“Bar soap is drying.”
It’s something we’ve all heard. And with so many shower gels and body washes marketed as gentler alternatives to traditional soap, it’s easy to assume that reaching for a bar means sacrificing comfort for cleanliness.
But it doesn't have to.
A beautifully made bar of natural handmade soap can be a wonderfully luxurious way to cleanse your skin. The secret is in the formulation - from the oils and butters used to the way the soap is made and cured.
At Kleensoaps, we believe soap should leave your skin feeling clean, comfortable and cared for, not like you've just had all the moisture scrubbed out of it.
So, what makes the difference?
Why can some soaps feel drying?
Traditional soap is made through a process called saponification, where oils or fats react with an alkali to create soap.
The finished bar is designed to cleanse by lifting away dirt, oils and impurities from the skin. But the experience can vary enormously depending on how a soap is formulated.
Some mass-produced soaps are designed primarily for efficiency, firmness, cost and a long shelf life. They may contain highly processed ingredients or strong fragrances, and some can leave certain people feeling tight or uncomfortable after washing.
That's why we believe the ingredients matter.
What makes a natural soap feel more nourishing?
At Kleensoaps, we carefully balance a combination of plant oils and nourishing butters to create bars that cleanse beautifully while leaving skin feeling soft and comfortable.
Our formulations include ingredients such as:
Olive oil
A classic ingredient in traditional soapmaking, olive oil helps create a gentle, creamy-feeling bar.
It's one of the key plant oils we use across our collection and helps give our soaps their beautifully smooth lather.
Shea butter
Rich and nourishing, shea butter is one of our favourite ingredients for creating a luxurious soap.
It helps give the lather a rich, creamy character and leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable after washing.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil plays an important role in creating the satisfying lather we love in a good bar of soap.
It also helps create a firm bar that stands up well to everyday use.
Cocoa butter
Rich, smooth and wonderfully indulgent, cocoa butter adds to the luxurious feel of our formulations.
It's particularly lovely in a soap when you want your shower to feel like a little more of a treat.
Castor oil
Castor oil helps support a rich, creamy lather and works alongside our other plant oils to create a beautifully balanced bar.
It's not just about the oils
The ingredients are important, but so is how the soap is made.
Kleensoaps are made using the traditional cold-process soapmaking method in small batches in Kent.
Once made, our bars are left to cure for at least six weeks.
This slower approach gives the soap time to develop into a firm, long-lasting bar with a lovely lather and texture.
We're not interested in rushing a good thing.
What does “superfatted” soap mean?
You may also come across the term “superfatted” when researching handmade soap.
Superfatting refers to formulating a soap with an amount of oils and butters beyond what is needed for the saponification process. The result can be a bar with a more conditioning and luxurious feel.
It's one of the reasons handmade soap can feel so different from some mass-produced bars.
At Kleensoaps, our carefully selected oils and butters are a big part of creating the rich, creamy experience we want from every bar.
What about sensitive or dry-feeling skin?
If your skin tends to feel dry or delicate, you may naturally gravitate towards a gentler, more nourishing soap.
That doesn't necessarily mean you need to avoid bar soap altogether.
For a fragrance-free option, Pure Shores combines oat milk, oatmeal, shea butter and rosehip oil in a rich, creamy lather. It's a beautifully simple choice for those who prefer their soap without added fragrance.
For a calming, floral ritual, Lavender Love combines shea butter and coconut oil with lavender essential oil and gentle clays.
And La Dolce Vita brings together olive oil, shea butter and calendula petals for a rich, creamy cleanse with a fresh, uplifting botanical aroma.
Different bars can create different experiences, so it's worth considering what your skin and your senses enjoy.
Choosing the right natural soap for you
If you're new to natural soap, start by thinking about the experience you're looking for.
Want something gentle and fragrance-free?
Try Pure Shores.
Looking for nourishment and a calming ritual?
Try Lavender Love.
Want a rich, creamy and uplifting cleanse?
Try La Dolce Vita.
Need a little exfoliation?
Reach for Back to Life, Woodstock or Tall Dark & Handsome.
Want something fresh and invigorating?
Try Morning Glory or Good Vibrations.
Whatever your preference, there's a Kleensoaps bar designed to turn an everyday wash into something a little more luxurious.
Natural soap, made differently
Every Kleensoaps bar is handmade in small batches in Kent, using carefully selected plant oils, nourishing butters, botanicals and pure essential oils.
Our soaps are vegan, palm-oil free and plastic-free, and each bar hangs from our signature recycled cotton rope so it can dry between uses.
Because we think a good soap should do more than simply clean.
It should feel good in your hands, smell gorgeous in the shower and leave you looking forward to the next wash.
