18 Best Exfoliating Soaps to Cleanse Your Skin Effectively

Written by Anoushka Sinha, Skincare Coach & Writer
Updated on Feb 26, 2024
Best Exfoliating Soaps to Cleanse Your Skin Effectively
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We often tend to keep crème de la crème skincare habits of exfoliation and hydration for our faces and neglect the rest of our bodies. But using the best exfoliating soaps for regular manual or chemical exfoliation reduces blackheads and breakouts by preventing the buildup of dead skin and congestion of pores. Exfoliation is a crucial component of skincare, but it's important to avoid overdoing it because doing so might harm the skin's barrier protection.

Michelle Wong, cosmetic chemist, and science educator prioritize exfoliation “The skin undergoes a natural turnover cycle that spans about a month. When this occurs, your skin's outermost layer, or epidermis, sheds, presenting new skin underneath (dermis),” Wong says.  Enter exfoliation. This is what removes the dead skin cells from the skin. Using bathing bars with mild exfoliants, which provide the dual benefits of body cleansing and exfoliating away dirt, can be a quick and easy approach to exfoliating the entire body. Not only is it meant to clean your skin, but it also aims to prevent bacterial growth on your skin. Be informed that these bars can also be used for your face and are not just limited to usage on the body. 

Here are some of the best exfoliating bars you can include in your daily regimen to promote healthy skin.

18 Best Exfoliating Soaps

Irish Spring Bar Soap will leave you smelling like you're back from the spa. With a 98% naturally derived formula that keeps you fresh for 12 hours, you can fall back on Irish Spring Active Scrub Soap to leave your skin feeling clean. This bar protects the skin's moisture barrier and exfoliates the skin, so you can feel as good as you smell. It is free of gluten, phthalates, and parabens. With Irish Spring's exfoliating bar soap, you can feel good about washing your hands and body while you cleanse off impurities. It's also easy to stock up on these bath soap bars as it is sold in a pack of 24 bars. This soap bar also has antibacterial properties, making it a great exfoliator for daily use.

Pros
  • Mild
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Natural ingredients
  • Freshness for 24 hours
Cons
  • For men only
  • Best For All Skin Types

    Yardley Oatmeal and Almond Bar Soap

    Yardley Oatmeal and Almond Bar Soap
  • Yardley Oatmeal and Almond Bar Soap has an intensely moisturizing formula that gently cleanses your skin and leaves it feeling fresh. It is made from natural crushed almonds and sun-warmed oatmeal that gives the bar an exfoliating texture. Yardley’s exfoliating soap bar also has a warm, luscious smell of vanilla bean and lemon that will make you smell incredible all day. It is free from parabens and sodium lauryl sulfate, which is great news for your skin. Unlike most bathing bars, this exfoliating soap bar does not get soggy when left on the soap stand, so you will have one less thing to worry about.

    Pros
    • Suits sensitive skin
    • Hydrating formula
    • Not tested on animals
    • Contains natural ingredients
    Cons
    • Has an overpowering smell
  • Best Moisturizing Soap

    L'Occitane En Provence Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap - Lavender

     L'Occitane En Provence Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap - Lavender
  • If dry and dull skin bothers you, try the L'Occitane En Provence Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap. Formulated with lavender essential oil and shea butter, it cleanses the skin gently without disrupting the skin’s natural pH levels. These nutritive agents also help draw moisture into the skin, strengthen the skin’s barrier, and keep the skin nourished. It is crafted using traditional artisanal methods and helps treat dryness to keep your skin soft and bouncy and delay the signs of aging. This vegan soap is also budget-friendly and is an ideal pick for those looking to calm dry and irritated skin. 

    Pros
    • Soothes the skin
    • Calms dehydrated skin
    • Loaded with hydrating ingredients
    • Delivers long-lasting results
    • Suitable for men, women, and children
    Cons
    • Unpleasant fragrance
  • Best Soothing Ingredients

    Baxter of California Exfoliating Body Bar

    Baxter of California Exfoliating Body Bar
  • Indulge in a calming shower experience with the body bar by Baxter of California. It is infused with jojoba seed powder and olive seed powder that exfoliates the skin without making it dry. Plus, these humble ingredients help combat acne, control sebum production, fade dark spots, balance pH levels, boost cell renewal, restore clarity of the skin, and make the skin super strong and healthy. With the invigorating aroma of cedarwood and oakmoss, the body soap makes the skin feel refreshing and aromatic all day long. 

