“Enjoy only 2 cosmetics: enough sleep and Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap.”
While there may be many things on my grandfather’s label that are rather enigmatic, this statement is as straightforward as it gets. I would only add a third element: drinking plenty of water. When it comes to a clear complexion, this has been my recipe.
For about 15 years I ran in circles trying to clear up my complexion. Between acne and general redness, I was fighting a losing battle. As a teenager I tried all the big name products: Noxema, Neutrogena, Clean and Clear, Cetaphil, various salicylic acid ointments, even Estee Lauder and Clinique. When I entered college, I sought professional help and used prescription Retin-A and Erythromycin. After that I used Dermalogica products. None of these were a long-term solution. I just lived with the acne, covering it up as I could.
When I began answering the customer service emails for Dr. Bronner’s, I decided I needed to be trying out for myself the solutions I was offering to customers. One of the most common topics dealt with using the Castile Soap to promote healthy skin plagued with acne, eczema, psoriasis, and general redness. My recommendation was to wash with the Tea Tree Pure-Castile Soap, or to use the Unscented Pure-Castile for general irritation or for sensitive skin.
Now I can say from firsthand knowledge: this stuff really works. My skin has never been more resilient.
In this age of specialization, the idea of using one product on hair, face, and body sounds pretty naïve. But experience speaks.
I began using the Tea Tree Pure-Castile Soap on my face twice a day. I found that it removed make up easily and completely. The soap will even remove mascara. After a week, my blemishes were disappearing and no new ones were forming.
At first, my face did feel tight after I washed. I think this was due to the change from the intense facial washes I had been using, as well as the creams, masks, and who-knows-what-else. (Not even I remember all that I had applied.) So during the early months I also used the Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Coconut Lotion—a very lightly scented, lightweight moisturizer. It was just right.
At a month out, my skin was smooth, my color was more even. With all that I had been through, I was somewhat astounded that the answer was so simple and had been right there in front of me—quite literally—for much of my life. (Not my whole life since Tea Tree Castile Soap wasn’t introduced until my later childhood.)
I’ve also discovered a pretty direct correlation between the amount of sleep I get, the amount of water I drink, and the condition of my skin. During crazy times, when sleep dwindles to 3-4 hours a night (bear in mind I have three young kids), my tiredness breaks out all over my face. When junky treats creep in to my diet and water creeps out, my face tells that story as well.
Now, several years later, I still wash with Castile Soaps. I don’t need the lotion any more except when the crazy Santa Ana winds sweep across California in the Fall.
In summary, here’s my technique:
- I wet my skin with warm water.
- I take about three drops—yes, three drops—of the Tea Tree Castile Soap and lather it up on my hands. If you’re a Castile Bar Soap user, lather up the bar soap on wet hands or washcloth.
- Then I rub it on my face in gentle, circular motions, taking extra time where my make up was and on historically problematic areas. I do not use a washcloth or scrubbie of any sort. I find that it irritates my skin.
- However, as the label emphasizes, keep the eyes closed. Let me say that one again, Keep the eyes closed.*
- I rinse my face with warm water in my hands with about five splashes.
- I dry by blotting my face with a towel.
As I’ve said before, you have to figure out what works for you, and perhaps you need to be more vigorous or more gentle than I have been. It’s a bit of trial and error, but be persistent. It’s completely worth it.
Further reading
- Dilutions Cheat Sheet for Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap
- 5 Life Habits for Healthy Skin
- Skin Health, pH, and Dr. Bronner’s Soap
This use and many more are in my book, Soap & Soul: A Practical Guide to Minding Your Home, Your Body, and Your Spirit with Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, available now in hardback on DrBronner.com or at your favorite bookseller, and as an eBook and audiobook (read by me!) from wherever you download or listen.
I wanted to know does the peppermint Castile soap works for acne to clear up my face as well?
Hi Shaylece – The essetial oils in the Peppermint Castile are naturally more drying than the other scents. This might be too intense for skin that is already inflamed by acne. However, if you have naturally oily skin, it may be what you need. If you try it and find that your face gets really tight and red, try out the Tea Tree or another variety. Personally it is too intense for my face.
is lavender pure castile as drying as the peppermint. I’m from the Philippines. My face burns whenever i use the peppermint one on my face. But our local store here only sells peppermint. is there anyway you can start selling your products here? I can’t live without it.
