Can You Wash Your Face With Bar Soap?

Key takeaways

• Many people wash their face with bar soap comfortably; the formula matters more than the format.
• Avoid heavily fragranced deodorant style bars on your face; choose a mild, simple bar.
• Lather in your hands, wash for about 30 to 60 seconds, rinse well with lukewarm water and moisturize.
• Sunscreen and makeup come off more easily with an oil first, followed by soap.
• Tightness, stinging or new redness means the bar or the routine needs to change.

For years, skin care marketing has told us that bar soap belongs on the body and never on the face. Yet many people, including plenty with clear, comfortable skin, wash their face with bar soap every day. So who is right? The honest answer is that you can wash your face with bar soap, but the specific bar and the way you use it matter far more than the fact that it is a bar. A harsh, fragranced deodorant bar is a poor choice for facial skin. A mild, simple chemical free soap made from conditioning oils can work well for many people.

Where the "never use soap on your face" advice comes from

The warning has a real basis. Older commercial soaps were often harsh, heavily fragranced and built for removing grime, not for thin facial skin. Many "deodorant" bars also contain antibacterial agents and strong scents. And true soap is alkaline, while skin's surface is mildly acidic, which is why some dermatologists prefer mild synthetic cleansers formulated closer to skin's pH. Our article on soap and skin pH explains what that difference does and does not mean in practice.

What has changed is the range of bars available. Today the shelf includes detergent based "beauty bars," syndet bars made for the face, and handmade soaps formulated with rich oils and a gentle superfat. Lumping them together as "bar soap" is not very useful. See real soap vs detergent bars for how to tell them apart.

Which skin types tend to do well with bar soap

Skin type	Bar soap on the face?	What to look for
Normal	Usually fine	A mild, oil rich bar with no added fragrance or dyes
Oily or combination	Often works well	A gentle bar, possibly with clay; avoid overwashing, which can leave skin feeling tight
Dry	Possible with care	Bars rich in olive oil and shea; wash once a day and moisturize right after
Sensitive or eczema prone	Test carefully	Fragrance free bars; ask a dermatologist whether a syndet cleanser suits you better
Acne prone	Depends on the person	Avoid scrubbing and heavy fragrance; follow your dermatologist's routine

If your skin reacts easily, read choosing soap for sensitive skin first.

Body bar or face bar?

Some people use one good bar for everything. Others keep a separate face bar. There are reasonable arguments for a separate one:

• Gentler formula. Face bars are often made with extra conditioning oils and little or no essential oil, since facial skin and the area around the eyes are more delicate.
• Hygiene preference. A body bar touches every part of you. Plenty of research suggests bar soap is a low risk for passing germs, as our article on whether bar soap is sanitary explains, but many people simply prefer a dedicated bar at the sink.
• Different goals. A body bar for the gym or garden may be scented or contain exfoliants that you do not want on your face.

How to wash your face with bar soap

1. Wet your face with lukewarm water. Hot water feels nice but removes more oil.
2. Lather the bar in your hands, not on your face. Rubbing a bar directly across your skin adds friction and uses more soap than you need.
3. Massage the lather gently for about 30 to 60 seconds. Use fingertips, focus on the nose, chin and forehead, and keep lather away from your eyes. True soap stings if it gets in them.
4. Rinse thoroughly. Splash ten or more times, paying attention to the hairline and jaw, where residue hides.
5. Pat dry with a clean towel and apply a moisturizer or facial oil while skin is still slightly damp.

Most people do well washing with soap once a day, usually in the evening, and using only water in the morning. If your skin is oily or you exercise, twice a day may suit you better. Pay attention to how your skin feels an hour later, not just right after rinsing.

Sunscreen and makeup

Mineral sunscreen, long wear makeup and waterproof mascara are designed to resist water, and soap alone may need extra rubbing to remove them. A gentle approach many people like:

1. Massage a plant oil over dry skin to loosen sunscreen and makeup.
2. Wipe away with a warm, damp cloth.
3. Follow with a light soap wash to remove the oil and any remaining residue.

This "oil first" step means the soap does less work, which tends to feel kinder to skin.

Signs your bar is not right for your face

• Skin feels tight, dry or "squeaky" for more than a few minutes after washing
• Stinging or burning when you apply your usual moisturizer
• New redness, flaking or rough patches
• A dull film on the skin, which can happen with soap in very hard water

If you notice these, try washing less often, using cooler water, or switching to a gentler bar. If problems continue, or you have a skin condition such as rosacea, acne or eczema, a dermatologist can help you choose a cleanser.

What about clay and charcoal face bars?

Bars with kaolin clay, bentonite clay or activated charcoal are popular for oily skin because clay can absorb excess surface oil. They can be pleasant a few times a week, but they may feel drying with daily use, especially in winter. Our article on clay, charcoal and botanicals in soap covers what these additions do and do not do.

Our approach to a face bar

At Lucky Lady Ranch we make a separate Beauty Bar for the face. It starts with the same olive, coconut, shea, castor and avocado oils as our body soap and adds vitamin E, rosehip seed oil and prickly pear seed oil. After rinsing, a few drops of our jojoba and rosehip Beauty Oil pressed into damp skin helps it feel soft. If you are curious about the oils themselves, our main site's guide to rosehip seed oil goes into detail.

Men who want one simple routine for face and beard may also find our guide to natural soap for men useful.

From the ranch

Made in small batches, without the ingredients discussed above.

Questions people ask

Is it bad to wash your face with bar soap?

Not necessarily. Harsh, fragranced deodorant bars can be too strong for facial skin, but many people use a mild, simple bar on their face without trouble. Choose a gentle formula, use lukewarm water and moisturize afterward.

Can I use my body soap on my face?

You can if it is mild and unscented or lightly scented, and your face feels comfortable afterward. Many people prefer a separate face bar with extra conditioning oils and fewer essential oils, since facial skin is more delicate.

How often should I wash my face with soap?

Once a day is enough for many people, often in the evening, with plain water in the morning. Oily skin or daily workouts may call for twice a day. Watch for tightness or flaking as a sign to cut back.

Does bar soap remove sunscreen?

It can, but water resistant sunscreen and makeup often come off more easily if you massage in a plant oil first, wipe with a warm cloth, and then wash with soap.

Is bar soap good for oily skin?

A gentle bar can work well for oily skin, and some people enjoy clay bars a few times a week. Avoid overwashing or scrubbing, which can leave skin irritated.

Sources and further reading

1. American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), How to wash your face
2. American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Face washing 101
3. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Soaps and Cosmetics
4. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine, research on cleanser pH and the skin barrier

This guide is for general education and is not medical advice. If you have a skin condition, allergy, or are pregnant or nursing, talk with your doctor or a board certified dermatologist about the products that are right for you.