Being picky about your cleansers should never be something that you’re ashamed of! Though there may have been a day when your skin could handle whatever formula you plucked off the supermarket shelf, the benefits that come from being a little choosier are surely worth the time spent doing a little more research on what the best products are.
A recent type of cleanser that’s getting attention is turmeric soap! A naturally-found miracle, and an ingredient beloved for its medicinal purposes, it’s no surprise why turmeric is finally being harvested for skin and body care.
If you’re interested in hopping onto the turmeric soap train, though, you’ll want to ensure you’re finding the best type for you.
So, what are the best turmeric soaps? You should always ensure that the soap you’re choosing is formulated for where you’ll be using it – the face, the body, or both. You’ll also want to make a decision as to whether you want a pure turmeric soap, or one mixed with other ingredients. And lastly, the form of soap you choose should fit your skin type (liquid, bar, or scrub are the most popular options).
In this article, we’ll breakdown the role that turmeric has in your skincare, the benefits you’ll notice with continued use, and even show you some of our favorite products so that you can integrate it into your skincare routine ASAP! Let’s dive in.
What Is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a spice, popular in Asia (primarily India), and is what gives curry dishes that beautiful golden color. It’s used in the culinary arts on a regular basis, though the use of turmeric as a medicinal herb can be traced back to ancient times.
Though delicious, it’s been found that the spice has a long list of benefits when applied and used topically as well. Tumeric soap is a popular way to apply this wonderful ingredient to your skin.
The Benefits Of Turmeric In Skincare
- The curcumin content in turmeric is what sets it apart from other natural skincare ingredients. Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant product that, when used on the skin, leaves you looking like you’re glowing from within.
- Turmeric has the power to decrease oxidation and swelling. It can also positively affect tissue and collagen production. In other words, turmeric is fantastic for those who have pre-existing skin conditions, from acne and dermatitis to even psoriasis.
- This spice is also a natural calming agent. It’s a great choice for sensitive skin types, or those dealing with warm or red skin (due to rosacea, heat rash, etc.). It aids in the healing of the moisture barrier and keeps skin relaxed.
- Thanks to turmeric speeding up the cell renewal process, it’s also great for those dealing with active acne, or if you’re dealing with post-acne marks and hyperpigmentation. It encourages the growth of new cells, and nourishes the skin to keep you feeling moisturized and nourished.
- For those who want anti-aging skincare, you’ll be happy to hear that alongside the boosting of collagen production, the spice also strengthens the elasticity of the skin, leaving your face dewy, bouncy, and filling in fine lines and wrinkles with ease.
If you’re interested in making your own turmeric soap, take a look at this tutorial from For Us Soap Company on YouTube.
Qualities Of A Good Turmeric Soap
Now that you’re well-versed in all the advantages that come with using turmeric in your skincare routine, let’s talk about the features you should be looking for when it comes to choosing a cleanser.
For Body or Face
A turmeric cleanser is great for both face and body, but you want to ensure that you’re choosing the right formula for the area that you’re going to be using it on!
A soap that mentions being beneficial for skin issues like hyperpigmentation and acne are likely catered to the face rather than the body, so if a soap mentions any of these issues, you can rightfully assume that the formula is better suited as a facial cleanser rather than a body cleanser.
Compromising and using a body soap on your face may leave your face feeling stripped and dry, while using a facial soap on the body may not warrant a deep enough clean. To avoid needing to make an either/or decision, it may be in your benefit to find a dual soap bar that you can use on both the face and body.
Mixed With Other Ingredients
There are a number of benefits that come with using pure turmeric soap, which contains 100% turmeric as the main ingredient. It’s a rockstar substance that addresses a slew of skin concerns, and is great to use on all skin types!
However, if you’re looking to add a little more of a personalized “oomph” into your cleanser, you can pick a soap with other hero ingredients.
Here are some organic ingredients that are popularly used in conjunction with turmeric, and what they specialize in:
- Kojic Acid, which lightens the skin and targets hyperpigmentation and melanin release.
- Papaya, which is a brightening agent that’s a popular solution for body acne scars.
- Ginger, which is a natural healing agent and great for skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, acne, and the like.
- Honey, which is an anti-microbial and anti-bacterial agent can keep acne from turning into a breakout, and is also deeply moisturizing and nourishing.
Form Of Soap
Though the most popular form that turmeric soap comes in is bar, there are also different forms that may prove more beneficial for your skin type:
- Liquid Soap is ideal for those with drier skin types. These cleansers tend to be more gentle and hydrating. It’s also perfect for those who like the feel of a deep clean, because they foam extremely well and can give an even clean.
- Bar Soap is a little bit tougher on the skin. It does offer a deep, penetrating clean, but it may be too stripping for dry skin types. However, this is a great form if you’re in the market for body soap.
- Scrubs are perfect for both the face and body, and are especially great for dry skin types since they stimulate the skin and promote cell renewal, and can help shed dry skin off in a single use.
Best Turmeric Soaps
Rank | Product | Features |
1.) | Turmeric Soap Bar for Body & Face | Super moisturizing, multiple oils, 100% turmeric oil |
2.) | Aspen Kay Naturals ‘Fugly’ Soap | One pound of soap, a bargain buy, made of certified organic ingredients |
3.) | Minimo Glow Turmeric Scrub | See results in 2-3 weeks, formulated with powerhouse ingredients, comes with scrubbing tool |
4.) | Nartulo Turmeric Face Wash | Plant-based skincare, clean rinse, great anti-aging wash |
5.) | Turmeric Soap Bar with Tamarind and Honey | Small-batch company, cruelty-free, deeply nourishing |
1. Turmeric Soap Bar For Body & Face
Here’s something for the folks who are looking for all the benefits of turmeric and nothing else! This soap is made with 100% pure turmeric root essential oil, as well as organic turmeric root powder, and turmeric root extract.
