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Short answer: Oatmeal Shea Honey Soap is a bar soap on a plant-based soap base, made with organic oatmeal, organic shea butter and organic honey. Oatmeal adds a soft, gently textured feel, shea butter is a rich plant fat that conditions, and honey is a humectant that attracts water.
Key takeaways
- The ingredient list is short: water, plant-based soap base, organic oatmeal, organic shea butter and organic honey.
- Oatmeal adds a gently textured feel, shea butter conditions and honey attracts water.
- The ingredient list shows no added fragrance.
- Patch-test first, rinse well and let the bar dry between uses.
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Oatmeal Shea Honey Soap Bar
Organic oatmeal, organic shea butter and organic honey on a plant-based soap base, for hands and body.
Shop Now →What is in the Oatmeal Shea Honey Soap Bar?
The ingredient list of our Oatmeal Shea Honey Soap Bar is short: water, a plant-based soap base, organic oatmeal, organic shea butter and organic honey. The soap base does the cleansing, and the three organic ingredients change how the bar lathers and feels. The product page describes it as a bar for hands and body that can also be used as a face bar.
| Ingredient | What it is | How it feels in a bar |
|---|---|---|
| Plant-based soap base | The cleansing part of the bar | Lathers and rinses away |
| Organic oatmeal | Ground oats | Soft and gently textured |
| Organic shea butter | A rich fat from the nut of the shea tree | Creamy and conditioning |
| Organic honey | A sugary humectant from bees | Attracts water to the skin's surface |
What does oatmeal do in a soap bar?
Oatmeal is ground oats. In a soap bar it adds a soft, gently textured feel, and as you work up a lather it gives a mild scrubbing action without the roughness of a dedicated scrub. Oats are a traditional bath and skin-care ingredient, and oatmeal soap is often chosen for how it feels on dry skin.
In this bar organic oatmeal is a named ingredient, so you can see it on the label instead of hunting for it in a long list. Because the oatmeal supplies some texture, a gentle hand is enough when you wash; there is no need to scrub.
What does shea butter do in a soap bar?
Shea butter is a soft, rich fat from the nut of the shea tree. In soap it adds a creamy lather and a conditioning, cushioned feel. Soap works by lifting oil and dirt, and many people find that a basic bar can leave skin feeling tight after rinsing, which is why makers often add a rich fat such as shea butter to give a bar a softer feel.
The ingredient list calls the shea butter in this bar organic, and it appears ahead of the honey, which generally means the bar contains more of it. Shea butter's contribution is mostly about feel: a creamy lather and a soft finish.
What does honey do in a soap bar?
Honey is a humectant: its sugars attract water, which is why it appears in many moisturizing products. In a soap bar it is a supporting ingredient that adds to the simple, natural character of the ingredient list. Ingredient lists generally run from the largest amount to the smallest, and honey comes last of the three organic ingredients here.
Because a soap bar is rinsed off within seconds, think of honey as part of the bar's overall feel rather than a treatment. Two practical notes. Honey comes from bees, so the bar is not vegan. And if you have a known allergy to honey or bee products, ask a doctor or pharmacist before you use the bar.
How do you use and store the soap bar?
Lather the bar, wash, rinse well and let it dry between uses.
- Wet the bar and your skin with warm water.
- Lather the bar between your hands, or directly on damp skin, and massage gently. The oatmeal gives a mild scrubbing action, so there is no need to press hard.
- Rinse thoroughly. Leftover soap can leave skin feeling tight or dry.
- Pat dry, and follow with a moisturizer if your skin feels tight.
- Store the bar on a slotted or well-draining soap dish, not in standing water, so it dries between uses and lasts longer.
A dermatologist quoted by Cleveland Clinic says it is vital to apply a moisturizer after washing your face, and following up with one is a sensible habit for hands and body too. If the bar leaves your skin feeling tight, rinse more thoroughly and moisturize.
Can you use the soap bar on your face?
The product page describes this bar as a body bar that can also be used as a face bar, and as suited to dry skin and post-shave use. If you try it on your face, patch-test it first and watch how your skin feels.
For daily washing of the face and beard, the American Academy of Dermatology advises a gentle cleanser rather than soap. A dermatologist quoted by Cleveland Clinic says that, in general, liquid soap is gentler than bar soap and that a fragrance-free cleanser will be gentler than a scented one. This bar's ingredient list shows no fragrance, and a moisturizer afterwards is a sensible habit.
Frequently asked questions
Does the soap bar contain fragrance?
The ingredient list shows no fragrance: water, plant-based soap base, organic oatmeal, organic shea butter and organic honey. Any scent is that of the ingredients themselves. A dermatologist quoted by Cleveland Clinic says a fragrance-free cleanser will be a gentler cleanser, so a short list with no fragrance on it is a good place to start.
Does organic mean a soap is gentler?
Not necessarily. Cleveland Clinic says natural ingredients are not automatically better or safer, and that organic ingredients can still cause problems for some people. Organic describes how ingredients are grown, so judge a bar by its full ingredient list and by a small test on your own skin.
How is bar soap different from body wash?
Both clean. Bar soap is usually made from oils and an alkali, while many body washes use synthetic detergents, although some use liquid soaps. A dermatologist quoted by Cleveland Clinic says liquid soap is, in general, gentler than bar soap. A bar usually needs less packaging. If you prefer a liquid, see our Organic BODY WASH with Coconut, Sandalwood & Eucalyptus.
How do I test a new bar of soap?
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests a quarter-sized spot, such as the bend of your elbow or the underside of your arm, twice a day for seven to 10 days. If you see no redness, itching or swelling by the end, go ahead and use it. If a reaction appears, wash it off and stop using it.
How do I make a bar of soap last longer?
Keep it out of standing water. Store the bar on a slotted or well-draining dish so it dries between uses, and lather it in your hands rather than rubbing the bar hard against your skin. A bar left sitting in water goes soft and wears away faster.
Related guides
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: are natural skin care products actually better for your skin?
- Cleveland Clinic: a guide on how to wash your face
- American Academy of Dermatology: how to test skin care products
- American Academy of Dermatology: a dermatologist's top tips for a healthy beard
Knightsmen Grooming products are cosmetics. This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you have a skin or scalp condition, or sudden changes in your hair, see a doctor or dermatologist.
