Do Beauty Bars Work? My Tried And Tested Review
I’ve been an Ethique beauty bar convert since 2017. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that having a bathroom cupboard full of bars instead of bottles isn’t normal!
Beauty bars have taken off in popularity in a BIG WAY. But, understandably, there are still people with hesitations and questions around the practicalities and logistics of giving up the bottle and opting for concentrated bars of face wash, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash etc. instead.
Ethique has been making beauty bars for a decade - they’re now available in most places across the globe. As a long term Ethique ambassador, here are your most common questions answered honestly and with the help of the Ethique technical team too.
Are the conditioner beauty bars good to detangle knotty hair?
I use the Guardian Conditioner and YES it does help! I always brush my hair before I wash my hair, but I notice if I wash my hair with a shampoo bar only (skipping the conditioner step of my sustainable hair washing routine), it drys tangled.
Would love to know how you travel with them!
I cut off small chunks from my main beauty bars and store them in this metal container from Bento Ninja. While travelling, I pat them dry on my towel after use and put them in a windy/sunny spot (often a window sill) to dry out whenever possible.
My shampoo disappears so fast! Any tips?
If it’s disappearing too fast, you’re most likely not storing them properly. Beauty bars must be stored in a dry place, with drainage. If they’re constantly wet, in the direct stream of the shower head or sit in a puddle of water… of course they’ll disappear!
Ethique’s storage trays are handy and their in-shower containers also have good drainage. If you have a shower dome or a damp, dark bathroom, do not store your bars inside your shower/bathroom. Take them in and out of the shower when you need them. My bathroom has two open windows and an extractor fan. I store my bars in Block Docks and put them outside in the wind (out of direct sunshine) when it’s a clear day. Beauty bars take a little more maintenance and consideration, BUT if you care for them properly, you’ll save money too.
Any good for curly hair?
I don’t have curly hair, but I have heard incredible things about the Shampoo bar for curly hair. Browse the comments in my Ethique beauty bar routine reel to find lots of curly haired beauty bar converts sharing reviews.
Do you find the shampoo bar makes your hair dry? Ones I have tried from Lush did that.
Just like all liquid shampoos, not all shampoo bars are made equally. I recommend shopping around and trying out a few of Ethique’s different shampoo types if the Lush shampoos didn’t work for you. I wouldn’t stick with Ethique’s shampoo bars if they made my hair dry!
How long do shampoo and conditioner bars last for?
It depends on the product, how often you use it, and if you’re following all the correct storage tips. Most of the Ethique shampoo bars claim to last at ‘least 80 uses’. Our conditioner lasts two of us up to 10 months.
Does the deodorant bar bleach your clothes armpit?
No, however I do apply stain remover on my armpits every so often to remove any hint of marks.
Do they have use by dates?
They do (or advice on how long after opening you can keep using your bar for best results, usually marked ‘PAO’ for ‘period after opening’), but they’re generally a year or so in advance.
How often do you use the Ethique shampoo bar?
I wash my hair with this Ethique shampoo bar 1-2 times a week.
Any recommended face moisturising beauty bars?
My favourite is Quench because it’s lightweight. My dad loves The Perfector which is a slightly heavier solid bar moisturiser- so it’s good for his older skin!
How do you use the face wash and makeup remover bar?
Here’s a video tutorial- but I do it a bit different, like this: Grab a damp face cloth, swipe it gently on the Ethique beauty bar (I use Deep Green) to get some product onto the face cloth. Wipe your makeup off with the face cloth as usual. Delicate small circles work best.
Do you use their deodorant and does it actually work?
Yes, I use the Rustic Solid Deodorant and so does my husband. We’ve used this for several years after trying around 10 that didn’t work as well.
Which ones do you use?
Deep Green Solid Face Cleanser
Sweet Orange & Vanilla Solid Bodywash
The Guardian Solid Conditioner
Have you heard how the face wash is for acne prone skin?
I don’t have personal experience in this myself, but the product team at Ethique tell me that either Deep Green (the bar I use) or Bliss Bar (their best selling face wash) can be used on acne-prone skin. The only difference is whether you have oily skin (in which case Deep Green is the best place to start) or sensitive skin (in which case Bliss Bar is more suitable). You can also contact Ethique by email, DM (smoke signal or pigeon mail) and they will help find the right fit for you.
Have you ever tried no shampoo/conditioner?
I haven’t, but I’m super happy with my hair routine at the moment so I don’t feel the desire too. Maybe one day!
With the body wash, can you break it down into a more liquidy mixture?
You cannot break down the classic Ethique bars into liquids, but you can do that with Ethique concentrates. The concentrates come in a bar form which you break up, whisk with boiling water, and use as a liquid. I love the Refreshing Bodywash Concentrate.
Honest review of the conditioner?
I only share honest reviews. The Guardian Conditioner is my favourite Ethique beauty bar. It lasts incredibly long and leaves my hair smooth and untangled. If you want to learn more about the conditioner bars specifically, read my more about my hair care routine here.
Do you find a huge difference between each one? Could you use one for body & hair?
My brother once accidentally washed his hair with our dog’s shampoo bar and his hair looked great!* Ethique beauty bars are all made from various ingredients intended for the use they’re specified for, but they are totally versatile. It depends on the body who is using them! The Tip-to-Toe beauty bar is the most versatile bar for washing your body and hair with.
*Though it’s not recommended to do this routinely. Dog fur has a different pH than human hair and Ethique bars are pH balanced for the intended species – so he (probably) would have noticed after a few washes!
Does the body wash give you that waxy feeling on your skin that most soap bars do?
I know that waxy feeling you are referring to - it’s the soap content. All Ethique beauty bars are soap free and therefore ‘waxy feeling’ free!
What do you do when the bars turn into tiiiiny pieces?
I put them in a soap saver bag like this and use that bag to exfoliate and wash my body.
Ready to try a beauty bar? Shop Ethique OR ask me more questions on Instagram.
If you're still intrigued by Ethique beauty bars, don't miss out on our detailed family review of their products. Discover which bars worked best for us and how they fit into our daily routines here.
I only work with brands I love, use, and can whole heartedly back. This is a sponsored blog (I can't pay my electricity bill with free products), but 100% my own words, photos, and opinion.
