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Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang
While we wouldn't say bar soap is at the forefront of the beauty industry, the classic skincare staple undoubtedly paved the way for cleansing as we know it. And today's iterations aren't just for washing your hands and lathering up in the shower. Believe it or not, there are lots of incredible cleansing bars formulated specifically for washing your face.
We asked licensed esthetician Dana Murray of Babe + Beauty for insight. "Bar soaps for the face are tricky because they are usually alkaline in pH (around 7 to 8), which is a bit high for the skin," she tells Byrdie. However, she offered some recommendations and tips on what to look for.
As with any cleanser, pay attention to the actives (key ingredients), especially if you have a sensitive complexion or a particular skin concern. Whether you're tickled by the nostalgia of bar soap, are a skincare minimalist, or are trying to buy products with less wasteful packaging, there's an option out there for you.
To help you narrow down your choices, we found the best bar soaps currently on the market.
Best Overall: Osmia Organics Facial Soap
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Amazon
Natural formula
Contains organic ingredients
Eco-friendly packaging
Expensive
What do buyers say? 81% of 600+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
According to Murray, Osmia makes "the most skin-friendly bar soaps." These facial cleansing bars contain a blend of natural ingredients to remove makeup, pollution, and sunscreen residue without drying you out or stripping your skin.
"They have a pumpkin for combination skin, dull, or dehydrated skin, a black clay that is great for combination, acne-prone skin, and perioral dermatitis, and a rose clay that's perfect for dry and sensitive skin types," Murray adds.
Not only is Osmia Organics beneficial for your skin, but it's also easy on the environment. Formulated with sustainably sourced plant materials and wrapped up in eco-friendly packaging, you can feel good about using this soap.
Key Ingredients: Pumpkin puree, clay, avocado oil, coconut milk | Size: 2.25 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Budget: Dove White Beauty Bar
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Budget-friendly
Plant-based formula
Suitable for face and body
Contains fragrance
On a budget? You can't go wrong with a Dove Beauty Bar. This iconic cleanser contains a tried-and-true blend of gentle ingredients that moisturize and soften without stripping the skin. Even if it's not your everyday choice, you're wise to keep a bar or two in your arsenal.
Key Ingredients: Sodium lauroyl Isethionate, glycerin | Size: 3.17 ounces | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Drugstore: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar
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Budget-friendly
Fragrance-free
Moisturizing
Doesn't smell as good as other options
When it comes to drugstore skincare, CeraVe is a shining star, and you can bet the brand makes one of the best bar soaps. Developed with dermatologists, it's full of gentle yet effective ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and essential ceramides, to moisturize and reinforce the skin barrier.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides | Size: 4.5 ounces | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Splurge: Creed Silver Mountain Water Soap
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Nordstrom
Generous size
Nice smell
Rich lather
Expensive
In the mood for something luxurious? We wouldn't judge you for splurging on this fancy French soap. The hand-milled medallion boasts a rich lather and an incredible scent. Plus, it's formulated with green tea, which, according to Murray, is ideal for calming sensitive skin.
Key Ingredients: Green tea | Size: 5.2 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Face: Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar
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Exfoliating
Rich lather
Eco-friendly packaging
Expensive
Contains fragrance
The best option for washing your face is definitely Erno Laszlo's Deep Cleansing Bar. Containing charcoal powder, sea mud, glycerin, and 26 minerals, this handsome soap is designed to cleanse, gently exfoliate, and balance your complexion—extra points for the eco-friendly packaging.
Key Ingredients: Charcoal, dead sea mud, glycerin, minerals | Size: 3.4 ounces | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Body: DHC Coenzyme Q10 Body Soap
Budget-friendly
Soothing
Rich lather
Not ideal for eczema-prone skin
When sudsing up in the shower, reach for DHC Q10 Body Soap. The star ingredient is Coenzyme Q10 (aka CoQ10), which soothes stressed skin and tackles free radicals. It also contains aloe vera, one of Murray's favorites for sensitive complexions.
Key Ingredients: Coenzyme Q10, olive oil, castor oil, aloe | Size: 4.2 ounces | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Face and Body: Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar
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Budget-friendly
Non-irritating
Suitable for face and body
Strong smell
Cetaphil's Gentle Cleansing Bar is formulated for head-to-toe use. The non-comedogenic formula cleans with glycerin and nourishes with ingredients like vitamins E and B5 without disrupting the skin's moisture barrier.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, vitamins E and B5 | Size: 4.5 ounces | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Moisturizing: 100% Pure Coconut Butter Soap
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100% Pure
Natural formula
Moisturizing
Dissolves quickly
Bar soap gets a bad rap for drying out the skin, but with 100% Pure Coconut Butter Soap, this couldn't be further from the truth. The pared-down blend of coconut oil, olive oil, and shea butter offers a heaping dose of moisture while dissolving makeup, dirt, and pollutants.