Hi Sofia – No, the Lavender does not have the same drying effect as the Peppermint. That is a natural characteristic of the essential oils in the Peppermint. We are constantly looking at new markets and there are a lot of factors that have to fall in to place on both sides before we can import into a new country. We’ll keep working on it.
Does it have to be tea tree version…the only one I can find is the peppermint,. will it work for acne too?
Hi Ali – The Peppermint essential oil is a naturally drying oil, which can be great if you have naturally oily skin. However, for many people, Peppermint is too strong for the face and will cause tightness and redness. Any of the other Castiles are milder. Although Trader Joes and Costco only sell the peppermint, a lot of other retailers carry more of the line. Try any natural products store or even Target. There’s also our webstore at http://www.drbronner.com.
I’m 60, and have had an acne issue ever since my late teens. In my younger years, my skin was oily in the t-zone, but is now more dry than anything, and I have an issue with uneven redness, blackheads, and occasional breakouts. I also tried just about everything under the sun to no avail. For the past several years, I’ve just been using diluted apple cider vinegar as a face wash once a day, and once a week I scrub with a wet washcloth (no soap) to exfoliate a little. I use plain coconut oil as a ‘lotion’ for my dry skin in general. I haven’t used makeup since in my 20’s. I’d like to use the liquid castile soap as a general “soft soap” for hand & face washing, but I don’t have a foamer. Is the ratio still 3:1 for this? I’m hoping to alleviate the redness, dryness & breakouts, too.
Hi Lynne – The Tea Tree Castile is definitely a good one to try. I don’t use a pump of any kind for my facial washing. I just wet my face and hands and use a couple drops of soap lathered up in my hands. The water on your skin will dilute it in this process. The soap does not work well in regular pumps, so if you don’t have a foamer, keep the soap in its bottle.
Does the bar soap work the same as the liquid soap?
Hi Alayna – The bar and liquid Pure Castile soap are very similar, but do have some differences which I outline in this article: https://www.lisabronner.com/liquid-vs-bar-in-dr-bronners-pure-castile-soap/. This time of year when the weather gets so dry, I opt for the bar soap since it is slightly more moisturizing.
Dear Lisa, Thanks for sharing your inspiring story. I am 48 years old and have acne rosacea and melasma. Have just started using the Baby Mild castile soap. Is this strong enough to remove SPF50? I apply SPF at least twice a day. I live in the UK and haven’t seen the sugar soaps available yet. Thank you.
Hi Jenny – Yes, the Castile soap does a great job of removing stubborn sunscreen. I use it regularly for that. The fact that the soap is so concentrated really helps. I find that conventional facial washes aren’t up to the job. In the UK, our sugar soaps are called Pump Soaps – there was something about the term “sugar soap” in the UK that referred to a cleaner used in wallpaper preparation, so we chose a different name. The Pump Soaps are the same, though. Here’s a link to our British distributor’s site: https://www.drbronner.co.uk/departments/organic-pump-soaps.aspx?deptid=SS.
Hi Lisa,
I have a mixture of dry and oily skin on my face. Basically some areas are oily with blackheads like my nose. Other areas like my chin and eyebrows have like tiny dandruff on them, even after washing my face with only water. I’m using the tea tree liquid soap as you described here for about 4 days now.. and my skin feels clean but tight and dry after washing, than oily after a few hours.
What would you recommand?
Thanks 🙂
Hi Guy – It takes about two weeks for the face to acclimate to a new regimen. I recommend a light moisturizer during the day such as the Lavender Coconut Lotion, or a light application of pure coconut oil at night. When our skin gets too dry, it often over-reacts, then getting oily. If you give it a little bit of moisture, it should settle down.
I’m still getting breakouts at age 59 and would like to try something else for my skin than what I’m currently doing. I noticed in your most recent post you recommended the organic sugar soaps. would you recommend that for someone my age with acne? I don’t have dry skin like the previous post, I would say I have normal or combination.
Hi Linda – I apologize for my delayed response here. I recommend starting with the Tea Tree Pure Castile, but if that is too drying go for the Tea Tree Sugar Soap. Give it two weeks before you decide if it’s working. It takes our skin some time to acclimate to a new regimen.
