Not all bars of soap are the same, if on the one hand the Altroconsumo test rewarded some products for the quality of the formulation and the reduced environmental impact, on the other hand it highlighted several bars of soap with less convincing compositions, penalized above all by the presence of numerous perfume allergens and less favorable ingredients from an environmental point of view.
The consumer association analyzed 25 bars of soap by evaluating the ingredients listed on the label. The final score attributes 70% of the weight to the environmental impact and the remaining 30% to health-related aspects, considering the presence of allergens, persistent substances and other compounds classified by the European authorities.
The soap bars failed the test
In the lower part of the ranking are concentrated the products that received a “Poor” rating, with scores between 38 and 33 points.
Talcum Powder Original Perfumed Soap Talcum Powder Perfume – 33 points
It’s the worst bar of soap in the test. According to Altroconsumo, it is also the one with the highest number of perfume allergens present in the formulation: 15, the highest value among all 65 soaps (liquid and solid) analyzed. Precisely this aspect significantly penalized its score, especially on the environmental front.
Dove Beauty Cream Bar Deep Moisture for Soft Skin – 36 points
The Dove bar soap obtains a “Poor” rating due to a composition considered unfavorable compared to better classified products.
Nidra Velvety Milk Soap (version 1) – 36 points
This version also falls among the last positions in the ranking and is penalized by the presence of allergens.
Nidra Velvety Milk Soap (version 2) – 36 points
The second formulation improves slightly in terms of allergens, but the overall score remains insufficient.
Dove Pampering Beauty Cream Bar Shea Butter & Warm Vanilla Scent – 37 points
The other Dove soap present in the test does not pass the rating of “Poor”, suffering from the overall composition.
Conad Essentiae Vegetable Soap with Prickly Pear Extract and White Musk – 37 points
Despite being a vegetable soap, it is placed in the low range of the ranking.
Esselunga Neutral and Delicate Soap – 38 points
The Esselunga brand product also receives an insufficient rating.
Selex Ego Natural Soap with 25% Moisturizing Cream – 38 points
The group of soaps judged “Poor” closes, with a formulation that does not convince the experts of Altroconsumo.
Because these bars of soap have been penalized
The factor that had the greatest impact on the negative evaluations was the presence of allergens contained in perfumes. Only ten of the 65 soaps examined are completely free of them, while many of the products at the bottom of the ranking contain numerous of them.
In the case of Borotalco soap, the number of allergens declared reaches 15, the highest value of the entire test. More generally, Altroconsumo highlights how simpler formulations, free of perfumes or with a reduced number of ingredients, tend to obtain better results both from an environmental and compositional point of view.
The ranking of the worst soaps
For those who wish to limit exposure to perfume allergens and choose more essential formulations, Altroconsumo’s advice remains to always read the INCI before purchasing and favor products with a reduced number of ingredients and without superfluous fragrances.
