It feels like there are so many new shower innovations nowadays, but sometimes less is more, and all you really need are the best bar soaps. And we’ll let you in on a little secret: Bar soaps can actually make your routine quicker and more sustainable. A bar can last months compared to body washes, and these solid soaps also come sans plastic packaging. Dermatologists like that they’re gentle for sensitive skin types, and often contain hydrating ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to help protect the skin’s barrier.
Here, we’re sharing the very best bar soaps we tested (after scrubbing ourselves with over a dozen), plus dermatologist-approved picks that Glamour testers say you simply can’t go wrong with. Our top pick was the Dove Beauty Bar, because it’s incredibly moisturizing, is touted by dermatologists, sudses up just as well as the other products in your shower, and can be used on the body and face.
The best bar soaps, at a glance
- Best Overall: Dove Beauty Bar, $13
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Curie Hydrating Body Wash Bar Soap, $7
- Best for Dry Skin: CeraVe Hydrating Cleansing Bar, $6
- Best for Face: Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar, $12
- Best for Body Acne: Soft Services Buffing Bar Exfoliating Body Bar, $28
How we chose the best bar soaps
How we tested bar soaps
We tested bar soaps by evaluating texture (i.e., were they smooth to the touch), derm-approved hydrating ingredients (like ceramides and hyaluronic acid), how well they lathered, and how our skin felt post-wash. We generally liked bar soaps that were velvety and smooth to the touch and that lathered well when mixed with water. We also looked at whether the soaps could be used on the face, body, or both, and what they were infused with: Bonus points if they included ceramides, hyaluronic acid, exfoliants, and niacinamide. Finally, we judged how our skin felt post-wash, and rejected any soaps that made our skin feel taut, dry, or stripped. Instead, we only included bars on this list that made our skin feel smooth, plush, and hydrated.
Meet the experts
- Dara Spearman, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Radiant Dermatology Associates
- Rachel Nazarian, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology
Best Overall: Dove Beauty Bar
You may recognize this soap as one that lived on your mom’s bathroom counter when you were growing up. It’s that iconic in the bar soap world. But it certainly lives up to the hype, according to Dara Spearman, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Radiant Dermatology Associates. “I love this soap because it contains moisturizing cream, which helps nourish and protect the skin without stripping it. It’s fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, making it great for those who have extra dry or reactive skin,” she says.
“You can’t go wrong with this classic,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle. “Right out of the box, the smell is so fresh it fills my bathroom. The lather is superior to even my most expensive body washes, and it lasts for so many washes, meaning you’re really getting your money’s worth. Best of all, it’s gentle on my skin and I feel squeaky clean post shower.”
Best for Sensitive Skin: Curie Hydrating Body Wash Bar Soap
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“I’m a sucker for super-gentle, hydrating bars that don’t disrupt the skin barrier,” says Rachel Nazarian, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology. She recommends looking for bars with ingredients like oils and vitamins that won’t strip the skin. This pick contains almond and macadamia nut oils, plus vitamin E to help soothe and brighten skin tone.
Glamour’s commerce writer, Alanna Martine Kilkeary, is a huge fan of this natural bar soap because it’s incredibly calming but still has a little touch of fragrance and gives you everything you want out of a bar soap. “Often, I’ve found gentle bar soaps to be completely fragrance-free and not super sudsy, but I love that this one has a subtle scent and gives me just the right amount of bubbles. It’s really slick to the touch and doesn’t make my skin feel dry, and it hasn’t irritated me in the slightest, even on my eczema patches that crop up on my legs and arms occasionally. It also has the feeling of a totally luxe bar, something you’d find at a five-star hotel, yet you can get it for under $10. A total must-try for smooth skin, IMO!”
Best for Dry Skin: CeraVe Hydrating Cleansing Bar
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Dr. Nazarian highly recommends this cleansing bar that uses three different ceramides, plus hyaluronic acid, to hydrate while it cleans. She also notes that this one is especially useful because it’s safe to use on the face and body.
“As somebody with dry and sensitive skin, I find CeraVe products are some of my favorites. I like that the Hydrating Cleanser Bar is fragrance-free. It lathered nicely and left my skin feeling very hydrated and clean,” says Glamour contributor Sarah Cassuto. “It got a really soapy lather, and I used it all over my body, but I did find it particularly great for dry areas and gentle enough to use on my face. It did not strip my skin in the slightest, and I can see myself reaching for it over and over again!”
Best for Face: Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar
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“This mild and soothing bar is perfect for those with sensitive skin and safe for daily use,” says Dr. Spearman. It also gets a major thumbs-up from us because it’s noncomedogenic, which makes it great for acne-prone skin types and suitable for use on the face in addition to the body.
