Bar soaps vs. body wash — which is best for your skin?

Skin CareTested and approved: The very best bar soaps for all skin typesBefore using a bar soap, dermatologists recommend lathering it in your hands to remove any bacteria from its surface.May 27, 2026, 12:55 PM EDTBianca Alvarez Associate ReporterSkip to table of contentsYes, they clean your skin, but they can also combat acne, dryness and uneven texture.AmazonFor years I avoided bar soaps because I only associated them with my skin feeling tight and dry, something I wanted to avoid at any cost. Instead, I relied on liquid body washes or shower oils. While reporting and testing bar soaps for this story, I noticed a shift in many of their formulas — they’re not as drying as I always thought and work as well as a traditional body wash. (That dryness typically came from formulas with unbalanced pH levels — something many brands have now adjusted for, according to Dr. William Huang, a board-certified dermatologist and adjunct professor at Duke University.)To help debunk common bar soap misconceptions, I spoke to three board-certified dermatologists about their advantages over body washes and what to consider when shopping for one. Alongside the help of my colleagues, I also tested some popular options.Selected.Our top picksBest overallDove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar$undefined$14.19TargetLearn moreEditor's PickLafco Chamomile Lavender Bar Soap$undefined$16.50AmazonLearn moreBest for dry skinCerave Hydrating Cleanser Bar$6.84$8.99AmazonLearn moreBest for acne-prone skinPanoxyl Bar Soap with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide$undefined$9.47AmazonLearn moreSee 1 MoreRelatedselectselect13 best body washes for dry skin, tested and reviewedWant more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.Best bar soaps of 2026Below, I compiled expert-recommended bar soaps, ones our team tried and liked, as well as highly rated options from popular drugstore brands like Cerave and Panoxyl.Best non-exfoliating bar soapsBest overallDove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar$14.19...