The Best Natural Soap Bars for Healthy Skin

Natural soaps can help cleanse and maintain healthy skin if you use the right ones. We’ve gathered insights from skincare experts to share what natural soaps are, the best natural soap bars, and how to choose the best one for you.

What are natural soap bars?

“Think of natural soaps like the farm-to-table cuisine of soaps,” says Maureen Gaspard, certified aesthetician and Director of Esthetics at Seaside Skin Care. “They contain plant-based oils like olive, coconut, and shea butter and essential oils for fragrance instead of synthetic chemicals.”

Any soap bar without artificial fragrances, dyes, or preservatives can be labeled “natural” or “clean,” explains Sara Millecam, a licensed Master Medical Esthetician and Founder at Lash Lift Store.

The Best Natural Soap Bars

Oakwell Cosmetics soap bars contain natural ingredients, including oils and plant parts. They’re also vegan and paraben, phthalate, and cruelty-free. 

What makes Oakwell Cosmetics products so unique is that they also include beer’s main ingredients, hops and barley, which are incredibly beneficial for the skin. Hops are the flowers of the Humulus lupulus plant and contain antioxidants and antibacterial properties that deeply clean the skin. Barley is a grain with zinc and B vitamins that support hydrated skin.

Oakwell Cosmetics Charcoal & Blonde Ale Soap Bar

Best for: All skin types
Ingredients: Hops, barley, calendula, olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, essential oil
Aroma: Fresh and citrusy

Oakwell Cosmetics Charcoal & Blonde Ale Beer Soap is a gentle, cleansing soap that hydrates and smoothes the skin. It’s great for all skin types, including normal, dry, oily, and sensitive.

Oakwell Cosmetics Lemongrass Lager Soap Bar

Best for: All skin types, including oily skin
Ingredients: Hops, barley, olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, activated charcoal, green tea leaves, essential oil
Aroma: Earthy and fresh

Oakwell Cosmetics Lemongrass Lager Soap Bar deeply cleanses the skin to remove excess oil and impurities. It also supports the right amount of hydration and helps improve your skin’s texture.

Oakwell Cosmetics Brown Ale & Oats Soap Bar

Best for: All skin types, including dry skin
Ingredients: Hops, barley, oats, olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, essential oil
Aroma: Earthy and clean

Oakwell Cosmetics Brown Ale & Oats Beer Soap is perfect for hydration. It nourishes and exfoliates dry skin to promote healthy, radiant skin. 

The Brown Ale & Oats soap is especially useful if you have a skin condition or damage from harsh weather conditions.

How to Choose the Best Natural Soap Bar

With many natural soap bars to choose from, it’s helpful to know what to look for and how to choose the best option for you. According to skincare experts, the following tips can help.

Read the ingredients

“Make sure you always read the ingredient list,” says Millecam. “The fewer and more known ingredients, the better.”

Millecam and Dr. Anshul Gambhir, M.D. and Owner of Gambhir Cosmetic Medicine, suggest avoiding products with the following ingredients that might irritate your skin and cause rashes:

• Sulfates
• Parabens
• Phthalates
• Artificial fragrances, dyes, and preservatives

Consider sustainability

“If Mother Earth’s well-being is close to your heart, sustainable products might be important to you,” says Gaspard. “Look for soap with minimal, eco-friendly packaging and sustainability-sourced ingredients.”

Look at the labels

Gaspard recommends looking for labels that show phrases like “cruelty-free” and “chemical-free.” Take it further to ensure the labels have organic, cruelty-free, or fair trade certifications.

Buy from transparent companies

Gambhir says to look for clear, straightforward, and short ingredient lists. The company should offer additional information on their websites and contact information for more details, as you see on the Oakwell Cosmetics FAQ page.

Know your skin type

While natural soaps are generally good for everyone, they have ingredients specifically useful for unique skin types.

Gaspard and Gambhir share the following tips on choosing the best soap for your skin type:

• Dry Skin - Moisturizing ingredients like oils and shea butter
• Oily Skin - Oil-balancing ingredients like tea tree oil, clay, and charcoal
• Sensitive Skin - Soothing ingredients like aloe vera and oatmeal in hypoallergenic, fragrance-free products

Read reviews

Reading reviews can help you learn about other people’s experiences with a specific product and company. It can also give you insights into which product may be best for you and the scent you like.

When reading reviews, remember that everyone’s skincare needs and wants vary, so use your best discretion.

Are soap bars better than body wash?

Soap bars are better than body wash if you prefer a more sustainable option. Otherwise, soap bars and body wash are both useful products for cleansing and maintaining or improving skin health. 

Soap bars are often more affordable, environmentally friendly, and long-lasting. Meanwhile, body wash can be more hygienic, easier to use, and offer more skin benefits. No matter which one you choose, you can find natural products for each. 

Best Natural Soap Bars: Conclusion

We hope you found this article helpful and are excited to try the best natural soaps. Be sure to look for minimal ingredients and products without artificial fragrances, preservatives, or harmful chemicals. Your skin deserves the best products!