Best Bar Soap for Men – (A Comprehensive Buying Guide Of 2021)

Bar soaps have been making a comeback in recent years. Armed with the awareness that plastics cause damage to the environment, more and more people are making the switch to more eco-friendly bar soaps.

Most bar soaps come in boxes that are easier to dispose of, and their smaller size also means less waste footprint. With today’s modern technology, more manufacturers are developing more environment-friendly packaging. But most importantly, bar soaps offer better cleaning than liquid soaps or body wash.

Additionally, bar soaps of today also offer more variants to choose from. Regardless of your needs and skin type, you will always find that perfect bar soap for you – and yes, even for men.

So if you’re making the switch to bar soap or simply looking for better bar soap options, then you came to the right place. In this article, we’ll review the best bar soap for men to help you make your choice.

Best Bar Soap for Men- Our Top 10 Picks

1) San Francisco Soap Company Exfoliating Man Bar


Pros

  • It contains cardamom, which has detoxifying properties.
  • It aims to exfoliate the skin yet leave it moisturized.
  • It has a masculine Juniper scent that’s not too overpowering, making it perfect for those with sensitive noses.

Cons

  • As of the time of writing, there are no negative reviews of this item. 

The first soap on our list is the San Francisco Soap Company Exfoliating Man Bar. This is the perfect soap for those who love more natural yet masculine scents.

This bar soap contains cardamom, which is a natural detoxifying agent, leaving you fresh and clean after every bath. This bar soap also contains exfoliating properties to keep your skin from looking dull and boring.

But even with its gentle exfoliating properties, the San Francisco Soap Company Exfoliating Man Bar also has moisturizing properties to leave your skin feeling supple.

What made the San Francisco Soap Company Exfoliating Man Bar stand out is its unique Juniper scent. This leaves you smelling masculine without the overwhelming scent that you usually get from musks.

The brand also prides itself on producing high-quality soaps without harmful chemicals and fillers, so you know you’re giving your skin the best treatment.

2) Bay Rum Soap by Dr. Squatch


Pros

  • It is made from organic materials.
  • It is handmade using a cold-press method, allowing it to retain more natural scents. 
  • It contains exfoliating and moisturizing properties. 
  • It is free of harmful chemicals and preservatives. 

Cons

  • The scent doesn’t last long.
  • The bar soap melts easily. 

For those who are looking for an organic handmade soap, then you should consider giving the Bay Rum Soap by Dr. Squatch a try.

This all-natural bar soap is made with a blend of cinnamon, clove, pine, and citrus that are known to have antifungal, purifying, and anti-aging properties. This gives you clean and supple skin that leaves you feeling fresh. This makes it perfect as a gentle exfoliant for the body or to be used as an aftershave.

This bar soap also contains a dose of coconut oil and shea butter to keep your skin nourished, while its natural glycerin content helps your skin retain moisture. This means that even if you use it to exfoliate your skin, it won’t leave your skin feeling dry and dehydrated.

We also love that this soap is made through an all-natural cold press method. This allows it to retain the natural scent of its ingredients without being too overpowering. Dr. Squatch also makes sure that all its ingredients produce a masculine scent without floral undertones.

Being an all-natural soap, expect that the Bay Rum Soap by Dr. Squatch is not made with chemicals and other preservatives. This assures you that you’re using a soap that’s perfectly safe for your skin.

3) Dove Men+Care 3 in 1 Bar


Pros

  • It is highly moisturizing.
  • It leaves you feeling fresh, thanks to its citrus and patchouli scent.
  • It is gentle enough to be used on the face. 
  • It comes in eco-friendly packaging and is cruelty-free. 
  • It offers great value for the money.

Cons

  • The scent may be too strong for some.  

For those who simply want a great soap that’s easy to find and offers great value for money, then we believe the Dove Men+Care Body and Face Bar Extra Fresh is perfect for you.

The brand has established itself to be one of the biggest skincare companies, so you can only expect the best from its soap line for men.

