The Best Fancy Soaps To Give Your Hands (And Your Bathroom Shelf) A Real Treat

Who said hygiene had to be boring?

Updated on16th March 2021 at 11.00am

We're all aware of the necessity of soap, now more than ever before. While any soap is better than no soap, our current climate is the perfect time to invest in some really lovely products that won't just make your hands feel better, they'll make your bathroom more cheerful, too.

A few years ago, soap went from a fairly mundane household product (as well as something you might give to your granny for Christmas) to one of the most coveted luxury products you could think of. Of course, for many, a bar of Radox from the supermarket is still entirely satisfactory (if not rather hard to come by at this very moment). But thanks to a number of new brands, products and clever marketing, soap has become – and there's no other way to say this – a lifestyle.

But wait – before the eye rolls commence, you might be pleased to know that a lot of fancy soap is being produced by brands committed to a greater cause. TakeThe Soap Co, for example. Based in East London, all of its products are made in the UK by people who are blind, disabled or otherwise disadvantaged. As well as that, everything is cruelty-free, plus there are different product ranges including plastic free, 100% natural and eco and bee-friendly. For the products that aren't housed in aluminium rather than plastic, each container is made from recycled milk bottles.

Says the brand: 'We’re environmentally conscious even down to the finer details. With compostable stickers, biodegradable glue and a film made from renewable wood pulp that looks like plastic, we pay attention to every detail.'

Another name to look out for is KANKAN, which aims to make refills mainstream. The London-based brand has put luxurious soap in refill cans with the idea that, on your first purchase, you buy a starter kit consisting of a keep-forever dispenser and a can of soap. Then, you just buy (plastic-free) refills as and when you need them. On top of that, the brand plants a tree for every can sold.

Last year, Miller Harris partnered with Age UK in order to provide soap to the most vulnerable people in society. The brand said: 'We will be donating our entire stock of hand wash, hand lotion and soaps to those most vulnerable in the UK. Our soaps will leave the warehouse... to reach the elderly and we are asking other brands to join us. It will be a sin if soap is sat in warehouses rather than reaching people where it can be of some help. The most vulnerable in our society will be the most affected and the best advice is to wash your hands regularly, so we need to donate what we can and get soap to those in need.'

The Body Shop, too, is worth bearing in mind. ItsCommunity Trade programme operates all over the world, in countries where the brand sources its ingredients. This means that, by purchasing a bar of Shea Soap, for example, you're helping to support a community in Ghana, in which the women started to make their own shea butter, set up their own business and now earn their own income for the first time. The programme has also allowed rural communities to access safe drinking water, as well as building clinics and schools near their homes.

Of course, there's also a whole lot of soap that is luxurious for luxury's sake, and there's nothing wrong with that. From Chanel's chic bar of soap (your sink has never looked so good) to Aesop's delicious-smelling hand washes that don't dry out your skin, there's plenty to choose from that feel like a real treat. It's also worth noting that Aesop sells a rinse-free hand soap, if you're looking for an alternative to those very elusive hand sanitisers.

Speaking of which, Marcia Kilgore, founder of Beauty Pie and Soaper Duper, suggested using body wash if you can't find any soap. Writing on Instagram, she said: 'Heard some crazy tales of people selling hand sanitizer for thousands, and hand wash being in short supply, and realized that from a formulation perspective, Body Wash IS Hand Wash (it’s just BIGGER).'

When you've filled your bathroom with beautiful soap and sung Happy Birthday more times than you can count, don't forget to keep your hands soft and hydrated with one of the best, most nourishing hand creams on the market.