Soaps Up! Review on Skinfree Soap and Shampoo Bar

After perusing through EWG's cosmetic database for hours to find the definitive soap that was paraben and phthalate free with the rating of 0, I decided that I would purchase Skinfree Soap and Shampoo Bar primarily because of financial considerations--at $3.50 a bar, it wouldn't break my bank to give it a sample.

Their side by side ingredient comparison to our faithful --unscented Dove was also convincing. Plus the knowledge that most liquid soaps tend to be drying than bars.

My whole family has been using this all winter, and the verdict? It's a winner.

At first appearance, it look almost translucent with its smooth, cream color. It lathers well and is moisturizing. After my first use, my skin didn't feel as moist as I imagined, but even without lotion, my normally dry skin didn't have any flakes nor did I have the painful itch that demands some lotion like I did when I used Dr. Bronner's or even Dove's unscented. In fact, after that first day, I never felt the urge to put on any lotion on my body other than my face.

As a shampoo, I felt it was too rich for my oily scalp, but I use it to condition the ends of my long hair, and I think it does a decent job: I can comb my hair without tangles. And I use it to wash both my straight and curly haired children and their hair looks silky and smooth.

I sent some to my uncle who has extremely sensitive skin, and was happy to hear that this was a soap that he could tolerate unlike the 20 plus soaps that my mom and I have collectively sent him in the past that didn't so I can vouch that this is a soap that can help alleviate some of the problems sensitive people with dermatitis often have. That said, I don't think it is a miracle soap that eliminates all skin irritation. My infant still had a few small dry patches of eczema on her back during the dry winter months, but I felt that as a soap, it was as moisturizing as it could possibly be. After all, I couldn't expect a soap to be a lotion, right? That's why I should try Skinfree's lotions next.

The only con? Bars are not exactly toddler-friendly. When you have a kid who insists on lathering the soap by herself, you can imagine what happens when she grabs too hard and digs her fingernails in. Yes, it turns into mush, especially if has fallen in the wet tub for too long. But that's the nature of being a bar soap and I have to give the company credit for the advance warning "to prolong the life of your soap, be sure to remove from shower area and allow to dry after use."

Back to economic logistics. I'm still trying to figure out what's cheaper in the long haul--we seem to go through a bar rather quickly. But then, that's probably because on top of being my children's body/hair wash, my conditioner, and my husband and my body wash, our whole family and all guests who opt for a bar versus liquid soap in a pump (Dr. Brommer's) also use it to wash our hands.

As for my husband says he misses our old Dove unscented. He liked the scent.

Appendage: Since then, Skinfree has a new liquid version. Can't wait to try it!