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Soap Without Palm Oil | List of Palm Oil Free Soap

Soap Without Palm Oil | List of Palm Oil Free Soap
 

Palm oil is a common ingredient in soap. Here’s a list of palm oil free soap and how to find soap without palm oil derivatives. Palm oil is hidden in hundreds of names. Most of them don’t include “palm” in the name. Even soap without sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) can contain palm oil.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • It’s rare to find palm oil free soap in a store.
  • “Natural” soap can contain palm oil; palm oil is natural, not artificial.
  • Palm oil free soap doesn’t contain SLS.
  • Less ingredients is usually better.
  • Palm oil hides in ingredients without saying “palm oil”.

These always contain palm oil:

  • Liquid soaps
  • Body washes
  • Soaps with sodium lauryl sulfate

Also important:

  • Not certified Palm Oil Free? Can’t be sure it is.
  • Certification is key; not all “Palm Oil Free” labels are true.
  • “Coconut” soap labels may hide palm oil, unless certified or possibly handmade.

Read labels, and learn the ways palm oil hides in many ingredients. Even simple-seeming soaps use palm oil. (Dove soap contains palm oil too.)

Glycerin is typically derived from palm oil:

You may see “Glycerin” in soap ingredient labels. You will most always find it in liquid soaps where it acts as a humectant (helps to retain moisture in the product and on skin). Companies rarely spell out that their Glycerin is derived from palm oil. It will likely either say “Glycerin” or “Vegetable Glycerin” on the label. 

Palm Oil is Common in Soap

Thanks so much for your interest in this topic. Please keep reading, and take a moment to read about Viva La Body and their commitment to keeping their entire range of products palm oil free. They are an incredible company and stopped making 30 products because they could no longer source palm oil free Brassica alcohol!

What Soap Does Not Contain Palm Oil

I discuss these in detail below.

Choose soap from these brands which are certified Palm Oil Free:

  • The Eco Alchemist 
  • Ethique
  • Freedom Soap Co.
  • Viva La Body
  • Bite Toothpaste Bits (their Carbon Capture Cleanser bar)
  • Dindi Naturals
  • Nude Beauty Products Australia

Soaps below not certified Palm Oil Free:

  • Kiss My Face – They have three bar soaps I believe don’t contain palm oil. Read below for the exact ones.
  • Remwood Product’s Co. Grandma’s Baking Soda Soap
  • Kilted Suds
  • Booda Organics
  • EarthSense Organic
  • Peet Bros

Note, these are all bar soaps. Liquid soaps often contain Glycerin and/or preservatives which are typically sourced from palm oil.

Some companies, such as Ethique, offer soap concentrates. You add water at home to the powder. Ethique’s are palm oil free.

Palm Oil Ingredients in Soap

Watch for these ingredients which are common in liquid and bar soap. Most everyday soap brands you see in stores contain one or more of these palm oil derivatives: 

  • Sodium Palmate
  • Ammonium Laurel Sulfate (ALS)
  • Cocamidopropyl Betaine
  • Glycerin
  • Glycerine
  • Lauric acid
  • Sodium Cocate, Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Lauryl Sulfite, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Stearate
  • Stearic acid
  • Tocopherols

Also, it’s a mistake to assume you are buying palm free soap just because the label looks to be “natural,” “eco-friendly,” “plant-derived,” “healthy,” and “green.” Be aware even organic soaps often contain palm oil.

Choose soap that is certified Palm Oil Free from either the International Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark (POFCAP) or the Orangutan Alliance. In this way, you will know for sure it is 100% palm oil free.

Soap without Palm Oil

I found these soaps without palm oil and unnecessary chemicals. However, please use this list as a starting point. They are not guaranteed unless they have earned Palm Oil Free certification. 

I am starting with the soaps my family uses. Then I list out the soap brands (The Eco Alchemist, Ethique, Freedom Soap Co., Viva La Body, and Bite) who have taken the necessary steps to certify their soaps Palm Oil Free. This means soaps from these companies are guaranteed to be Palm Oil Free.

Kiss My Face Olive Oil bar soap without palm oil

Kiss My Face Olive Oil bar soap without palm oil

Kiss My Face

Please note: Kiss My Face is now advertising “palm oil free” on many of their bar soaps. Their products that contain Sodium Stearate and/or Glycerin may or may not contain palm oil. These are labeled as De-Stress Bar Soap and Goat Milk Bar Soap. I wouldn’t buy them if you are avoiding palm oil. 

