Best soap for smooth skin

The best bar soaps smell nice, clean great, and will transport you back to a simpler time—depending on your age, perhaps around middle school—before the humble bar was boxed out by body wash. Remember when we stocked up on body washes and liquid hand soap because the bar soaps of yore were built for cleaning skin, but not nourishing it? The liquid alternatives blended germ-fighting agents with ingredients that were actually healthy for your skin. And that drugstore bar used to dry your skin out like no other. Not any more. Bar soaps are back in a big way. They still clean your skin, but now they’re infused with oils, butters, and lotions to replace lost moisture and condition the skin.

When stored in properly ventilated conditions (and not in a tiny pool of water), a bar of soap can last a month or more. The best of them can also double as facial cleansers. And, let’s face it: It’s the original, the standard, the staple. It doesn’t spill. It packs easily. It doesn’t count as a liquid at TSA—travel hack!—and they’re easier to distribute than clumsy liquids products, and thus far more difficult to peddle away.

But like the best body washes, the best bar soaps double as aromatherapy, and they leave your skin feeling moisturized instead of petrified. They last long, and they get comments from your guests, like “Hey, what brand of soap do you use?” That’s not a weird question, nor an uncommon one, when you curate your bar soap as closely as you would, say, a signature scent. Here are our five current favorites, plus three other bar soaps we love, for good measure.

The Best Bar Soap to Give (or Get) as a Gift

Claus Porto “Voga” bar soap

Claus Porto’s thrice-milled soaps come in many sizes and scents, but we like “Voga” in the 12.4-oz. large bar size. It’ll last you months in the shower, or a year on your sink ledge. It’s a vegetable-shea butter blend, with light floral notes, and makes for a terrific gift since its packaging is as beautiful as the bar soap itself. The trick is convincing yourself or your giftee to actually unwrap it and dispose of the Portuguese-inspired design. It’s a bittersweet parting, since now you get the soft, nourishing, fragrant powers of Claus Porto.

$27

Amazon

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The Best Bar Soap with Some Grit

Baxter of California body exfoliating bar

Don’t be embarrassed if you find yourself routinely huffing this body bar like some eighth grader sniffing glue. The cedarwood-oakmoss fragrance is full-stop incredible—this soap turns any shower into a rain-forest spa. Don’t use it on your face, though, since it’s packed with tiny bits of jojoba meal and crushed olive seed, which work to buff dead skin from your body as you scrub.

$19

Baxter of California

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The Best Drugstore Bar Soap

Dove Men+Care body and face soap, Clean Comfort scent (6 pack)

Dove markets itself as “#1 Dermatologist Recommended.” And we’re happy to report that nearly every single dermatologist we’ve spoken with promotes Dove above other soapmakers. And, since the brand produces such large batches, you can get each lotion-packed bar for a buck and change. Add to that the comfort of using this bar soap on your face, and suddenly you’re saving on cleanser, too. Dove takes the crown when it comes to economy and utility.

$7

Walmart

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The Best Bar Soap for Your Hair

By Humankind shampoo bar

Here’s an unusual one—a bar shampoo that gently works to nourish your hair all the way to the root, minimizing the need for conditioner. The thinking is that most liquid shampoos parch your hair and scalp, requiring conditioner to do the restoration work after the fact. The all-natural ingredients in these shampoo bars include oils of sunflower, coconut, and palm, plus a variety of essential oils, so it’s all nourishing, no drying. Plus, they eliminate the need for a plastic vessel, so they’re eco-friendly to boot.

$13

By Humankind

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The Best Bar Soap for Unifying Your Fragrance Entourage

Hawthorne custom-scent bar soap

After filling out a questionnaire about your personal habits, preferences, and predilections, Hawthorne will make you a customized scent. Their range is designed to suit different personality types, and they apply it to things like cologne, deodorant, and even bar soap. We’re big fans of having one signature scent across an entire grooming regimen, and Hawthorne makes that easy, accessible, and affordable. Plus, their scents smell damn good. Take the quiz now, and at least get the soap, if not everything else.

