I Replaced My Body Wash With the L’Occitane Lavender Soap Bar—Here’s My Review

We put the L’Occitane Extra-Gentle Lavender Soap to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review. 

Forever on a mission to use less plastic, I always feel just a tad guilty about my body wash that comes in a plastic bottle. While I don’t replace it that much, I know that bar soap can get the job done just as well—and it’s less wasteful.

As a longtime fan of L’Occitane En Provence—I used their almond oil on my stomach religiously while I was pregnant and didn’t end up with a single stretch mark—I was excited to see how the L’Occitane Extra-Gentle Lavender Soap Bar would work out for me.

Here’s my honest review

About My Skin: Not too dry (but not that hydrated either), with some rough bouts in the winter

While the skin on my face tends to be difficult to deal with thanks to hormonal acne, for the most part, the skin on my body is easy-going and predictable. In the wintertime, however, it really dries out—in March of this year, I scratched my itchy legs so hard they actually bruised. 

Because of this, I tend to opt for moisturizers with menthol and zinc in them (like Gold Bond) to soothe my dry, itchy skin in the winter. In the spring and summer, I can use a more standard moisturizer, but I do opt for more hydrating products when I can, which is why I was intrigued by the L’Occitane Extra-Gentle Lavender Soap Bar.

The Feel: Light and lathers easily

Even though I haven’t used bar soap often in the past, there’s nothing I love more than a bar fresh from the package. It feels so new, so pristine, so dense—full of endless possibilities, all of which promise cleanliness. 

The L’Occitane Extra-Gentle Lavender Soap Bar felt light and perfect in my hand, and it lathered up easily on my skin, making it perfect for everything from a quick hand wash to a full-on leg shave (I decided about a decade that shaving cream is a scam). 

The Smell: Oh-so-soothing

The smell of the L’Occitane Extra-Gentle Lavender Soap Bar is fully intoxicating. I’ve always loved the smell of lavender, but combined with shea butter it’s extra soothing. As someone who showers at night and is prone to insomnia, I always make sure that the body wash I use is calming in some way. This bar certainly is—I can’t get enough of the scent, and keep the paper package by my bedside so I can inhale it before bed. It helps me calm down and prepares me for a night of good sleep.

The Ingredients: Packed with good stuff

Made with vegetable oil, lavender, and shea butter, I love the ingredients packed into this mighty bar of soap. In addition to producing a great scent, the ingredients in the  L’Occitane Extra-Gentle Lavender Soap Bar are soothing and easy on the skin—just what I need.

The Results: Smoother, happier skin, and a calmer me

My one gripe with the L’Occitane Extra-Gentle Lavender Soap Bar is one I have with all bars of soap: It’s slippery, and the perfect storm of events could lead to me slipping on it and falling. Bar soaps also tend to get more difficult to use the smaller they get, which is another reason I tend to opt for body wash (and hand soap) that comes in a plastic bottle. That being said, the other perks of this bar soap cancel out that one annoyance.

The high-quality ingredient list—and the fact that I’m not using plastic—makes me feel good about my decision to use it overall.

The Value: Relatively affordable

Is the L’Occitane Extra-Gentle Lavender Soap Bar the cheapest bar of soap on the market? No. At around $12 a bar, there are certainly less expensive options out there. But if you’re looking for a quality bar of soap that will last a while—this bar weighs 8.8 ounces, which will go a long way—this is a great pick. 

Similar Products: You’ll have a hard time finding a bar of soap this good

Dove Soap ($15): When I think of a bar of soap, the first thing that comes to mind is Dove soap. While I don’t have a huge issue with Dove soap—it’s inexpensive and gets the job done—with a neutral scent and no special promises to go above and beyond from a hydration perspective, it never really stood out to me as anything special.

The L’Occitane Extra-Gentle Lavender Soap Bar does stand out to me. It’s a bar soap I look forward to using, and it keeps my skin incredibly hydrated. With a choice between the two, I’d choose L’Occitane’s bar soap every time.