These are the three bars I believe to be palm oil free:

  • Pure Olive Oil Soap now called Olive Oil Bar Soap Fragrance Free
  • Olive Oil & Lavender Bar Soap
  • Olive & Aloe Bar Soap

Kiss My Face Pure Olive Oil Soap

They have repackaged this so it’s now called Olive Oil Bar Soap Fragrance Free. It now has light blue packaging.

Ingredients are Sodium Olivate (Saponified Olive Oil), Water, Sodium Chloride (Sea Salt). Their label says it’s free from parabens, phthalates, palm oil, fragrance, and added color. It’s also vegan.

This is my favorite soap. I use it exclusively since we have sought out palm oil free soaps. We bring it with us when we travel. It’s scent-free and non-greasy. They are available in 8 oz bars. Each lasts a long time. The quality and value are unbelievable. 

Olive Oil & Lavender Bar Soap

Ingredients: Sodium Olivate (Saponified Olive Oil), Aqua, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Sodium Chloride (Sea Salt), Parfum. 

Olive & Aloe Bar Soap

Contains: Sodium Olivate (Saponified Olive Oil), Aqua, Aloe barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Chloride (Sea Salt), Parfum. 

Grandma's Baking Soda Soap

Grandma’s Baking Soda Soap does not contain palm oil

Remwood Product’s Co. Grandma’s Baking Soda Soap

Ingredients: Saponified Oils of Lard and Castor with Baking Soda.

This was the first bar soap we found that didn’t contain palm oil. It lasts a long time. We use this bar soap in our home and like it doesn’t have a fragrance. This is my son’s favorite soap. He’s been using it for 5+ years and loves it as a shampoo and for soap.

Be sure you are getting this exact soap; there are many “grandma” type soaps.

Certified Palm Oil Free Soap

palm oil free soap The Eco Alchemist

Certified Palm Oil Free soap from The Eco Alchemist

The Eco Alchemist

The Eco Alchemist is a Canadian company and the first in Canada to have their entire product line certified Palm Oil Free. They also ship to the United States.

In addition to making soap with palm oil, they make shampoos and conditioners, deodorant, exfoliant, masks, and moisturizers. All of their products are certified through the International Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark (POFCAP).

The Eco Alchemist Handcrafted Soap

I like that when you add their handcrafted soaps to your online shopping cart, you have the option to choose a Low-waste option. When you check the box, you will receive your soap without individual wrapping/label.

  • Maple + Chai Handcrafted Soap
  • Lavender Handcrafted Soap
  • Orange + Vanilla Cream Handcrafted Soap
  • Rosemary + Mint Handcrafted Soap

The Eco Alchemist Bath Bars

Being an eco-conscious company, for their bath bars, their packaging and labels are recyclable and home compostable.

  • Non-Scents Bubble Bath Bars 4pk
  • Oat + Calendula Bubble Bath Bars 4pk

The Eco Alchemist Face Bar

When buying the facial cleansing bar, you can choose a FSC certified packaging option: Recycled box or Compostable Tissue Paper.

  • Coconut + Watermelon Facial Cleansing Bar

Please check out my interview with The Eco Alchemist founder and CEO, Terri Kirkham.

Ethique soap without palm oil

Ethique soap without palm oil

Ethique

Ethique makes all of their products without palm oil. Their products are certified Palm Oil Free through Orangutan Alliance. In addition, they use sustainable ingredients and minimal packaging, including no plastics. They offer bar cleansers, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and more. Check out Ethique’s palm oil free soaps:

Ethique face cleanser bars

  • Bliss Bar: Gentle solid face cleaner for balanced to dry skin. is for normal to dry skin
  • Deep Green: Made for balanced to oily skin

Face scrub bar

  • Gingersnap: Gentle solid face scrub for all skin types

Ethique body cleanser bars

  • Sweet Orange & Vanilla: Soap bar for all skin types
  • Pumice, Tea Tree & Spearmint: Exfoliating bar
  • Lavender & Mint: For all skin types
  • Lime & Ginger Bodywash Bar: For all skin types
  • Matcha, Lime & Lemongrass: For all skin types
  • Lime & Lemongrass: Solid cream body cleanser for all skin types
  • Unscented Charcoal, Kaolin, & Oatmeal: For all skin types
  • Exfoliating Lime & Ginger Solid Body Polish: For all skin types
  • Unscented: Solid cream body cleanser for all skin
  • Orange & Vanilla: Solid cream body cleanser for all skin

Ethique minis

  • Bliss Bar
  • Deep Green Deep Cleansing Solid
  • Gingersnap Solid Face Scrub
  • Saving Face Nourishing Face Serum
  • Sweet Orange & Vanilla Solid Cream Bodywash
  • Exfoliating Lime & Ginger Body Scrub 

Ethique bodywash concentrates

Add water to the 50g concentrated powder and put it in your own container. Each body wash concentrate makes 350ml (11.83 oz) of liquid soap.

