Soap & Water vs Cleansers

FACT: Using a bar of soap on your face is bad for your skin.
But...... is washing your face with soap really bad for your skin?

In the past 25 years, bar soaps have received a lot competition from face washing liquids, gels, creams and foams which are formulated to be gentler on the skin by not disrupting the surface moisture barrier. Despite the popularity of these gentler alternatives, there are still a lot of people who prefer to use a bar of soap–probably due to ease and habit.


However, is washing your face with a bar of soap really that bad for your skin?
Well, it can be quite damaging to the skin to cleanse your face with a bar of facial soap, especially if it is not followed by adequate moisturising afterwards. Although many bar soaps are now better formulated and gentler (due to a lower pH that closely matches the normal skin level), they will still be more drying sulphate-free gels, foams, liquids and creams. (What does sulphate-free mean? Read about sulphate-free cleansers here.) The binders that hold a bar of soap together naturally have a higher pH than products that are formulated specifically for cleansing the face, so they will have a drying effect on the skin. Skin that is dry and parches is bad for the long-term health and look of the skin.


Why is it bad to dry out the skin? 
When you wash with a foaming cleanser or soap that is too drying, it pulls all the water out of the skin and creates dead, dry skin cell buildup. To compensate for the moisture you removed, your moisturiser not have to repair the dehydrated cells caused from cleansing. (not efficient at all!) Every product that  your face should be offering something beneficial and not something harmful or potentially damaging.

Are some bar soaps gentler than others?
Yes, there are bar soaps with moisturising agents to make them gentler, but they are still a no-no in my book. Foaming cleansers are fine, I just don’t suggest ones in a bar form. Here’s the rule when it comes to foaming cleansers: The more lather and larger bubbles a foaming cleansers produces, the more drying it will be. The less lather with smaller bubbles, the less drying it will be.

What if I use a bar of soap and it doesn’t dry out my skin? 
There’s a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. People associate dry skin with flaking. Although, people with combination and oily skin types might not ever experience flakiness associated with dryness because the built-in oils in their skin will prevent this from happening. Dehydration, on the other hand, is when there is a tight feeling, which indicates that water has been robbed from the skin. If you have been using bar soap to wash their face for a long time, you might think this tight feeling is normal because you have nothing to compare it to. However, if you use a gentle sulphate-free cleanser, you will definitely notice that your skin doesn’t have that tight, parched feel. Try using soaps that suit your skin type as it won't tend to dry out the skin and it won't make it feel harsh on especially sensitive skin. 

The verdict however is the user and soap and water has been used for centuries; many famous celebrities swear by it as the best cleanser of all time. But not all skin is equal, so choose your skin type here to see which cleanser is right for you.

Benefits of Soapless Skin Cleansers
Because soapless cleansers moisturise the skin and strengthen the stratum corneum, they're a good choice for people with sensitive skin. But soapless skin cleansers can also benefit people with dry or oily skin. If your skin is oily, a soapless cleanser with a low pH will clean your skin without drying it out; removing too much oil can actually cause oil glands to go into overdrive. People with dry skin have little oil to protect their skin therefore soapless cleansers are also a good choice; the added moisturisers will help the skin retain water instead of drying it like bar soap.


These cleansers are also less likely to produce soap scum ie the combination of soap and hard water. Water that's high in calcium (hard water supply in some areas) can create a soap scum that leaves a residue on your skin. Soapless cleansers also have a longer shelf life than soap and soap deteriorates easily when it comes in contact with water but soapless cleansers can last for years.

One of the greatest benefits of soapless skin cleansers is that they keep your skin moisturised. You can help your body retain that moisture by taking warm, short showers instead of hot, lengthy ones. Too much heat can dry out your skin therefore applying a moisturiser within three minutes of bathing or showering can also help you retain the moisture that the water and cleanser added to your skin.