The Soap Bar Has Been Given An Upgrade

1. Necessaire: The Body Bar, £16

Necessaire, a brand that is bringing a touch of luxury and attention to the world of body care, recently launched two new soap bars, one being the The Body Bar.

Infused with hyaluronic acid, vitamins B3 and B5, 10 amino acids and oatmeal, this bar of soap is perfect for those, like me, with dry skin. It’s packed with ingredients aimed to hydrate, plump and support your skin’s barrier. Plus, it can also be used on your face, making it a great present for the men in your life who prefer to keep their skincare down to a bar of soap.

2. ROWSE: Rosemary and Lemon Botanical Soap, £19

By now, we all should have heard that using harsh and stripping soaps can only make oil-prone skin worse and that the secret to minimizing oil production is through deeper level moisturisation. Rowse’s 100% plant-based soap is formulated with Olive Oil and Shea Butter, both of which are rich in lipids and vitamins E, A, D, and F, providing intense hydration. The bar also contains Rosemary and Thyme, offering a natural exfoliant with antibacterial properties, and makes you feel like you are walking through a garden in Tuscany.

3. Orris: Le Botaniste, £51

Orris was founded with the vision to elevate the simple bar of soap into a “sensorial cleansing experience”. So you can bet a lot of thought has gone into these soaps.

Made from plant-derived ingredients drawn from Ayurvedic holistic practices, each soap is handmade using cold process methods in small batches in the south of France.

Le Botaniste is crafted to soothe and combat acne with a roster of calming ingredients such as Calendula and Comfrey, both known for their soothing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The soap is also enriched with St. John’s Wort, a centuries-old remedy for soothing skin irritations and promoting healing. Additionally, this bar features a blend of five butters and oils, which makes it “super-fatted,” allowing it to deliver plant lipids to your skin on a molecular level.

4. Activist – MANUKA HONEY BOTANICAL SOAP, £25

This soap bar is so good you could almost eat it. One of my favourite ingredients, Mānuka Honey, is the hero ingredient in this bar. Sourced sustainably from the wild in New Zealand, Activist creates a variety of ingestible products from Mānuka Honey, but the miracle ingredient can also be used topically for it’s healing, nourishing, regenerative and antimicrobial properties. The bar also features Manuka flower, which provides gentle exfoliation for the skin.

5. Binu Binu- BORICHA TEA SOAP, £18

Inspired by the ritual of the Korean public bath, Binu Binu creates beautiful soaps all with the base of traditional Korean tea, Boricha, which is made from Roasted Barley. This tea is often referred to as “water” in Korean households. So it is a must have! To clarify and cleanse the skin, this bar contains mountain clay.

8. Bizen Cosmetics – Moisturising Soap with Rice Ferment, £28

Over the past year, my TikTok feed has been flood with video after video praising the benefits of rice and rice water for skin and hair. This is what makes this soap so potent, with organic fermented rice as the active ingredient, packed with amino acids, ceramides, and Vitamin B. It’s also enriched with Camellia, Tea, Jojoba, and Argan oils, to enhance the surge of moisture.

9. Lush x Jamie Reid- Alban Elfed, £7

I really couldn’t make this list of bar soaps without mentioning Lush. I grew up using lush soaps and they are honestly only getting cooler. This soap is a collaboration with artist Jamie Reid, who designed the famous ‘God Save the Queen’ artwork for the Sex Pistols.

Not only will this soap look amazing on your countertop but it also includes a blend of cinnamon, oakwood, hazelnuts, portobello mushrooms and tangerine oil certain to warm and revitalise you once the seasons change.

10. Loewe – Solid Soap – Tomato Leaves, $43

Actually inspired by Roman baths, Loewe has crafted a beautiful collection of soaps with scents that transport you to a specific moment. Their tomato leaf soap is so fresh, perfect for waking you up in the morning. Blended with Shea butter and red algae, this soap provides gentle exfoliation and moisturisation.