“If you do nothing else, wash your face.” – Dr. Laszlo
That dreaded time of the month is here – taking note of my empties. As I assess the collateral damage of my beauty routine – cleansers, scrubs, deodorants, mouthwash, lotions, toners, serums, moisturizers, and concealers, consumed every few months – and plan my next haul, I’m always verklempt at the mountain of plastic. Of course, I recycle religiously, but it’s a significant slice of my ecological footprint. After swapping out many of my favorite body washes, shampoos, and conditioners with the bars reviewed in Forget Empties, Bar Soap is Here to Slay, it’s time to tackle my most frequently used and replenished product: facial cleanser. As a sebum-afflicted girl, I zealously double-cleanse twice a day with an array of cleansers, from oil-based, to exfoliating, detoxifying, brightening, and sometimes even calming ones. It’s high time to incorporate cleansing bars into my routine.
With more established and new beauty brands embracing sustainability, there’s a wide array of facial soaps for a variety of skincare concerns. A facial wash in bar form might sound old-fashioned and passé, but these soaps are not your Nana’s bar of ivory. In fact, they aren’t soap at all – they are next-level, vegan cleansing bars packed with modern, skin-focused ingredients and sulfate-free cleansing agents.
On the top of my list is one of the most tried-and-true cleansing bars, one that achieved cult status as a beauty warrior basic decades ago and is adored by a long roster of celebrities and beauties, including Madonna. When luxury brand Erno Laszlo first released the Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar in the 1920s, it was the secret weapon of many poreless starlets. The ultimate cleansing and balancing formula for oily, combination, and normal skin, brainchild of Hungarian doctor Erno Laszlo hasn’t changed since. Inspired by the centuries-old tradition of bathing in the ocean for its purifying and beautifying benefits, the Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar combines charcoal and mud from the Dead Sea for the ultimate grime, toxin and oil-dissolving cleanse, while the naturally occurring minerals and salts that have accumulated over centuries replenish and nurture detoxified pores. The naturally milled mud particles also provide a light level of non-aggressive exfoliation. After moistening with warm water, the tiniest bit of soap yields a rich, cleansing lather that smells like the sea. The 100g-sized bar, a must-have for oily skin, will last for months even with daily use. It’s a staple in my night-time double-cleansing routine. When I have a few extra minutes, I leave the mud-rich foam on as a mini mask.
For those with drier skin or looking for a more moisturizing cleanse, the brand makes the equally popular Phelityl Cleansing Bar. It’s rich in Essential Fatty Acids from Safflower and Macadamia Oil – one of the few natural sources of ultra rare palmitoleic acid which best mimics the naturally occurring oils in our skin. On bitterly cold winter days, I alternate the Phelityl Cleansing Bar in the morning or when my skin feels tight and sensitized post-treatment.
Beloved and relatively younger clean brand Drunk Elephant also embraces the properties of the sea, as well botanicals, for a thorough facial cleanse. The thermal mud-based Juju Bar, with bamboo particles, marula, and superfruit is equal parts cleansing and exfoliating. Formulated at the ideal 6.3 pH for facial skin, the Juju Bar offers a deep clean and physical exfoliation.
Recommended 3 times per week, it’s a perfect companion to its cousin, the Pekee Bar. Formulated for all skin types with blueberry extract to clarify pores, and honey to help moisture retention for firm complexion, and a mild 6.5 pH, it can be used daily without stripping skin. The JuJu and Pekee bars are available together in a Baby Duo perfect for travel and a frugal transition into cleansing bars.
At a similar mid-price range, Colorado-based Osmia offers three clean, targeted vegan soaps in a rich base of organic almond, avocado, and castor bean oils, with coconut milk for a gorgeous, white lather. The most unique from the female-founded company, and my favorite, is the exfoliating Pumpkin Facial Soap. The alpha hydroxy-based bar combines pumpkin and tomato extracts for enzymatic exfoliation and brightening. To balance out the actives and nurture the skin, organic honey, and camellia seed oil are blended with skin-loving carrot seed, rosewood, and geranium essential oils which yield a lovely herbal scent.
For those with sensitive or rosacea-prone skin, the stunning orange Rose Clay Facial Soap is all about moisture and nourishment. To a base of coconut milk and organic avocado oil, french pink clay, white kaolin clay, and wild-harvested mango butter are added for serious hydration and TLC. With essential oils of geranium and palmarosa, the bar foams with an uplifting, light floral scent. Created by Sarah Villafranco, Md, after taking a soap-making class while grieving the loss of her mother to cancer, Osmia is dedicated to clean, effective formulations free of the ickies – petrochemicals, phthalates, parabens, or sulfates – and sustainability. As a partner with One Tree Planted, Osmia has planted over 120,000 trees.
