Natural Soap Review 2021: What Soap is Best for Your Skin?
NATURAL SOAP REVIEW
Deciphering which natural soap brand to introduce into your bathing regime can be tricky and can take time to deliberate. There are many natural soap bars and liquids on the market. And good thing, too, because skin types differ drastically. A product that may be gentle enough for one body may be too harsh for another. Some include a natural exfoliator and some are smooth.
After many years of cycling through different natural soap bars and liquids, I’ve come back to a handful of natural soap companies that I recommend. Aside from their non-toxic ingredients, they are effective, they smell nice, and they are kind to the pocketbook.
If you are in the market for a natural soap for the body, below are natural soap reviews of four different products that are on the market.
Some of the links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
NATURAL SOAP BARS
Trader Joe’s Oatmeal & Honey Soap Bar
($3.49, pack of two)
This bar is a mild, pure vegetable soap with no animal-based ingredients.
The size: It is relatively small and thin. If you like to leave out a new bar for house guests, this could be a good choice. Also nice for travel.
Availability: At Trader Joe’s stores or on Amazon (a more expensive option)
Package: The soap comes in a two-pack wrapped in plastic, so you can have an extra bar tucked away.
Sud level: Mild
Ingredients: Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernalate, Water, Glycerin, Essence of Oatmeal, Oatmeal Flakes Honey, Sodium Chloride, Pentasodium Pentetate
Schmidt’s Bar Soap with Natural Exfoliator
($3.49 per bar on Amazon)
This soap is a sustainably harvested sodium palmate based bar with blended essential oils that create the scent of each one. It includes a natural exfoliator (for example, exfoliating bamboo). Those with thin or sensitive skin should take note that the exfoliator creates a rough, sand-like surface that may be too harsh for certain parts of the body.
The size: This bar is larger and thicker than the TJ’s option. It has rounded corners and a slight convex/concave shape, allowing for a sturdy and comfortable hand grip.
Availability: At grocery stores, drug stores, or on Amazon
Packaging: A single bar comes in a cardboard soap box.
Sud level: Medium
Ingredients: Sodium Palmate*, Sodium Palm Kernelate*, Water, Glycerin, Cedrus Deodara Wood (Cedarwood) Essential Oil, Charcoal Powder, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sodium Gluconate, Volcanic Sand, Juniperus Communis Fruit (Juniper) Essential Oil, Kaolinite
SheaMoisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Shea Butter Soap
($3.99 for a single bar at Target, or $12.79 for pack of two on Amazon)
Certified organic, natural, and fair trade. This SheaMoisture body soap is carefully formulated to contain no parabens, no phthalates, no mineral oil and no sulfates.
The size: A large rectangle that is thick with slight exfoliator raises. This soap bar may be too harsh for certain skin types or for everyday use.
Availability: At Target or on Amazon
Packaging: A single bar comes in a cardboard soap box.
Sud level: Medium
Ingredients: Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Water, Glycerin, Fragrance, Sodium Gluconate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891) Palm Acid, Sodium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Palm Kernel Acid, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Shell Powder, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Powder, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum
NATURAL LIQUID SOAP
Dr Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap
($6.99, 8oz bottle, multiple sizes available)
Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap is made with fair trade ingredients and organic oils including coconut, olive and hemp. It’s quite versatile around the house, too, as it can be diluted and used to make an all-purpose cleaner, floor cleaner, shampoo, shampoo for pets, laundry soap, and the list goes on. Directions on how to repurpose this organic soap are printed on the bottle’s label.
The size: There are several, from travel size upwards of 32oz bottles. The larger the bottle, the better the deal. I like to order a large option and then pour a smaller amount into one of these:
Scents: There are several, from lavender to peppermint to almond.
Sud Level: Low. This soap is pretty thin even for a dish soap and it does not sud up much.
Ingredients: Water, Organic Coconut Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Organic Palm Kernel Oil*, Organic Olive Oil, Mentha Arvensis, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Mentha Piperita, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
*Dr. Bronner’s believes the technical characteristics of palm oil give it an important place in organic foods and personal care products. The palm oil used in their products is produced ethically from sustainably-harvested palm fruits in Ghana through their sister company named Serendipalm. The company buys palm fruits exclusively from 500 small organic family farms. Read more about the project here.
WHAT’S THE BEST SOAP FOR YOUR SKIN?
Natural soap may be a viable way to introduce healthy ingredients to your skin. Consider cleaning your skin with a soap that agrees well with you and your body.
Wishing you well during these times!
Jenna
Some of the links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Do you have an all natural soap or natural soap brand that you’d recommend?
Do you know any natural soap recipes?