A friend of mine turned me on to the Lavender Castile Soap in October. I loved the scent and decided to use it as a body wash. I loved it. However, the real turn in my life happened when I started using it for facial wash when I realized I accidentally ran out of the facial wash I was using (during the process of getting dressed for work). I appreciated the clean feel of my face and decided to continue using it rather than purchase the facial soap that truthfully was not really working. Speeding up to a few days ago, I just noticed that the darkspots/blemishes I’ve had for literally 15 or so years are considerably brighter. This change was unplanned and due to so many things happening, I have not given my skin much of a second thought. One thing is for sure: I cannot convey how much of a fan I am of this soap, but that I am beyond ecstatic about the results it gives!
Thanks so much for sharing your story! I’m very glad our soaps have been such a help!
Is it ok to use the 18 in 1 hemp peppermibt castile soap on your face?
Hi Tiara – It depends on your skin type. The Peppermint essential oil that is in the Peppermint soap is pretty drying, so if you have normal to dry skin, the Peppermint Castile might be too strong and leave your face feeling tight and maybe red. If your skin is oily, though, it might be just the thing to balance things out.
Hi, I have very dry skin and I am allergic to green and blue dyes in soap and I’ve also learned I’m allergic to sodium Laurel sulfate. will these be bad for me since my skin is so dry? what kind would you recommend?
Hi Hailey – Our soaps do not contain any dyes nor SLS. For dry skin, I have had great feedback from customers using our Organic Sugar Soaps, https://shop.drbronner.com/organic-sugar-soaps. The sugar, as well as the shikakai extract and grape juice, all serve as humectants to draw moisture into our skin and to nourish it.
Hi ! I just read this article and I’m really impressed. I’ve been dealing with my acne, acne scars and oily skin ever since high school and back then ,I don’t really pay attention.But now that I’m in college ,I really really want them to be gone now especially my professors are nagging us to take care of our skin cause being a medical technologist means that we are exposed to bacteria. But I’m really clueless about these stuffs. I only saw a few Dr.Bronner’s products here in my country and the liquid soaps and not affordable for me since I’m still in college.Do bar soaps still have the same effects as liquids? What do you suggest I use? Also there’s no lavander coconut lotion here only peppermint ,is that okay? Do I have to use Any Castile Bar soap before using Tea tree bar soap? For how long do I have to use them? Sorry for so many questions I don’t really have any idea about beauty products.Thank you.
Hi Kim – The Castile soaps will be an excellent option for you. Bar works just as well as liquid. You can start with any of the scents that you like. The Liquid Peppermint Castile might be too intense for the face, but in the bar soap, any of the scents will work equally well. Use the soap for two weeks before you decide if you like it. It can take our skin some time to get used to a new product. The Peppermint Lotion is also an excellent facial lotion, and I find the scent very energizing. Keep in mind that good skin health starts with good nutrition, plenty of water and sleep, exercise and reduced stress. The right soap will not help if these other things are undone. May I ask what country you are in?
Hi Miss Lisa.I’m from the Philippines and I only knew this soap from one of the youtubers. I started looking for it everywhere but I can’t find this soap. That’s when my sister told me to look it up on online shops. Hopefully I can buy one or two.Thanks for the advice.
I don’t have acne prone or sensitive skin. Can I use any flavour of Dr Bronner’s? I have the citrus and trying out the soap for the first time!
Hi Thiri – The Citrus is one of my favorites! That would make a great facial wash. The only one that might cause difficulties is the Peppermint. Since peppermint essential oil is naturally drying, it might be too intense for the face. But the Citrus would be great!
Hi, Lisa
I do not have acne, but I do have an oily t-zone and aging skin (I am 48 years old) with wrinkles in the eye area and some dryness in the winter months. I really want to switch to an all natural, cruelty free skin care system. Which type of cleaner would you recommend, (liquid, bar, sugar soap) and which scent?
Thank you!
Roni
Hi Roni- I think our Sugar Soap would be fantastic for you. I’d try any of them. Personally the Lemongrass Lime is my favorite. The Sugar Soaps would be a good balancer for what you’ve described.
Hi Lisa! I have been reading all these posts, and they are great! However I am a bit confused on the dilution ratios. Is that like 1 cup of the castile liquid soap to 3 cups of water? I do have a foamer as well.
Thank you
Kelly
(Yes, foamers work well with our soaps. Dilute it at a ratio of 1:3.)
