Let’s address the obvious: There’s something inherently unsexy about a bar of soap. It’s the Wonder Bread equivalent of your shower routine—it gets the job done, but leaves something to be desired. All this to say, the humble bar of soap could certainly benefit from a rebrand.
Here’s the good news: Yesteryear’s bar soap is finally getting a much-needed makeover with the new Hanni Cocoon Cleanse ($18). But it’s so much more than just that.
Hanni, Cocoon Cleanse — $18.00
Ingredient callouts:
- Gardenia: An antiseptic plant that detoxifies by rinsing away harmful bacteria.
- Shea butter: A hydrating oil that soothes and moisturizes skin.
- Fermented sugarcane enzyme: A natural deodorizer, it helps skin feel (and smell) fresh for hours.
- Soap-free, concentrated, serum treatment formula with a rich lather
- Clinically allergy- and sensitive skin-tested as well as dermatologist- and gynecologist-approved
- Leaves skin moisturized and supple, not tight
- Features a pH of 5.5, making it ideal for cleansing intimate areas without disrupting the skin’s lipid barrier
- Can get gross if not stored properly
In fact, “bar of soap” is a complete misnomer, because this isn’t soap at all. Traditional soap-y ingredients are harsh and strip skin of its natural oils, leaving it feeling tight and coated in residue. The Cocoon Cleanser swaps the lackluster soap for a concentrated, serum treatment that features the same serious skin care we give to our face.
In lieu of actual soap, coconut and vegetable-derived cleansing compounds gently wash away dirt and grime while gardenia works as an antiseptic, detoxifying the skin by rinsing away harmful bacteria (and giving the formula its muted bubblegum pink hue). The formula also includes fermented sugarcane enzyme, a natural deodorizer that helps keep skin feeling—and smelling—fresh throughout the day, as well as an expert blend of aloe leaf juice, shea butter, and chamomile flower to soothe and moisturize the skin.
It’s dermatologist-approved and allergy-tested to be safe for even the most sensitive of skin types, and has an ideal pH of 5.5 so you can be sure it won’t disrupt your skin’s lipid barrier. What’s more, it’s also got a gold star from gynecologists for being safe enough to use on your intimate areas.
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The luxurious body bar starts off as a milky serum and quickly suds up into a rich (almost, dare I say, cocoon-like) lather that leaves skin feeling immediately softer. And that dense lather makes it a great shaving cream substitute for any in-shower razor work—which is particularly helpful for those of us who keep forgetting to refill those long-emptied cans (ahem, me). The biggest reason to love this one-and-done bar, though, is that it leaves skin so hydrated that you can skip out on your post-shower body serums and lotions—a definite plus for anyone looking to cut a few minutes off of their morning.
It really does feel like it’s doing more than just washing. It makes you cleaner, sure, but the fluffy bubbles also deeply nourish and moisturize, leaving the skin supple to the touch. And, since it replaces my body wash, shaving cream, feminine cleanser, body serum, and body lotion, there’s a whole lot more space in my shower—and a whole lot more time in my lather and rinse routine.
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