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Bar soaps aren't the best choice for dry skin sufferers, but they're not exactly on the banned list either. Lots of soaps contain harsh ingredients like sulfates and other detergents. But if you still love bar soaps, look for all-natural bars with added moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba, cold cream, olive oil or other vegetable oils (including almond, avocado and coconut) and soothing additions like vitamin E, lavender, aloe and calendula. You also probably should avoid exfoliating bars; they'll scratch and irritate your dry skin.
Basis Sensitive Skin Bar
Basis is dermatologist-recommended bar soap for sensitive and dry skin. It lacks the usual harsh detergents other bar soaps contain, and it also lacks dyes and perfumes. Instead, it's infused with chamomile, aloe and almond oil. Bonus: It also won't put a big dent in your wallet.
Purpose
Purpose brand bar soap is an extra-gentle cleansing bar that also contains no oil, so it won't clog pores or leave a residue. This is a simple soap, with few ingredients, that won't irritate or dry your skin. It's been around for decades, so it's stood the test of time.
Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar
Dove may be the best-known brand on this list. Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar is unscented and claims to be hypoallergenic. It contains a good dose of Dove's famous moisturizing cream as well.
Neutrogena Dry Skin Formula
Neutrogena Dry Skin Formula is a fragrance-free, glycerin-based bar soap. It also lacks dyes and claims to be hypoallergenic. What's left is a solid slab of gentle, yet effective cleansing.
Oil of Olay Sensitive Moisturizing Bar
Oil of Olay offers a fragrance-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic bar soap laden with its renowned moisturizing formula to help clean your skin and moisturize it at the same time. Its main disadvantage is that it can be hard to find in stores sometimes.
