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11 best facial cleansing soap bars to buy in the UK
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We are all looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact, whether that’s holding your weekly shop in your arms over opting for a plastic bag or having your reusable water bottle always in tow.
The beauty industry, in particular, is one of the biggest offenders of single-use plastic waste but until recently, there were few alternatives.
From refillable and recyclable packaging, to plastic-free alternatives, some of the biggest beauty brands in the biz are getting creative with ways to reduce waste. But one of the more surprising solutions goes back to basics in the form of solid bars. We’ve seen a massive resurgence in soap bars as well as shampoo and perfume in solid form, but the latest, cleansing bars may just be the most innovative yet.
Forget all preconceived ideas of drying and harsh soap bars, these sustainable solutions are not like their predecessors. They are jam-packed with natural and skin-friendly ingredients that will not strip your face’s natural barrier with harsh preservatives or suds-inducing detergents. Many formulations have been reinvented without chemicals like SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) to nourish skin and remove oil, dirt or makeup and some even have exfoliating properties.
While our beauty routines are progressively getting more complicated and scientific with a new beauty buzzword every week, there is something comforting about the simplicity of this beauty hero that is gentle, cost-efficient and eco-friendly.
Cleansing bars also tend to be housed in minimal packaging like recyclable cardboard or cork boxes to help you in your fight against excess plastic.
See our favourites
Drunk Elephant Juju Bar
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Free your beauty routine from toxins and harsh chemicals with this cleanser from Drunk Elephant. The entire range is free from essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical screens, fragrance/dyes and SLS. The three-in-one bar works to gently cleanse, exfoliate and detoxify skin. It is made up of thermal mud, bamboo powder and marula oil to unclog pores and will leave your skin feeling nourished and rehydrated.
Kiehl's Concentrated Cleansing Bar
Kiehl's is demonstrating its commitment to more sustainable practices with the launch of facial bars. The brand has transformed three of its most sought-after formulas into concentrated solid form that use five times less water.
The collection is made up of the Ultra Facial Hydrating Concentrated Cleansing Bar, Calendula Calming & Soothing Concentrated Cleansing Bar and Rare Earth Deep Pore Detoxifying Concentrated Cleansing Bar.
To use, you add water and it creates a lather that cleanses without stripping. They are also 96 per cent biodegradable - comprised of renewable or fairly-traded ingredients and less plastic waste packaging.
Gallinée Prebiotic Cleansing Bar Perfume Free
Harking back to good old-fashioned bars of soap - yet with a formula that’s miles away from the drying products of old.
Use the Gallinée Prebiotic Cleansing Bar to wash your face, body and nether regions where its non-stripping formula dissolves impurities - protecting and reinforcing the skin’s barrier instead. This is thanks to the blend of prebiotics as well as lactic acid that provides a very gentle exfoliating effect. It is derived from 75 per cent natural origin ingredients.
Lush Tea Totaler Cleansing Balm
One of the pioneers in the anti-plastic movement, Lush offers a whole host of innovative solutions to reducing waste. The Tee Totaler Cleansing Balm will help you reap the rewards of clarifying ingredients like tea tree, sage and rosemary to counteract acne.
ARgENTUM le savon lune Illuminating Hydration Bar
The first time we used this facial cleansing soap we were amazed by its makeup-removing ability — not a trace of face paint remained. Occasional breakouts have been reduced to extinction, and despite the lack of any grainy texture, it exfoliates better than most scrubs tested. It’s wildly expensive, but it has lasted the better part of a year.
Herbivore Botanicals Pink Clay Cleansing Soap Bar
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Not only will this colourful cleansing bar fit seamlessly in with your carefully curated shelfie but you will also be able to make the most of the all-natural ingredients to transform your beauty routine. Herbivore offers three variations of soaps made from premium plant-based ingredients that provide a deep and thorough cleanse. The Pink Clay is designed to remove impurities, while nourishing the skin through the combination of geranium oil and blood orange oil.
Avène Cold Cream Ultra Rich Cleansing Bar
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PSA for those with sensitive skin, Avène should most definitely be on your radar. The brand specialises in hydrating heroes for sensitive skin and their cold cream cleansing bar has become perennially popular. Composed of Beeswax and the brand’s signature Thermale Spring Water, it’s a strong choice to soothe problematic skin and inject moisture back into dry or dull complexions.
CHANEL SUBLIMAGE LE SAVON DE SOIN Radiance-Revealing Rich Cleansing Soap
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You can count on Chanel to produce an ultra-luxurious take on a classic soap bar. The Savon de Soin has a creamy texture that results in a soft lather that will not strip your skin of its natural oils. It works to cleanse and purify, leaving you with a fresh complexion without overdrying thanks to the inclusion of shea butter.
Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar
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Introduce the world-famous “Laszlo Glow” into your regime with the brand’s Dead Sea Mud bar that is brimming with minerals. The skincare label that counted the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly among its celebrity clientele created this product to draw out impurities, gently exfoliate and encourage your skin’s natural regeneration.
Glossier Milky Jelly Bar
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Glossier may already dominate your makeup collection with its cult Boy Brow and Cloud Paint but it's coming for your skincare routine too with this nourishing cleansing bar. The Milky Jelly Bar has the same beloved formula as its liquid counterpart but is offered in solid form. The ergonomically designed bar is made for the face and body and is enriched with gentle, kind-to-skin ingredients that can be used by all skin types, even those with sensitivities. It's moisturising without being oily and leaves your skin feeling silky smooth.
Verdict
From the outset, you will see why cult label Drunk Elephant has earned its stripes. The cleansing bar gets results, working to deeply cleanse your skin while gently exfoliating. Your skin will be left looking and feeling soft and smooth – and what’s better than that?