We found the best-smelling, best-for-your-skin bar soaps for the modern man.
BY BRANDON CARTEPUBLISHED: JUN 25, 2024
REVIEWED BY SABINA WIZEMANNBEAUTY LAB DIRECTOR
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BEST OVERALL
Dr. Squatch Men's Natural Bar Soap
BEST VALUE
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar
BEST OVERSIZED
Duke Cannon Supply Co. Big Brick of Soap
Bar soap has served as a trusted cleansing method for generations of men, offering a simple yet effective way to clean your face and body (not to mention that it can also be used for shaving). Contrary to the belief that bar soap dries out skin by stripping it of natural oils, many modern formulations are as gentle as body wash, thanks to improved formulations. They are also easy to travel with and environmentally friendly, requiring less energy to produce than their liquid counterparts and with minimal plastic packaging.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, we rigorously test and evaluate a variety of self-care products, including bar soaps, to recommend the best ones. To put together this list of the best bar soaps for men, our selection criteria included examining formulas for quality ingredients; our in-house testers also looked at cleansing efficacy, lather quality, scent and skin feel, ensuring these soaps will keep your skin nourished and healthy — no matter your skin type or scent preference.
1
BEST OVERALL
Dr. Squatch Men's Natural Bar Soap
Now 16% Off
This bar soap strikes the perfect balance for cleansing and care. The grit is just right, gently buffing away dead skin cells without causing any irritation. Packed with natural ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter, it hydrates and revitalizes your skin, preventing dryness in the process.
Our Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn's brother swears by it, calling it the "only soap he will use." He highlights its effectiveness and fresh scent, stating it “leaves my skin feeling clean after every use, smells amazing and exfoliates."
Size5 oz. barSkin TypeAll skin typesFragranceCoconut Castaway, Fresh Falls, Cool Fresh Aloe
2
BEST VALUE
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar
Suitable for shoppers on a budget or men with sensitive skin, the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar is a fragrance-free soap that contains ceramides to help retain skin moisture.
Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann says it leaves the skin feeling soft and clean without leaving behind residue. Although our testers remarked that it has a sandy texture upon initial scrubbing, it smooths out after the initial grittiness and is still gentle enough for face washing. This option works well for all skin types, but given its hydrating properties, it’s an excellent match for folks with dry skin.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Why Beauty Experts and Dermatologists Rave About CeraVe
Size4.5 oz. barSkin TypeDry to normal skinFragranceFragrance-free
3
BEST OVERSIZED
Duke Cannon Supply Co. Big Brick of Soap
$8 AT AMAZON$8 AT WALMART$10 AT ULTA BEAUTY
Modeled after the hefty soap bars soldiers used during the Korean War, the Big Brick of Soap weighs in at a whopping 10 ounces. That's about three times the size of your typical bar, so you can lather up for over a month before needing a replacement.
Infused with a long-lasting yet subtle oak barrel scent, this sulfate-free soap cleanses gently but thoroughly, evoking the rich heritage of Kentucky bourbon without overpowering the senses. The military-inspired grooming brand also donates a portion of its net profits to veterans.
Size10 oz. barSkin TypeAll skin typesFragranceOak barrel
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4
BEST INVIGORATING
Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Body Bar Soap
$14 AT AMAZON$11 AT WALMART$14 AT ULTA BEAUTY
If you’re looking for the best deodorant bar soap for men, you’ve found your match. This option harnesses the power of tea tree oil to neutralize fungus and bacteria, keeping you feeling fresh and odor-free throughout the day while promoting healthy skin. "Tea tree oil can help reduce acne-causing bacteria and inflammation while controlling excess oil," Wizemann says.
Online reviewers rave about the soap's thick lather and unique tingling sensation, which is sure to elevate your morning shower.
Size5.3 oz. barSkin TypeAll skin typesFragranceMint, eucalyptus, lavender and rosemary
5
BEST EXFOLIATING
Dove Men+Care Sandalwood + Cardamom Oil Restore Cleansing Bar
Now 17% Off
Dove’s Beauty Bar is a shower staple, praised by experts, consumers and editors alike (including myself!). However, if you crave a more masculine fragrance and a touch of exfoliation, Dove Men+Care offers a range of cleansing bars specifically formulated for men's skincare needs.
Our tester, a longtime fan of the original Dove Men+Care bars, put the new blood orange and sandalwood variants to the test. He particularly enjoyed the exfoliating properties of the new bars, noting the “little abrasive bits” (which are actually made from coconut shell powder). However, he did find the rectangular shape less comfortable to hold compared to the original saddle-shaped Dove Men+Care bars. On the plus side, Dove's new soap is gentle and versatile enough for cleansing your face and shaving.
Size5 oz. barSkin TypeAll skin typesFragranceSandalwood and cardamom oil
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BEST BODY
Baxter of California Exfoliating Body Bar Soap for Men
$20 AT AMAZON$20 AT NORDSTROM$20 AT MACY'S
This invigorating body bar tackles rough skin with jojoba meal and olive seeds for smooth and soft results. It’s made with skin-conditioning glycerin and hydrates without drying, but due to its exfoliating power, it shouldn’t be used on the face. The long-lasting, 7-ounce bar has a woody and mossy scent and is suitable for all skin types. This soap is perfect for gifting or treating yourself since it comes packaged in a handsome box.
