Cleansing Bar FAQ and Tutorial

This post is here by popular demand. Your demand. OK, you didn't actually demand, but you asked so nicely I couldn't possibly say no. Many of you have shown a huge interest, sent feedback, and asked me questions about my soap-free cleansing bars. It was about time all of the most frequently asked questions were collected into a FAQ. So here it is – just for you.

The biggie, most popular and all time most frequently asked question has a special place at the end of this post – a step by step tutorial on using a soap-free cleansing bar.

FAQ's

Do these really cleanse the skin – even oily skin?

Yes, they really do. The fats, oils, and clays in these bars attract dirt and impurities. When you apply and then gently massage the skin, the dirt and impurities are loosened. They are then removed when you rinse off/remove the product.

I'm not happy about using coconut oil in my bar – can I substitute this with something else?

Absolutely. You can replace coconut oil with any oil you prefer. To prevent the bar from becoming too soft, you may want to split the coconut oil amount into half oil and half shea (or another soft butter).

Do these bars foam up?

No, they don't. They contain no ingredients that are able to create a foam.

Is it supposed to feel fatty/greasy when you apply it?

Yes. These cleansers are based on butters and oils, so applying them feels similar to applying a thick lotion.

Can I leave the mixture on for a while?

Yes, you can use these bars just as you would apply and use a moisturizing mask. Suggested leave-on time: max 10 minutes.

When are they best used? Morning, evening or both?

That depends entirely on your skin type. Try the different options to see what works best for you. Note that this may even change depending on the time of year.

Is it supposed to have this much color?

Some of the cleansing bars have very strongly colored ingredients (examples: spirulina, violet clay). If you prefer a more neutral color, feel free to replace any of the colored clays with white clay and/or super-finely ground raw oats.

When I used a cleansing bar for the first time, my skin felt different – like I had just applied a moisturizer. Is it supposed to feel like that?

Yes, it is. Your skin should feel clean, refreshed, and moisturized.

TUTORIAL

How do I use a cleansing bar to get the best results?

Here is a step by step tutorial. Don't be fooled by this long instruction. It only looks daunting because I have explained the massage part in detail.

This entire process takes 3-5 minutes.

1. Tie back your hair and splash a generous amount of water on your face and neck.

2. You need about 1 teaspoon of product for 1 application. The portion should be at room temperature and mash easily with a little pressure from a finger.

3. Soften the bar in your hand, then apply to face and neck.

4. Massage your face gently. This should take about 2 minutes. Here's my preferred method.

• Massage cheeks, moving towards the temples 
• Place fingers at the bridge of the nose. Stroke up and out across the forehead and towards the temples. Repeat 3-5 times.
• Gently 'draw' a circle around the eye area (from bridge of nose, across brows and along the bone under the eye), when you start back around towards the nose from the outer edge of the eyes, switch from gentle pressure to a light 'tapping' so as not to pull the delicate skin under the eyes. Repeat 3-5 times.
• Place a finger on either side of the nose and stroke lightly along the cheek towards the temples. Repeat 3-5 times.
• Place forefingers under nose and gently smooth the area above the upper lip (as if you were smoothing a moustache). When you get to the edge of the mouth, finish with a light, upward stroke (as if drawing a huge clown smile). Then start under the mouth, moving upwards (finish drawing the clown smile from underneath). Repeat 3-5 times
• Gently 'pinch' along the jawline starting from the chin and moving towards the ears. Repeat 3-5 times. 
• Finish by massaging the neck with gentle upward strokes

5. Rinse/remove the mixture. This can be done by using a moistened cotton round, or by splashing a generous amount of water until the mixture is removed. Pat dry.

As you can see in this pic, violet clay has a very powerful color and takes several cotton rounds to remove entirely. (The bar I am using in this tutorial is the easy-layer lavender bar).

Tip: Apply the cleanser just prior to showering to save cotton rounds and to make rinse-off a snap.

Finish with an alcohol-free skin tonic and a light layer of face oil. (The face oil may not even be necessary).

Check the mirror.

See that gorgeous, vibrant face?

That's you!

Is Your Question Missing? 

Please feel free to post it below.

Have you made your own cleansing bar version? 

I'd love to hear about it!

Find all of my cleansing bar recipes at the How To Page.