We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

How do I Choose the Best Exfoliating Bar Soap?

Diane Goettel
By
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

The best exfoliating bar soap is a kind of soap that will address specific skin issues and will deliver the right level of exfoliation. Products for the face, for example, may be used to fight acne and, as such, should have other acne-fighting ingredients as well. On the other hand, soap that will be used on the bands, should be able to slough away rough skin and clear away dirt, even if it is deeply embedded in the skin and under the fingernails. The roughness of the exfoliant on the soap for the hands, however, should be much more intense than that which is used on the face. If the soaps were swapped, you could have hands that required additional exfoliation and an incredibly raw face.

In addition to options for the face and the skin, there are also kinds that are formulated for the entire body. This can be a useful skin care product for people who want to keep the skin all over their bodies healthy and glowing. This kind of exfoliating bar soap may also be used for body acne, such as acne that occurs on the back, shoulders, and sometimes the upper arms. Like the soap that is formulated for the face, there are some types for the body that are made with ingredients that, in addition to the exfoliant, help to fight acne.

For some people, it is important to use products that are natural, organic, or both. There are a number of kinds of exfoliating soaps that meet the needs of these individuals. While some exfoliating products include synthetic exfoliant, there are a number of soaps and cleansers that use materials like salt, sugar, or crushed stone fruit pits to exfoliate the skin. There are even soaps that use products from the sea as exfoliants. The most common examples include soaps that are made with loofah fibers or seaweed.

After identifying the area that requires exfoliation, choosing a level of exfoliation — light for the face, medium for the body, and intense for the hands and feet — and deciding whether natural or not natural products are a requirement, it is important to find an exfoliating bar soap that will also deliver the right level of hydration. Some soaps do not hydrate the skin at all, which is fine with the exfoliation process will be followed by the application of moisturizer. Others hydrate the skin while exfoliating.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Diane Goettel
By Diane Goettel
In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane Goettel serves as the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. Over the course, she has edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter “Sapling,” and The Adirondack Review. Diane holds a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

Discussion Comments

By gravois — On Apr 14, 2012

Smell is the most important thing for me when buying a soap. I have tried several different exfoliating soaps and all of them have worked. My skin was visibly smoother and more healthy after just a few weeks.

I still use one that I just love. It is a coconut soap with this amazing, natural and subtle coconut smell. It makes me feel like I am bathing in the ocean.

By truman12 — On Apr 14, 2012

I always use organic bar soap so this is the most important consideration for me when buying exfoliating soap. I think of all the things that you are going to buy organically, soap is one of the most important. You are literally going to coat your body in a layer of it ever single day. I want to know that only the best things possible are soaking in to my pores.

By backdraft — On Apr 13, 2012
If you can try the soap out before you buy, there is really no other way to know how abrasive it is and if it will meet your needs.

I have encountered soaps that fall on both ends of the spectrum. Sometimes the soap is too rough and ends up irritating your skin. Other times the soap is not rough enough and you wonder what the point of spending your money on exfoliating soap was.

Diane Goettel

Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane Goettel serves as the executive editor of Black...
Read more
WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.