Bar soaps no longer only come in the form of plain rectangles in unexciting packaging. Below, I've rounded up the 12 best bar soaps to add to your shower routine that are as chic as they are effective.
If your TikTok FYP is anything like mine, it seems like every day there’s yet another new innovative bath product that we’re being told to add to our shower routines. But as someone who works in beauty, I’ll let you in on a secret: I ignore all of them. Because there's only one item that’s a non-negotiable in my shower routine, and it’s reliable, sustainable and heaps more economical than any of these newer products that are being marketed towards us—enter the bar soap.
(Image credit: @brittanyelizadavy)
With the ability to clean you just as effectively as body washes and sometimes even body scrubs, but with a much lower cost per use, bar soaps are a great choice for those looking for a longer-lasting and overall cheaper shower product. And the best part? They’re also incredibly chic. Bar soaps no longer only come in the form of plain rectangles in unexciting packaging. Affordable and luxury brands alike have stepped up their game, offering iterations that look as good as they feel on your skin.
Not to mention there’s literally a bar soap to suit every skin type and preference, whether you’re skin is in need of a deep cleanse, requires something that won't irritate it, or maybe you simply just want an expensive-smelling shower product to boost your mood in the mornings.
So if you’re ready to take the leap into trying a bar soap for the first time, or are looking for your next self-care purchase, keep scrolling as below, I’ve rounded up the best bar soaps to suit every skin type and price point.
Best Bar Soaps for Every Skin Type
Best Overall Bar Soap: Malin + Goetz Vitamin B5 Hydrating Bar, £18
Best Bar Soap for Dry Skin: Mirror Water Butter Brick, £14
Best Bar Soap for Oily Skin: Glossier Body Hero Exfoliating Bar, £18
Best Scented Bar Soap: Chanel N°5 The Bath Soap, £32
Best Affordable Bar Soap: Gallinée Prebiotic Cleansing Bar, £13
1. Malin + Goetz Vitamin B5 Hydrating Bar
Malin + Goetz
Vitamin B5 Hydrating Bar Rum
£18
Key ingredients: Vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, amino acid complex
Key Notes: Subtle rum scent
I had to start this round-up off with my all-time favourite bar soap, Malin + Geotz Vitamin B5 Hydrating Bar. Earning itself a permanent place in my favourites for easy repurchasing, this bar soap creates a rich, creamy lather that hydrates and moisturises the skin. It contains a concoction of hyaluronic acid, shea butter and an amino acid complex to hydrate, soften and support the skin barrier, as well as vitamin B5, which helps to increase moisture retention. It does have a rum scent much like the Malin + Goetz perfume; however, as someone who suffers from eczema, this did not irritate my skin in any way.
Pros
Contains vitamins and fatty acids to hydrate the skin
Cons
Is fragranced, so may irritate some with sensitive skin
2. Mirror Water Butter Brick
Mirror Water
Butter Brick
£14
Key ingredients: Shea butter
If you suffer from dry skin like I do, you might find that most bar soaps strip away too many of the body’s natural oils, but luckily for all of us, I’ve found the answer. With only 4 ingredients and no added fragrance whatsoever, Mirror Water’s butter brick is a face and body bar that effectively cleanses the skin without stripping away any moisture or hydration. The only setback I’d mention is that this is not a cleanser for anyone who suffers from sweat build-up, as they may need a stronger, anti-bacterial bar soap.
Pros
No added fragrance
Cons
Might be pore-clogging for those with oily skin
3. Glossier Body Hero Exfoliating Bar
Glossier
Body Hero Exfoliating Bar
£18
Key ingredients: Bamboo powder, sunflower seed oil, aloe leaf juice
Key notes: Orange blossom-neroli blend
For those with oilier or acne-prone skin, Glossier’s Body Hero Exfoliating Bar provides a gentle exfoliation to unclog pores, simultaneously using vitamin-rich sunflower seed oil to lock in moisture. The fragrance is fruity and fresh, which makes my whole bathroom smell amazing. However, I’d definitely say that this bar is best suited to those with normal to oily skin, and I had to make sure to use extra moisturiser after using this to combat the dryness of my skin. But because it did such a good job at exfoliating, I’ll be keeping this to give my skin a more thorough cleanse 1-2 times per week.