  • Nourishing Flourish Lavender & Vanilla
  • Invigorating Sherbet Orange & Lime
  • Unscented Gentle Bodywash Concentrate

Ethique handwash concentrates

  • Unscented Gentle Handwash Concentrate
  • Invigorating Sherbet Orange & Lime
  • Nourishing Bloom Lavender & Peppermint

Also, Ethique explains each ingredient and what it’s derived from. You may see similar ingredients in other products; however, they are most likely made from palm oil. Ethique’s are Certified Palm Oil Free. Learn more in my Ethique interview where I had the opportunity to interview Ms. West, the founder and CEO.

Freedom Soap Co coffee peppermint palm oil free soap

Freedom Soap Co coffee peppermint palm oil free soap

Freedom Soap Co.

Free from parabens and other synthetic preservatives, Freedom Soap Co. handcrafts their soaps in small batches. Additionally, they use natural ingredients using the cold-process method of soap-making. They are committed to the environment using only sustainable ingredients.

According to Orangutan Alliance, all of Freedom Soap Co.’s products are certified Palm Oil Free. Their soaps include:

  • Oatmeal
  • Eucalyptus + Mint
  • Lavender
  • Coffee + Peppermint
  • Activated Charcoal
  • Pine + Eucalyptus
  • Lemon + Grapefruit
  • Lavender + Geranium
  • Sweet Orange + Patchouli
  • Rose Clay
  • Sage + Lemon
  • Tea Tree
  • Plain Jane
  • Sea Kelp
Freedom Soap Co. soap without palm oil

Freedom Soap Co. makes lots of palm oil free soap

They also have a Soap Scent Sample Set with come with five smaller bars. You can pick from the following”

  • Popular Picks Pack 
  • Citrus Blossom Delight
  • Gentle Calm Comfort
  • Rustic Woods Delight
Carbon Capture Cleanser bar soap

Carbon Capture Cleanser bar soap is made by Bite Toothpaste Bits and is certified Palm Oil Free

Bite Toothpaste Bits Carbon Capture Cleanser 4 oz bar

Bite Toothpaste Bits was the first to certify their toothpaste bits Palm Oil Free with Orangutan Alliance. In September 2022, they released a soap, Carbon Capture Cleanser. It’s a bar soap they are certifying Palm Oil Free.

It’s vegan, cruelty free, and plastic free as well. In addition, a percentage of sales from each bar of soap they sell goes to Carbon Capture Sea Kelp non-profits.

Viva La Body palm oil free soap Mango Butter

Viva La Body palm oil free soap Mango Butter Lemongrass & Coconut

Viva La Body 

For Australian consumers, there is Viva La Body. They have taken all the steps necessary to certify all of their products Palm Oil Free. If you have any chance to support this company, please do. They handcraft soaps, solid perfumes, deodorants, and lip balms.

Please Read This Next Part!!

Founders and owners Jo and Micko Srbinovski are passionate about not including palm oil in their product line. So much so that they removed entire product lines from their offerings… consisting of 30+ products!

Brassica alcohol, a key ingredient to make palm oil free shampoo bars, conditioner bars, and facial products, has not been available palm oil free for some time. As of this update (August 2023), it is still not being manufactured free from palm oil derived derivatives due to supply chain issues.

To remain true to their 100% palm oil free stance, they removed entire product lines from their portfolio. This is incredible and a HUGE testament to their commitment to be palm oil free!

Jo shared this on their website: 

“Our product range is handmade by us and the manufacturing is not outsourced and as such we have a close connection to the supply chain of our products. It has come to our attention that a key ingredient brassica alcohol, which is used across our product range, is no longer being manufactured free of palm oil derived ingredients.”

Viva La Body has their entire product portfolio certified Palm Oil Free through Orangutan Alliance. They offer the following natural soaps:

Viva La Body Lucky Seven Soap Range 

These are 130g (4.59oz) each.

  • Wake Up Bar with Cinnamon & Patchouli
  • Balance Bar with Rose Geranium
  • The Hydrator with Patchouli Rose
  • Super Fresh Spearmint
  • The Athlete Citrus Scrub
  • Daily Detox with Lemon Myrtle
  • Tone & Smooth Lavender Scrub

Viva La Soap Range

These bars are 135g (4.75oz) each.

