Finding the perfect bar soap in the Philippines can be daunting with so many options. Whether you need bar soap for sensitive skin, one with salicylic acid for exfoliating, or the best bar soap brands, our guide has you covered. We've collaborated with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Angelie Chua to create a comprehensive buying guide to help you make an informed choice.
Additionally, we've curated a list of top products available on Lazada and Shopee. Our recommendations highlight the best bar soaps for various needs, ensuring you find the perfect match for your skincare routine. Explore our picks to enhance your skin's health and glow.
Quick List - Top Bar Soaps
Aveeno
Infused With Colloidal Oatmeal to Gently Cleanse and Moisturize the Skin
Dr. Angelie Chua is a dedicated Thomasian physician specializing in dermatology, with board certification from the Philippine Dermatological Society. She completed her residency at UST Hospital and is currently pursuing a fellowship in Trichology (hair disorders). Passionate about beauty, health, history, music, and travel, she fosters continuous learning and expertise in diverse fields. Dr. Chua is committed to providing exceptional care and staying at the forefront of dermatological advancements for the benefit of her patients.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
While bar soaps can potentially harbor bacteria when shared, the risk of transmitting illness is low if basic hygiene practices are followed.
Studies show that around 62% of bar soaps can get contaminated with microbes, compared to only 3% of liquid soaps. This is because the moist surface of a bar soap provides an environment for bacteria to thrive when shared between multiple users. However, the amount of bacteria transmitted is unlikely to cause significant health issues for most people with normal immune function.
For optimal hygiene, it is recommended to use personal bar soap to avoid spreading microbes. Those with compromised immune systems or specific hygiene concerns may want to exercise extra caution. Proper soap storage, such as allowing it to dry fully between uses, can also help minimize bacterial growth.
Not all surfactants are necessarily harsh or need to be avoided completely. The key is to find fatty acids, which help offset any potential harm from surfactants.
Surfactants are detergent-like ingredients that help create lather and have cleansing and antibacterial properties. The most common surfactant used is sodium laureth sulfate (SLES).
Remember, everyone's skin is unique. Typically, those with sensitive skin should avoid drying and irritating sulfates like SLES. Not all surfactants are harsh; the key is checking ingredient lists for high concentrations of sulfates or other irritants. Mild surfactants can cleanse when paired with moisturizing oils and butters.
A common misconception is that well-lathering soap that leaves the skin feeling tight is more effective. This isn't true. A soap's cleaning power isn't just about how much it lathers. Some soaps contain gentle ingredients and extra moisturizers, which leave the skin feeling soft and supple.
Different skin types require various soap bars. Discover the essential tips for selecting the perfect bar soap in our comprehensive guide below!
Moisturizing ingredients are essential to provide hydration and nourishment, leaving the skin feeling soft and supple.
When selecting a bar soap, prioritizing moisturizing ingredients is key to promoting healthy skin. Opt for formulations rich in coconut oil, shea butter, and olive oil, as these natural oils effectively replenish moisture levels and support the skin's natural barrier function.
Glycerin and hyaluronic acid draw moisture from the environment, helping hydrate your skin. Additionally, bar soaps with oatmeal, aloe vera, or other soothing additives offer gentle cleansing while providing comfort, making them ideal for individuals with sensitive or dry skin.
Since the soap is washed off and is not in contact with the skin for a prolonged period, a separate moisturizer is still needed. Using a moisturizing soap is beneficial, but it is not enough.
Those with sensitive skin need to be cautious about ingredients that can trigger reactions like redness, itching, and irritation.
Individuals with sensitive skin should be extra cautious about potential irritants in bar soap. Avoid artificial dyes, colorants, sulfates, lanolin, parabens, and, most importantly, fragrances and essential oils. These can all trigger reactions like redness, itching, and irritation.
The shorter the ingredients list, the better! Opt for fragrance-free, hypoallergenic bar soaps made with minimal ingredients to maintain the delicate balance of sensitive skin. Although not as common in the Philippines, you may look for products with the National Eczema Association label, indicating that the soap is suitable and tested for sensitive skin types.
