Too often do we look to man-made chemicals and formulations to aid us in our skincare routine when in reality, some of the best ingredients we can put on our faces and bodies are found in nature, just like the hero ingredient kojic acid!
It’s a special ingredient, one that everyone could benefit from having in their product rotation, and the best way to introduce it into your routine is by finding a soap that features the chemical. You can use this cleanser on your face and body, and reap all the benefits in a less concentrated way than say, a serum.
So, what are the best kojic acid soaps? When buying soap with kojic acid, it’s important to keep certain things in mind. Pay attention to what additional ingredients are in the soap formula (the most popular additives being vitamin C, retinol, and collagen), how concentrated the soap is, and how compatible the soap is for your personal skin concerns.
In this article, we’re going to walk you through of the best kojic acid soaps on the market, so you can try out the magic entirely for yourself!
Qualities Of The Best Kojic Acid Soaps
Added Ingredients
A lot of the time, brands will formulate kojic soaps that feature other great ingredients like vitamin C, collagen, and even retinol. These additives further personalize your cleansing experience and make it more catered to your personal skin type and concerns.
For example, if you want to delve deeper into the brightening properties of kojic, you may want to opt for a soap with the additional benefits of vitamin C, a naturally brightening skincare ingredient that gives your face and body that healthy glow.
Collagen in soaps is great if you’re looking for skincare products that work for more mature skin types. It can fill up the skin (and all the wrinkles and fine lines you earn with time), and grace it with a youthful bounce, replenishing that “bounce” that we’re all used to having!
If you haven’t yet added retinol into your skincare routine, this is a great way to get acquainted with it. We wouldn’t recommend using it every single day if you’re not sure how your skin reacts to it, but it’s a great way to deeply wash your face and body on days that you feel you could benefit from a more thorough cleansing.
Concentration of Product
Kojic is a fairly concentrated ingredient, so you have to be aware of your own personal skin type, and the resiliency of your face and body when it comes to handling potentially irritating ingredients.
If you know you have sensitive, or acne-prone skin, try starting out with a gentler formula. Find soaps that counter the harshness of kojic via the inclusion of moisturizing agents and oils- shea butter, coconut oil, etc.
Made For Your Personal Skin Concerns
Though kojic is most commonly used for skin brightening, depending on the concentration of the formula and how it works in tandem with other ingredients- it can be the answer to some of the most common skin concerns.
It can help solve breakouts caused by sensitive skin, especially if you opt for a formula that yields anti-inflammatory or anti-microbial properties. This is especially true for those who deal with fungal acne, because the fermentation process that comes with cultivating kojic makes it a master at naturally healing fungal conditions.
If hyperpigmentation or sun/acne scarring is the issue, opt for a higher formulation of kojic. Because of its natural sourcing, it can tackle dark marks and scars without wreaking havoc on the rest of your skin (if you have a normal skin resiliency).
With those things in mind, make sure to do thorough research on the cleanser you’re picking up so that you can choose one that addresses your needs the best! You wouldn’t buy a soap with a slew of moisturizing agents of you have overly-oily skin, etc.
What Is Kojic Acid?
There are two ways that this miracle-working ingredient can be made. It can either be a carefully concocted cocktail of different types of fungi, or it can be a byproduct formed by the natural fermentation process of the Japanese alcohol known as sake.
Either way, you’ll be left with kojic acid, an agent revered by skincare fanatics and dermatologists for it’s gentle skin brightening and lightening properties. It gained popularity and footing in Japan for those qualities, though it didn’t take long for the rest of the world to notice the potential of the ingredient.
Scientifically, the reason why kojic acid is so effective for brightening dark marks and scars is because it prevents the skin from forming an amino acid that’s imperative to the production of melanin-tyrosine. It is safe to use every single day and is approved by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel for being safe in concentrations of less than 1%.
As previously mentioned, kojic acid is also harbors natural antifungal properties- which is why dermatologists highly recommend athletes to use kojic acid cleansers if they’re dealing with ringworm, athlete’s foot, and other similar conditions.