    Pros
    • Suitable for daily use
    • Paraben-free
    • Gentle formula
    • Value for money
    Cons
    • Might not be suitable for people with sensitive skin
  • Best Nourishing Formula

    Jack Black Turbo Body Bar Scrubbing Soap

    Jack Black Turbo Body Bar Scrubbing Soap
  • This scrubbing soap by Jack Black contains the goodness of lava rock, shea butter, murumuru seed butter, and ginkgo biloba leaf extract, which makes the skin velvety soft. These ingredients help exfoliate the skin, hydrate it, and soften its texture. The antioxidant formula helps deep cleanse the skin to eliminate all the stubborn impurities and dirt to make the skin energized and supple. When we tested the product, we found that it lathers well and gets rid of all the nasties easily. 

    Pros
    • Smells great
    • Antioxidant properties
    • Moisturizes the skin
    • Soothes the skin
    Cons
    • The product doesn’t last long
  • Bali Soap - Signature Green Collection

    Bali Soap - Signature Green Collection
  • This Balinese natural exotic soap is created using a cold-press technique. The Bali Soap is abundant in plant-based ingredients and exotic botanicals from Indonesia that add to its texture. These natural glycerin soap bars lather up with a rich, nourishing lather that leaves the skin feeling deeply moisturized and hydrated. The good news is you'll be spoilt for choice with this pack which contains s ix exotic aromas, Papaya, Vanilla, Lemongrass, Jasmine, and Ylang-Ylang.  While the rich conditioning suds leave your skin feeling soft and supple, the gentle exfoliant removes layers of dry skin to promote even skin tone and provide your skin with the glow it deserves.

    Pros
    • Gift-pack
    • Hydrating
    • Suitable for sensitive skin
    • Sustainable and cruelty-free
    Cons
    • No fragrance
  • Best Moisturising Soap

    Dove Gentle Exfoliating Beauty Bar

    Dove Gentle Exfoliating Beauty Bar
  • Use the Dove Gentle Exfoliating Beauty Bar Soap to gently exfoliate your skin while preserving its moisture. This mild exfoliating soap contains exfoliating beads and is created from ingredients that cleanse the skin from within. With regular use of this skin-renewing soap, you will have smooth, glowing skin as a direct consequence of the effective removal of dead skin cells and fighting acne and blemishes. Additionally, this milk-like white soap and soap contains 1/4 moisturizing cream that ensures no moisture is lost while you bathe. It is a thoughtfully made bathing bar of excellence that nourishes the skin and provides it with ideal exfoliation.

    Pros
    • Sulfate-free
    • Hypoallergenic
    • Fragrance-free
    Cons
    • Does not lather
  • Best For Face And Body

    Marlowe Body Scrub Soap Bar

    Marlowe Body Scrub Soap Bar
  • Good must come in to replace the bad. This glycerin-based super soap eliminates dryness and dead skin cells whilst also rejuvenating the skin with a natural concoction of passionflower fruit, green tea, and willow bark extracts. The delicate scent is so appealing to the sense that you would want to take a bite of it. (But, don't!) It has a rich content of agarwood, sandalwood, and musk, which is gentle enough to use on your face too. It also contains pumice that buffs away impurities. The brand's collaboration with Clean the World to contribute soaps to people at risk for hygiene-related illnesses is the highlight of this soap. So while you bask in the wonderful benefits of  Marlowe's exfoliating bar, you're also making a change in the world, however minuscule it may be.