This soap bar is specifically formulated for men, giving their skin a complete clean without being too tough on it. Like most of the brand’s bar soaps, it also contains one-fourth of moisturizing cream that’s sure to keep your skin moisturized. This leaves you feeling clean without the uncomfortable tightness caused by dryness.

You can also use the Dove Men+Care Body and Face Bar Extra Fresh in three ways: as a body wash, as a face soap, and as a shaving companion. This means that it contains gentle ingredients that are perfectly safe for sensitive skin on your face.

The Extra Fresh bar soap variant from Dove has a Mandarin Citrus and patchouli scent. This gives you that invigorating cool, and crisp scent that guarantees to keep you fresh all day.

The brand also boasts of using plastic-free packaging to significantly reduce the plastic footprint in our surroundings. It is also cruelty-free, so you know that you’re supporting a brand that’s a friend to the environment and animals.

4) Redken Brews Cleansing Bar


Pros

  • It reduces the risk of acne and other skin conditions thanks to its pH-balancing formula. 
  • It is highly moisturizing. 
  • It is gentle on the skin. 
  • It is compatible with all skin types. 

Cons

  • It has a very strong scent. 
  • It melts easily. 

The Redken Brews Cleansing Bar is the perfect bar soap for those who love a gentle clean while leaving the skin moisturized.

One of the most notable features of this bar soap is that it gently yet thoroughly cleanses your skin but without leaving it dry. It contains moisturizing properties that leave it looking smooth and healthy. Because of this, it is perfectly safe to use on your face.

This pH-balanced bar soap helps maintain your skin’s pH balance and gives your skin more protection and moisture. This means that you are less likely to suffer from acne caused by pollution, dirt, sweat, and other skin irritants.

The Redken Brews Cleansing Bar is also perfect for all skin types. So even if you have oily, dry, sensitive, or combination skin, this gentle bar soap won’t cause you any irritation.

Overall, the Redken Brews Cleansing Bar is the best bar soap for men who are looking for a highly moisturizing and gentle face and body cleanser that can be used every day.

5) Olivina Men Exfoliating Bar Soap


Pros

  • It is made from all-natural, sustainable, and vegan-friendly ingredients. 
  • It has ground olive stones that help exfoliate your skin, while the kaolin clay helps purify it.
  • It contains shea butter that leaves your skin moisturized. 
  • It is cruelty-free. 
  • The subtle scent is perfect for those with sensitivity to strong fragrances. 

Cons

  • It has a rough texture. 
  • It melts easily. 

If you look for vegan options, then look no further than the Olivina Men Exfoliating Bar Soap.

This bar soap is made with red kaolin clay, ground olive stone, and shea butter to give you that deep cleanses your pores yet leaves your skin nourished and moisturized. This means that it is capable of removing deep-seated dirt inside your pores without being too irritating.

The Olivina Men Exfoliating Bar Soap boasts being made with all-natural ingredients, including essential oils that will provide you with manly fragrances. It also contains sustainable palm oil, so you know that’s good for the environment as well.

This organic bar of soap is free from parabens, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals, so you know it’s safe for the skin. It is also cruelty-free. Overall, this is the best bar soap for vegan men.

6) Jack Black Turbo Body Bar Scrubbing Soap


Pros

  • It offers great exfoliation without leaving your skin feeling sore. 
  • It contains murumuru and shea butter to keep your skin moisturized. 
  • The Ginkgo Biloba helps you feel clean, fresh, and energized. 

Cons

  • It is pricey.

The Jack Black Turbo Body Bar Scrubbing Soap is perfect for the man who loves to feel energized throughout the day.

This bar of soap is made with natural blue lotus and ginkgo Biloba, leaving you energized and ready for the day ahead. It also contains natural lava rock, which is known for gently exfoliating your skin to make it look more healthy and radiant.

The Jack Black Turbo Body Bar Scrubbing Soap produces a luxurious lather that contains murumuru to lock in the moisture in your skin. It also contains shea butter to make sure that you won’t feel any tightness because of dry skin.