Pros
Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons
Can be drying on the skin
4. Drunk Elephant Pekee Bar
Drunk Elephant
Pekee Bar
£27
Key ingredients: Blueberry extract, virgin marula oil, honey
Infused with a blend of blueberry extract, marula oil and honey, Drunk Elephant’s Pekee Bar is 100% fragrance- and soap-free as well as formulated with only skin-friendly ingredients designed to cleanse and soothe the skin without causing irritation. It’s the definition of a "clean soap", smelling of absolutely nothing, which also makes it ideal for those who simply don’t like fragranced products. Nevertheless, the bar left my body feeling just as clean as the other bars I tried, and unlike the other soaps, the gentle formula has a biocompatible pH of 6.5, helping to leave the skin feeling balanced.
Pros
Fragrance-free
Cons
Soap-free formula means it's not created to eliminate bacteria
5. Topicals Faded Brightening Bar
TOPICALS
Faded Brightening & Cleansing Bar
£25
Key ingredients: Shea butter, niacinamide, vitamin C, kojic, azelaic, lactic acid
Blending together six active ingredients, Topicals’ Faded Brightening & Cleansing Bar manages to clean, moisturise, and target dark spots all in one. As someone who has hyperpigmentation over my entire body, I’m very keen to keep up the use of this to see if it helps combat this, but the customer reviews make it look very promising, with one reviewer stating that their "skin looks radiant and with a more even tone and above all hydrated since it does not feel that annoying tight effect on my skin after washing it, without a doubt being constant and these bars have been the best combination to get rid of some annoying dark spots.”
Pros
Targets dark spots without drying out the skin
Cons
Active ingredients might irritate sensitive skin
6. Aesop Polish Exfoliating Soap Bar
Aesop
Polish Exfoliating Soap Bar
£19
Key ingredients: Sage leaf, grape, seed, pumice, pine needle
As nice as it is to use to pretty-looking bar to boost your mood, sometimes all our skin needs is just a thorough deep cleanse. Aesop’s polish bar promises to polish and exfoliate most skin types‚ especially dry, patchy skin. You should be aware that this bar is a lot larger than most soaps, so it might take a while to get the hang of it. However, it’s a great deep cleanser that leaves your skin feeling extremely exfoliated without that squeaky clean, dry feeling.
Pros
A vegan and cruelty-free product that provides a deep cleanse
Cons
Is fragranced so may irritate sensitive skin
7. Diptyque Philosykos Scented Soap
Diptyque Paris
Philosykos Scented Soap
£32
Key ingredients: Sweet almond oil
Key Notes: Fig leaves, fig tree sap, fig tree wood, black pepper
If you’re looking for a bar soap that will boost your mood in the mornings as well as leave your bathroom smelling amazing, Diptyque’s bar soap collection is less about its utilitarian use and acts more as a fragrant gesture. Each bar smells like one of the iconic Diptyque perfumes. Much like its eau de toilette counterpart, the Philosykos soap has notes of fig leaves, fig tree sap and black pepper, leaving the skin with a fresh and milky scent and acting as the perfect start to your fragrance layering routine.
Pros
Creates a luxurious shower experience
Cons
Does not contain antibacterial properties
8. Chanel N°5 The Bath Soap
Chanel
N°5 the Bath Soap
£32
Key Notes: Rose, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, vanilla, iris
Whenever I want a luxury shower experience, I look no further than Chanel’s No.5 bar soap. Based on the iconic Chanel No.5 perfume, this expensive-smelling bar soap is the perfect treat for those self-care days. At £32, this is by no means a cheap soap, and the fragrance is also extremely strong, so it’s not one I’d add to my everyday hygiene routine. However, it’s one I’d use before a night out or when I simply need a mood-boosting treat.
