body Butter →

5.4 oz · Water-free · Handmade in Florida

Grass-fed tallow · Ingredients listed in full · Small-batch