Ethique Superstar Cleansing Balm
You know those silky, delightfully thick salves or cleansing balms that just dissolve away dirt, dead skin cells, and makeupwhile leaving a hydrating oil layer on the skin to keep you moisturized all day or night? This is that, in bar form: It’s made with a nourishing combo of cocoa butter, kokum butter, coconut oil, sweet orange essential oil, and castor oil, the cleansing agent they use in place of soap.
Best Face Soap: Neutrogena Oil
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Salicylic acid may be irritating
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May need to increase use slowly over time to avoid rashes/breakouts
If you need an acne face soap that packs a bit more of a punch than your average cleansing bar or liquid, we recommend Neutrogenas Oil-Free Acne Fighting Cleanser. Neutrogena is known for products that work well, are affordable and work to fight pimples and blackheads on a variety of skin types.
Sensitive skin folks should take note, however, that this product does contain salicylic acid, which can be irritating if your skin isnt acclimated. Start off slow and steady with this one to avoid rashes or redness.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid 2% | Usage: Massage cleanser into wet skin gently and rinse | Scent: None | Form: Liquid
Rocky Mountain Soap Company Natural Bar Soap In Aloe There
Aloe is a favorite skin care ingredient . That, mixed with fair trade, organic shea butter, makes this a perfect option for dry skin. It also has a touch of peppermint essential oil, which makes this is a distinctly refreshing face wash experience.
Natural Bar Soap in Aloe There!, Rocky Mountain Soap Company
Also Check: Best Oil For Oil Cleansing
Osmia Black Clay Facial Soap
This unassuming little bar of soap has a seriously devoted cult following. Formulated with black Australian clay and Dead Sea mud to balance and tone the skin and organic almond, avocado, and castor bean oils to moisturize, this bar is particularly beneficial for people suffering from acne or dermatitis.
Best Exfoliating Cleansing Bar: Drunk Elephant Juju Bar 24

Very fine bamboo extract and purifying thermal mud create a subtle grainy effect for a mega gentle manual exfoliation, and I did feel that it worked to buff away dead skin and unclog pores. My skin certainly felt very clean after using it.
Because of the exfoliating benefits, I didnt use this to remove my makeup but instead used it as a second cleanse. I also found it ever so slightly drying so would only recommend it to those with more oily skin types.
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Best For All Skin Types And For Head
Designed to be used from head-to-toe, this creamy bar has been designed with all skin types in mind however it is fragranced so sensitive skins may want to steer clear. There is also a standing reusable and recyclable Fenty soap dish which not only drains any water away, preventing it from going slimy, but you simply slide to open and shut the lid so your soap remains clean in the shower according to RiRi, this is her favourite part of the Cocoa Cleans’r.
What I really liked about this solid cleansing bar is that it has a hint of oiliness and creaminess about it – it contains coconut and baobab oil as well as shea and coconut butter – that stops the skin from getting dried out but also doesnt make oily skin, like mine, greasier. It also cut through SPF and makeup with ease so there was no second cleanse required. It smells like a deserted tropical island which I absolutely loved and the soap dish is a stroke of design genius.
Can’t Live Without Luxurious Foam Try These Lather
While many facial bar soaps don’t foam, you might love a soapy lather. Nothing beats a bubbly wash that gives you that deep-clean feel the problem is, most of the time, those cleansers are too drying. Not to fret: We’ve found bar soaps that give you the best of both worlds.
If you love the idea of a purifying clay soap that still lathers up, try Osmia Black Clay Cleansing Facial Soap . Recommended by Who What Wear, this soap brings together clarifying mud from the Dead Sea, Australian clay, nourishing almond, avocado, castor bean oils, and coconut milk for a creamy, decadent lather. This bar is great for combatting redness and irritation.
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleansing Bar blends ceramides and niacinamide to lock in hydration while still giving you a thick lather. Perfect for normal to oily skin, this soap uses kaolin clay to reduce oil, while hyaluronic acid keeps your complexion supple. Dermatologist Melanie Palm, M.D. told Shape that this cleanser’s foam “removes dirt, makeup, and debris, but the ceramides contained in the bar rebuild the skin’s barrier function.”
If you prefer to go for something downright-tingly, might we suggest Dr. Dennis Gross Botanical Cleansing Bar with Tea Tree Aloe ? This makes a “luxurious foam” while deep-cleaning pores with antibacterial tea tree oil. As per Who What Wear, it contains moisturizing aloe and shea butter, vitamins A and E, and even exfoliating papaya extract.
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The Best Bar Soaps To Use On Your Face
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We’re forever on a quest for the perfect face cleansers to add to our skincare arsenal, whether on the nourishing side or deeply-exfoliating with AHAs. Your face wash can make or break your skincare routine, setting the stage for your other products. A cleanser should balance your complexion, scrub away impurities, boost your glow-factor, and never make it dry or oily. Even more crucial? The best face washes keep your skin’s barrier intact, which protects it against pollutants and irritants . Keeping a few different kinds of effective face cleansers in tow is always a good idea, but you might have never thought about buying a facial bar soap next.
