The 11 Best Bar Soaps for Cleaning Just About Anything
The 11 Best Bar Soaps for Cleaning Just About Anything
You may not have thought about bar soap in a while, except when you’re suddenly confronted with it in a hotel room shower or a guest bathroom. It seems retro, like something you used when you were taking baths as a kid, but we say it’s time to re-examine the power of the bar.
Body washes may be exceedingly popular among men, especially those who struggle with dry skin, but the kind of clean you get from a bar soap is second to none. While they are not self-cleaning as Joey Tribbiani once claimed they get the job done with less mess and can last longer than a body wash.
Plus bar soaps come with less waste. Think about it: they’re smaller, you can use them till they’re completely gone, and there is no plastic bottle to throw into the recycling bin when you’re done. Many soap companies are even changing their packaging to make bar soap an even greener option.
Bar soaps are versatile and can be great for you no matter what your skin type. You can find a soap for oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, and everything in between. So put your body wash on stand-by and pick up one of the 11 best bar soaps below. Witness glorious results after one wash, then kick that plastic bottle away for good!
Vitamin Cleansing Bar
Baxter of California
baxterofcalifornia.com
$19.00
One of the biggest complaints about bar soap is that they can make your skin feel too dry; not this one. It contains sunflower oil and glycerin to keep your skin hydrated and smooth all over. Plus, the citrus and musk fragrance is one of our favorite men’s scented soaps.
Read more: Best Face Washes
Sea Surf Bar Soap, 2-Pack
Method Men
amazon.com
$18.47
Exfoliating bar soaps have a little grit in them to help smooth away dry, dead skin cells and leave your body feeling clean and fresh. This one contains minerals, instead of microbeads (better for the environment) and the scent is fresh without being overpowering.
Read more: Best Facial Sunscreens
White Beauty Bar
Dove
amazon.com
$13.49
This dermatologist-endorsed bar is one of the best for your face, but here’s a secret: you can use it all over your body, too, especially if you have sensitive skin. It’s contains gentle moisturizing ingredients that hydrate and clean skin without overstripping it.
Read more: Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoos
Morning Mojo Bar Soap
Ursa Major
dermstore.com
$14.00
It’s called Morning Mojo, because the peppermint and eucalyptus fragrance in this soap gives you a jolt of clarity in the morning, even before you have your first cup of coffee. It has grit to it, but doesn’t feel rough on your skin, thanks to moisturizing honey and coconut.
Read more: Best Colognes
African Black Soap Bar Unscented
Alaffia
amazon.com
$6.11
The unrefined shea butter in this soap is incredibly moisturizing, but gentle on skin, which makes this bar perfect for every skin type from the driest to the most sensitive. There’s still a slight, natural (good) scent in this unscented version, and all Alaffia’s products are fair trade.
Read more: Best Biodegradable Soaps
Natural Moisturizing Alps Bar Soap
Oars + Alps
amazon.com
$9.95
Want to smell like you just got back from a hike through the Rockies? This soap delivers a woody, outdoorsy scent that says “I’d rather be exploring.” It also contains shea butter, so it’s gentle on even dry skin.
Hydrating Bar Soap
Hawthorne
hawthorne.co
$15.00
Aside from making great colognes, Hawthorne also produces grooming products like its own deodorant and soaps. Their bar soap features rich, moisturizing ingredients like jojoba oil, coconut oil, and lime peel. And our favorite detail about this soap is Hawthrone designed the scent to complement its colognes—so you can expect a subtle fragrance from the bar and nothing too strong.
Read more: Best Deodorants
Charcoal Detoxifying Body Bar
Rudy's Barbershop
bespokepost.com
$10.00
For guys with oily skin or who sweat a lot, the charcoal in this soap helps soak up excess oil and leave you fresh without that telltale tight feeling. The vegan bar is sourced from sustainable ingredients, including organic coconut oil and shea butter for hydration.
Triple Milled Sandalwood Bar
Caswell-Massey
amazon.com
$12.00
Triple milled soap is known for its silky-smooth texture and it cleans effectively with less lather (which can strip away your skin barrier). The natural vegetable base of this soap is gentle enough for all skin types and the subtle sandalwood fragrance smells crisp and rich, without being too overbearing.
Solid Cleanser
BRAVO SIERRA
bravosierra.com
$8.10
Another soap bar that can be used on your face as well as your body, this no-nonsense cleanser from BRAVO SIERRA works into a rich lather. Ingredients like coconut and oat flour are added to hydrate and soften the skin. You can also pick from several scents, although we like the Original the best.
Pumice, Tea Tree, & Spearmint Bar
Ethique
walmart.com
$12.12
Ethique has every kind of bar you could imagine (even shampoo and conditioning bars), but we like this exfoliating and clarifying bar because it helps get rid of dead skin cells and excess oil at the same time. It’s ideal to keep in your gym bag for a refreshing post-workout shower.
Looking for the right bar soap to fit your skin type? Check out the 11 best soaps for men, including bath soaps for dry or sensitive skin.