    Pros
    • Paraben-free
    • Contains pumice
    • Woody and fresh smell
    Cons
    • For men
  • Best Budget-friendly

    Seaweed Bath Co. Detox Body Soap

    Seaweed Bath Co. Detox Body Soap
  • With Seaweed Bath Co. Detox Body Soap, you can bring home the feeling of holding the ocean in your fist.  For smoother, firmer-looking skin, this sustainably harvested Atlantic seaweed, and cleansing charcoal powder soap is a uniquely beneficial exfoliating body soap. The exfoliating bar has over 65 vitamins and minerals that help detox the skin. The charcoal powder removes dirt, toxins, and other impurities from the skin's surface while Arabica coffee, which is antioxidant-rich, gently removes dirt and improves the skin's texture. Sunflower oil, coconut oil, and Hawaiian kukui oil are triple-action hydrating agents that quench the skin's thirst. It also has a crisp cinnamon scent.

    Pros
    • Hydrating formula
    • Detoxes the skin
    • Increases skin elasticity
    Cons
    • Contains sodium palmate
  • Best Scented Soap

    Amish Farms Natural Soap Bar

    Amish Farms Natural Soap Bar
  • Amish Farms Sage Soap offers the goodness of natural, handcrafted soap. This loofah-textured exfoliating soap bar can be used to wash your hands, face, or entire body. Use warm or hot water to gently massage the bar onto your hands, washcloth, or bath brush, and get a thick lather. These handcrafted soaps are meticulously developed using an old Amish family secret recipe crafted with ancient herbs that have been passed down through the generations yet have been reworked over time for better suitability for sensitive skin. It has a wonderful fresh lavender scent and exfoliates the skin while still moisturizing it. The presence of ground sage leaves acts as a natural exfoliant while imparting its earthy benefits to the skin.

    Pros
    • Anti-Inflammatory
    • Deodorizing
    • Smells great
    • Sulfate-free
    Cons
    • May strip moisture from dry skin
  • San Francisco Soap Company Exfoliating Man Bar

    San Francisco Soap Company Exfoliating Man Bar
  • It’s a rarity among beauty brands to find products that are designed for men, and are actually effective. This exfoliating man bar by San Francisco Soap company cleans the skin, and also laces it with a fresh, woody, and soft masculine fragrance. The soap bar is made with a distinctive combination of a cardamom and juniper fragrance that leaves a lingering scent. It also contains exfoliating beads that maintains the skin’s moisture while also aptly scrubbing the dead skin layer. The exfoliating scrub bar comes in a highly giftable leather-textured box, that too for a price that’s too good to be true. These soaps are chemical-free and are made with organic ingredients.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Masculine scent
    • Great packaging
    Cons
    • Soap size is big to hold
  • Best Luxury Exfoliating Soap

    Baudelaire Exfoliating Loofa Soap

    Baudelaire Exfoliating Loofa Soap
  • The Seaweed Loofa Soap by Baudelaire helps cleanse and revitalize your skin. The soap's hydrating palm oil and exfoliating seaweed powder help remove dry, dead skin cells and moisturize healthy skin, leaving you with pillowy soft skin. Baudelaire contains the purest natural ingredients and is 100% natural in its fragrance. Leave it to the seaweed in the soap to provide your skin with anti-oxidants and restore natural oils that shampoo and cleansers deprive the skin of. The emollient-rich palm oil helps prevent fine lines and uneven skin tone to combat tell-tale signs of aging. You can use this on your face to remove makeup or gently exfoliate it.

    Pros
    • Boosts collagen
    • No animal fat
    • Sustainably made
    • No soapy residue
    Cons
    • Not for dry skin
  • Sabun CO. Coco-Nuts For You Exfoliating Soap

    Sabun CO. Coco-Nuts For You Exfoliating Soap
  • Sabun exfoliating soap uses the natural properties of coconut oil to soothe and moisturize the skin. The soap comes with an all-natural loofa sourced directly from the luffa plant, and helps to clear the pores by gently exfoliating dead skin and dark spots. The soap is made with natural vegetable glycerin from pears and apples which balances your skin's sebum and automatically adjusts to your unique pH levels, allowing you to use it on your face, body, and hair while moisturizing dry or oily skin. It is convenient to use and lasts for up to 2 months when used thrice a week.