  • Chamomile & Rose Hip
  • Lemongrass Ylang Ylang
  • Mango Butter Lemongrass Coconut
  • Ylang Ylang Rose
  • Lavender Patchouli
  • Tsubaki & Hemp
  • Chamomile Extract Lavender
  • Aniseed Basil Cinnamon
  • Kakadu Plum Lemon Myrtle
  • Peppermint Poppyseed
  • Lovers Blend
  • Rosemary Clove
  • Basil Spearmint Spirulina
  • Aloe Vera & Cocoa Butter
  • Cardamom Clementine

Learn more in my interview with Viva La Body founder Jo Srbinovski.

These Companies Have Not Certified Palm Oil Free

soap without palm oil

Booda Organics Booda Butter All-In-One-Soap

Their website notes that neither the spring water nor the sodium hydroxide remains after saponifying oils. They air-dry their soap for over 2 months before cutting it by hand. They handcraft their soap from scratch.

Ingredients: Organic & Unrefined Olive Oil, Organic & Unrefined Coconut Oil, Organic & Unrefined Fair Trade Shea Butter, Artesian Spring Water, Sodium Hydroxide.

soaps without palm oil

Kilted Suds

Here’s a company who highlights their soap as palm oil free. In addition, their products are vegan and not tested on animals. They advertise their soaps to be palm free, paraben free, and sulfate free, including sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).  Their products are free from propylene glycol and petroleum.

They are Certified Cruelty Free & Vegan by Leaping Bunny, PETA, and Nature Watch Foundation.

Check out these soaps from Kilted Suds without palm oil. 

Essential oil soaps

  • Lemon Oat 
  • Psychedelic Lavender Bar
  • Rosemary Mint
  • Irish Morning (lemongrass and spearmint)
  • Groovy Wombat with Eucalyptus & Patchouli
  • Sleep Bar with Lavender & Cedar
  • Calm Bar Soap
  • Summer Forest
  • The Craic Bar
  • Sunshine 
  • Aussie Aussie
  • Mint Coffee
  • Exfoliating Patchouli Sage
  • Failte Lemongrass & Chia
  • Muscle Relief
  • Miobair Spearmint & Cocoa
  • Matcha Mint Latte
  • Lavender Sage
  • Cedar & Sage
  • Lavender Tea Tree
  • Star Anise
  • Peppermint

Floral soap

  • Gardenia
  • Cherry Blossom
  • Peony
  • Victorian Rose
  • Sweet Pea
  • Hibiscus Rose
  • Bedtime Bar
  • Lemon Verbena
  • Salted Orchid
  • Currant & Jasmine
  • Orange Blossom
  • Psychedelic Lavender Bar
  • Lavender Sage
  • Lavender Tea Tree

Other soaps

  • Blood Orange
  • Orange Confetti
  • Peaches & Dream
  • Currant & Sandalwood
  • Mango Madness
  • Banana Bar
  • Coffee Bar
  • Stormy Night
  • Mechanic’s Bar Soap
  • Exfoliate Bar Soap
  • Hazelnut Coffee
  • Soothing Oats
  • Garden Mint
  • Baby Rum Bar
  • Detox Bar 
  • Cashmere Musk
  • The Wisemen
  • Amberwood
  • Sparkling Pinot Grigio
  • The Garnish Bar
  • Awareness Bar
  • Drippy Hippie
  • Clean Shaven
  • Naked Bar Soap

Unearth Malee

Unearth Malee is another company that advertises they don’t use palm oil in their products. 

Organic soap

  • Lavender Lotus Blossom
  • Japanese Citrus
  • Bali Flowers
  • Papaya Ginger Lemongrass
  • Neem Black Cumin Anti-Fungal Tea Tree
  • Thai Lime Rosemary
  • Honeysuckle Rice Milk
  • Sandalwood Cocoa Butter Scar Therapy Bar
  • Turmeric Patchouli
  • Himalayan Rose
  • Dead Sea Minerals
  • Organic Olive Oil Soap
  • Jasmine Sticky Rice Mango
  • Hawaiian Salted Seaweed
  • Cilantro Mint Basil
  • Cucumber Mint
  • Black Pepper Charcoal Detox
  • Chai Tea Chocolate
  • Beer Shave Soap
  • Plus many more

Peet Bros.

Here is another company who is says they do not use palm oil. They explain the ingredient for each of their soaps, including the source of each, on their website.