Hi Kelly – Yes, 1:3 is the proportion, which you can interpret into the volume of your foamer. 1 cup soap to 3 cups water is the right proportion, but you probably don’t have a foamer that holds 4 cups. That’s larger than most. So yours might be 1/4 c. soap to 3/4 c. water, or similar.
I tried the peppermint soap and it dried out my face. Is the tea tree soap less drying??
Hi Jensen – Yes, it definitely is. It is the nature of Peppermint essential oil to be drying, which is what some people are looking for. I also find that it is usually too much for me. The Tea Tree is much more balancing.
I’ve been using the peppermint liquid castile soap for over a year now (this is the only variant readily available in my country), and my face is now totally free of acne and blemishes. I tried everything and this is the only one that worked. I just want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Hi Pen – I’m so glad to hear it! Thank you for taking a moment to share this. What country are you in?
Can I use lavender instead of tea tree for ny face?
Hi Cindy – Absolutely! All the Castiles have the same base with the difference being the essential oils. Lavender is a very calming essential oil and would be wonderful.
Hi. I was wondering if I could use the peppermint one rather than tea tree? For acne
Hi Miranda – I generally advise against the Peppermint for acne, unless you are already accustomed to it. Peppermint oil is naturally very drying, and often acne is a reaction to already dry skin. I know that sounds counterintuitive, as we generally think of acne as being caused by pores clogged with oil. When our skin is excessively dry, its natural defenses overproduce oils, which then clog the pores. You can give the Peppermint a try, but if your skin gets red, you might want to consider backing off to the Tea Tree.
A question.. I bought peppermint Castile soap in hopes to add essential oils to it, particularly tea tree for my acne prone skin. Can I add this to the peppermint Castile and still get the same effect??
Hi Jennifer – You definitely can add essential oils to the Castile soaps. Make sure you take a look into the potency of each type of essential oils. They can be very strong and too much can irritate or burn the skin, but at the right concentration they can be therapeutic.
I have one of those hand soap foamers in my bathroom. Can I use Dr. Bronner’s liquid soaps for that? What would the dilution formula be, please? Thanks for your help!
Hi Christine – Yes, foamers work well with our soaps. Dilute it at a ratio of 1:3.
where can i buy the organic sugar soap?
Hi Stephanie – Where do you live?
Hi Lisa,
I have recently begun using the unscented liquid Castile soap and applying jojoba oil and tea tree essential oil as a moisturizer and treatment for acne. Unfortunately, I have had a flare up of acne but am thinking it may have to do with hormones and lack of water and sleep. If this is the case, do you think the unscented soap as a wash and tea tree oil as a treatment will work just as effectively as the tea tree Castile soap remedy you mentioned?
Hi Victoria – There are so many factors that contribute to acne. It can be quite frustrating that when any number of things in our bodies are out of whack, our facial skin is the first to show it. Lack of sleep, lack of water, and changing hormones are definite culprits in this. When you know your hormones are swinging, or you have decreased sleep, really try to keep your water consumption up as well as eating healthful foods, staying away from refined sugars and sweeteners. Regarding the facial regimen you mention, I am concerned about applying undiluted tea tree essential oil to your face. Pure Tea Tree essential oil can burn skin, and especially the more delicate skin of our faces. This may be too strong of a treatment. In your combination with jojoba oil, you may already be diluting it enough, but I did want to mention it. I’m a big proponent of letting skin breathe, so I would encourage you more in the direction of just washing with the soap – and I do recommend the Tea Tree CAstile for acne – and then letting the skin sit with nothing on it. However, you know your skin best. Give any new regimen two weeks to see how it goes. I found with the CAstile soap, it does seem to clean out pores thoroughly and in the process there may be some flare ups. If you can stick with it for a couple weeks, you should see some clearing. I hope my thoughts have helped!
Yeah, I first tried it and it burned. It made my skin twice as red and irritated. It highlighted the acne I already had and made what wasn’t visible; visible. Perhaps too much? Idk, but I’m hesitant to use this again.
