Soap vs body wash: what the label tells you

Bar soap and liquid cleansers both rinse off, but their labels read very differently. Looking at the ingredient list is the fastest way to see what you are buying.

How a bar soap label reads

A bar soap list starts with saponified oils, which are plant oils that have been turned into soap. Our SoftWell Goat Milk, Oatmeal and Honey Handcrafted Soap lists saponified oils (olive oil, organic palm oil, organic coconut oil, organic shea butter), goat milk, fragrance, oatmeal and honey. Our Charcoal Soap lists saponified oils, peppermint essential oil, tea tree essential oil and activated charcoal. There is no water entry on either list, and each bar is a 4 oz (113 g) piece of soap.

How a liquid cleanser label reads

A liquid cleanser usually starts with water. Our EvenWell Gentle Cleansing Gel, a face cleanser, starts with aqua, then cocamidopropyl betaine, glycerin and decyl glucoside. Liquids also need a preservative, and that gel lists phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin near the end. The same pattern shows up in most body washes, so read the list for water, cleansing agents and preservatives.

What the difference means in practice

• Short list: a bar soap has a short list that you can read in a few seconds.
• Water: a liquid has water as its first ingredient, so you are paying for water as well as cleanser.
• Storage: a bar needs to dry between uses on a draining dish. The labels on our soaps say to keep the bar dry between uses to help it last.
• Packaging: a bar has no bottle, and a liquid comes in a pump or tube.

What the label does not tell you

A cleanser label does not tell you how a product feels on your skin. People have different preferences for lather and scent, so use the label to rule things in or out, then try one. Our soaps are rinse-off cosmetic cleansers, and they do not claim to treat any skin condition.

Check scent and allergens

Look for fragrance or essential oils on the list. For example, the Goat Milk, Oatmeal and Honey soap lists fragrance and goat milk, and the Calming Lavender Soap lists lavender essential oil and lavender buds. If you want to test a new bar, put a small amount of lather on your inner forearm, rinse, and wait 24 hours.

Questions people ask

Is bar soap or body wash better?

Neither is better for everyone. It comes down to what you want from the label, such as a short list, a scent, or a pump bottle.

Why does bar soap have no water on the list?

Soap is made from oils that have turned into soap, so the list names those oils instead of water.

How do I make a bar last longer?

Keep it dry between uses on a draining soap dish, as the product pages suggest.

Can I use bar soap on my face?

Our Charcoal Soap page describes it as a face-and-body cleansing bar. For other bars, see each product page.

SoftWell soaps · Charcoal Soap · Goat Milk, Oatmeal and Honey Soap · Calming Lavender Soap · EvenWell Gentle Cleansing Gel · Bar soap or body wash · Take the 60-second quiz