I’m Sold—This Unassuming Shower Product Just Became the Chicest Thing You Can Own

Key ingredients: Vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, amino acid complex

Key Notes: Subtle rum scent

I had to start this round-up off with my all-time favourite bar soap, Malin + Geotz Vitamin B5 Hydrating Bar. Earning itself a permanent place in my favourites for easy repurchasing, this bar soap creates a rich, creamy lather that hydrates and moisturises the skin. It contains a concoction of hyaluronic acid, shea butter and an amino acid complex to hydrate, soften and support the skin barrier, as well as vitamin B5, which helps to increase moisture retention. It does have a rum scent much like the Malin + Goetz perfume; however, as someone who suffers from eczema, this did not irritate my skin in any way.

Key ingredients: Shea butter

If you suffer from dry skin like I do, you might find that most bar soaps strip away too many of the body’s natural oils, but luckily for all of us, I’ve found the answer. With only 4 ingredients and no added fragrance whatsoever, Mirror Water’s butter brick is a face and body bar that effectively cleanses the skin without stripping away any moisture or hydration. The only setback I’d mention is that this is not a cleanser for anyone who suffers from sweat build-up, as they may need a stronger, anti-bacterial bar soap.

Key ingredients: Bamboo powder, sunflower seed oil, aloe leaf juice

Key notes: Orange blossom-neroli blend

For those with oilier or acne-prone skin, Glossier’s Body Hero Exfoliating Bar provides a gentle exfoliation to unclog pores, simultaneously using vitamin-rich sunflower seed oil to lock in moisture. The fragrance is fruity and fresh, which makes my whole bathroom smell amazing. However, I’d definitely say that this bar is best suited to those with normal to oily skin, and I had to make sure to use extra moisturiser after using this to combat the dryness of my skin. But because it did such a good job at exfoliating, I’ll be keeping this to give my skin a more thorough cleanse 1-2 times per week.

Key ingredients: Blueberry extract, virgin marula oil, honey

Infused with a blend of blueberry extract, marula oil and honey, Drunk Elephant’s Pekee Bar is 100% fragrance- and soap-free as well as formulated with only skin-friendly ingredients designed to cleanse and soothe the skin without causing irritation. It’s the definition of a “clean soap”, smelling of absolutely nothing, which also makes it ideal for those who simply don’t like fragranced products. Nevertheless, the bar left my body feeling just as clean as the other bars I tried, and unlike the other soaps, the gentle formula has a biocompatible pH of 6.5, helping to leave the skin feeling balanced.

Key ingredients: Shea butter, niacinamide, vitamin C, kojic, azelaic, lactic acid

Blending together six active ingredients, Topicals’ Faded Brightening & Cleansing Bar manages to clean, moisturise, and target dark spots all in one. As someone who has hyperpigmentation over my entire body, I’m very keen to keep up the use of this to see if it helps combat this, but the customer reviews make it look very promising, with one reviewer stating that their “skin looks radiant and with a more even tone and above all hydrated since it does not feel that annoying tight effect on my skin after washing it, without a doubt being constant and these bars have been the best combination to get rid of some annoying dark spots.”

Key ingredients: Sage leaf, grape, seed, pumice, pine needle

As nice as it is to use to pretty-looking bar to boost your mood, sometimes all our skin needs is just a thorough deep cleanse. Aesop’s polish bar promises to polish and exfoliate most skin types‚ especially dry, patchy skin. You should be aware that this bar is a lot larger than most soaps, so it might take a while to get the hang of it. However, it’s a great deep cleanser that leaves your skin feeling extremely exfoliated without that squeaky clean, dry feeling.

Key ingredients: Sweet almond oil

Key Notes: Fig leaves, fig tree sap, fig tree wood, black pepper

If you’re looking for a bar soap that will boost your mood in the mornings as well as leave your bathroom smelling amazing, Diptyque’s bar soap collection is less about its utilitarian use and acts more as a fragrant gesture. Each bar smells like one of the iconic Diptyque perfumes. Much like its eau de toilette counterpart, the Philosykos soap has notes of fig leaves, fig tree sap and black pepper, leaving the skin with a fresh and milky scent and acting as the perfect start to your fragrance layering routine.

Key Notes: Rose, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, vanilla, iris

Whenever I want a luxury shower experience, I look no further than Chanel’s No.5 bar soap. Based on the iconic Chanel No.5 perfume, this expensive-smelling bar soap is the perfect treat for those self-care days. At £32, this is by no means a cheap soap, and the fragrance is also extremely strong, so it’s not one I’d add to my everyday hygiene routine. However, it’s one I’d use before a night out or when I simply need a mood-boosting treat.

Key ingredients:  Sulphate-SLES-free formula

Don’t be fooled into thinking that the cheaper price point of Dove’s Original Beauty Bar Soap makes it any less luxurious. This cult favourite has been around for years and for very good reason. In fact, it was the very first solid soap that I tried after it had a revival on TikTok. It lathers up beautifully and smells lovely. The only thing I’d be wary of is that it’s not antibacterial for those who require that in a soap. However, since the popularity of the original bar, the brand has come out with an antibacterial version of the soap that you can buy in stores like Boots.

Key ingredients: Red algae, shea butter, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants

Key notes: Tomato vines

At £52, Loewe’s tomato leaves bar soap is probably the most luxurious bar of soap I’ve ever laid eyes on. Created with a fresh, leafy scent, rather than focusing on the juiciness of the fruit itself, it smells naturally clean as opposed to artificial and uses red algae to gently cleanse the skin. Not to mention it comes on a 100% natural, pre-washed linen rope, so it’s easier to store/show off in your shower.

Key Notes: Grapefruit, pepper, cedar, vetiver

It should come as no surprise that Hermès has created one of the best-smelling bar soaps around. With notes of grapefruit, pepper, cedar and vetiver, this woody and spicy soap is equally perfect for men as it is for women.

Key ingredients: 96% natural ingredients, including glycerin and sweet almond oil

Key Notes: Bergamot, rose absolute, white orris butter, rice powder, vetiver

The £90 price tag might initially throw you off, but Celine’s bar soaps all come in a pack of 3, putting them at roughly the same price as a lot of their counterparts. Made from 96% natural ingredients, such as plant-based glycerin to hydrate the skin, the soaps gently cleanse the body without feeling too drying. You can buy these luxurious sets in five of the brand’s emblematic fragrances, but the one that caught my eye is La Peau Nue, a powdery rose scent.