How to Choose the Right Soap for Your Skin Type

How to Choose the Right Soap for Your Skin Type

Eric Vandernail

How to Choose the Right Soap for Your Skin Type

 

Woman washing her hands with ever and embers natural goat milk soap bar

When you pick up a bar of soap at the store, it may look simple. But the truth is, not all soaps are the same—especially when it comes to your skin type. Commercial soaps are often filled with detergents, artificial fragrances, and harsh additives that strip away your skin’s natural oils. The result? Dryness, irritation, and sometimes even breakouts.

At Ever & Ember, we believe your soap should do more than just clean—it should nurture your skin. That’s why we use wholesome ingredients like goat milk, shea butter, organic oils, clays, and botanical essences to create small batch bars designed to be as unique as you are.

Today, we’re breaking down how to choose the right soap for your skin type and why natural handmade bars (like ours!) make such a difference.

Infographic titled ‘Find Your Perfect Soap Match’ from Ever & Ember Goat Milk Soap Collection. Features four skin types with simple face icons and ingredient illustrations: Dry Skin (Goat Milk, Shea Butter), Oily Skin (Clay), Sensitive Skin (Lavender, Oatmeal), and Mature Skin (Rose, Shea Butter).

Why Skin Type Matters

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and just like your diet or lifestyle, it has individual needs. A soap that works wonders for someone with oily skin might leave a person with dry skin feeling itchy and uncomfortable. Choosing a bar that aligns with your skin type helps:

  • Maintain your skin’s natural moisture barrier
  • Balance oil production
  • Calm sensitivity or irritation
  • Promote a clear, glowing complexion

The best news? Natural soaps like ours can be customized with ingredients that target each skin type.

Our Star Ingredients

Here’s what makes Ever & Ember soaps stand out:

  • Goat Milk – Rich in lactic acid, goat milk gently exfoliates while deeply hydrating. Perfect for sensitive or dry skin.
  • Shea Butter – A skin superfood packed with vitamins A, E, and fatty acids that nourish and soften.
  • Saponified Oils – Organic Palm Oil (Sustainable Palm Done Right), Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Olive Oil, and Jojoba Oil—all chosen for their moisturizing and cleansing balance.
  • Clays (Kaolin, Bentonite, Illite) – Detoxifying and mineral-rich, clays help absorb impurities while soothing skin.
  • Essential Oils & Natural Fragrance Blends – Geranium, Palmarosa, Rose Absolute, and botanical blends add therapeutic benefits alongside beautiful natural aromas.

Soap for Dry Skin

Dry skin needs gentle, hydrating, and nourishing care. Harsh commercial soaps often strip away natural oils, making dryness worse.

Look for soaps with:

  • Goat Milk – Restores moisture and helps prevent flakiness.
  • Shea Butter – Creates a creamy lather that locks in hydration.
  • Olive & Sunflower Oils – Rich in emollients to smooth and soften.

Avoid: Harsh detergents, sulfates, or soaps that promise “extra deep clean.”

Ever & Ember Recommendation:

oatmeal milk and Honey Goats milk natural soap bar

Soap for Oily Skin

If your skin leans shiny or prone to clogged pores, you need a soap that balances—not strips.

Look for soaps with:

  • Clays (Bentonite, Kaolin, Illite) – Absorb excess oil without overdrying.
  • Coconut Oil – Cleansing power that helps balance sebum.
  • Jojoba Oil – Balances oil naturally by mimicking your skin’s sebum.

Avoid: Overly heavy butters or synthetic ingredients that clog pores.

Ever & Ember Recommendation:

Burnt orange and patchouli natural goat milk soap bar

Soap for Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin reacts quickly to fragrances, dyes, or chemicals. The key is simplicity and soothing botanicals.

Look for soaps with:

  • Goat Milk – Naturally calming, reduces redness.
  • Shea Butter & Olive Oil – Gentle hydration.
  • Lightly Scented Bars – Essential oils like lavender are soothing and skin-friendly.

Avoid: Strong synthetic fragrances, alcohol, or antibacterial soaps.

Ever & Ember Recommendation:

  • Lavender Oatmeal Goat Milk Soap – Calming lavender and gentle exfoliation from oatmeal make this a dream for sensitive skin.
  • Rose & Clay Goat Milk Soap – Naturally colored with kaolin clay and lightly scented with rose absolute.
handmade natural goat milk soap bar rose and clay

Soap for Combination Skin

Combination skin means you’re both oily in some areas (like the T-zone) and dry in others. You need balance.

Look for soaps with:

  • Goat Milk – Hydration where you need it.
  • Clays – Draw out oil in trouble spots.
  • Jojoba Oil – Mimics skin’s natural sebum for balance.

Avoid: Heavy, pore-clogging soaps or extreme “oil control” bars.

Ever & Ember Recommendation:

fig and berry bliss goat milk soap bar

Soap for Mature Skin

As we age, our skin becomes thinner and loses elasticity. Gentle nourishment is key.

Look for soaps with:

  • Shea Butter – Deep hydration to smooth fine lines.
  • Jojoba & Olive Oils – Lightweight moisture that supports elasticity.
  • Essential Oils like Geranium & Palmarosa – Promote tone and balance.

Avoid: Harsh cleansers or drying alcohols.

Ever & Ember Recommendation:

  • Rose & Clay Goat Milk Soap – A touch of rose absolute for timeless beauty.

Why Small Batch Matters

We’ve talked before about the benefits of small batch soapmaking—and here’s where it really shines. When your soap is made in small, carefully crafted batches, you know the ingredients are fresh, thoughtfully measured, and consistent.

Mass-produced soaps cut corners with synthetic fillers. We choose skin-loving oils, clays, and butters that deliver real benefits.

Self-Care Meets Skin Care

Choosing the right soap is about more than just skin—it’s about your whole self-care ritual. Just like we explored in our Self-Care Sunday blog, the right bar can turn your shower into a spa-like retreat.

  • Dry skin? Imagine the comfort of goat milk and honey lather.
  • Oily skin? Picture clay drawing out impurities like a gentle mask.
  • Sensitive skin? Feel the calm of lavender and oatmeal.

Shop the Collection

✨ Find Your Soap Match:

Closing Thoughts

Choosing the right soap for your skin type isn’t about trial and error anymore. With Ever & Ember’s small batch, goat milk, and natural ingredient soaps, you can find a bar that fits your unique skin. From dry to oily, sensitive to mature, we’ve created something just for you.

Because when your skin feels good, you feel good—and that’s the heart of Ever & Ember.

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