Bar soap vs. body wash dermatologists weigh in on which is best for your skin
For years I avoided bar soaps because I only associated them with my skin feeling tight and dry, something I wanted to avoid at any cost.Instead, I relied on liquid body washes or shower oils.
While reporting and testing bar soaps for this story, I noticed a shift in many of their formulas — they’re not as drying as I always thought and work as well as a traditional body wash.(That dryness typically came from formulas with unbalanced pH levels — something many brands have now adjusted for, according to Dr.
William Huang, a board-certified dermatologist and adjunct professor at Duke University.)To help debunk common bar soap misconceptions, I spoke to three board-certified dermatologists about their advantages over body washes and what to consider when shopping for one.Alongside the help of my colleagues, I also tested some popular options.Selected.Our top picksBest overallDove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar$undefined$14.19TargetLearn moreEditor's PickLafco Chamomile Lavender Bar Soap$undefined$16.50AmazonLearn moreBest for dry skinCerave Hydrating Cleanser Bar$6.84$8.99AmazonLearn moreBest for acne-prone skinPanoxyl Bar Soap with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide$undefined$9.47AmazonLearn moreSee 1 MoreRelatedselectselect13 best body washes for dry skin, tested and reviewedWant more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.Best bar soaps of 2026Below, I compiled expert-recommended bar soaps, ones our team tried and liked, as well as highly rated options from popular drugstore brands like Cerave and Panoxyl.Best non-exfoliating bar soapsBest overallDove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar$14.19Target$12.97WalmartWhat to knowWhat we likeCan use on face and bodypH balancedNon-dryingSomething to noteNot sold individuallyIn general, most dermatologists will recommend a bar of Dove Sensitive Skin Soap, says Dr.
Maya K.Thosani, a board-certified dermatologist at Modern Dermatology in Scottsdale, Arizona.
That’s because it effectively cleanses the skin w...