Hi Tom – I’m sorry to hear that. I understand if you don’t want to try it again. Do you recall which scent you used? If it was the Peppermint, that is one that I don’t recommend for any sort of already compromised skin. Peppermint essential oil is naturally drying, which can be great if you have naturally oily skin. However, contrary to what many think, acne is often the effect of the skin’s response to being really dry. It overproduces oils to try and compensate. I go for the soaps with milder essential oils – the Tea Tree first, but I also like the Almond or Citrus for my face. It takes about two weeks for the soap to do its work.
Disappointed that the hand and body lotion contains ethyl alcohol, and the anise toothpaste contains xanthin gum. Put both products back on the shelf because of these ingredients. Noticed that the lavender shaving soap contained something that shouldn’t be there either.
Hi Sasha – I am sorry to hear that. What are your concerns with these ingredients? Our Xanthan gum is derived from certified non-GMO corn starch and the ethyl alcohol is derived from organic sugar cane. I am happy to address any concerns you may have about these ingredients.
Will this soap effectively remove face makeup? I use coconut oil to remove my eye makeup currently, and am trying to minimize my face makeup (powder foundation) usage, and am curious if the tea tree oil will remove it without anything preceding it.
Hi Rommani – Yes, the soap works great to remove makeup. It’s all I use for that. The heavier the make-up, the more soap you’ll need, but that really just means a few drops more.
I’m 46 years old and have developed acne rosacea which is worsening. Wondering what you would recommend for me? I’ve read a few articles suggesting the Dr Bronner’s Castille Soap Baby or Tea Tree? Also what about moisturiser? Look forward to your reply.
Hi Michelle – Give the Tea Tree Castile a try first. Wash with it twice a day for two weeks before deciding. Give your face as much make-up free time as you can, washing your face early in the evening and letting it breathe. For a moisturizer, at the moment I am not using anything on my face during the day time. Instead, once a week, I put a small bit (pea-sized amount) of coconut oil on my face at night and wash it off in the morning. As I mention in the post, though, the Lavender Coconut lotion does make a great light daily moisturizer if your skin is feeling a little tight.
Im really interested in trying this soap. I have had a rest and not worn or used make up and skincare for the past 2 years but I feel after 2 kids I owe it to myself to try a natural daily “routine” to put a bit of life into my skin and clear my blemishes etc. What soaps would you reccomend I start with? Is the scent overwhelming I know my partner doesnt like the smell of tea tree.
Hi Rebecca – Welcome to Dr. Bronner’s! Caring for two kids is no easy thing. I suggest a routine that is relaxing and uplifting. All of our Castile soaps have the same base and only differ on the essential oils. Some of the milder scents sound like they would be a good fit for you. Lavender, Almond, or Citrus are very nice and not overpowering. Try washing with them twice a day.
I have a few questions…is this soap good for hand washing when you have sick people in the home( i.e.-stomach virus or flu)? I know tea tree is naturally antibacterial but wondering if the other scents would be just as effective at killing germs since my husband isn’t in love with the tea tree smell. Also, I placed the undiluted tea tree soap in my soap dispenser and where the soap comes out there is a lot of build up and then when you go to wash your hands the soap shoots out at your clothes. Haha! Should I be diluting the soap in the container? I also notice a lot of build up in my sink from hand washing. Is that a matter of my water being too hard or soft?
Hi Christi – Yes, the soap is definitely effective on eliminating germs, even stomach virus and flu. You can pick your favorite scent. For the exact reason you’ve described, we advise against putting our soaps in traditional pumps. Even diluted, the soap will dry out in the apparatus and cause it shoot out sideways or up. The only type of pump it works in is a foaming pump. Dilute it at a ratio of 1:3, or just use it out of the original bottle, using a few drops for each handwashing. True soap does react with hard water and leave minerals behind. This may be what you are noticing in your sink. Here’s some thoughts I wrote about that here: https://www.lisabronner.com/scum-scum-go-away/.
Great tips! I’m very excited I found this product! I love love love how clean the ingredients list is!
Hi Christi – Thanks! I’m glad you found us, too!
Hello Lisa, is there any difference in efficacy or usage between the liquid and bar version of the tea tree soap? I recently purchased the bar version. I appreciate your post, very informative.
Hi there – Great question! I did an analysis of liquid vs bar here: https://www.lisabronner.com/liquid-vs-bar-in-dr-bronners-pure-castile-soap/. The summary is that the liquid has more of the essential Tea Tree oil, but the bar is slightly more moisturizing. I think the bar will work just as well for you.