Pros
Creates a luxurious shower experience
Cons
Strong fragrance might irritate those with sensitive skin
9. Dove Original Beauty Bar Soap
Dove
Original Beauty Bar Soap
£2
Key ingredients: Sulphate-SLES-free formula
Don’t be fooled into thinking that the cheaper price point of Dove’s Original Beauty Bar Soap makes it any less luxurious. This cult favourite has been around for years and for very good reason. In fact, it was the very first solid soap that I tried after it had a revival on TikTok. It lathers up beautifully and smells lovely. The only thing I’d be wary of is that it’s not antibacterial for those who require that in a soap. However, since the popularity of the original bar, the brand has come out with an antibacterial version of the soap that you can buy in stores like Boots.
Pros
Sulphate-SLES-free formula
Smells amazing
Nourishing
Cons
Does not contain antibacterial properties
10. Loewe Tomato Leaves Solid Soap
LOEWE
Tomato Leaves Solid Soap
£52
Key ingredients: Red algae, shea butter, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants
Key notes: Tomato vines
At £52, Loewe’s tomato leaves bar soap is probably the most luxurious bar of soap I've ever laid eyes on. Created with a fresh, leafy scent, rather than focusing on the juiciness of the fruit itself, it smells naturally clean as opposed to artificial and uses red algae to gently cleanse the skin. Not to mention it comes on a 100% natural, pre-washed linen rope, so it's easier to store/show off in your shower.
Pros
Rope makes it easier to hold
Cons
It's understandably pricey
11. Hermès Terre d'Hermès Perfumed Soap
Hermes
Terre d'Hermès Perfumed Soap
£30
Key Notes: Grapefruit, pepper, cedar, vetiver
It should come as no surprise that Hermès has created one of the best-smelling bar soaps around. With notes of grapefruit, pepper, cedar and vetiver, this woody and spicy soap is equally perfect for men as it is for women.
Pros
A unisex scent that anyone can use
Cons
Strong fragrance might irritate those with sensitive skin
12. Celine Perfumed Scent Set
CELINE
La Peau Nue Soap Set
£90
Key ingredients: 96% natural ingredients, including glycerin and sweet almond oil
Key Notes: Bergamot, rose absolute, white orris butter, rice powder, vetiver
The £90 price tag might initially throw you off, but Celine’s bar soaps all come in a pack of 3, putting them at roughly the same price as a lot of their counterparts. Made from 96% natural ingredients, such as plant-based glycerin to hydrate the skin, the soaps gently cleanse the body without feeling too drying. You can buy these luxurious sets in five of the brand’s emblematic fragrances, but the one that caught my eye is La Peau Nue, a powdery rose scent.
Pros
Great for gifting
Cons
Luxurious price tage
What's The Difference Between a Bar Soap, Body Wash and Shower Gel?
Row 0 - Cell 0
Bar Soap
Shower Gel
Body Wash
Form
Solid
Gel-like, thinner liquid
Creamier, thicker liquid
Best for
Very effective at removing bacteria, suitable for any skin type
Has a much lighter, more refreshing feel on the skin, ideal for those with oily skin
Has a nourishing, moisturising feel on the skin, ideas for those with dry skin
Cons
Can strip the skin of it's natural oils
Can be drying
Not as effective at removing oil from skin
What Are the Benefits of Using a Bar Soap?
A bar soap can last months in comparison to shower gels and body washes, meaning if you do decide to spend a little extra on a luxury soap, you can rest assured that you'll get your money's worth out of it. Solid soaps also come without the bulky plastic packaging, instead opting for recyclable cardboard boxes—a huge win from the sustainability perspective.
Bar soaps sometimes contain fewer drying ingredients than many of their liquid counterparts, instead prioritising hydrating ingredients such as ceramides, vitamins and essential oils.
Are Bar Soaps Sanitary?
The most common misconception about bar soaps is that they are less sanitary than liquid soaps. However, this is far from the truth. Like any other surface, bacteria can land on your bar soap, but it’s important to know that bar soaps do not typically provide the conditions bacteria need to thrive.
You can combat any germs by a simple rinse of your bar soap both before and after using it each time to remove any dead skin, bacteria or germs. The lathering of your soap will also help to get rid of any residue you might be worried about.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products over the years—spanning skincare, makeup, hair and nails—and work closely with trusted experts including dermatologists, makeup artists and leading industry insiders to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.