Bar Soap vs Body Wash - Which is Actually Better for Your Skin?

It's one of the most common bathroom debates: bar soap or body wash? Both clean your skin, both come in a huge variety of options, and both have loyal fans. But when you dig a little deeper, especially if you care about your skin health and the environment, the answer becomes clearer than you might expect.

At Ma's Goodie's, we're obviously a little biased — but we'll give you the full picture so you can decide for yourself.

The Case for Body Wash

Body washes have dominated bathroom shelves for the past few decades, and it's easy to see why. They're convenient, easy to apply with a loofah or shower puff, and come in an enormous variety of scents and formulations. Many people associate them with feeling modern and luxurious.

However, most commercial body washes are primarily made up of water, synthetic detergents (called surfactants), and a long list of preservatives to extend shelf life. Many contain sulfates like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which creates that satisfying lather — but can also strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving it feeling tight and dry after a shower.

They also come in plastic bottles, often non-recyclable, which adds up quickly for regular use.

The Case for Handmade Bar Soap

Traditional bar soap — particularly handmade, cold-process soap — is a very different product from the hard, waxy commercial bars you might be thinking of. Here's what sets a quality handmade soap apart:

Natural Glycerin

When soap is made through the traditional cold-process method, glycerin is naturally produced as a by-product. Glycerin is a powerful humectant that attracts moisture to the skin and keeps it soft and hydrated. Most large commercial soap manufacturers actually remove the glycerin from their bars and sell it separately for use in other products — leaving you with a bar that doesn't nourish the way it should. Handmade soap retains all of its natural glycerin.

Skin-Nourishing Oils

A good handmade soap is made with a blend of nourishing plant oils — things like olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter. These ingredients don't just clean the skin; they actively moisturise and protect it during every wash.

No Harsh Detergents

Handmade artisan soap cleans through the natural saponification of plant oils — not synthetic detergents. This means it's far less likely to disrupt your skin's natural pH or strip its moisture barrier.

Environmentally Friendly

A bar of soap produces far less plastic waste than body wash. Most artisan soap bars come in paper, cardboard, or minimal packaging — and the soap itself is biodegradable. For anyone trying to reduce their environmental footprint, it's a simple, meaningful swap.

What About Bacteria on Bar Soap?

This is the concern that often pushes people toward body wash — the idea that a shared bar of soap harbours bacteria. Studies have consistently shown that the amount of bacteria that transfers from bar soap to skin during normal use is negligible and poses no health risk. Bar soap is self-cleaning: the very act of lathering and rinsing removes any bacteria. As long as you store your bar somewhere it can drain and dry between uses, it's perfectly hygienic.

Which is Better for Sensitive Skin?

For sensitive skin specifically, a high-quality handmade bar soap is generally the better choice. The absence of synthetic fragrances, preservatives, sulfates, and artificial additives makes it much less likely to cause irritation or trigger reactions. Our Gentle Olive Oil Soap and Goat's Milk & Manuka Honey Soap are both formulated specifically with sensitive skin in mind — even gentle enough for those with eczema.

Cost and Value

Body wash can seem economical per bottle, but the volume used per shower is typically much higher than with bar soap — especially when using a puff or loofah. A quality bar of artisan soap, stored correctly, can last four to six weeks with daily use, often making it the better value option.

The Verdict - Bar Soap vs Body Wash

| | Handmade Bar Soap | Commercial Body Wash |

| Retains natural glycerin | ✅ Yes | ❌ Usually removed |

| Free from sulfates | ✅ Yes | ❌ Often contains SLS |

| Eco-friendly packaging | ✅ Yes | ❌ Usually plastic |

| Suitable for sensitive skin | ✅ Great choice | ⚠️ Depends on formula |

| Nourishing ingredients | ✅ Plant oils & butters | ⚠️ Varies widely |

| Biodegradable | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Often not fully |

For everyday cleansing, especially if you have sensitive, dry, or reactive skin, a handmade artisan bar soap is hard to beat. It cleans gently, nourishes while it washes, produces less waste, and — when made well — is a genuinely luxurious experience.

If you've never tried a truly handmade soap, our Artisan Soap range is the perfect place to start — with bars from just $6.55 and a wide range of scents and skin benefits to choose from.