Shoppers Say This $16 ‘Oversized’ & ‘Luxurious’ Soap Bar ‘Worked When All the Expensive Facial Creams Did Not'

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While the thought of putting a bar of soap on your face might give some folks pause, L’Occitane’s Shea Butter Extra-Gentle Soap Bar is quickly changing minds — and entire skincare routines.

The $16 block is technically billed as a hand and body soap, but shoppers swear it’s doing the heavy lifting of luxury face creams — without the $80 jar. “This worked when all the expensive facial creams did not,” one reviewer wrote, explaining how the soap cleared stubborn forehead flaking after years of trying everything from drugstore moisturizers to doctor recs.

At first glance, it’s just a giant, citrus-scented block of soap. But the formula is sneakily elegant: made with a 100% vegetable base and enriched with shea extract to soothe skin instead of stripping it. One licensed esthetician even raved, “This bar soap is fantastic! It softens the skin, has a delightful light fragrance, and it rinses clean. It’s gentle enough for your face and all lady parts,” adding that they have it on auto-ship. (Hard to beat that kind of endorsement.)

The soap bar’s verbena scent gets high marks for being “not overpowering” and refreshingly natural — not the cloying, fake-lavender situation you might expect from anything labeled “extra gentle.” According to another user, the lather is “rich in emollients,” offering enough glide for both a facial cleanse and a shave, all without leaving the skin dry or tight.

And while $16 may sound steep for soap, many users note that it earns its price tag on longevity alone. “Worth the price because it lasts a long time,” one shopper wrote. Another added, “Brand sounds expensive but considering I could use it for a long time, it is worth.”

Those with sensitive skin especially seem to keep coming back. “I do simple skincare and this is perfect,” one fan shared. “Not drying, face feels fresh all day.” And for anyone prone to post-soap breakouts? “This is one soap that didn’t cause any acne.”

Bottom line: If your face is tired of fancy creams that don’t deliver, this oversized, shea-rich bar just might be the low-key hero your routine’s been missing. Why not give L’Occitane’s Shea Butter Extra-Gentle Soap Bar a try for yourself and see what all the fuss is about?

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