Size5 oz. barSkin TypeAll skin typesFragranceCedarwood and oak moss
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7
BEST MOISTURIZING
Kala Swedish Dream Sea Salt Soap
Swedish Dream’s Sea Salt Soap brings the beach to your bathroom with its invigorating scent and gentle exfoliation. It's packed with mineral-rich sea salt crystals that buff away dead skin cells, leaving your skin feeling refreshed.
Customer reviewers universally love its subtle, clean-smelling fragrance that’s neither masculine nor feminine and has salty undertones. The long-lasting bar offers a touch of luxury without breaking the bank and comes packaged in a nautical-inspired box, making it perfect for gifting.
RELATED: We Found the Best Body Lotions to Keep Skin Hydrated
Size4.3 oz. barSkin TypeSensitive to normal skinFragranceCool, crisp ocean air
8
BEST HYDRATING
Papatui Enriching Bar Soap
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson clearly understands the struggle of finding the perfect bar of soap. Inspired by his own slightly mischievous past of sniffing every bar in the drugstore aisle, his new men's skincare line, PAPATUI, offers a clever solution: a handy hole in the packaging so you can smell the soap before buying without breaking open the box.
Our Beauty Assistant's brother enjoyed the fresh, masculine scent and noted its impressive size and longevity — "a little goes a long way," he said. Most importantly, it left him feeling thoroughly clean. He also appreciated another unique touch — depending on the chosen scent, the bar comes in a different color to elevate your shower’s aesthetics and go beyond a basic, boring white bar.
RELATED: The Best Face Washes for Men According to Skincare Experts
Size7 oz. barSkin TypeAll skin typesFragranceLush coconut, cedar sport, and sandalwood suede
9
BEST LUXURY
Glossier Body Hero Exfoliating Bar
Glossier’s Body Hero is a premium bar of soap that’s a feast for the senses. Trust us, you’ll want to use the hefty pink brick until just a tiny sliver of it remains. Reviewers are divided on the intensity of its orange blossom neroli fragrance — some find it subtle, while others find it delightfully strong. The brand itself describes the bar as smelling like “an instant vacation.”
Reviewers can agree that the soap delivers a satisfying scrub without any irritation or annoying filmy residue. That’s thanks to finely milled bamboo power, which works hard (but not too hard) to satisfyingly buff away dead skin for softer and smoother skin.
Size5 oz. barSkin TypeAll skin typesFragranceNotes of pear, mandarin and cypress
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How we choose the best bar soaps for men
The Good Housekeeping Institutes’ Beauty Lab embarked on a comprehensive selection process to identify the best bar soaps for men. Our team meticulously dissected the formulas and ingredient lists of a wide variety of bar soaps, prioritizing those formulated with high-quality ingredients suited for different skin types, from oily to dry to sensitive.
We tested five options from four leading men’s soap brands to evaluate cleansing efficacy, lather quality, their ability to clean and how specifically the soap affects and feels on the skin, both during and after use.
To ensure we were recommending not just high-performing bar soaps but also those aligned with best practices for men's skincare, for our recommendations that we didn’t test, we carefully selected bar soaps that have been vetted by leading beauty experts, dermatologists and clinical researchers in the industry. That way, you can find your next shower staple to revitalize your skin, not irritate it.
What to look for when shopping for men's bar soap
Depending on your skin type, each soap bar's ingredients and formulation can affect your individual experience with the product. Here's how to choose the best bar soap for men, according to our skincare experts.
✔️ For dry skin: Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides and glycerin in soap bars. These ingredients help attract and lock in moisture for hydrated skin. Oil-based soap bars are also helpful for dry skin.
✔️ To achieve refreshed skin: Choose an exfoliating soap bar with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). These acids gently remove dead skin cells, revealing brighter and smoother skin.
✔️ For sensitive skin: Fragrance can irritate sensitive skin, so be sure to look for fragrance-free soap bars that don't contain masking scents or other potentially irritating ingredients.
✔️ For eczema: Since eczema disrupts the skin barrier, we recommend choosing a soap bar with ceramides to help repair and strengthen it.
✔️ For acne-prone skin: Look for a soap bar containing salicylic acid, which helps clear breakouts by exfoliating dead skin cells and unclogging pores.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
GH Contributing Commerce Editor Brandon Carte wrote this guide. He has over a decade of experience testing and researching products, from appliances to home goods, men’s fashion and skincare. Brandon suffers from eczema and urges the people reading this to go beyond the bar and moisturize after showering.
To write this piece, he teamed up with GH Institute Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann who has extensive knowledge of skincare ingredients and regularly writes science-backed roundups of body washes, cleansing oils and more. She has touched, researched, tested and evaluated thousands of products — including bar soaps to verify product claims.