    Pros
    • Natural inbuilt loofah
    • Sensitive skin-friendly
    • Paraben-free
    • Cruelty-free
    Cons
    • Loofah may irritate mature skin
  • Bluebyrd Soap Co. Seaweed & Eucalyptus Exfoliating Soap Bar

    Bluebyrd Soap Co. Seaweed & Eucalyptus Exfoliating Soap Bar
  • Bluebyrd soap comes with a remarkable blend of the most popular hydrating and beauty-enhancing ingredients gifted by nature — cocoa butter, grapeseed oil, and shea butter. Taking a page from history’s most beautiful woman, Cleopatra, these large exfoliating soap bars are made with goat milk and oatmeal that can naturally scrub off dead and rough skin. To reveal smooth, clean skin, this body soap helps scrub away dryness. It is excellent for exfoliating the elbows, knees, feet, and hands. Eucalyptus essential oils cleanse and rejuvenate the senses, while seaweed adds more vitamins and minerals to the skin's antioxidant properties. The soap has a thick and creamy texture that feels rich when rubbed all over your skin. There’s no better way to exfoliate!

    Pros
    • Silicone-free
    • Paraben-free
    • Natural oils
    • Individually packaged large bars
    Cons
    • Not suitable for oily skin
  • Peach not Plastic Bar Soap

    Peach not Plastic Bar Soap
  • As the name suggests, Peach not Plastic Bar soap is 100% plastic-free and is sustainably packed to keep our conscience clear. Pink Himalayan sea salt, a naturally occurring exfoliant rich in minerals that ensure skin revival, is the star ingredient of this soap. Whoever said you couldn't have beautiful skin and preserve the environment will stand corrected when presented with this bar of excellence. The soap contains coconut oil and shea butter to brighten and smoothen your skin every day. Using natural surfactants derived from silky coconut, exfoliating soap produces a thick lather that gently cleanses and reveals smoother skin. Lather away, you won't regret it after treating yourself to this bar! Additionally, each bar of this soap reduces your carbon footprint by limiting plastic bottle usage in your life.

    Pros
    • Plant-based
    • Vegan-friendly
    • Lathers well
    • Environment-friendly
    Cons
    • Strong smell
  • Olivia Care Exfoliating Bar Soap Duo

    Olivia Care Exfoliating Bar Soap Duo
  • Add these organic soaps from Olivia Care to your daily beauty regimen and see your skin transform into a healthy and glowing organ. Your skin will be hydrated and moisturized by soap, preventing it from drying out. It offers the appropriate hydration your skin needs to be healthy and cleanses it from within. The right amount of lather is produced by the non-irritating soap. The unique blend of lavender and rose geranium essential oil with pink Himalayan salt gives the soap the antioxidant properties necessary to boost your skin's health. So, buy this soap if you want all the goodness of organic ingredients.

    Pros
    • Non-GMO
    • Rejuvenates skin
    • Contains coffee bean
    • Pleasant scent
    Cons
    • May not lather up
  • Oars + Alps Exfoliating Bar Soap

    Oars + Alps Exfoliating Bar Soap
  • With the help of exfoliating Blue Charcoal, Volcanic Sand, and Blue Green Algae, this potent exfoliating soap from Oars+Alps will remove dead skin cells, sweat, bacteria, and extra oil from the skin. Because the bathing bar is free of glycol, parabens, phthalates, and sulfates, and is not tested on animals, you can feel good about what you're putting on your skin. So both our skin and our conscience are clear, right? To keep your pores free of acne, the soap's charcoal attracts and removes dirt like a magnet while your skin's excess oil is reduced by the astringent witch hazel extract. In addition to moisturizing, the soap contains a variety of exotic ingredients that tend to your acne-prone skin.

    Pros
    • Removes excess oil
    • Fights acne
    • Travel-friendly
    • Contains Volcanic sand
    Cons
    • Slightly harsh
  • Aspen Kay Naturals Exfoliating Coffee & Oatmeal Soap

    Aspen Kay Naturals Exfoliating Coffee & Oatmeal Soap
  • Aspen Kay Naturals Soap is one of the best exfoliating soaps, loaded with sustainably grown oats and ground coffee. This soap has a delightful cinnamon aroma with deep notes of clove and vanilla derived from the combination of pure essential oils. The soap is also enriched with certified organic castor bean oil, organic castor bean butter, organic sunflower oil, and certified organic shea butter. All of these work harmoniously to supply the skin with ultra-hydration and moisture that makes it glow from within. It looks like a bar of coffee, but don’t eat it!