7) Herban Cowboy Milled Bar Soap Men’s Soap


Pros

  • It is made of all-natural ingredients. 
  • It is free from artificial dyes and harsh chemicals. 
  • It is cruelty-free and comes in eco-friendly packaging. 
  • It has a long-lasting musk scent. 
  • It offers good value for money.

Cons

  • The soap does not last very long. 

For those who love the smell of musk that lasts throughout the day, then you have to try the Herban Cowboy Milled Bar Soap Men’s Soap.

This vegan-friendly soap is made with all-natural and plant-based ingredients to guarantee that it’s safe for you to use. This also makes it highly sustainable, making it environment-friendly as well.

This milled bar of soap contains seaweed that helps condition the skin, pumice to aid in the exfoliation process, and black walnut to help minimize unwanted body odors. This is infused with natural essential oils to give it that signature dusk scent. All these ingredients guarantee to give you clean and exfoliated skin while smelling great all day.

What’s more is that the Herban Cowboy Milled Bar Soap Men’s Soap was never tested on animals, making it cruelty-free. It does not contain artificial dyes and other harmful chemicals, so you’re assured that it is completely organic.

This vegan soap comes in biodegradable packaging with the labels printed using soy ink. Overall, the Herban Cowboy Milled Bar Soap Men’s Soap is one of the safest and most eco-friendly soaps in the market today.

8) Duke Cannon Bourbon Soap for Men


Pros

  • It has a mild unique oak barrel scent that’s reminiscent of bourbon. 
  • It contains ground corn bits to help remove dead skin cells. 
  • This bar soap lasts a long time.

Cons

  • As of the time of writing, there are no negative reviews of this bar soap.

No soap on this list exudes manliness as much as the Duke Cannon Bourbon Soap for Men.

This bar of soap proudly claims to be the perfect embodiment of an all-American man. It is three times the size of regular bars of soap, so you know you’re getting a lot of product in each pack.

From its name, you could already tell that it contains bourbon – the award-winning Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Buffalo Trace, to be exact. This helps it give off that light bourbon scent that helps you exude machismo.

This soap also contains bits of ground corn to help exfoliate the skin, leaving you with clean and healthy skin.

Overall, the Duke Cannon Bourbon Soap for Men is a unique bar soap that will surely help you enjoy your baths.

9) Pre De Provence Aromatic, Warm and Spicy No. 63


Pros

  • It has a nice fragrance that’s not too overpowering. 
  • It contains shea butter to leave your skin feeling moisturized. 
  • The bar soap lasts long. 

Cons

  • The soap comes in a large cube shape that makes it a little awkward to hold. 

If you’re looking for a luxurious bar of soap, then the Pre De Provence Aromatic, Warm, and Spicy No. 63 is your best bet.

This bar of soap boasts being quad-milled, and this assures you that this is one of the smoothest soaps to ever touch your skin. On average, traditional soaps are milled only three times, and that already leaves you with refined soap with no impurities – so just imagine how smooth a quad-milled soap is.

It exudes a classic masculine scent that has peppery and citrus notes that’s not too overpowering. You also get a whiff of cedarwood, plum, and violet leaves that just makes it one of the most fragrant soaps on this list.

To make sure that your skin won’t feel dry and tight, this contains shea butter to give it the right amount of moisture it needs.

10) Mistral Men’s Sandalwood Bamboo Bar Soap


Pros

  • It is all-natural. 
  • It has warm, woody scents that are not overwhelming. 
  • It is free from parabens, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals. 
  • It lasts long.

Cons

  • It is a little pricey.

Completing our top 10 list for the best bar soaps for men is the luxurious Mistral Men’s Sandalwood Bamboo Bar Soap.

This triple-milled soap is made of all-natural ingredients that are free from parabens, alcohol, phthalates, and artificial coloring, so you know you’re not using anything to cause harm to your skin. This makes it the best soap for those with sensitive skin.

This soap exudes a warm sandalwood scent that’s layered with florals, Italian bergamot, and spices. This gives you that clean and crisp fragrance that’s not too strong or overwhelming.

