The emphasis on wellness has resulted in the complex branching and added nuance in the consumer approach to body care, and for some, that means going back to basics.
"Today's body care trends are now shaped by a stronger cultural shift toward overall emotional and mental wellness," says Jessica Plonchak, licensed clinical social worker and the executive clinical director at Choice Point Health. "People are no longer seeing body care as a cosmetic routine. Rather, they view it as part of their self-regulation and stress-relief regimen. Products that provide sensory comfort and contain natural ingredients are more likely to gain consumers' attention because they enhance daily rituals and help calm the nervous system."
While bar soaps are by no means the be-all-end-all to keeping skin clean and healthy, or providing an emotionally beneficial sensorial experience, they're a staple that spa and skin professionals would do well to take into consideration when curating retail options in their business and looking to refine their client education.
So, why bar soap in a sea of shower gels, scrubs and liquid soaps? One advantage is that bar soap is cost-effective to produce, making it a versatile piece to add to your offerings, especially if you have a tight budget.
Less Waste, But More of a Sourcing Strain?
Bar soap can also be synergistic for those who have made "clean" beauty and sustainability a part of their business' identity, as bar soap uses less packaging, thereby producing less waste.
Plonchak adds: "A significant rise in demand for clean and sustainable body care products has also been observed, which is driven by safety and transparency. Most people feel empowered when they know what they are putting on their bodies and what effects it has on personal health and the environment."
However, depending on the ingredients prevalent in a specific soap's formulation, certain ones, such as vegetable oils, are under a sourcing strain as climate change strains production. Additionally, ingredients under a scarcity threat can lead to a spike in price and make it harder to source ethically, both of which are important considerations when looking to add a brand to your business.
Depending on what bar soaps you may be interested in incorporating into your business, you can prioritize other opportunities for value alignment with your clients. If it's important to your clients that products be natural, then brands that specialize in plant-based ingredients may be a better fit.
Cruelty-free formulations are another discerning factor that tends to sit well with most people, especially those who broadly prioritize socially-conscious beauty. If you operate in a close-knit community, or if supporting small businesses is important to you and your clients, finding bar soaps that are small-batch crafted, like PIYA Beauty, can make shopping for body care feel more intimate.
Simple, But More Potent
Bar soap formulations tend to be simpler, requiring fewer preservatives to remain shelf-stable. Its solid form also makes it ideal for your clients with wanderlust, as it travels easily while complying with air travel regulations, and is also leak-proof. Ingredients are also delivered in a more concentrated fashion, as bar soap isn't diluted by water.
That means that soaps like PIYA Beauty’s Turmeric & Saffron Glow Bar Soap delivers the benefits of shea butter, coconut oil, saffron and turmeric with a more potent dose of hydration and glow.
However, this means that bar soap isn't ideal for everyone, or even everywhere. Bar soap tends to be too harsh to use on the face, and bar soaps that use potential irritants deliver those irritants in a higher concentration, meaning that your sensitive skin and "clean" beauty clients will be vigilant about investing in the right bar soap, or else, will resort to seeking alternatives.
"To put it briefly, body care trends are moving in the direction of simplicity, mindfulness and long-term wellbeing as people are not just going crazy for instant results," affirms Plonchak.
Bar soap just might be the solid beauty solution, doing beauty a solid.