The Best Facial Bar Soaps For Sensitive Skin
No good list of cleansers is complete without thinking about sensitive skin concerns, whether you deal with rosacea or dermatitis on a daily basis or just suffer from mild irritation every now and then. If your regular cleanser is doing more harm than good, look no further than these best-selling, gentle, sensitive-skin-approved bar soaps. Your skin will love them.
Lanolips Lanolin + Egg White Cleansing Bar is priced at just around the cost of a morning coffee. Even better? The most sensitive of skin types will find themselves on cloud nine when using this cleanser, formulated with the creamiest of goat milk, skin-strengthening egg whites, pore-cleansing sulfur, and lanolin to lock in all your natural moisture. As per Mind Body Green, this wash is perfect for fortifying your skin’s barrier.
Another soothing option? Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar , named by Bustle as the “all-around best” facial bar soap. As per the outlet, this drugstore cheapie is deeply effective, a hypoallergenic, detergent-free, fragrance-free option that uses stearic acid instead of soap to clean skin. Oil and impurities are washed away while never making your complexion feel overly-tight or dry.
La Roche-Posay is a dermatologist-approved mainstay, and their Lipikar Surgras Cleansing Bar is no exception. As recommended by Independent, this fragrance-free soap bar is tailor-made for easily-irritated skin, and has a “cleansing milk” texture that won’t strip oils. It’s great for calming redness, too.
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The 8 Best Soaps For Oily Skin In 2022
While there is no denying that our skin needs total love and care every other day, people with oily skins might need to give their skin extra TLC. People with oily skin have to worry and deal with skin breakouts, pimples, and acne. While there are several products and treatments that can be used such as cleansers and moisturizers, getting the best soap for oily skin can make a significant difference.
People with oily skin need to pick a soap that is mildly formulated. Alternatively, they should also consider getting a soap that is infused with natural ingredients. As always, its advisable to pick a product that can remove dirt and impurities from your skin, all while controlling the oiliness. To help you choose the best soap for oily skin, we have reviewed some of the best soap for oily skin that you can find in the market today.
This Cetaphil Deep Cleansing bar is an improved version of the Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Anti-Bacterial soap. It works by removing oil, impurities, and dirt thus deeply cleansing both your face and body. It works well for most skin types.
Do Cleansing Bars Contain Soap
They may look like soap, but they don’t actually contain any soap . Instead, they contain a variety of ingredients including coconut oil, which is great for removing stubborn makeup, as well as charcoal and tea tree oil, which have naturally properties that make them effective treatments for breakouts and acne.
Read Also: Skinceuticals Cleanser For Oily Skin
Is A Facial Cleansing Bar Good For The Skin
Yes, if they use the mildest of detergents with a low pH, says Van Lotringen, who rates Sebamed Cleansing Bar, £3.99 and Galinée Cleansing Bar, £13. Think of a facial cleansing bar as a waterless, solid cleanser. “Well-formulated cleansing bars have a skin-supportive acidic pH, notes Masterson. Dr Drago advises looking for one close as possible to the pH of the skin, 4.5 to 5.5, that way it wont be stripping for dry skin.
If youre worried that a cleansing bar wont do as good a job at removing dirt and makeup as your regular cleanser, dont be. Dermatologist Dr Beibei Du-Harpur reassures me that the latest cleansing bar technologies can remove all the bits we dont want pollution, dirt, makeup, sunscreen without causing damage to the natural skin lipids that form an essential part of our skin barrier function.
You Can Avoid Irritants Easier

“People run from bar soaps,” says Tiffany Masterson, founder of nontoxic skin care line Drunk Elephant. “But they should be running from sensitizers that prematurely age their skin” . And where do you most frequently find these sensitizers? Liquid soap. Note: Not all liquid cleansers are evil, but any product that includes water among its ingredients requires a preservative, and that’s where things get a little iffy.
“Many liquid soaps, even from natural brands, are packed with drying chemicals, surfactants, and preservatives that I’d rather avoid,” explains Sarah Villafranco, M.D., . “Bar soap is made with sodium hydroxide, but when the formulation is done right, the sodium hydroxide disappears and you’re left only with soap molecules and moisturizing glycerin. Cool, huh?” Formulating into a bar allows you to add a higher concentration of pure, good-for-you ingredientsand leave out common preservatives.
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Are There Any Benefits To Washing Your Face With Bar Soap
Some bar soaps can be gentler on sensitive skin. However, before you pick up any bar soap for your face, its important to make sure its been formulated for use on your face.
There are many skincare brands that offer bar soaps made just for your face. Look for bar soaps that are unscented, hypoallergenic, and include high levels of moisturizing ingredients, such as:
- ceramides
Are Cleansing Bars Good For Your Face
Yep, they are! Contrary to what many people may think, facial cleansing bars are actually great to use on your face because theyâre made with gentle ingredients . Theyâre super eco-friendly compared to other face washes, and theyâre easy to use at home or to travel with. If you find a good container that can keep your bar dry, then youâre golden.
