Cleansers are one of the fundamentals in a healthy skincare regime, whether your preference is a heavy-duty oil, gentle-on-the-skin cream or a blemish-busting clay number. While the latter forms have dominated our bathroom shelf for some time, a nostalgic product is about to take centre stage: the soap bar.
Sure, you may cast your mind back to your youth, when soap bars were made up of drying alcohol, sulphates and overpowering smells but 2018's cleansing bars are teeming with natural and skin-saving ingredients.
"I think solid soap cleansers are back for a few reasons," says Annie Tevelin, founder of cult brand SkinOwl. "I’ve seen a huge upswing in minimalism skincare, and the ‘less is more’ mantra has never felt more present in skincare. Solid soap bars are easy to use and efficient in that way. And most importantly, people are finally seeing how well they work on the skin."
According to Tevelin, the benefits they hold over their liquid counterparts include lasting far longer, containing only the necessary ingredients (rather than the preservatives used in balms and gels) and the fact that they require no plastic packaging, which is always a plus for the environment.
The way to avoid the scummy soap mess on the side of your bath or shower lies in how you store your product. Sisley's facial trainer Elsa van Twist explains that this mess comes from water, rather than the soap. "In fact, it’s the minerals (calcium and magnesium) in hard water forming these when combined with soaps. Using filters or spring water would be the only option to avoid this phenomenon." So make sure to invest in a cute soap dish to keep your bathroom surfaces clean.
Disclaimer: as van Twist warns, cleansing bars don't actually remove makeup, but are perfect for your acne-tackling or hydrating second cleanse. Think of soap as a cool addition, rather than replacement, to your skincare arsenal.
Click through to find our pick of the bunch.
Gallinée's complex of probiotics and lactic acid in their cleansing bar gently cleanses and soothes, while also respecting your skin's natural pH levels.
Gallinée Cleansing Bar, £9.90, available at Gallinée
Carbon Theory's cruelty free cleansing bar is targeted for problem skin, using tea tree oil to reduce inflammation, shea butter to improve hydration and charcoal to draw out excess oil.
Carbon Theory Charcoal and Tea Tree Oil Breakout Control Cleansing Bar, £6, available at Carbon Theory
"Perfect to target blemishes on face and body," van Twist explains, this soap bar is suitable for all skin types and contains geranium and cypress essential oils.
Sisley Soapless Facial Cleansing Bar, £42.50, available at Sisley
An effective cleanse loaded with rich cold cream, this is a soothing one for sensitive skin.
Avène Cold Cream Ultra Rich Soap Free Cleansing Bar, £4.50, available at Escentual
Containing cold-pressed algae, beauty's current favourite ingredient, this formula was crafted in Japan and helps to keep skin glowing.
Estée Lauder Nutritious Micro-Algae Cleansing Bar, £20, available at Boots
This protects your natural moisture barrier, meaning no stripped or dry skin. Chamomile offers anti-inflammatory properties, too.
Erno Laszlo Sensitive Cleansing Bar, £30, available at Harrods
A moisture hit for the face and body, vitamin E leaves skin bright while oatmeal refines texture.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Gentle Cleansing Bar, £10, available at Feel Unique
SkinOwl has four different Beauty Bars. "Tomato for sensitive, oily skin, Charcoal for combination, lacklustre skin, Matcha for dry, dull, ageing skin, and Turmeric to aid in brightening one’s complexion and moisturising tired-looking skin," Tevelin explains. "They are all formulated without coconut oil which is highly comedogenic, causing people to break out and feel extremely dry. It’s a cheap oil used in many soaps, so we’ve replaced it with other butters and oils that help the skin truly heal."
SkinOwl Beauty Bar, £22, available at Cult Beauty
This all-natural brand uses wild harvested Siberian herbs and berries – rich in oils and vitamins – to clean skin. Activated carbon draws out nasties.
Natura Siberica Northern Soap For Deep Facial Cleansing, £12, available at Marks & Spencer
Helping to control sebum production, this charcoal bar keeps breakouts at bay when used twice weekly.
Yes To Activated Charcoal Bar Soap, £5, available at Beauty Bay
100% natural, tea tree is incorporated for its antiseptic properties, while white kaolin soothes.
Herbivore Botanicals Bamboo Charcoal Cleansing Bar Soap, £12, available at Pam Pam
This clever little guy is made of 100% Umbrian clay that, once wet, turns into an in-shower mask without losing its solid form. Smooth over your face for an intense morning treatment.
Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Treatment Bar, £38, available at Fresh
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