    Pros
    • Spicy scent
    • Essential oils
    • Moisturizing
    Cons
    • Contains traces of Sodium Hydroxide

    How to Choose the Best Exfoliating Soap

    Now that we have established the importance of exfoliation in our daily lives, it is also important to understand that to achieve healthy skin, we should be mindful of the products we choose. Here are a few things you should consider before buying the best exfoliating bars:

    1. Ingredients:
    While there are promising chemical ingredients that work wonders for the skin, it is essential to be wary of the harmful ones. Hyram Yabro warns us of one ingredient: "Sodium palmitate is a common ingredient in bar soaps, which can be really overly stripping for the skin, and really harmful for your skin because it removes the moisture." To get the best results, pick an exfoliating soap made with organic ingredients. An exfoliating soap that contains one or all of the following ingredients is like manna from heaven for your skin.

    -Fruit pits/shells: Walnut scrubs are a good example of exfoliants derived from natural fruits or pits. They also provide the skin with nutrients

    -Oatmeal: The coarse texture of oatmeal acts as a wonderful exfoliant. It is widely used in organic bars and soaps.

    -Sugar: In combination with skin-friendly oils that are non-comedogenic, sugar acts as a great scrub to replenish the skin.
    -Coffee: Often, coffee is used in DIY face packs for its natural exfoliating properties. It is also anti-inflammatory and prevents premature aging.

    -Sea salt: Sea salt is known to close open pores, fight acne, and also balance oil production. The granulated texture of sea salt works wonders in removing dead skin and enriching the new layer.

    2. Skin Type
    Different skincare ingredient combinations are required for different skin types. It would be wise to decide on the exfoliating or cleansing bar with your skin type in mind. Dry skin would benefit from an exfoliating soap that contains hydrating ingredients like plant oils and shea butter. We need to be careful not to strip the skin of any oils because it is already lacking them. On the other hand, for oily skin, the ingredients should not congest the pores or cause acne breakouts. So, a soap that has ingredients to reduce sebum production works well. For those with combination skin, a mildly exfoliating soap bar containing a blend of plant oils and exfoliants would be ideal.

    3. Consult your dermatologist for advice
    Your dermatologist will have some excellent recommendations for you because they are familiar with both your skin type and your unique needs. They typically recommend the products sold by their clinic, but they will always be better suited to your skin than a random pick you would make. Dermatologists and estheticians would be good sources to get yourself started on the exfoliating journey, and you can always build upon those ingredients when you shop next.

    Quick Tip: Apply a three-inch wide strip of clear tape to your forearm and softly rub it to determine whether you have dry or dead skin. If any flaky skin comes off, it's time to incorporate exfoliation into your routine.

    Your skin care regimen should include exfoliation as a necessary step. Major skin issues, such as rough texture, dullness, fine lines, crow's feet, dark spots, large pores, and flaky skin, are all addressed by this simple yet effective skincare step. It is the secret to having beautiful, healthy skin. So, go get yourself a bar that your skin will thank you for. Jennifer Phillips, licensed Aesthetician, says, "The good news is, it’s easy to exfoliate and amazing results can be instantaneous." The bad news is that you can easily over-exfoliate, causing your skin to be over-sensitive, red, unprotected, and irritated. So it’s very important to find a product or method that works for you, then decide how often to exfoliate and stick to it.

    Why Trust Pinkvilla

    Soaps are already an integral part of hygiene that we absolutely cannot go without! Our skincare expert, Anoushka, has amalgamated hygiene with skincare and spent her time researching and shortlisting a few exfoliating soaps that can work wonders on your skin. They can not only clean your body but also exfoliate the upper layer of your skin to bestow you with the dreamy appearance that you have always wanted. And, we believe that you will fall in love with the end results! Hurry now, get going to find your favorite pick.

    Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

    Author BIO
    reviewer
    Anoushka Sinha
    Skincare Coach & Writer

    Anoushka is certified in Professional Skincare and is a Mass Media (Journalism) graduate from Mumbai University. As a More