Some people blast facial bars as basic, but theyâre anything but average. These bad boys are packed with awesome ingredients blended into one easy-to-use bar. Plus, you can shop around to find a face soap bar thatâs just right for your skin type, or you can find ones that target specific needs such as detoxing, hydration, etc. For more ideas, scroll up and check out our list of the best facial cleansing bars.
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Sublimage Le Savon De Soin
You can count on Chanel to produce an ultra-luxurious take on a classic soap bar. The Savon de Soin has a creamy texture that results in a soft lather that will not strip your skin of its natural oils. It works to cleanse and purify, leaving you with a fresh complexion without overdrying thanks to the inclusion of shea butter.
£80 | Chanel | Buy it now
What To Use Instead
So if not bar soap, what should you use? You have several options when it comes to face cleansing.
Its important to look for products made specifically for your face. The best option for you depends on your skin type and preferences. For example, you might want to look for a cleanser with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid if youre trying to prevent breakouts.
Recommended Reading: Environ Skin Essentia Cleansing Gel
Meow Meow Tweet Tea Tree Facial Soap
Looking to cleans, exfoliate, hydrate, and fight acne without adding eight-plus products into your routine? Enter: Meow Meow Tweet’s face soap bar. The formula contains olive oil, coconut oil, and cocoa seed butter to soften and moisturize, ground oats to gently exfoliate, activated charcoal to absorb excess oil, and tea tree oil to combat breakouts and soothe skin. Talk about a four-in-one deal.
Lipid Free Cleansing Lotions
These contain fatty alcohols and are suitable for people with sensitive or dry skin. They can be wiped off without water. The fatty alcohols in these lotions facilitate evaporation and so rinsability is high. When used on the face, there is less facial residue which is an advantage of these lipid free-cleansing lotions. These agents also contain emollients and/or humectants which counter the irritancy or drying potential of the surfactant.
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The 11 Best Bar Soaps
If you do decide to make the switch, just know that there is a right way to use bar soap. Don’t take the bar directly to your face or body. Instead, both Masterson and Villafranco advise wetting your hands, wetting your face, wetting the bar, and then rubbing the bar in your hands for about 10 seconds before using the lather to gently cleanse your complexion. Same goes for washing your body in the shower.
Best For Sensitive Skin With Breakouts: Skin Sapiens Cleansing Bar 1199

This fragrance-free beauty bar created the least amount of lather when it came into contact with water. The pore-cleansing charcoal removes any dirt, while moisturising jojoba oil nourished my complexion enough to leave my skin feeling bright and hydrated rather than tight and thirsty. The INCI list contains just 13 ingredients, in fact, the entire brand was created with the ethos that fewer ingredients mean less chance of irritating even fragile skin. Plus, there’s less impact on the environment that way. It’s vegan too!
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What Were Looking For:
Skin type: To get the obvious stuff out of the way first: Pick a cleanser appropriate for your skin type. If youre a self-proclaimed beauty guru, you may be thinking, No duh. But in my experience, most people actually have no idea what their skin type is when asked. If you have zero problems, like acne or dry skin, you were most likely blessed with normal skin. But for those with more complicated issues like excessive dryness that causes tightness and flaking, or blemishes stemming from oily skin things arent quite as straightforward. You need to be mindful of ingredients and the texture of your cleanser, choosing one specifically for your dry, oily, acne-prone, sensitive, or combination skin type.
Texture: Once you figure out your skin type, take into consideration the texture of the cleanser. Dry skin types need creamy, almost moisturizer-like face washes or hydrating oil cleansers to remedy the damaged skin, while oily and acne-prone types should opt for foam or gel textures, which will sop up any excess oil. Oily skin can sometimes get away with cleansing oils, too, because believe it or not, oil attracts oil, which leaves your skin balanced. Sensitive skin types should use something creamier because itll likely be less harsh and irritating on your already fragile skin.
Need Some Relaxation Try These Aromatherapy
Sometimes, what you really need is a jolt of aromatherapy to take your cleansing game to the next level, whether going the invigorating citrus route or for calming before-bedtime essential oils. If a great scent is your thing, we’ve found the best bar soaps that combine skin-saving benefits with signature smells you’ll love.
If you want something invigorating, may we present you to Rocky Mountain Soap’s Aloe There Bar Soap ? This cleanser brings a refreshing peppermint scent that’s perfect as a morning face wash, while still hydrating your complexion with shea butter. Aloe vera rounds out the formula, soothing even the most sensitive skin, while Mind Body Green says this makes for an unbeatable anti-inflammatory soap.
Grove Collaborative recommends Terra’s Marble Activated Charcoal Facial Bar with Brazilian Yellow Clay , a paraben and sulfate-free bar soap that isn’t just visually beautiful but offers purifying yellow clay and charcoal to deep-clean pores. It also has a sweet orange scent you’ll look forward to every day. This is a balancing cleanser that’s great for all skin types, with avocado and castor seed oil also making it hydrating.
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