6 Reasons to Consider Washing with Bar Soap

Did you grow up in a bar soap family or a body wash family? Much like there are smooth and chunky peanut butter families and pulp and no-pulp families, there’s a divide when it comes to soap. If your bathroom growing up was always stocked with body wash or shower gel, you likely never gave sudsing up with bar soap much thought—and vice versa. Bar soap, in particular, tends to be neglected, but is it possible bar soap is actually better than body wash? Well, let’s talk about that. Here, we’re talking all things bar of soap-related and sharing 6 reasons you may want this staple in your shower.

WHAT IS BAR SOAP?

Okay, this may seem obvious, but it’s actually a more common query than you’d think. Bar soap is simply soap that comes in a solid bar shape. You get it wet in your hands; then you can use the soap directly on your skin or apply it with a washcloth or loofah. There are bar soaps for both your face and body, but generally, the two will have different formulas, so make sure you know which kind you’re using!

WHY SHOULD YOU USE BAR SOAP?

Wondering whether bar soap is worth using? Below, we’re naming six reasons it is.

1. IT GETS YOU CLEAN

If you’re trying to determine if bar soap is better than body wash, you may not find exactly the answer you’re looking for. The truth is, both products will get you clean, and isn’t that what the goal is? While some will swear body wash is best, and others will stand by the opposite claim, it’s really about personal preference and needs.

2. YOU CAN REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE YOU PRODUCE

One of our favorite things about bar soap is the same thing that has shampoo bars receiving a lot of love: Using a bar soap can help you reduce how much waste you produce. While body wash and shower gels typically come in plastic bottles that you likely toss when you’re done with them, you can pick up bar soap in cardboard packaging or even find it 100% packaging free in certain stores. If you’re looking to adopt a more eco-friendly beauty routine in 2020, this could be one small change to make.

3. IT MAY LAST YOU LONGER

Is your body wash always running out? You may find that a bar soap will last you longer. While you don’t need to use more body wash to get the job done, the facts are that most of us squeeze out way more product than we need. With bar soap, you’re less likely to overdo it.

4. THERE ARE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF FORMULAS

While bar soap is often assumed to be drying or overly harsh, nowadays, there are just as many different types of soap as there are any other beauty product. You can find bar soaps meant for dry skin, ones that are intended to manage body acne, options for sensitive skin, and more.

5. YOU CAN TRAVEL WITH IT

You’re jet-setting somewhere sweet, and your toiletry bag is all packed up and filled to the brim in your carry on, but you forgot to save room for a travel-sized body wash. Instead of ditching any of your products, you can bring along a bar of soap in a travel soap container. Since the soap isn’t a liquid, you don’t have to include it in the clear one-quart bag that houses your sample-sized shampoo and perfume rollerball.

Editor’s note: Not clear on the rules about which beauty products you can travel with? Check out our article, Can You Bring Makeup and Other Beauty Products on a Plane?

6. IT CAN BE AN EXFOLIATOR, TOO

Want to simplify your shower routine? Instead of washing with bar soap then following with a body scrub to exfoliate, there are bar soaps that double as physical exfoliants.

Speaking of exfoliation, we have something important to cover next. Click through to our article, What’s the Difference Between Mechanical and Chemical Exfoliation?