However, those dealing with stubborn under the skin bumps (typically on the forehead) can find relief with these types of cleansers too.
The Best Kojic Acid Soaps
Rank | Product | Key Features |
---|---|---|
1. | Koji White Skin Brightening Soap | Maximum strength, moisturizing, clean formula |
2. | Valitic Kojic Acid Dark Spot Remover Soap | Japanese originated, multipurpose, moisturizing |
3. | Kojie San Skin Brightening Soap | Fruit origins, concentrated, sensitive-skin friendly |
4. | Urban Skin RX Soap | Highly revered, evens complexion, carefully formulated |
5. | Turmeric Kojic Acid Soap Bar | Good for acne-prone skin, naturally derived, good for dry skin |
6. | Marie France Pure Kojic Soap | Vegan, sensitive-skin friendly, sustainable formula |
7. | Natrulo Kojic Acid Soap | Features natural ingredients, soothing, made in the USA |
8. | Kojic Acid Soap Set | Features 6 soaps, great gift, good for all skin types |
9. | Revitale Advanced Kojic Scrub Treatment | Exfoliating, evens skin tone, vitamin C |
10. | Healov Kojic Acid Skin Lightening Soap | Acne-fighting, gentle-formula, good for whole body/face |
11. | Organic Kojic Acid Collagen Soap | Comes with matching cream, anti-aging, repairs skin |
1. Koji White Skin Brightening Soap
If you could make your skin emanate the energy of any singular word, perhaps one of the first words you’d choose would be “radiant.”
It’s a word that, in the skincare world, means even, glowing, and healthy, which is exactly the state that the Koji White Skin Brightening Soap will leave your skin in with consistent use!
Healthy looking skin doesn’t need to be something you spend ridiculous amounts of money on!
The truth is that a lot of skin types and concerns can benefit from simple ingredients and formulations, and with this cleanser being an all-natural alternative to more chemically-packed washes on the market, you’ll give your face and body the treatment it deserves!
2. Valitic Kojic Acid Dark Spot Remover Soap
While we’re on the note of natural skincare, let’s talk about all the goodness that’s jam packed into this kojic acid soap from Valitic!
Not only does it feature a healthy amount of kojic acid for your skin to enjoy, but it also features vitamin C, retinol, collagen, vitamin E, and even more!
It may seem like a lot of ingredients for a singular bar soap to feature, but this cleanser was specially formulated to be kind to your skin, in spite of its long list of ingredients.
Vitamin C, retinol, and collagen will all work in tandem to renew your skin- quite literally shedding off old, damaged skin cells over time and revealing a completely clean, healthy layer of skin underneath.
3. Kojie San Skin Brightening Soap
For under $20, you can get two bars of extra-large kojic acid soaps from one of the most trusted brands for the ingredient- Kojie San!
Formulated in Japan, and dedicated to preserving as many of the natural properties of the ingredient as possible, you can rest assured that you’re choosing one of the best formulations on the market.
The amount of kojic acid in this formula is fairly concentrated, making it awesome for those with a more resilient skin types, or who have deeply impacted hyperpigmentation or are dealing with other forms of scarring.
The citrus-based orange scent also makes it a great face or body wash for the morning!
4. Urban Skin RX Soap
Once upon a time, this facial cleanser from Urban Skin RX made headlines for the miracles it works on skin! Although it’s been a while since it was recognized for its service to skin- the hype, in our opinion, should still be alive!
This is such a great pick for those who struggle with acne-prone skin, an uneven complexion, or who simply want their skin to have that healthy inner glow.
We aren’t quite sure how Urban Skin RX was able to make such an incredible formula (and one that’s great for all skin types), but we’re unbelievably thankful that they did!
It contains kojic acid, azaleic acid, niacinamide, licorice root, and more, making the perfect cocktail of skin-friendly ingredients that your face will love.
One of our favorite parts of this soap is the included sponge, which can work the cleanser into your skin better than your fingertips can!
