The resurgence of Soap bars:

Everyone ditched the humble soap for the fancy fragranced body washes and shower gels, but it seems now that the tables have turned, and the soap bars are making a comeback. The real question is why?

Let’s face it, we all have experienced this- we walk into a store, scanning the shelves, and instinctively reach for that sleek, beautifully packaged bottle of shower gel, promising fragrances of exotic fruits and freshness. Today, more and more number of people are setting aside those beautifully packed plastic bottles for something that is timeless. Think back in time about those amazing bar soaps from childhood- the ones that left you feeling impeccably clean. At some point, we all have traded them with shower gels and body washes, believing them to be natural evolution of our bathing ritual. But was it truly an upgrade?

I remember my grandmum having a soap bar in her wardrobe to keep her clothes smelling pretty. And while I am pretty sure that majority of grandparents will never be comfortable switching to liquid soap, since the whole idea seems foreign to them. It feels like the world has forgotten the beauty of bar soaps for a while. So why are people moving back to soap bars?

Soap bars is not just a grand work of nostalgia, which symbolizes our childhood and helps us reminisce growing up nut resurgence of soap bars can be attributed to their eco-friendliness, natural ingredients, and numerous skin benefits. Plus, soaps today are nothing like the older ones that felt like they will slough off the epidermis with the scent. Bar soaps today are often made with high-quality, natural ingredients like olive oil, coconut oil, and shea butter, which provide deeper level of hydration and nourishmen, unlike the liquid soaps which is formulated using harsh chemicals. The silky sensation left by liquid washes is not genuine skin hydration but a superficial layer that mimics moisture without actually nourishing the skin.

A Cleaner Choice for Your Body and the Planet

The beauty of natural soap bar goes beyond your skin. Most handcrafted soaps are biodegradable and eco-friendly, making them sustainable and safe for the environment. These soaps bars are crafted with the traditional techniques like cold-processing, which helps to keep the nutrients intact and preserve the quality of oils. Additionally, these soap bars avoid plastic packaging and harmful chemicals that pollute water systems, instead these bars are consciously curated in sustainable-cum-reusable packaging. 

On the contrary, liquid shower gels and body washes are composed of up to 80% water, heavier and bulkier than a bar soap. These liquid soaps often involves more complex processes and use of synthetic, petroleum-based surfactants, which require 5 times more energy to manufacture and produce 10 times more greenhouse emissions compared to the soap bars.  Most body washes come in single-use plastic bottles and pumps, which require sustainable energy and materials to produce. A Swiss study found the packaging liquid soap is nearly 20 times more energy-intensive than packaging a soap bar which typically uses minimal, recyclable cardboard or paper. Additionally, only about 9% of plastic globally is actually recycled, with the rest often ending up in landfills or oceans. Studies indicate that consumers tend to use significantly more liquid soap per wash than bar soap, leading to faster consumption, more frequent repurchasing, and a higher cumulative environmental cost.

Making conscious effort and choosing natural soap bars support cleaner skincare practices and reduces ecological footprints. When you choose natural, you choose sustainability, gentle and nutrient rich skincare and long-term benefits for you skin and the Environment.