$15

Hawthorne

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Three More Bar Soaps We Like

Compagnie De Provence lavender bar soap (3 pack)

The world’s best soap comes from Provence. There’s no debating it. It’s also the region most famous for lavender fields. Compagnie De Provence combines oils of sweet almond, grape seed, and olive with notes of lavender in their soaps, and they’re triple milled because, well, nothing less is acceptable in Provence. It smells terrific, it softens the skin, and it gives you permission to say “oui oui, uh huh huh” over and over in the shower, since nobody is watching, except maybe your dog.

$9

Walmart

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Hudson Made hand soap

Hudson packs a lineup of skin-softening and nourishing oils into this brick: olive, coconut, jojoba, hemp, tobacco, patchouli, cedar leaf, cedarwood, plus vitamin E, shea butter, and pumice. [Deep inhale.] That’s the kind of soap you want to use on your skin, regardless of how gritty you get during the day. And here’s an insider’s tip: it’s great on the feet, too. It exfoliates nicely, washing dead skin cells away as it fuels the live-and-well cells.

$18

Amazon

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The Rich + Clean peppermint and charcoal soap

Charcoal has transcended “fad” status (we once named it the Ingredient of the Year for the GQ Grooming Awards). The charcoal in this soap soaks up all the gunk and toxins that have seeped into your skin. And Japanese peppermint tones your oil levels to prevent shine and breakouts without over-drying.

$12

The Rich + Clean

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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.

To find the best soap for sensitive skin, we consulted a dermatologist, researched soothing and hydrating ingredients and tested the pH of 10 highly rated soaps formulated especially for delicate skin. Our top pick is the extra-mild CeraVe – Hydrating Body Wash, which has a soothing, lotion-like consistency and contains moisture-promoting ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides. With its hypoallergenic formula, our runner-up is the Aveeno – Skin Relief Body Wash, which contains colloidal oatmeal, a powerful anti-inflammatory.

Table of contents

Dermatologist recommendations

This year, 60–70% of women and 50–60% of men reported having some degree of skin sensitivity. To understand exactly what kind of soap is most beneficial for sensitive skin, we first consulted Dr. Tiffany Jow Libby, a board-certified dermatologist who has sensitive skin herself.

Soap’s alkalinity, as Dr. Libby points out, plays a vital role in maintaining healthy skin. The pH scale, which measures how acidic or alkaline a solution is, ranges from 0 (acidic) to 14 (alkaline). Since the skin’s surface prefers to be acidic (to help it stay moisturized and fend off the effects of pollution, bacteria and allergens), soap makers sometimes try to match that acidity level, which usually ranges in pH from 4.5 to 5.5. Soap with a pH ranging from 4 to 7 is considered “pH-balanced” — meaning it falls within the pH range of normal, healthy skin.

“Ideally, we want to keep skin in this range to maintain a healthy barrier function,” says Dr. Libby. “Many bar soaps have a pH within the range of 9 to 10 and therefore tend to be more alkaline, which can disrupt the skin’s pH.”

Dr. Libby also recommends checking the ingredients list for added artificial dyes, synthetic fragrances, harsh exfoliants or other irritating ingredients. “Just because it says ‘made for sensitive skin’ doesn’t always mean it is,” she warns.

How we selected products to test

After speaking to Dr. Libby, reading through articles by trusted review sites like Business Insider and scouring Reddit and the MakeupAlley.com message boards for soap recommendations, we drew up this list of features to look for as well:

• Fragrance-free: While “unscented” often means an ingredient was added to mask the scent of a soap, “fragrance-free” means no extra fragrances were added to those that are naturally occurring.
• Paraben-free: These preservatives can irritate sensitive skin — especially conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
• Methylisothiazolinone-free: This mouthful of a preservative has a high incidence of allergic reactions in the skin.
• No denatured, isopropyl or SD alcohols: Unlike fatty alcohols, which are non-irritating and good for dry skin, denatured, isopropyl and SD alcohols can dry out and erode the skin’s surface.
• No harsh exfoliants: This includes physical exfoliants, such as nut shells.
• Beneficial ingredients: Chamomile, glycerin, coconut oil, colloidal oatmeal, comfrey, allantoin, calendula and aloe can have a soothing effect on sensitive skin.

