<p>Traditional body wash typically contains harsh synthetic ingredients that may irritate sensitive skin, but it’s often hard to tell which ingredient is causing the reaction because the list of ingredients is long and filled with chemical-sounding names you’ve never heard of before. With natural soaps, you know exactly what you’re getting. Most natural soaps contain just a few ingredients, all of which are found in nature. This makes natural soaps a great choice to take with you on your next camping or backpacking adventure since it’s naturally biodegradable. </p><p>You don’t have to book a backpacking trip to enjoy the benefits of natural soaps. If you’re ready to make the switch from body wash to something more earth-friendly, here are the best natural soaps to pick up now. </p><p><strong><a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/grooming/a43264697/mens-health-2023-grooming-awards/” target=”_blank”>Best Grooming Products for Men</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/grooming/g40093433/biodegradable-soaps/” target=”_blank”>Best Biodegradable Soaps</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/grooming/g40247686/best-body-wash-for-acne/” target=”_blank”>Best Body Wash for Acne</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/grooming/g19547857/best-shampoo-for-hair-type/” target=”_blank”>Best Shampoos</a></strong></p>” />
We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.
Best Overall
Oars + Alps Moisturizing Alps Bar Soap
Best Overall
Oars + Alps Moisturizing Alps Bar Soap
Pros
- Hydrates dry skin
Cons
- Minimal lather
This natural soap puts the sad sliver of Irish Spring sitting in your shower right now to shame. Made with organic, fair trade and handcrafted shea butter, it delivers a surprising amount of hydration for a bar soap. Crushed juniper berries sourced from the mountains of the Pacific Northwest give this moisturizing bar a slightly gritty texture and helps buff away dead skin cells.
| Ingredients | Shea butter, crushed juniper berries, Amazonian clay |
|---|---|
| Size | 6 oz. |
| Recommended for | Dry and dehydrated skin |
Best Natural Soap for Body Acne
SheaMoisture African Black Soap Cleanser
Best Natural Soap for Body Acne
SheaMoisture African Black Soap Cleanser
Pros
- Gently exfoliates
Cons
- Strong fragrance
African black soap is a traditional soap that comes from West Africa that’s known for its ability to clear common skin conditions including breakouts, fungal acne, and even eczema. While some skin types may find it drying, if you have oily or acne-prone skin, it may be the miracle you’ve been hoping for. If you experience body acne in the warmer months, keep this soap in your shower at all times.
| Ingredients | Shea butter, oats, aloe |
|---|---|
| Size | 8 oz. |
| Recommended for | Dry skin |
| Height | 4 |
Most Refreshing Natural Soap
Ursa Major Morning Mojo Bar Soap
Most Refreshing Natural Soap
Ursa Major Morning Mojo Bar Soap
Pros
- Gritty texture gently exfoliates
Cons
- Expensive
If you’re a morning person, you’ll love the cooling and energizing effect of this all-natural soap from Ursa Major. If you’re not a morning person, this soap is just the thing you need to wake you up and get your morning started. The secret is the blend of peppermint, eucalyptus and rosemary, which will invigorate your senses as the cooling suds gently cleanse and hydrate.
| Ingredients | Shea butter, peppermint, honey, coconut |
|---|---|
| Size | 5 oz. |
| Recommended for | Oily and acne-prone skin types |
Best Cleansing Natural Soap
Nopalera Flor de Mayo Cactus Soap
Best Cleansing Natural Soap
Nopalera Flor de Mayo Cactus Soap
Pros
- Safe for sensitive skin
Cons
- Not as moisturizing as other natural soaps
The black color of this soap comes from activated charcoal, which has been proven to reach deep into your pores to remove impurities. This powerful ingredient is balanced out by a gentle plant oils and butters including coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter to leave your feeling incredibly clean and soft.
| Ingredients | Eucalyptus , prickly pear cactus, charcoal |
|---|---|
| Size | 4 oz. |
| Recommended for | Oily and acne-prone skin |
Best Smelling Natural Soap
FarmHouse Fresh Fluffy Bunny Shea Butter Bar Soap
Best Smelling Natural Soap
FarmHouse Fresh Fluffy Bunny Shea Butter Bar Soap
Pros
- Leaves your skin feeling clean and soft
Cons
- Doesn’t exfoliate
The scent of this all natural soap will transform you daily shower into a spa-like experience. The intoxicating smell of mint-julep, cream, and lavender has a calming effect, which is why we love it for an evening shower. The whipped texture of this formula lathers up so well that some guys even like to shave with it.
