When I think of bar soaps, my mind immediately jumps to bars of Irish Spring or Ivory—soaps that I might find in a guest bathroom or an Airbnb. Bar soap has always had a place in the bathroom, but I'd be hard-pressed to say it's chic. That is until the most recent bar soap iterations hit the market.
For the first time in recent memory, bar soap is having, dare I say, a moment. The most high-end brands in the bodycare realm are releasing bar soaps. Not only do you want to use these soaps, but they also feel like a moment of self-care. Many are packed with exfoliators, vitamins, and other good-for-your-skin ingredients. Plus, bar soaps have gone from plain rectangles in unexciting packaging to gorgeously crafted shapes in colors of every kind, housed in luxe, sustainable containers.
When considering bar soap, sustainability is at the forefront of the conversation. According to one study, we use less soap when we wash our hands or bodies with bar soap, and liquid soap usually uses up to 20 times more packaging than bar soap. Many bar soaps only packaged using an easy-to-recycle cardboard box, while hand soaps typically have a glass or plastic container and a pumping mechanism which is rarely recyclable.
If you're looking for a new body wash, the bars available right now are truly special. Keep reading for some of the ones we're planning to add to our own shower routine.
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Oribe recently expanded their body soap line to include two new scents, Desertland and Valley of Flowers. We like Desertland, which smells like wildflowers and cedar and was inspired by a trip Oribe Co-Founder and President Daniel Kaner took to Marfa, Texas.
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As a brand mostly known for its soaps, it feels natural that Aesop would come out with an incredibly luxurious bar soap formula. Made with sustainable palm oil and packaged using FSC-certified carton stock, these soaps don't just take cues from the brand's best-selling scents, they're also made with the environment in mind.
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Picture a collaboration between a materials science company, a skincare and fragrance company, and a climate-tech startup. The brainchild is this soap, the first bar soap ever made with C16 Biosciences’ proprietary Palmless Torula oil. This oil replaces palm oil, and the bar is scented to smell like burning rainforests, which is a reminder of why these kinds of efforts are so important.
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Consider this bar soap the product equivalent of an Italian vacation. The hyper-moisturizing formula is infused with Florentine milk, and smells like fresh, citrusy florals.
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This soap-exfoliator hybrid has been a mainstay in my shower since it launched. It takes all of the mess out of body scrub and keeps all of the cleansing benefits of soap.
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Made with plant-based surfactants, ceramides, and physical exfoliators, this buffing soap is also a game-changer for revealing soft skin. It's also fragrance-free and hypoallergenic.
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The unique thing about this cleansing bar is that it's coconut-based. Coconut cleansing agents help gently lift dirt and impurities away, while extra virgin olive, marula, and squalane oils help add moisture back into the skin.
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Made with a blend of oils, this soap is made with rose geranium, which purportedly helps boost cell regeneration while balancing hormone production and helping ease stress.
Reenergizing White Clay Body Bar
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If you struggle with clogged pores and body acne, this is the bar soap for you. Made with kaolin clay, this bar allows you to get the deepest cleanse possible.
Bamboo Charcoal Deep Cleanse Detoxifying Soap Bar
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Made with activated charcoal and tea tree oil, this soap bar is perfect for keeping oily skin at bay.