Best Soap Bars for Sustainable Skin & Haircare

The humble bar of soap: slippery, crumbly and oh-so ancient – who would have thought that it would ever make a comeback?

Me being the 90s kid that I am, I have mixed emotions about the barred soap. It brings back memories from my younger years, where I would have to wrench the cemented slab of Dove from my nan’s super 60s-esque soap dish and remove a cold layer of slime before washing.

Luckily, the nation swiftly moved on to the innovative liquid shower gel, and the majority of us (except my nan) never looked back.

Or so we thought. As of September 2018, it was recorded that British supermarket shoppers had spent a whopping £68.3 million on soap bars, which is up nearly 3% from the previous year.

So, it seems like the nostalgic beauty buy is creeping its way back into our bathrooms. Why we hear you ask? Well, here are eight reasons beauty buffs are reconsidering the solid bar of soap (and I might be slightly persuaded).

Why switch to soap bars?

1. It cuts down on plastic waste

After the backlash against single-use plastic, swapping bottled hand and body wash for a traditional bar of soap has been one way to get a little more eco-friendly.

Liquid soaps take five times more energy to produce and use 20 times more packaging, plus last half as long as a bar – so you’ll be saving your money and the environment: it’s a win-win.

2. It’s not as dirty as you think

We’re all guilty of snubbing soap. The perception that it has a slight ‘communal’ feel and is harbouring tonnes of germs and dirt is normal, yet also totally misinformed.

In fact, scientists have often found that there is no reason to believe that bars of soap are unhygienic as their high levels of pH make it harder for germs to survive.

3. It contains more of the good stuff

Unlike liquid soaps, which are bulked up with water and preservatives, natural bars are packed full of essential oils that are nourishing and provide skin with all the valuable nutrients it needs.

Cold-pressed soaps keep ingredients intact, meaning you can reap the moisturising benefits and all the antibacterial, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

4. Liquid soaps are detergents in disguise…

Shower gels and liquid hand soaps probably aren’t cleaning your skin as well as you think they are. While they might froth up into a luscious lather, they tend to mask odour better than they actually clean.

5. …Which means your pH levels are under attack

As liquid soaps are often infused with surfactants (chemical petroleum by-products that make foam and bubbles), they can dry out and irritate the skin. As a result, using them daily can disrupt and throw your skin’s natural pH barrier off balance.

6. The bog-standard bar has come a long way

A long, long way. While the Dove Beauty Bar will always remain a cult classic, the choice of barred soap is now endless.

On the market, you can find formulas that tackle every skin concern, from acne to ageing, eczema and excess oil.

7. Soaps are part of the minimalist trend

In a time where our mantra is ‘less is more’, the minimal, simplistic bar of soap becomes our beauty best friend.

Unleash your inner Marie Kondo by decluttering and organising your bathroom, and we can guarantee that evening soak will be all the more relaxing.

8. It feels more luxurious

There’s just something a little more luxurious about unwrapping a fresh bar of soap than squeezing a dollop of gel from a plastic tube. With much of the demand coming from the higher end of the market, you can expect luxury soap to be the next big trend.

Best soap bars for the body

This vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, plastic-free soap bar utilises squalane, lactic acid, ground olive and grapefruit to create a rich lather that exfoliates and unclogs skin. From head to toe, you can indulge in silky-smooth, cleansed skin that's not only balanced but smells delicious. It's perfect for those that have strawberry skin/kerastosis pilaris or suffer with ingrown hairs, and it lasts twice as long as shower gel!

Best soap bars for the face

This rose-charged soap from Dr Botanicals helps to rebalance and purify skin in an instant. Non-drying and non-irritating, it makes the perfect gentle cleanser for all skin types. Not to mention, sweet almond oil and coconut oil provide intense hydration, while the uplifting scent of juicy strawberries energise and invigorate.

Best bar soap for oily and acne-prone skin

This cleansing bar is infused with detoxifying charcoal, a highly-prized ingredient that helps to draw oils and impurities out from clogged up pores. Using this soap will leave your skin spotlessly clean and clarified as it eliminates excess sebum bacteria that can lead to future breakouts and blemishes.

Best soap bars for dry skin

Made to awaken your senses and kickstart your day, this super moisturising soap is powered by mint, rosemary & juniper salt. Featuring 50% Himalayan pink salt, coconut oil and raw organic shea butter, this soap is rejuvenating yet gentle on the skin. This allows you can cleanse your body without having to worry about further irritation.

Best soap bars for sensitive skin

This hydrating soap effectively cleanses the face with its creamy moisturising texture. It removes dirt, grime, and pollution and even tackles waterproof makeup, leaving skin cleansed, refreshed and comfortable.

Best bar soap for your hair

Take your plastic-free ways one step further by investing in a shampoo bar. Created specifically for normal or damaged hair, this mild shampoo gently cleanses locks, leaving them soft, vibrant and moisturised. Disclaimer: your hair and scalp might need a few washes to adjust to the new formula, but the benefits are totally worth it!

Best natural bar soap

Weleda are the go-to if you're looking for beauty essentials that are free-from nasties. This soap bar is filled to the brim with 100% natural ingredients and fragranced with essential oils, so you can start the day (or hit the hay) feeling truly pampered.

Best luxury bar soap

From the packaging to the formula to the scent, we adore the Acqua Di Parma soap collection. Not only does this powder soap transform into a rich, velvety foam that leaves skin soft and smooth, but it laces your bathroom with a luxurious, indulgent aroma.

Not convinced? Keep scrolling for more FAQ's about the bar of soap.

What is soap?

In technical terms, soap is a mixture of sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids that come from oils or fats. Soaps are used in a variety of household products as they boast the ability to lubricate, clean and sanitise. When it comes to the beauty sector, the most popular types of soap include traditional bars of soap as well as the modern-day bath and shower gel. Both are used to wash and cleanse skin.

What is soap made of?

Traditional, handcrafted soaps are made with three essential ingredients: an animal or vegetable oil, water and lye (sodium hydroxide). When mixed together, these ingredients chemically react with one another to create a bar of soap. Oils such as coconut oil and palm oil are used in order to help the soap stay hard when left in wet areas, such as soap dishes and showers. Fragrance and colouring can also be added to soap to give it a more luxurious feel.

What are the benefits of charcoal soap bars?

Charcoal is a common ingredient found in bars of soap and for good reason, too. Charcoal, also known as activated charcoal, is packed with beautifying benefits that are especially good for acne and congested skin types. Not only is it ace at cleansing skin and removing dirt, grime and dead skin cells, but it also works around the clock to reduce oil production and the size of pores. If old spots and breakouts have left you with blemishes, charcoal can be used to clear and brighten skin. It also helps make skin tighter and firmer, preventing signs of premature ageing.

Whilst charcoal soap bars are a must-have for oily and acne-prone skin, they can be used by all skin types, even the most sensitive.

Are soap bars antibacterial?

Soap bars are really good at physically washing away the dirt, oil and dead skin cells that lay on the surface of your skin. As soaps are typically left out in the open, it would seem as though they are a breeding ground for germs. With this in mind, you can buy bars of soap that are labelled as antibacterial, which means that they utilise chemical agents to kill off germs, however they are no more effective than a regular soap bar. Bacteria can live on all bars of soap, but it is very unlikely that they will make you sick or cause skin infection. In fact, soap bars often contain high levels of pH, which makes it harder for germs to survive.