Thanks for this post! I’ve been dealing with persistent moderate acne, but I’m also prone to redness. I’m interesting in using both the lavender and the tea tree soaps, and alternating. Is it recommended to only use one soap at a time, or is alternating fine?
Hi Carrie – Alternating is fine and those two sound perfect. I tend to use Tea Tree at night because that’s what beside my sink and Almond in the morning since that’s what I have in the shower.
Since the soap is very alkaline, would I need a witch hazel or acv rinse afterwards to even out the pH balance?
Hi Wendy – This isn’t something I’ve heard to be necessary and I’ve been fine without it. If the skin feels tight during the transition phase, a light moisturizer might help.
This has helped me very much..I have a similar story to yours. I will try the tea tree oil Castile soap. Thank you for sharing this! Have a question,,, do you use use anything after? Moisturisers?
Hi Nicole – At first I needed to use a light moisturizer because my skin felt tight, but it seems that it as adapted to the soap and learned to balance itself. Now I rarely need to use something, except during the winter, and then I usually opt for a once a week overnight treatment of coconut oil.
I use the tea tree one as well but i just wanted to share my routine just to help people out.
1. Wash face with warm water
2. Rub Witch hazel on face( i use a brand called Thayers, i have the rose petals one)
3. Put some Dr Bronners in your hand rub and together to create foam and add it to your face.
4. Afted your face is all soaped up wash with warm water and then cold water to close those pores!
5. Dry off face with towel
6. Add some more witch hazel and let it air dry( your choice of brand , witch hazel is a very good toner for your skin.
7. Use a alcohol pad and rub it over the area u get acne the most. (I use the Noxema brand and use it 1-2 times a week)
6. Add your favorite moisturizer
7. Continue your day with FLAWLESS skin
TIP: If u do this at night and morning skin will clear faster
You guys can thank me later lol
Thanks, Alexis!
Hi Lisa! Your article was extremely helpful for me. I had started using the Peppermint version of the liquid castile soap, and like it was for you, it was too drying for me. I was prepared to just stick with it until I came across your article, and today I exchanged it for the Tea Tree. It is absolutely wonderful. I had been using the Peppermint just once at night and was planning the same for this new one. However, do you think that I should be washing in the morning as well like you suggest? I am worried that it will strip my natural oils too much. Also, after working out, I tend to just let my face dry and only rinse with water afterwards if I’m gushing sweat. Is this okay? I hear mainly that you need to cleanse your face again… 3 times a day? That seems like a lot! Thanks so much!
Hi Alannah – I’m glad the Tea Tree recommendation helped! I do wash my face morning and night because our skin does secrete quite a few things that can clog pores while we sleep. When we sweat heavily, it’s not just moisture coming out, but again a lot of oils that can clog pores. I’d wash again then. However, every body’s skin is different. Perhaps just try one additional wash (either morning or after work out) and see how that goes. Give it two weeks to see. Then if you feel like it could use it, add another wash.
I’m dark-skinned with the potential of being very oily in the T-Zone. I have noticeably medium sized pores on my nose and cheeks and nothing that I use has seemed to works(never had an issue before with open pores until about 6 months ago. Don’t know if it’s the result of too much sun or just aging). Just started using Dr. Bronners castile liqud soap (I bought both the the baby formula and the citrus one as I was unsure which one to start with). Before reading any instructions, I begin using it like any ordinary face wash which I learned is a no-no. I had a bad reaction from overusing it, as it broke me out in little bumps (rash-like) on my forehead and cheeks. Not sure if I should continue and begin to use it in a diluted form? I’ve been a desert essence face wash user for years, but my skin has suddenly become too sensitive to continue using it. What do you recommend as daily a skin care regime? Thank you!
Hi Tamekia – I’m sorry I didn’t see your comment earlier. It takes our skin about two weeks to transition fully to using the soap. The soap tends to dig down deep into our pores and bring stuff out which can result in an initial breakout. This will clear and you’ll be better off for it. I do recommend the Tea Tree as a great way to balance combination skin. Your face will get better and better.
Wet your face well, put several drops of soap into your hands and work it up into a lather. Massage that thoroughly over your face and then rinse well.
