Vegan soap is easy to find. But you should always that assume soap contains animal-based ingredients unless the label says otherwise.
Many bar soaps contain animal fat derivatives as their primary ingredients. Don’t expect soap companies to be forthcoming about their use of animal fats. Bars of Ivory Soap, for instance, carry the phrase “99.44% pure” on its label. Yet the stuff is largely made from rendered animal fat obtained from slaughterhouses. Soap made from animal fat often has “sodium tallowate” listed on its label—which is a tip-off since tallow is a fancy word for beef fat.
Similarly, common vegan soap ingredients include sodium cocoate (as in coconuts) or sodium palm kernelate (derived from palm kernels). Olive oil can be made into an excellent bar soap. Basically, if it’s a vegetable fat, companies can figure out how turn it into cruelty-free soap.
Luckily, given the unprecedented demand for cruelty-free personal care products, you can now find vegan soap almost anyplace you shop.
Dr. Bronner’s soaps are available in liquid and bar form, and have long been used by vegans and health enthusiasts alike. The company’s liquid soap is especially versatile since it can be used to clean your hands, face, hair, bathroom sink, kitchen floor, dishes, laundry and more. Many other vegan brands are now widely available. Your local natural foods store, Trader Joe’s, or Whole Foods Market will carry a good selection.
Vegan Soap Brands
- Aegean: 100% Natural Bar Soap
- Anatolia Daphne: Olive Oil Soap Bars
- Crate 61: Cold Process Bar Soap and “For Him” Bar Soaps
- Dr. Bronners: Liquid & Bar Soaps
- Dusan Artisans: Handmade Soap Bars
- Kiss My Face: Pure Olive Oil Naked Bar Soap
- Mrs. Meyers: Liquid Hand Soap
- Peet Brothers: Shea Butter Bath Bar
Finally, for an unbeatable deal, Amazon.com also sells one-gallon containers of Ginger Lily Farms Botanicals Liquid Hand Soap.
Vegan Shower Soaps
- The Crown Choice: pH Balanced Bodywash
- The Right to Shower: Aloe + Dewy Moss
- Everyone: 3-in-1 Soap
- Love Beauty & Planet: Kiwi Body Wash