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter | Size: 4.5 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Nourishing: Nubian Heritage Soap Bar Indian Hemp and Haitian Vetiver
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Budget-friendly
Generous size
Natural formula
Contains fragrance
We're also loving this budget-friendly bar from Nubian Heritage. Chock full of plant-derived ingredients like neem oil, shea butter, and cannabis sativa seed, it nourishes, moisturizes, and leaves skin oh-so-supple.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, neem oil, cannabis sativa seed | Size: 5 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Exfoliating: Herbivore Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Soap Bar
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Gentle
Moisturizing
Suitable for face and body
Not ideal for sensitive skin
Bar soap might not be the first thing you think of when it's time to exfoliate, but after trying this beauty from Herbivore Botanicals, you'll be a convert. Calling on naturally absorbent ingredients like charcoal and white clay, plus moisturizing coconut oil, this cleansing bar works hard to detoxify without stripping the skin.
Key Ingredients: Charcoal, coconut oil, white clay | Size: 4 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Key Features
"I would avoid using harsh scrubs that contain large exfoliating granules like sugar, ground fruit pits of any kind, walnut shells, etc." — Licensed esthetician Dana Murray of Babe + Beauty
Best Natural: L'Occitane Extra-Gentle Lavender Soap
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Natural formula
Rich lather
Generous size
Contains fragrance
If you're partial to natural formulas, you'll appreciate L'Occitane. With a base of plant oils, plus glycerin and shea butter, this luxurious French soap boasts a rich, creamy lather and an invigorating aroma.
Key Ingredients: Plant oils, shea butter, glycerin | Size: 8.8 ounces | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Bar for Face and Body
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Nordstrom
Generous size
Clears and prevents acne
Suitable for face and body
Can be drying
If you're battling breakouts, you can count on Clinique to not only clear pimples but also help prevent more from cropping up. This medicated bar soap contains salicylic acid, an effective over-the-counter ingredient for targeting acne and unclogging pores.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycerin, caffeine | Size: 5.2 ounces | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best for Oily Skin: Naked Bar Soap Co. Charcoal Facial Soap
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Naked Bar Soap Co.
Natural formula
Moisturizing
Dissolves makeup
Not ideal for sensitive skin
While it sounds counterintuitive, using oil-based products can actually help prevent your skin from over-producing oil. With this in mind, this Naked Bar Soap Co.'s facial soap absorbs greasiness with activated charcoal, then moisturizes with a blend of plant-derived oils.
Key Ingredients: Charcoal, olive oil, coconut oil, neem oil, tea tree oil | Size: 3.5 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Complexion-Enhancing: Liha Beauty Ose Gidi Soa
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Liha Beauty
Contains organic ingredients
Moisturizing
Enhances complexion
Expensive
If it's a healthy glow you're after, your best bet is Ose Gidi Soap. Flaunting a powerhouse medley of glycerin, plant oils, and lactic acid, this lavish cleansing bar is formulated to deliver a more radiant complexion.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, glycerin, olive oil, lactic acid | Size: 4.2 ounces | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Scent: Pardo Naturals 3 Times Sexy Soap
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Pardo Naturals
Nice smell
Moisturizing
Natural formula
Size is not listed online
If you like a nice scent to go with your lather, you should try Pardo Naturals aptly named 3 Times Sexy Soap. This natural cleansing bar calls on patchouli, vanilla, a hint of sandalwood, and a sprinkling of cocoa powder to ignite your senses while cleansing and moisturizing the skin.
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil | Size: Not listed | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
Our number one pick is Osmia Organics Facial Soap (view at Amazon), an esthetician-approved cleansing bar with three natural formulas to accommodate different skin types and concerns. For something more wallet-friendly, go with Dove Beauty Bar (view at Amazon), a classic choice that moisturizes as it cleanses your face, body, or hands.
What to Look for in Bar Soap
Ingredients
Look for nourishing ingredients like shea butter and jojoba to keep skin hydrated, explains Nina Zilka, co-founder, and CEO of Alder New York.
Avoid All-Purpose
You should avoid all-purpose bar soaps, says Zilka, as they can be too harsh or drying on the skin.
Actives
Keep an eye out for bar soaps with actives like glycolic or salicylic acid since they keep your skin healthy, says Zilka. These ingredients are really great for keeping skin hydrated and smooth, she says.
Why Trust Byrdie?
Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer specializing in cosmetics. For this roundup, she interviewed a licensed esthetician, researched key ingredients and formulations, and referenced several studies before landing on her final picks. From this list, she is a fan of L'Occitane, Clinique, CeraVe, DHC, and Dove. Theresa has been contributing to Byrdie since 2020, where she covers skincare, makeup, and fitness gear.
Meet the Expert
- Dana Murray of Babe + Beauty is a licensed esthetician and beauty blogger.
- Nina Zilka is the co-founder and CEO of Alder New York.
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