Bar soap guide
What's the best soap for eczema-prone skin?
Short answer
One with almost nothing in it. Eczema-prone skin flares when soap strips its oils or loads it with fragrance and harsh detergents. Our Olive Oil Soap has four ingredients: olive oil soap, water, sea salt and citric acid. No added fragrance, no sulfates, no palm. Dermatologically tested, made in Greece.
Real eczema-prone skin, before and after 3 weeks of washing with our olive oil and goat milk bars. Based on customer reviews, not a medical study.
| Typical body wash | Our olive oil bar | |
|---|---|---|
| Cleans with | Synthetic detergents, often SLS or SLES | Olive oil soap |
| Fragrance | Usually added | None added |
| Preservatives | Needed, because it's mostly water | None |
| Ingredients | Often 15 or more | 4 |
| Palm oil | Common | None |
| Comes in | A plastic bottle | A paper carton |
What sets eczema-prone skin off
Eczema-prone skin has a weaker barrier: it loses water fast and lets irritants in. Most flare-ups after washing come down to a few things:
- Harsh detergents, SLS and SLES, that strip the oils your skin barrier needs.
- Fragrance, one of the most common causes of skin allergies.
- Preservatives and long ingredient lists: every extra ingredient is one more thing your skin can react to.
- Long, hot showers, which pull even more moisture out.
- Scrubbing with a brush, a rough cloth or an exfoliating bar.
Why pure olive oil soap
Olive oil soap is the oldest gentle soap there is, and Greek soapmakers have made it for generations. It gives a creamy, low lather that cleans without the tight, squeaky feeling a detergent wash leaves behind. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants and natural moisture, so your skin is left soft, not stripped. There are no preservatives or colourants either: nothing extra for your skin to react to.
Which of our bars to pick
- Olive Oil Soap: no added fragrance and nothing extra. The first choice for skin that flares easily.
- Goat Milk Soap: goat milk, oat and organic shea butter for dry, itchy skin. Its perfume is natural oil based.
- Organic Aloe + Cucumber, in our Organic Soap Set: aloe is known to calm irritated skin.
How to wash eczema-prone skin
- Use lukewarm water, not hot, and keep showers to 5 to 10 minutes.
- Lather the bar between your hands and wash with your hands, not a brush or a rough cloth.
- Rinse well, so no soap stays on your skin.
- Pat dry with a soft towel; don't rub.
- Put on a fragrance-free moisturizer within 3 minutes, while your skin is still damp.
Updated October 12, 2026 · By the Skin Said Yes team, soapmakers in Greece
