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6 Best Bar Soaps of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

We tested Dove bar soap, Dr. Bronner’s, Irish Spring, and more to find the least drying and longest-lasting ones

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grid of 13 different types of bars of soap on light green background
The 13 bar soaps we tested included scented and unscented products.
Photo: Consumer Reports

I grew up using bar soaps to shower in my childhood home, and though I briefly switched to liquid body washes, I am fully back on the bar soap train. That is, in part, because of all the testing done for this story.

After trying 13 models at home and in our lab, I’ve found a few that leave me feeling clean, but don’t dry out my skin, are comfortable to hold, and smell great. Now, there’s a permanent spot on my shower shelf for my favorite bar soap, right next to the laundry bar I keep to hand-wash my undergarments.

In this article
Complete Your Shower Routine
Best Body Washes
Best Body Lotions
Should You Use Bar Soap or Body Wash?
Best Store-Brand Hand Soaps
Tinted Lip Balms That Deliver the Perfect Balance of Color and Hydration

At home, I used each bar of soap in the shower and noted how my skin felt, how comfortable each bar was to use, and whether I liked its scent. In the lab, I placed weighed chunks of each soap under cold running water for 20 minutes to find out how much would dissolve. The bars with the smallest weight change would likely last through more uses. 

Using data from CR partner, SkinSafe, we also assessed the ingredients of the top bar soaps we tested. Their database scores personal care products based on the most common allergy-inducing ingredients identified by Mayo Clinic.

Sneak Peek: Dove Original Beauty Bar was the most moisturizing among the models we tested. So much so that it can leave skin feeling as if there’s a thin film over it. Our tester liked it for days when she was short on time and couldn’t apply lotion after a shower.

Bar Soap Dissolving Test

Best Everyday Essentials

Bar soaps, towels, toothbrushes, and other bath products are among the household basics that can make your days easier, more comfortable, and safer.

Become a member to read the full article and get access to digital ratings.

We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.

Become a Member
Consumer Reports Home & Trends Writer, Jodhaira Rodriguez.

Jodhaira Rodriguez

Jodhaira Rodriguez is a senior multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports. Before joining CR, she tested and wrote about cleaning and organizing products and major appliances like washing machines and dishwashers at Good Housekeeping. In her free time, you’ll find her reading, listening to true crime podcasts, or working on her latest hobby of the month.

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