| Ingredients | Shea butter, mint-julep, lavender. |
|---|---|
| Size | 5.25 oz. |
| Recommended for | Sensitive skin |
Most Moisturizing Natural Soap
Pre de Provence Artisanal French Moisturizing Soap Bar
Most Moisturizing Natural Soap
Pre de Provence Artisanal French Moisturizing Soap Bar
Pros
- Removes dead skin cells
Cons
- Can be rough on the skin
This classic bar soap has a base of shea butter, honey, almond, which is not only deeply moisturizing but also gives it a wam, sweet aroma. Each bar is traditionally crafted in the French Provence using old-world methods, which produces a completely uniform and smooth soap, which means it lasts longer n your shower or on your bathroom counter than other natural soaps.
| Ingredients | Shea butter, honey, almond. |
|---|---|
| Size | 5.3 oz. |
| Recommended for | Normal to combination skin |
Best Natural Soap for Sensitive Skin
Beekman 1802 Goat Milk Soap Bar
Best Natural Soap for Sensitive Skin
Beekman 1802 Goat Milk Soap Bar
Pros
- Gentle formula
Cons
- Pricey
What makes this natural soap special is that it has the same pH as human skin, which means it won’t irritate those with sensitive skin. Made from creamy goat milk and soft shea butter, it gently cleanses and moisturizes without disrupting your skin’s microbiome, leaving your skin feeling soft and supple.
| Ingredients | Honey, oats, goat milk |
|---|---|
| Size | 9 oz |
| Recommended for | Sensitive skin |
Best Affordable Natural Soap
Tom’s of Maine Natural Beauty Bar Soap
Best Affordable Natural Soap
Tom’s of Maine Natural Beauty Bar Soap
Pros
- Mild fresh coconut scent
Cons
- May leave behind a thin film on the skin
Let this natural soap transport you to a tropical island with every swipe. The coconut oil base helps your skin retain its natural moisture rather than stripping it away like a lot of other body washes.
| Ingredients | Coconut oil, |
|---|---|
| Size | 5 oz. |
| Recommended for | Normal to sensitive skin |
Best Luxury Natural Soap
Joanna Vargas Miracle Bar
Best Luxury Natural Soap
Joanna Vargas Miracle Bar
Pros
- Alleviates acne
Cons
- May dry out your skin
With a name like Miracle Bar, it has to be good, and in our opinion, this soap lives up to the hype. Charcoal plunges deep into the pores to remove any excess dirt and oil while olive oil and shea butter provides your skin barrier with the fatty acids, nutrients, and hydration it needs to defend its newly cleansed pores and keep them functioning properly.
| Ingredients | Charcoal, olive oil, shea butter |
|---|---|
| Size | 3.52 oz |
| Recommended for | Normal to oily skin |
Best Unscented Natural Soap
Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Bar Soap
Best Unscented Natural Soap
Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Bar Soap
Now 25% Off
Pros
- Produces a rich lather
Cons
- May dry out dry skin
For some people with extremely sensitive skin, even soaps with natural fragrances from plant-based essential oils can give them a reaction. In that case, Dr. Bronner’sUnscentedPure Castile Bar Soap is your best bet. The ingredients are so clean and simple that anyone can use it, including babies.
| Ingredients | Coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, hemp oil, jojoba oil |
|---|---|
| Size | 5 oz. |
| Recommended for | Sensitive skin |
What Is The Healthiest Soap For Your Body?
If you’re concerned about your health—or the health of the planet, for that matter—natural soaps are a great option. Some studies and research suggest that synthetic ingredients like parabens and phthalates can interfere with normal hormone function. If you’re concerned about toxic ingredients in your personal care products or if you want to be on the safe side, making the switch to natural soap is a fairly easy way to make sure that what you’re putting on your body every day is safe.
Is Natural Soap Actually Better?
Natural soap cleanses and moisturizes your body just as well as other soaps, so one could say they are equally as effective. The only different is that natural soaps are made from natural ingredients and don’t contain any hormone-disrupting chemicals, which for some people, makes them better than other soaps. Soap is a personal preference, so the best one for you is the one you look forward to using everyday.
Which Soap Is The Purest?
Natural soaps have a smaller ingredient list compared to other synthetic soaps, with many natural soaps containing fewer than ten ingredients. If measuring purity by the number of ingredients, Dr. Bronner’s and Toms of Maine are the most pure natural soaps. In terms of ingredient quality, all natural soaps would be considered pure since they’re all made from ingredients that are found naturally in nature.
Cristina Montemayor is a freelance writer and journalist living in Austin, Texas, covering beauty, grooming, style, and culture. Her work has appeared in Very Good Light, BRIDES, Elite Daily, among others.
Watch Next
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Comments are closed.