If you really want to use a fragrant soap, patch test to see if your skin will react to the fragrance. Compared to synthetic fragrances, naturally fragrant essential oils are usually less likely to trigger contact dermatitis.
For oily, acne-prone skin, specific active ingredients such as salicylic acid can help unclog pores and kill acne-causing bacteria, while avoiding pore-clogging oils.
To address body acne or oily skin, look for bar soaps infused with salicylic acid, azelaic acid, sulfur, AHAs, or benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid, azelaic acid, and AHAs gently exfoliate to unclog pores, while benzoyl peroxide and sulfur combat acne-causing bacteria.
Conversely, stear clear comedogenic oils such as cocoa, coconut, olive, and avocado oil, as well as lanolin, which can contribute to pore congestion and exacerbate breakouts. You'll also want to steer clear of harsh detergents like sodium laureth sulfate, parabens, alcohols, and triclosans which can strip too much oil and irritate acne.
If a new bar soap contains anti-acne ingredients like AHAs and BHAs, you may initially experience purging, especially if you don't usually use topical anti-acne skin care products.
Premium soaps often contain natural ingredients compared to the synthetic ingredients seen in commercial soaps.
If you want a bar soap to elevate your showering routine or as a thoughtful gift, explore artisanal or other premium options. These are typically crafted in small batches using high-quality, natural ingredients like plant-based oils and butters such as shea, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, and more. Look for those with natural fragrances from essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances.
Certified organic soaps indicate they are made without artificial additives, dyes, or preservatives. While more expensive, these luxurious soaps provide a pampering, sensorial experience with a nourishing lather. However, those with fragrance sensitivities should do a patch test, as even natural essential oils can potentially irritate.
A more expensive bar soap may have more natural and high-end ingredients, but this is not always the case! It's still best to check the ingredients list to know what the product actually contains.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best for | Key Ingredients | Fragrance-free | Dye-free | Non-Comedogenic | Net Weight | |||||
1 | Be Organic Oatmeal Soap | ![]() | Combat Symptoms of Sensitive Skin With a Mild Oatmeal Soap | Dry Skin、Oily / Acne-prone Skin | Saponified Oils of Palm, Coconut, Olive, and Castor, Essential Oil, Ground Oatmeal | 110g | ||||
2 | Dove Sensitive Beauty Bar | ![]() | Cleanse and Moisturize Your Skin | Moisturization | Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, and Sodium Isethionate | 90g | ||||
3 | Dr. Alvin Kojic Acid Soap | ![]() | Premium Kojic Acid Soap for a Healthier, More Radiant, and Lighter Skin | Oily / Acne-prone Skin | Kojic acid | 90g | ||||
4 | Aveeno Moisturizing Bar with Nourishing Oat | ![]() | Infused With Colloidal Oatmeal to Gently Cleanse and Moisturize the Skin | Dry Skin、Sensitive Skin | Avena sativa (Oat) | 100g | ||||
5 | Oxecure Sulfur Soap | ![]() | Your Solution to Clogged Pores and Back Acne | Oily / Acne-prone Skin | 2.5% Sulfur | unknown | 30g | |||
6 | Kojiesan Skin Lightening Soap Classic | ![]() | Kojic Acid Soap for a Glowing and Radiant Skin | Dark spots and uneven skin tone | Kojic Acid and Coconut Oil | 65g | ||||
7 | Dr. Sensitive Niacinamide + Salicylic Acid Face and Body Bar Soap | ![]() | Gently Cleanses While Working to Clear Pimples and Lighten Blemishes | Oily / Acne-prone Skin | Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid | 120g | ||||
8 | Belo Intensive Whitening Bar Kojic + Traxemic Acid | ![]() | Brighten and Even the Skin Tone With Tranexamic Acid and Kojic Acid | Oily / Acne-prone Skin, Pigmentation | Kojic Acid and Tranexamic Acid | 65g | ||||
9 | Human Nature Fragrance-Free Gentle Cleansing Bar | ![]() | Cold-Processed, Hypoallergenic Soap From a Trusted Local Brand | Moisturization、Sensitive Skin | Coconut oil | 120g | ||||
10 | Silka Silka Whitening Soap Shea Butter | ![]() | Whiten, Moisturize & Nourish with Every Wash! | Moisturization、Dry Skin | Shea butter, Niacinamide, Sodium Lactate, Salicylic Acid | 135g |
Be Organic Oatmeal Soap 110g is specially formulated to soothe and calm irritated and sensitive skin without colors or fragrances.