We used this list to sort through the highest-rated soaps and body washes for sensitive skin and zero in on the most beneficial and non-irritating of the bunch. We also aimed for soaps that wouldn’t break the bank, with price points below $20.

Compare the best soaps for sensitive skin

How we tested

To test the pH level of each soap in our lineup, we used an Apera PH20 Waterproof pH Meter. Eight of our soaps fell within the “pH-balanced” range of 4–7, with four soaps in the ideal 4.5–5.5 range. The remaining two — both bar soaps, unsurprisingly — were 10 and 10.1, respectively.

Our tester then showered with each soap and rated them based on how they affected her sensitive skin, judging by soap texture, added fragrance (or lack thereof) and whether her skin felt soft and moisturized or irritated and dry afterward.

Best body wash: CeraVe

With a balanced pH of 6.4 and the creamiest formula in our lineup, the CeraVe – Hydrating Body Wash has a rich, lotion-like consistency that left our tester’s skin feeling smooth, clean and replenished. Truly fragrance-free, we couldn’t detect even a naturally occurring scent in this body wash.

The CeraVe body wash is a dermatologist favorite, and no wonder. It’s paraben- and sulfate-free and full of beneficial ingredients like glycerin, soybean oil, hyaluronic acid and ceramides — lipids that occur naturally in the skin and help keep it supple, but slowly deplete with age and sun damage. Using a product enriched with ceramides can help the skin restore moisture, soothe irritation and even reduce signs of aging.

“Think of the uppermost barrier of your skin as a brick wall, with each skin cell being one brick,” explains Dr. Libby. “The mortar holding the bricks together are the moisturizing factors and lipids, i.e. your ceramides, fatty acids and cholesterol. Any decrease or disruption in these lipids can compromise the skin’s barrier and lead to inflammation.”

Top Pick: CeraVe – Hydrating Body Wash

Packed with soothing and moisturizing ingredients, the creamy, lotion-like CeraVe – Hydrating Body Wash leaves skin feeling clean, calm and hydrated.

The one downside of CeraVe is its rather stiff container, which makes it tough to get any product out when the bottle is less than full.

Key takeaways:

• The CeraVe – Hydrating Body Wash has the texture of a creamy lotion, gliding smoothly over the skin and leaving it feeling clean and moisturized.
• This 6.4-pH dermatologist favorite is free of fragrance, parabens and sulfates. It’s packed with moisturizing and soothing ingredients like glycerin, soybean oil, hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
• The CeraVe’s stiff container makes it hard to squeeze the product out.

Runner-up: Aveeno – Skin Relief

Our runner-up, the Aveeno – Skin Relief Body Wash is richly moisturizing and feels luxurious. The Aveeno has a perfect pH level of 5, so our tester experienced zero irritation, and post-shower, her skin felt soft even without lotion. Though technically fragrance-free, we should note that the Aveeno wash does have a naturally occurring mild, citrusy scent.

Runner-Up: Aveeno

The hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic Aveeno – Skin Relief Body Wash has a neutralized pH and contains colloidal oatmeal, known for its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties.

Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog pores), the Aveeno wash is dermatologist-recommended and has no added dyes. In addition to glycerin — a humectant that helps the skin retain water — Aveeno’s star ingredient is colloidal oatmeal (“avena sativa” in the ingredients list), a soothing prebiotic that helps replenish the skin’s barrier.

“Colloidal oatmeal is a favorite of mine,” Dr. Libby says. “It’s a natural anti-inflammatory agent that helps soothe and alleviate dryness and itching, which may be seen in inflammatory conditions like eczema.”

Key takeaways:

• With a pH level of 5, the mild Aveeno – Skin Relief Body Wash falls within the ideal pH range for sensitive skin.
• The Aveeno wash is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic and contains colloidal oatmeal, a soothing natural anti-inflammatory.
• This body wash doesn’t contain added fragrance ingredients, but it does have a mild, natural citrus scent.

