Original Bar Soap

Classic soap made by saponifying beef tallow, the base of many traditional bar soaps. It cleans effectively and rinses away; the alkaline pH of true soap can leave some skin, especially facial skin, feeling tight or dry. CIR-reviewed tallow derivatives are considered safe as used.

Soap made by saponifying palm oil, one of the most common bar-soap bases. Well tolerated in rinse-off use; like all true soaps its alkaline pH can feel drying on some skin. Questions about palm oil are about sourcing and environment, not about safety on skin.

The base most products are built on. It carries the other ingredients and has no safety concern.

Soap made by saponifying coconut oil, valued in bar soaps for rich lather. Well tolerated in rinse-off use; the alkaline pH of true soap can feel drying on some skin, and very lather-heavy bars can be stripping for dry skin types.

Soap made by saponifying palm kernel oil, often blended with tallow or palm soaps to boost lather in bar soaps. Well tolerated in rinse-off use; like all true soaps its alkaline pH can feel drying on some skin.

A humectant that draws water into the skin. One of the best-studied, best-tolerated ingredients in personal care.

Ordinary salt, used in surfactant-based products like shampoos and body washes to adjust viscosity by interacting with the surfactant micelles. It has no meaningful toxicity concern at cosmetic use levels; the main practical downside is that too much can make a formula feel less mild.

An undisclosed scent blend that can contain dozens of components. The single most common cause of cosmetic contact allergy, and the blend is not itemized, so you cannot see what is in it.

A fatty acid derived from coconut oil, used in surfactants and emulsifiers. Generally safe when properly formulated, though high concentrations may irritate sensitive skin.

The mixed fatty acids of palm kernel oil, used in bar soaps for lather and bar structure. Mild and well tolerated; graded safe as used in CIR fatty-acid reviews.

The mixed fatty acids of tallow, used in bar soaps to soften the cleanse and improve the bar. Mild and well tolerated; graded safe as used in CIR fatty-acid reviews.

The mixed fatty acids of palm oil, left in bar soaps as superfat or added to temper the cleanse. Mild and well tolerated; graded safe as used in CIR fatty-acid reviews.

Tetrasodium EDTA is a chelating agent that binds trace metal ions to keep formulas stable and help preservatives work better. It has circulated online as a supposed "toxic" additive, but decades of safety review support its use at cosmetic concentrations.