Is the tea tree soap irritating if it gets in the eyes? I have used the lemon, lavender, and peppermint for my body for a while, but have been a little apprehensive about using it on my face, but I just ran out of my facewash! Taking off my eye makeup required a little bit of eyelash rubbing, and I have been using jojoba oil but it makes my vision a little blurry after and it freaks me out. Also, I really would love to minimize my personal care products and use this soap on my hair, but I find that wish washing with this soap, my hair is oily afterwards? I am cutting down on washing to 2-3x per week, but is it because my hair needs to get used to it? I would love to have one universal product.
Hi Rai – Any true soap is irritating to the eyes because the pH of soap is alkaline, and our eyes don’t like anything that deviates from neutral. I do wash my face with the soap, as you see in the post, but for stubborn eye makeup I use pure coconut oil. I wrote a post about it here: https://www.lisabronner.com/coconut-oil-for-makeup-removal/. Switching to soap for hair washing does take some time, and everyone’s hair is a little different. Here’s a guide one of our staff wrote on hair care: https://www.drbronner.com/all-one-blog/2017/03/definitive-guide-washing-hair-dr-bronners/.
I have made that total switch to one universal product. It’s a wonderful thing. Keep at it and you’ll figure out what works best for you.
I developed whiteheads on my forehead and chin by excessive oil ( using coconut oil ) and nothing is working, so I decided to buy the Peppermint Castile soap and after washing my face I used ACV to tone and then cocoa butter as moisturizer but after reading your comment you said one shouldn’t buy the peppermint Castile soap first. So is it highly recommended I should buy the tea tree Castile soap? I’m scared that it will dry my skin out if I use it twice a day everyday. Should I stick to peppermint or tea tree oil?
Hi Nashia – Everyone’s skin is different, and many people find the peppermint to be too drying. However, if it is working for you, then great! If it is too drying, switch over to the Tea Tree. Tea Tree essential oil is not as drying as the Peppermint essential oil. Tea Tree twice a day is a great regimen.
hi do you think the lavender coconut lotion would break out combo/oily & acne prone skin? im at least hoping to use it as a night cream.
Hi Brodie – It didn’t for me. It was just the right light moisturizer. One other thing I’ve discovered, though, which was really surprising for me, is how well my skin responds to an overnight treatment of pure coconut oil. I don’t do this every night – maybe just a couple times a month – but I rub in a pea-sized amount before bed and then wash it off in the morning. It balances my skin out really well.
I have stubborn whiteheads… will the soap help at all?
Hi Jun – Yes, the Tea Tree Castile will help. Give it two weeks to show improvement. Along with that, though, be sure you’re getting plenty of sleep, drink lots of water and eat good food, exercise and reduce stress. Those basics help more than anything.
Hi, I recently started using the hemp baby unscented pure Castile soap. I have sensitive combination skin, some acne, and acne scars as well. I was just wondering if this soap will address the problems in my skin or if I should maybe change to another one, like the tea tree one you’ve mentioned previously. Thanks.
Hi Anaeli – Tea Tree oil is very therapeutic for acne prone skin. Give it a try and see.
I bought the lavender bar soap today I used it this morning and once I took my shower before bed my skin feels so good and I look great, I only suffer with oily skin and that gives me break outs I hope this will keep my skin dry from all the oils, I want to try the body wash one day, been trying to wait for a sale on it, I been watching it every week because I work for Walgreens, but I luv it I’ll keep you guys posted on how it’s working for me ??
I have heard really good things about the liquid soaps and have wanted to try them out for my face. I have combo skin, (my t-zone gets pretty oily which is annoying, so as soon as I try to use any skin care product for oily to combo skin my face freaks out and the rest of my face dries out a lot). I have semi-acne prone skin, overall a decent amount of redness and a lot of acne scars. I was considering the Tea Tree but I was afraid that was going to dry out my skin. What would you suggest?
Hi Alyssa – I think the Tea Tree does a great job of balancing out combo skin, but you need to give it a couple weeks to get everything in shape. You might need a light moisturizer in the meantime. I used the Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Coconut Lotion.
I have just come across this soap. I have always struggled with acne. Can you use any of the scented ones like lavender and almond to help clear it up or just the original tea tree one?
Hi Beth – You can use whichever one you like best. I generally caution against starting with the Peppermint as pure essential peppermint oil can be a bit strong. The Tea Tree has that extra punch, and when I was getting over the initial hurdle of clearing up acne, it is what I used and worked best. For maintaining healthy skin, though, I grab whichever one I feel like. Or is handiest.
