While bar soap is often passed over for body washes, traditionalists stick to the brick for a no-frills approach to bathing. Bar soaps can also be better for you and the environment because they often contain fewer chemical ingredients than liquid soaps and usually come in non-plastic packaging.
When it comes to choosing a bar, consider your skin type and particular needs. For instance, if you want to slough off dead skin, an exfoliating bar like Marlowe’s No. 102 Body Scrub Soap Bar for Men will smooth your skin without the extra hassle of loofahs or sugar scrubs.
What to know before you buy bar soap for men
Face vs. body bar soap
Most bar soaps are designed to cleanse the whole body. However, they can be too harsh on the more delicate skin of the face and cause dryness or breakouts. If you want to use bar soap to cleanse your face, select a facial bar. If you’re acne-prone, select a face bar that’s non-comedogenic. Many face bars also double as body bars that will save you both time and money with a 2-in-1 soap.
Dry skin
The one potential downside of bar soaps is that they can be drying on the skin. One reason for this is that many bars contain sulfates, which are the cleansing agents responsible for soap suds. Sulfates are chemicals that can be harsh on the skin. Fortunately, more brands are making sulfate-free bars. Another option for dry skin is to choose a bar labeled “moisturizing” that contains hydrating ingredients, like glycerin, to prevent overstripping of the skin.
Sensitive skin
Bars formulated for sensitive skin are also labeled hypoallergenic. These tend to be free of synthetic fragrance and other chemicals, such as the above-mentioned sulfates. Heavily scented soaps can cause skin irritation, called contact dermatitis. If you have sensitive skin that’s prone to reaction or rash, choose an unscented soap bar.
Acne-prone skin
Whether you’re dealing with bacne or pimples elsewhere, the best bar soap for you is a charcoal-based one. Activated charcoal is a powerful natural ingredient that can absorb excess sebum from the skin and remove pore-clogging toxins. For more information on these detoxifying soaps, check out the charcoal soaps buying guide from BestReviews. Other ingredients to look for in a bar soap to treat acne are tea tree oil and salicylic acid.
Bar soap for men features
Exfoliating
Many top-selling bar soaps for men offer exfoliation. Exfoliating bars remove dry or rough patches on your face or body in one of two ways: through a scrubby texture or through a chemical or acid peel. Most exfoliating soaps for men contain physical exfoliants that scrub and slough off dead skin, revealing smoother and brighter skin underneath. Using an exfoliating soap can also lead to a closer shave and reduce ingrown hairs.
Vegan
Vegan soaps are free of animal products that can be found in bars, such as honey, milk and animal fats. If you don’t consume animal products as part of a vegan diet, check that your soap is vegan, too. Vegan soaps should be cruelty-free as well, which means they are not tested on animals.
All-natural
Many bar soaps for men are made from natural, plant-based ingredients and don’t contain any chemicals or synthetic additives. The easiest way to tell if your soap is all-natural is to look at the ingredient list. You should be able to recognize all the ingredients in your soap. Shea butter, coconut oil and olive oil are just some examples of the vegetable bases used in natural soaps. Essential oils are often added to scent natural soaps, such as peppermint or eucalyptus oil.
Bar soap for men cost
Expect to pay $1.25-$20 for men’s bar soap, which typically ranges from 1.3-8 ounces per bar. Bars for men containing all-natural or specialty ingredients start at around $9.
Bar soap for men FAQ
What’s the best bar soap for eczema?
A. Eczema and psoriasis sufferers find relief with soaps containing colloidal oatmeal. Oatmeal is naturally anti-inflammatory and helps calm and soothe itchy and red skin. It also gently exfoliates sensitive skin, which can be helpful for flaky or scaly skin conditions.
What is pine tar soap?
A. Pine tar soap is a popular choice among men who like a woodsy scent and a retro feel. Pine tar is made from pine tree resin and smells like pine. It has been used for centuries in soap to relieve eczema, psoriasis and bug bites. These days it’s most often used in exfoliating soaps geared toward men.
Which bar soap for men should I get?
Best of the best bar soap for men
Marlowe No. 102 Body Scrub Soap Bar for Men: available at Amazon
Our take: Formulated for all skin types, this exfoliating bar soap smoothes skin and smells great.
What we like: This premium bar is glycerin-based and contains no chemicals. Sandalwood, agarwood and musk all blend together for a woodsy, masculine scent. Nourishing botanical extracts soothe and repair skin.
What we dislike: This bar’s exfoliating power may be too strong for sensitive or damaged skin.
Best bang for your buck bar soap for men
Dove Men+Care Body and Face Bar: available at Amazon
Our take: A moisturizing bar soap that serves as a body soap, face cleanser and shaving cream.
What we like: One of the more affordable bar soaps for men, Dove bars offer deep, creamy moisture and can be used in lieu of shaving cream. Loyal consumers love how this soap lathers, smells fresh and doesn’t over-dry the skin.
What we dislike: This bar has a powerful scent, which some users love and others find overpowering.
Honorable mention bar soap for men
Dr. Squatch Pine Tar Soap: available at Amazon
Our take: A pine tar soap geared toward men who want a woodsy smell and a good scrub.
What we like: This exfoliating bar contains all-natural ingredients including oatmeal and sand to scrub skin. The whole body feels clean from this lathering soap. This pine-smelling soap contains no chemicals.
What we dislike: This soap is pricey, but it’s also sustainably sourced and made in small batches.
Ana Sanchez is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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