Eight of the best natural soap bars

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It's estimated that around 1.7 billion items of plastic packaging are thrown away in the UK every week.

Toiletries like shampoo, body wash and liquid hand wash contribute to this plastic pile-up – so one way to reduce household plastics is to switch to good old-fashioned soap bars.

Bars of soap are just as effective at killing germs and viruses as antibacterial hand washes, and bars often last much longer than a bottle of liquid soap – so they can be a more affordable option.

There are lots of eco-friendly soaps available that contain only natural ingredients, and many are plastic-free. Using natural ingredients, instead of harsh chemicals, can help prevent skin becoming dry.

Here are eight natural, eco-friendly soaps that we've tried and tested to help you make the switch from bottles to bars.

Alter/native By Suma Ayurvedic Soap Bar*   £3.25

Ayurvedic medicine is thousands of years old, and aims to restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit. This vegan soap is made with essential oils to promote the sense of tranquillity – the scent of lime and sandalwood subtly lingers on the skin after using. It creates masses of foamy bubbles, and the coconut oil, olive oil and shea butter are deeply moisturising. Comes in cardboard packaging, with no plastic, and is free from palm oil, parabens, SLS and SLES.

Cosy Cottage Soap Uplifting Geranium Soap  £3.50

Even before we unwrapped this soap, the uplifting scent of geranium wafted around the office – the smell is gorgeous, and a real mood-booster. Cosy Cottage soaps are palm oil free, plastic free, and cruelty free. They're handmade in small batches in Yorkshire, using natural ingredients that are sourced as locally as possible. All packaging is compostable or recyclable – and the soaps are very attractively presented. A good choice for people with dry skin or eczema.

Friendly Orange & Grapefruit Soap*   £2.95

Refreshing citrus scents are uplifting – and ideal for summer. This Friendly Orange & Grapefruit Soap is packed full of vitamin C and antioxidants. Each all-natural bar is handmade with coconut oil, shea butter, olive oil, orange and grapefruit essential oils, and water. The soap leaves skin soft and nourished. Friendly Soap produces a wide range of lovely fragrances, including lavender, cocoa butter, rose geranium, and cinnamon. There are also shampoo bars, shaving bars and an excellent all-purpose travel bar to choose from.

Dr Bronner's All-one Pure-Castile Bar Soap*   £6.49

These generously sized soap bars are certified Fair Trade, and made with organic oils. The bars are available in nine different scents, including almond and lavender. It produces a rich, foamy lather that's kind to skin – and can also be used to wash hair, so is great for travel. It's a long-lasting bar that holds its shape well. Dr Bronner's was founded in 1948, and is a certified B Corp company producing socially and environmentally responsible products. Wrapped in 90% post-consumer recycled paper from Living Tree Paper Co.

Hatton Handmade Soaps   £5

A delightful range of handmade soaps, with lots of fragrances to choose from. We tested Orange and Poppy Seed – a bar for hands and body with a rich, citrusy fragrance. The blend of base oils includes coconut, sweet almond and shea butter, to create a moisturising soap that produces a luxurious lather. All Hatton Handmade soaps are hand cut and hand stamped, giving each bar a pleasing, unique appearance – and the plastic-free packaging is as minimal as possible. They also make shampoo bars that can also be used on hands and body – so are great for travelling.

Hiltwood Cedarwood & Spanish Verbena with Turmeric Soap Bar*  £5.50

This refreshing turmeric soap bar from Hiltwood has anti-inflammatory properties that can help calm irritation and reduce spots and redness. It's a gently exfoliating, deeply cleansing soap that can be used on hands, face and body, and leaves skin soft and smooth. The lovely scent is revitalising – a great pick-me-up for early mornings. Hiltwood soaps are an ethical and sustainable choice – all the bars are handmade in the UK without palm oil, and come in plastic-free packaging.

All Natural Soap Co Double Ginger-Lime Soap   £6.95

This big, all-natural soap bar produces a rich lather, with a warming and invigorating fragrance. The addition of lime essential oil helps to lift mood, reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, and improve concentration. There are lots of lovely varieties to choose from in this range, from botanical scents to spicy citrus scents. All Natural Soap Co is a multi-award-winning UK soap producer, making bars in small batches using a unique energy-efficient variation of the traditional 'cold process' technique. Products are totally biodegradable, and minimally packaged. They're also cruelty free and free from SLS, parabens and palm oil.

Faith in Nature Lavender Soap*   £3.49

A great-looking vegan bar of soap that holds its shape well without dissolving. This one has the lovely scent of lavender, which is relaxing and calming – or you can choose from many other fragrances including coconut, grapefruit or rosemary. Faith in Nature products are made using high-quality, naturally derived, cruelty-free ingredients, with 100 percent natural fragrance – and no parabens or SLS. The packaging is made of fully recycled and recyclable card.

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