I’ve felt with acne for a few years now and it’s getting on my nerves. Recently I had a friend tell me about the rose pure Castile liquid soap. What are your thoughts on this particular one ?
Hi Jesus – All of our Castile soaps are the same base with the only difference being the added essential oils. The exception is the unscented Baby Mild which has double the amount of olive oil in ratio. So, the Rose has the same base as the rest, just with a blend of floral essential oils added to it.
I am 70 and my face is feeling dry. Do you recommend Castile Lavender bar soap for a face wash? If not, what would you suggest? Thank you.
Hi KJW – That sounds lovely. The bar soaps are slightly more moisturizing than the liquid castile. However, if you find your skin is still dry after a two week trial period, consider our Organic Sugar Soaps. The sugar, as well as the shikakai extract act as nourishers and moisturizers to our skin.
Lisa, I am wondering if the baby soap with twice as much olive oil would be even better. Thank you.
They’re really both excellent. Very gentle and nourishing. It’s really a matter of personal preference. You could cut down the middle and go with the unscented Organic Sugar Soap which is based on the castile, but if that’s not floating your boat, try the pure castile.
I just bought the tea tree oil soap, not the liquid for my acne. Will this work on body acne also? I was thinking about using this in place of my body wash. Is it okay to use this as an all-over soap for the body to get rid of acne, but also bacteria and odor?
Hi Dee Dee – Yes, it is fantastic for that. Use a washcloth as well for some gentle exfoliation.
Hi Dee Dee, I realize this comment is several months late but I suffered from body acne and a few things I’ve done have helped a lot! First when I’m in the shower I wash my hair and condition it. While I have the conditioner on my hair I wash my face. AFTER I rinse out the conditioner THEN I wash my body. I believe the ingredients in the conditioners are whats clogging the skin on my body. I use the Dr. Bronners Tea Tree liquid soap and scrub really good with either my hands or a clean wash cloth. I promise this has helped me a lot. I still get occasional bumps but not as bad as it was!
Great thoughts, Stephanie! Thanks for sharing! I also notice I get acne on my back when I’m not taking care of myself with proper sleep and good nutrition.
Hello,
I recently started with the tea tree Castile soap and it has worked wonders but after 4days of using it morning &a night, I have this red, irritated, dry, & burning area on the side of my face that is really broken out. After I use the soap, I use a witch hazel toner, & pure shea butter sometimes bio-oil. If you can please help me out.
Hi Karina – You may also need a moisturizer after the soap. I did for a while until my skin adapted, and I used our Lavender Coconut lotion. Dryness can cause break outs just as much as excessive oil. Another treatment I like, and this is going to sound weird, is an overnight coconut oil masque. I know there is a lot of “oil is bad” info out there, but oils are actually what our bodies use to moisturize our skin. It just has to be the right kind of oils. Hemp is another fabulous one. It just has to be refrigerated, which can be a pain. I use a pea-sized amount of coconut oil massaged into my face, and wash it off in the morning. My face is totally renewed after this.
So, after reading through the comments section, it’s clear I’m using WAY too much product and not allowing it to lather whatsoever before applying. I was simply taking a “generic small amount” of the liquid tea tree soap and then washing my face with it, no diluting!
Secondly, the reason I still have acne and scarring at 37 is due to very oily skin. Thus, in again reading others’ opinions I’m terrified t put coconut oil on my face.
I think I may be using too much (more like half a teaspoon)? I’ve been using this soap on my face for about a week now, and my acne is way worse than when I started.
An initial outbreak is actually quite common when starting with the Tea Tree. It is cleaning out stuff deep in your skin. Give it two weeks before making your decision.
I’ve now been using only a pea-sized -diluted- amount twice a day for about a month. Although I do have the occasional break out, my skin is dramatically more clear. The spots are not white, black or irritated. This mostly occurs when overly stressed, during my menstrual cycle or when I deliberately did not take off my makeup before bed. I know the soap is working and I’m now a customer for life. This is the liquid tea-tree formula, followed by pure apple cider vinegar to tone. It removed 100% of my makeup plus dirt with no aggressive scrubbing. Thank you for your help! I’m only upset it took 38 years to discover this product!
I’m so glad, Brandi!