Bar soap takes me back to my childhood. In the days before plastic bottles came to rule our bathroom shelves, most families relied on these to keep themselves clean! Fast forward a few years (ok…quite a few) and bar soap is back! But now it’s all about clean beauty and natural bar soap.
I personally found my way back to using bar soap a few years ago. I was cleaning up my beauty and personal hygiene products and transitioning to those containing fewer nasties (chemicals, toxins, etc). When I combined this with my awareness of plastic waste and recycling, it made sense to include bar soaps in my research and I made the switch.
What did I find out about natural bar soap?
Bar soap has definitely changed for the better! Gone are the slippery slimy soaps that slither out of your hands mid-shower! We now have a varied product offering that is vastly chemical-free. They come in simple and recyclable packaging that appeals not only to our new age sensibilities but ticks all those soapboxes as well, leaving you clean and smelling fantastic 😉
Here are a few I have tried recently
Rough Cut Soap Co – Palmarosa Felted Soap (140g)
I LOVE this soap! Handmade and natural, it’s wrapped in silk wool which acts as a gentle exfoliant. The Palmarosa scent is subtle and lovely, and the soap is wrapped in a beautiful hot pink wool (my favourite colour!) which is something I’ve never tried before. This helps to prevent soap “gunk” from accumulating and the soap getting stuck in its container/shower basket but also makes the soap easier to manage when using it. I do feel the wool has a subtle exfoliating effect, and my skin has not dried out at all using the soap, making it perfect for daily use.
You can find Rough Cut Soap Co in Singapore at The Sustainability Project 140g (RRP SGD $20.00), or check out their website Rough Cut Soap Co (bars from USD$8.00)
Raw Origins, Calendula Soap (170g) made in Australia and Honey & Olive (100g) made in Thailand
Another all-natural body soap that I have been testing out in the shower is Raw Origins Calendula Soap that is made in Australia. This is slightly different from the Palmarosa of Rough Cut Soap Co. The Raw Origins Calendula Soap is a big square block of speckled soap. It works for me aesthetically. There is no real scent (or perhaps it’s very subtle). Due to its larger size, I’ve found it easy to use and non-slippery! It’s not drying on the skin and I’d be happy to continue using it. I remain unconvinced about the cardboard sleeve AND plastic pouch that it is sold in as I prefer less packaging.
Raw Origins Honey & Olive Soap, made in Thailand is also a natural and plant-based soap. I was excited to use it due to the honey which is known for its moisturising properties. It comes in a resealable plastic pouch so I decided to travel with it on a recent trip. The soap itself worked well and was again not drying (I feel this is important because I have historically found that bar soaps are not very gentle on the skin). However, I found the bar to be the slipperiest of all those tested and also the quickest to shrink in size!
Raw Origins is only available in Singapore. We stock the range on vanillabeige.com (RRP from $8.00). Their Australian range can also be found on Lazada.
Drunk Elephant Pekee Bar 120g
A lovely solid bar of soap by a great brand. Unlike the others, this is ideally used for face cleansing and should help to clarify and balance the skin. I liked the texture and it was nice not to be squeezing my cleanser out of a plastic tube for a change! The soap itself was moisturising and did a good job of cleaning off my make up at the end of the day. As someone with sensitive skin, I am not a convert yet but would highly recommend it as a great option.
Drunk Elephant is available in Singapore at Sephora ION. Alternatively, shop Sephora.com (USD RRP$28.00) or Sephora.sg (SGD RRP$40.00)
Some points to note
All of these soaps have a very gentle lather due to their natural ingredients and lack of detergents. The excessive foaming is not necessary to clean your skin! If you are accustomed to really lathering up your soap, this may take some getting used to, but it’s worth it for the lack of chemicals making contact with your body!
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