It gently exfoliates by removing dead skin cells, promoting smoother, radiant skin and improving skin texture.
The soap nourishes and hydrates the skin, leaving it soft, supple, and well-moisturized.
Oatmeal’s natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help relieve itchiness from insect bites, rashes, and dry skin conditions such as eczema.
Made with natural ingredients including saponified oils of palm, coconut, olive, castor, essential oil, and ground oatmeal for effective cleansing without stripping natural oils.
Best for | Dry Skin、Oily / Acne-prone Skin |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Saponified Oils of Palm, Coconut, Olive, and Castor, Essential Oil, Ground Oatmeal |
Fragrance-free | |
Dye-free | |
Non-Comedogenic | |
Net Weight | 110g |
Best for | Moisturization |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, and Sodium Isethionate |
Fragrance-free | |
Dye-free | |
Non-Comedogenic | |
Net Weight | 90g |
Best for | Oily / Acne-prone Skin |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Kojic acid |
Fragrance-free | |
Dye-free | |
Non-Comedogenic | |
Net Weight | 90g |
Best for | Dry Skin、Sensitive Skin |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Avena sativa (Oat) |
Fragrance-free | |
Dye-free | |
Non-Comedogenic | |
Net Weight | 100g |
Best for | Oily / Acne-prone Skin |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | 2.5% Sulfur |
Fragrance-free | |
Dye-free | |
Non-Comedogenic | unknown |
Net Weight | 30g |
Best for | Dark spots and uneven skin tone |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Kojic Acid and Coconut Oil |
Fragrance-free | |
Dye-free | |
Non-Comedogenic | |
Net Weight | 65g |
Best for | Oily / Acne-prone Skin |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid |
Fragrance-free | |
Dye-free | |
Non-Comedogenic | |
Net Weight | 120g |
Best for | Oily / Acne-prone Skin, Pigmentation |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Kojic Acid and Tranexamic Acid |
Fragrance-free | |
Dye-free | |
Non-Comedogenic | |
Net Weight | 65g |
Best for | Moisturization、Sensitive Skin |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Coconut oil |
Fragrance-free | |
Dye-free | |
Non-Comedogenic | |
Net Weight | 120g |
Best for | Moisturization、Dry Skin |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Shea butter, Niacinamide, Sodium Lactate, Salicylic Acid |
Fragrance-free | |
Dye-free | |
Non-Comedogenic | |
Net Weight | 135g |
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by Dr. Angelie Chua.
It is recommended to use separate soaps for cleansing the body and the face. Body bar soaps usually have a higher pH and stronger cleansing agents to remove dirt effectively, which might be too harsh for facial skin, leading to irritation and acne.
For the face, opt for gentler bar soaps tailored to remove oil and dirt without causing irritation. Choose a milder bar soap with a lower pH for delicate facial skin. As with any skincare product, the best choice depends on your skin type.
Look for changes in its appearance, lathering ability, and if it dissolves more easily than usual. If you notice these signs, or if you experience skin irritation, unusual odors, or any other adverse reactions, consult a board-certified dermatologist for further advice and evaluation.
Unfortunately, most soap products in the Philippines do not indicate the pH level since it's not regulated. Normal skin is slightly acidic, around pH 4.5-5.5. Due to their ingredients, most bar soaps are alkaline. Even though they're alkaline, they effectively clean the skin. Bar soaps with a pH of 7-9 are generally safe, even for sensitive skin.
Looking for more shower and bath essentials? Check out some of our articles to upgrade your shower routine! Listed are the best natural shampoos, hair conditioners, body lotions, and bath towels for you to choose from!
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Be Organic|Oatmeal Soap
No. 2: Dove|Sensitive Beauty Bar
No. 3: Dr. Alvin|Kojic Acid Soap
No. 4: Aveeno|Moisturizing Bar with Nourishing Oat
No. 5: Oxecure|Sulfur Soap
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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