5. Turmeric Kojic Acid Soap Bar
This Kojic Acid soap brings together the brightening, lightening properiites of the acid alongside the complexion-evening benefits of turmeric, and the moisturizing properties of shea butter, coconut oil, and grapeseed oil.
You’ll fall in love with the all-natural ingredients working in this single bar soap, and the number of benefits that you’ll reap with consistent use will have you reaching for it again and again!
Not only does it cleanse out your skin better than a classic face wash, but it can clear up acne, even out your complexion and skin tone, as well help lighten acne scars and dark spots from aging or the sun.
6. Marie France Pure Kojic Soap
Containing only 7 total ingredients, this Kojic Acid soap from brand Marie France is truly one of the cleanest, no-fuss products on this list, making it the perfect choice for those with sensitive skin, or who are making a transition into using the most environmentally friendly products possible.
This soap is unscented, SLS and DEA free, has no synthetic additives, is vegan, and is cruelty-free!
Since kojic acid is truly the Hero ingredient in this formula, it’s an easy pick for those who deal with dark spots, acne scars, and sun damage.
If you have sensitive skin, or are prone to breakouts, you’ll be happy to hear that this formula is mild and gentle. Essentially, it’s kind enough to your skin that it’ll have no reason to exaggerate any existing concerns or cause any new ones!
7. Natrulo Kojic Acid Soap
Dealing with a damaged skin barrier? The last thing that you want to do is expose your face to strong, deeply concentrated formulas or other harmful chemicals.
Instead, you want to nourish your skin, and this soap from Natrulo is definitely one of the best ways to do that!
Sourced from fermented Japanese sake and concocted with other good-for-you ingredients like turmeric, papaya powder, and coconut oil, this soap can turn back the clock on damage caused from aging, the sun, acne, and of course, over-exfoliation.
It’s a gentle enough formula to use on your face, but if you’re dealing with body hyperpigmentation, it can also be used as an all-over wash.
Also, the formula is full of anti-inflammatory ingredients, making it a perfect choice if you have itchy, irritated skin or are dealing with swollen acne.
8. Kojic Acid Soap Set
Though this soap set may be one of the sweetest gifts you could give to the skincare-savvy folks in your life, it’s also one of the best things that you could gift yourself with!
If you’re just wading the waters into introducing kojic acid into your routine, this set has 6 bars of soap in it from the brand koji white, so you can test out each soap they offer, and pick out the one you like the best!
The set of soaps each have their own special ingredients in it, from collagen to charcoal, to even vitamin C, so you can rotate them out depending on what you think your skin needs at the time.
9. Revitale Advanced Kojic Scrub Treatment
This kojic acid soap is a fantastic choice if your skin is in need of a little stimulation and blood flow.
Thanks to the exfoliating beads included in the formula (which are naturally made from dried apricot and do not include microplastics), you can work away dead skin with ease.
We love this soap for those live in climates with a lot of environmental stressors: pollution, humid weather, etc.
This formula delves deep into the pores and cleanses your skin as deeply as it can, while also instilling it with the brightening properties of vitamin C!
10. Healov Kojic Acid Skin Lightening Soap
Dealing with super dry skin may make you wary of trying out new products. But, you can rest easy when you try out this kojic acid soap from the super gentle brand Healov.
It’s made to nourish, and since it’s chock-full of incredible, natural, ingredients, you won’t have to worry about it drying your skin out.
The secret? The addition of a cocktail of oils (coconut oil, palm oil, and castor oil), which replenish the skin and keep it nourished and moisturized while the kojic acid works its magic.
11. Organic Kojic Acid Collagen Soap
Knock out two birds with a single purchase! This kojic acid soap is organic, naturally sourced, and the perfect choice for those looking for trusty anti-aging products (thanks to the addition of plumping collagen).
And even better, it comes with a matching cream that not only nourishes the skin, but helps bring you the results you want faster.
This soap and moisturizer are great on their own, but together, they’ll change your skincare routine completely!
Plus, the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory benefits will easily earn it a place in your list of holy grails, especially if you have sensitive skin.