Other finalists we recommend

Eucerin – Skin Calming Body Wash

The Eucerin – Skin Calming Body Wash has a pH level of 6.1 and is one of the more moisturizing soaps we tried. Its first ingredient is soybean oil, which has been shown to help skin retain moisture when applied topically. Its second is castor oil, an anti-inflammatory that also promotes moisture.
Sure enough, after showering, our tester’s skin felt cleansed but also soft and supple, and she didn’t feel she needed to apply lotion. The downside of fragrance-free Eucerin is the natural odor from the vegetable oils, though it disappeared soon after our tester dried off.

Aquaphor – Baby Wash

The Aquaphor – Baby Wash, which has a pH level of 4.7 — the lowest of all the soaps we tested — is a clear gel that feels very mild on the skin. After showering, our tester’s skin felt cleansed but not particularly moisturized or dry.

Completely fragrance-free and paraben-free, the Aquaphor wash contains bisabolol, an anti-inflammatory alcohol extracted from chamomile.

Sukin Naturals – Sensitive Soap Free Body Wash

The Sukin Naturals – Sensitive Soap Free Body Wash is very similar to the Aquaphor body wash in texture and consistency. While this wash doesn’t contain added fragrance, it does have a somewhat acrid naturally occurring scent.

The Sukin wash has a 5.2 pH level and skin-soothing ingredients, such as aloe, chamomile, glycerin, cucumber, green tea and avocado oil.

Andalou Naturals – 1000 Roses Shower Gel

With its low pH level of 4.9, the Andalou Naturals – 1000 Roses Shower Gel felt great on our tester’s skin, leaving it both cleansed and hydrated. The Andalou wash has plenty of ingredients that are directly beneficial for sensitive skin: aloe, glycerin, allantoin, coconut extract and argan oil.

The downside of the Andalou wash is its combination of rose water and rosehip oil, which produces a natural rose scent (hence the “1000 Roses” name) that some people may find overwhelming.

Bioderma – Atoderm Shower Oil

The Bioderma – Atoderm Ultra-Nourishing Anti-Irritation Shower Oil feels luxe and nourishing on the skin; our tester loved how hydrated her skin felt afterward. We should note that the Bioderma oil has a potent added fragrance, though it didn’t irritate our tester’s sensitive skin.

The Bioderma wash contains skin-moisturizing glycerin and niacinamide, which helps stimulate the skin’s own production of ceramides. Though generally safe for sensitive skin, some people have experienced irritation after applying niacinamide to the skin; we recommend doing a patch test before using it in the bath.

Dove – Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar

Out of the bar soaps we tested, the Dove – Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar was the only contender that fell within the desired pH range. While the other soaps’ pH levels soared around 10 — which is normal for pure soap — the Dove bar tested at a 7.

The Dove soap is scentless and easy to rinse off, and it left our tester’s skin feeling clean but neither dry nor moisturized — just neutral. If you prefer your soap in bar form, we recommend this one as the best bar soap for sensitive skin.

Other finalists we don’t recommend

Booda Organics – Suds of Love All-In-One Soap

The Booda Organics – Suds of Love All-In-One Soap is truly fragrance-free and only contains five ingredients: olive oil, coconut oil, fair-trade shea butter, artesian spring water and sodium hydroxide. However pure this soap may be, we can’t ignore the resulting pH of 10. A pH level this high could cause dryness and irritation for some people.

Lush – Olive Tree Bar

Though the Lush – Olive Tree Bar contains a wealth of moisturizing ingredients — glycerin and olive, coconut, cypress, petitgrain and rose oils — it was the only soap in our lineup that left our tester feeling itchy. With the highest pH of all the soaps we tested (10.1), this bar soap also has a very prominent scent that may irritate sensitive skin.

The bottom line

After gathering dermatologist recommendations and testing our lineup of 10 highly rated formulas, we determined that the best soap overall is the CeraVe – Hydrating Body Wash, which impressed us with its extra mild, soothing formula and stellar ingredients list.

Our runner-up is the Aveeno – Skin Relief Body Wash, which is both hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic and features the powerful natural anti-inflammatory colloidal oatmeal.

Best Body Soap for Sensitive Skin: CeraVe

CeraVe – Hydrating Body Wash is a neutral-pH soap with soothing and moisturizing ingredients. It leaves you feeling clean, and it doesn’t have any distinct odor.

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