It’s the main ingredient in this soap so it’s super potent, but still gentle enough to use on both your face and body!
This cleanser is also a fabulous pick for those with drier skin types, thanks to the additions of organic olive oil, organic shea butter, calendula extract, and coconut oil which will all aid in nourishing your skin and keeping it hydrated and moisturized.
Not only that, but this is also such a sustainable pick, as this soap is organically sourced, cruelty-free, vegan, natural, and gluten-free. Each purchase helps support small businesses too (as if it couldn’t get any better!).
2. Aspen Kay Naturals ‘Fugly’ Soap
We know, we know, the name is a little bit of an eye-catcher, but Aspen Kay Naturals is pretty transparent about the reason they call this bag of soap (yes, a bag of soap), ‘fugly’!
It’s because it’s full of the odds and ends of their handmade soap bars, which means all of the pieces that aren’t necessarily “pretty” enough to be sold as a separate bar end up in this bag! They have a ton of different options, but of course, we’ve linked the turmeric soap bag.
You get an entire pound of soap for just under $22, so this is definitely a great buy for bargain hunters, and though they may not be pretty, they work just as you’d expect them to!
This particular soap is also made with nourishing oils and butters, and is compatible with all skin types. It can even be used as a shaving soap, so you can lather up without a cream when it comes time for hair removal (on both face and body!).
3. Minimo Glow Turmeric Scrub
Too often do we find exfoliators too stripping or drying. However, this one from Minimo Glow harvests the power of turmeric so you can buff away dead skin and dryness, while also nourishing your skin with the moisture-retaining properties of the spice!
Alongside turmeric, the scrub also uses cinnamon, honey, and chamomile and lemon extract to brighten and moisturize the skin.
It smells kind of like fall, and it also comes with a handy exfoliating tool that helps the scrub get into all the nooks and crannies of your face.
This is such a game-changer for those with hyperpigmentation, acne scars, dark spots, or any sort of uneven skin tone on the face. With consistent use, some users claim to have seen results in less than one month’s time! It’s one of Minimo’s best selling products, and it’s definitely earned that title for a reason!
4. Nartulo Turmeric Face Wash
For those who like the nourishing lather and feel of a liquid face wash, this one by Nartulo will be your savior! It’s made up of 100% natural ingredients, which is almost unheard of in the skincare world, and the powerhouse ingredient, turmeric, is heavily featured in the form of root oil.
This is definitely our pick for you if you have textured or dry skin, because this is one of the most nourishing formulas on this list. It detoxifies the pores, helps fade and acne spots, brings under-the-skin-spots to the surface, and also promotes the growth of collagen, making this a stellar pick for those with mature skin types.
It’s also gentle enough to use every single day, twice a day, and since it’s plant-based, the odds of you dealing with any sort of unsavory skin reaction are very low.
5. Turmeric Soap Bar with Tamarind and Honey
Here’s a face and body soap that utilizes the powerful ingredient cocktail of turmeric, tamarind, honey, and coconut oil to keep skin bright and feeling plump and hydrated!
All of the hero ingredients in this formula are naturally sourced from Thailand, and were distinctly chosen due to their healing, almost medicinal nature when used in tandem.
The soap is cruelty-free, affordable, and safe for all skin types to use. In fact, the brand Larawa is so confident that you’ll love it, that they offer a 100% money-back guarantee just in case you don’t.
Related Questions
Can I use turmeric soap on my skin every day?
Turmeric, though a hero ingredient, isn’t necessarily too strong, and can safely be used on a daily basis. It’s deeply nourishing, and improves the health of your skin in a way where it would actually be more beneficial for you to use it every single day.
If you have sensitive skin, you may want to lessen your use to every other day, or once a day (morning or night).
It’s also important to do a patch test prior to you regularly using your soap. To do this, lather the soap (or scrub) in your hands, and swipe the bubbles on your neck or underneath your jawline. In 24 hours time, if you’re not seeing any adverse results or reactions, feel free to use the product on your entire face.
How long does turmeric soap take to work?
Depending on the skin type, it could take as little as 1 week to see results, or as much as 8 weeks.
It also depends on what kind of results you’re looking for! If you want to see brightening and lightening effects, it could take faster due to the potency that turmeric has.
However, if you’re looking for acne-clearing and anti-aging results, it may take longer, since the cleanser still has to honor your skin’s natural cell-shedding and regrowth process.
Does turmeric lighten skin permanently?
Unfortunately, no. There are currently no cleaners or skincare products on the market that can permanently alter the shade of your skin. This doesn’t mean that things like dark spots and hyperpigmentation will come back, but your skin will be susceptible to scarring once you cease the use of your turmeric soap.
In order to maintain the condition of your skin, you’ll need to maintain the use of your soap. To bypass this, you can switch to using a new cleanser, or find a toner or moisturizer that maintains the brightening effect without the use of turmeric.
Will turmeric soap stain the skin?
No! Turmeric soaps contain a certain amount of turmeric that is diluted enough by other ingredients that it doesn’t leave a stain on your face, even if you allow the suds to linger on your skin for an extended period of time.
However, this doesn’t apply to DIY cleansers, scrubs, and masks that usually ask you to use turmeric powders.
These processed powders differ from the turmeric used in professionally made soaps, and are likely to leave you with a bit of an orange glow post-rinse! Thankfully, it’s not permanent, and should fade within a couple of days.
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