“I found the Cetaphil bar soap to be perfectly fine—it lathers nicely but doesn’t start to wear down too quickly to get your money’s worth. I tried it both as a face wash and a body bar; while it’s a completely average body wash, leaving my skin smooth, it shines as a cleanser. My face feels completely clean after I rinse the lather away in the shower, leaving my combination skin primed for my skin care routine. Judging purely by results, I can’t tell the difference between this soap and far more expensive cleansers in my lineup. However, my big issue is that this bar is scented with a dated, ‘clean’ fragrance that I really could go without, both for the smell itself and for the fact that I don’t love subjecting my skin to unnecessary fragrances. Overall, though, I’d still recommend this bar as an easy, skin-soothing cleanser,” says Glamour commerce editor Jake Henry Smith.
Best for Body Acne: Soft Services Buffing Bar
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Bar soaps can do more than just moisturize and hydrate, and this exfoliating bar soap is proof. It contains microcrystals that softly buff away dead skin and clear out clogged pores, which can help reduce skin bumps like keratosis pilaris and acne.
“My skin is quite sensitive, so that’s why I generally avoid harsh exfoliants. Still, I was curious to try this body bar, which is essentially a bar of soap with mineral microcrystals in its formula,” says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs. “I used it on wet skin, and at first it was quite gentle and slippery. But then it quickly turned rough like sandpaper. I can’t say the feeling is entirely pleasant, but if you’re someone who likes the sensation of scrubbing, it definitely fulfills that. The bar doesn’t have a strong scent (in fact, almost none at all), which I appreciated. After using it, my skin did feel smoother and not too dry, perhaps thanks to its hydrating shea butter.”
Best Exfoliating Bar Soap: Aesop Polish Bar Soap
For another buffing bar soap that can help clear uneven skin texture, look to this pick that has pumice to refresh and polish the skin. It also has a blend of sage leaf and pine needle for an aromatic finish that smells just like a spa.
“This bar is a total treat if you want to elevate your shower routine. It’s definitely very scrubby to the touch (you can really feel the pumice stones peeking out of the bar), but actually melts away quickly when applied onto the skin. I used this on my bikini line and legs to help slough off my self-tanner, and it left my skin looking and feeling squeaky clean and streak-free. It also fills your whole shower with a spa-like scent so addictive I can’t wait to use it again soon,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Best Scent: L’Occitane Shea Butter Extra-Gentle Solid Hand & Body Soap
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“I love this bar soap because it’s enriched with 20% shea butter and has a very luxurious feel, creamy to the touch and super moisturizing for the skin,” says Dr. Spearman. And she’s not wrong. It’s chock-full of shea butter and milk for a sudsy wash that leaves your skin plush and soft to the touch.
“This soap has become a staple in my shower,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “It’s extra gentle on the skin and has a buttery, shea-milk scent that stays with you even after you’re done washing your skin. I used this all over my back after getting a sunburn on a recent trip to Florida, and it instantly cooled and calmed the area. I will say, I think it did break me out a little in the area post-wash, but I’d still reach for it again when my skin is feeling irritated or red. The scent is also so delicious, I’m still thinking about it.”
Your bar soap questions, answered
What are the benefits of bar soap?
According to the dermatologists we spoke to, the main benefits of bar soaps is that they are easy to travel with, more sustainable, and eco-friendly. Dr. Nazarian also notes that they’re often mixed with moisturizing ingredients such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid, so they hydrate as they clean.
What is the difference between bar soap and body wash?
In short: Bar soaps are simpler and usually contain less preservatives, phthalates, and chemicals compared with body washes. “Bar soaps are also easier to use while traveling, and longer lasting, with less packaging than body wash,” says Dr. Spearman.
What skin types can use bar soap?
All skin types can use bar soaps, depending on the ingredients. “If you have oily skin, look for ingredients like tea tree oil, salicylic acid, or charcoal,” says Dr. Spearman. If you have combination skin, look for hydrating ingredients like glycerin to help cleanse the skin without stripping it. “If you have dry skin, look for hydrating ingredients like aloe, shea butter, and coconut oil,” she says. And finally, acne-prone skin types should reach for bars that are noncomedogenic (meaning they won’t clog your pores) and have gentle exfoliating ingredients (like AHAs or BHAs) or particles.
What should you avoid when shopping for bar soap?
“Avoid harsh chemicals, anything with artificial dyes or parabens,” says Dr. Spearman. It’s also important to store soap properly so bacteria doesn’t grow, and be sure to rinse the soap off your body completely.