We also love that it contains glycerin that helps lock in your skin’s natural moisture content. The all-natural grapeseed oil also hydrates your skin, leaving it looking smooth and supple.

Things to Consider

There are several factors that you have to look into before buying a bar of soap. Bear in mind that it goes directly on your skin, so you have to give it extra thought before buying the first thing you see.

Skin Type

The first thing that you have to look into is your skin type. Different soaps cater to different skin types, so you have to make sure that you know what type of skin you have to begin with.

If you end up buying a soap that targets oily skin when you have dry and sensitive skin, then you might not experience any improvement in your skin’s condition. This will often leave you wondering why the soap worked well on others while it didn’t do much for you.

Thus, knowing your skin type and looking for the soap that best addresses your skin’s concern will not only leave you with amazing skin – it will also give you the best value for your money.

Ingredients

Aside from looking into your skin type, you also should take a look at the list of ingredients that goes into the soap. This will help you identify whether harmful ingredients were used in making the soap – and you certainly don’t want that anywhere near your skin.

And while you’re at it, take a look if the soap contains ingredients like glycerin or shea butter. These are great at keeping your skin moisturized without containing any harmful chemicals.

Additionally, take note if the soap contains anything you’re allergic to. This assures you that the soap won’t trigger any allergic reaction, nor will it cause you to break out. As much as possible, go for a soap that contains all-natural ingredients.

Manufacturing Process

Finally, consider the soap’s manufacturing process. This will tell you so much about the quality of the soap and whether it is vegan-friendly or not.

Traditional soaps are milled three times to give them that smooth and clean texture. Anything less would give it a rougher texture. More luxurious soaps are milled up to four times to give off that silky texture and excellent lather.

For vegans, try to check if the soap was tested on animals. If not, then you’re assured that it’s cruelty-free.

Advantages of Using Bar Soap

If you’re still not decided, then you might want to consider these advantages that bar soaps have over liquid soaps.

Eco-Friendly

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – bar soaps are better for the environment than liquid soaps. Liquid soaps are often stored in large containers, while bar soaps usually come with recyclable or biodegradable packaging. Bar soaps are also more compact, so you know that they leave you with less garbage footprint.

Bar soaps are also easier to produce, and you can even make one without the need for preservatives and chemicals. This means that you can make bar soaps with sustainable materials that won’t cause any damage to the environment.

Lasts Longer

Bar soaps are also known to last longer than liquid soaps. It’s a lot harder to control the amount of liquid soap that you have to squeeze out of the container. And even if it has a pump that limits the amount it dispenses, you still end up using more of the product than the more compact bar soaps.

Because of their compact forms, bar soaps are less likely to spill even if you accidentally drop them. Softer bar soaps may come out deformed, but you still get the same amount of product.

Better Value for Money

Aside from the fact that bar soaps last longer than liquid soaps, the former also need fewer tools to bathe with. Liquid soaps usually require an extra washcloth or sponge to help create the lather, while you don’t need such things for bar soaps. This helps you save money for buying these bath tools while also saving you more time to simply just take a bath.

Additionally, bar soaps are more versatile. Natural exfoliants like wheat, ground corn, pumice, and lava stones can be safely added into bar soaps without affecting their texture and quality. This means that you don’t have to use an extra product or tool to help you get rid of those dull, dead skin cells.

Wrapping Up

Personal hygiene is something that we should never take for granted – and this equally applies to men and women. And if you want that extra clean feeling, the best way to get that is through the use of bar soaps.

A standard bar soap must be able to keep you clean and feeling fresh. But if you’re on the lookout for the best bar soap for men, then you have to add your personal needs into the equation.

Before making your purchase, it is important for you to check your skin type and whether you have allergies or not. This will help you narrow down your choices for the perfect bar soap that will address your skin concerns.

And if you’ve identified what you need in bar soap, but your options are still overwhelming, you can always look back on this article and take a look at our top 10 picks.

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