Olive Oil Bar Soap

  • Unscented
  • Aloe
  • Green Tea
  • Lemon Thyme
  • Lavender

Shea Butter Bar Soap

  • Unscented
  • Coconut Vanilla
  • Argan & Sandalwood
  • Charcoal
  • African Black

Milk Relief Soap

palm oil free soap

Here is another soap company who highlights the fact they are palm oil free. Their soap contains five ingredients and is available in 2.5 oz / 70g bars.

Ingredients: Whole Goat’s Milk, Organic Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Fair Trade Unrefined Shea Butter, Organic Cold Pressed Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Cold Pressed Castor Oil.

They make their soap from scratch and by hand in New Zealand. They ship to the United States.

palm oil free soap

Soap stand to extend the life of bar soap 

This soap holder from SoapStandle makes it easy to use bar soap. It extends the life of your soap by airing it out.

It’s a simple piece you rest your soap on. It allows the soap to dry out completely, even from the bottom. This really helps extend the life of the soap.

In addition, it eliminates the gooey mess from leaving the soap wet on the counter.

It’s really easy to use. In the past, we were always trying ways to air out the soap by propping it on different things. SoapStandle is an easy solution.

Palm Oil Free Bar Soap Review

None of the soaps on this list contain palm oil derived chemicals in the form of detergents and surfactants. This means they don’t make lather and foam. We don’t miss it.

The soaps we’ve tried and use regularly from the list are Grandma’s Baking Soda Soap, Kiss My Face Pure Olive Oil Soap, and Ethique’s Lime & Ginger Body Polish, Creme Bodywash Bar, and Teatree & Spearmint Foaming Bodywash.

We love that these soaps get the job done without added ingredients and artificial fragrance.

The Grandma’s and Kiss My Face soaps contain just three ingredients. Even though the main ingredient is olive oil, the Kiss My Face Pure Olive Oil soap doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy or oily.

My son, who has a palm oil intolerance/sensitivity, loves the Remwood’s Grandma’s Baking Soda Soap. He has thick hair and uses it as a shampoo as well. It doesn’t leave his hair greasy. Another benefit is this soap lasts a long time. He uses it every day and it lasts for months. He keeps it on a SoapStandle so it’s not sitting in water.

In addition, these bars retain their composure/hardness and really seem to last longer than other soaps we’ve used. Interestingly, it’s as if they wick away water and don’t leave the soap ring.

We keep all of our bar soaps on their own SoapStandle which is a soap rest to air dry your soap. It’s among our favorite items to make it easy to avoid palm oil

We are looking forward to trying the other palm free soaps above as well. See list of palm oil free cleaning products.

Does Dove Soap Contain Palm Oil?

This is a popular question. Yes, Dove Soap contains palm oil. We don’t like to list the companies who use palm oil; however, this is a common question.

Here are the ingredients in Dove Soap. I listed several bars and bolded the ones that likely contain palm oil.

Dove Beauty White Moisturizing Beauty Bar Soap (Original):

Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Sodium Tallowate or Sodium Palmitate, Water , Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoate or Sodium Palm Kernelate, Fragrance (Parfum), Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Tetrasodium Edta, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).

Dove Beauty Sensitive Skin Moisturizing Unscented Beauty Bar Soap:

Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Sodium Oleate, Water, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Laurate, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Tetrasodium Edta, Sodium Chloride, Kaolin or (Ou) Titanium Dioxide.

Dove Beauty Cool Moisture Beauty Bar Soap – Cucumber & Green Tea:

Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Oleate, Sodium Stearate, Water, Sodium Isethionate, Lauric Acid, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Fragrance, Sodium Laurate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Tetrasodium Edta, Kaolin or (Ou) Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 5 (Ci 19140), Blue 1 (Ci 42090).

Dove Beauty Gentle Exfoliating Beauty Bar Soap:

Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Sodium Oleate, Water, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Fragrance, Sodium Laurate, Microcrystalline Wax, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Tetrasodium Edta, Sodium Chloride, Kaolin or (Ou) Titanium Dioxide, Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090).

Dove Beauty Purely Pampering Shea Butter with Warm Vanilla Beauty Bar Soap:

Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Sodium Oleate, Water, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Fragrance, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Oil, Sodium Laurate, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Tetrasodium Edta, Sodium Chloride, Kaolin or (Ou) Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 5 (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 (Ci 15985).

Dove Beauty Pink Deep Moisture Beauty Bar Soap:

Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Sodium Oleate, Water, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Fragrance, Sodium Laurate, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Tetrasodium Edta, Sodium Chloride, Kaolin or (0) Titanium Dioxide, Red 4 (Ci 14700), Red 33 (Ci 17200).

Other Soap in Stores

Dove is not alone in using palm oil. You may see seemingly eco-friendly brands in stores and wonder if they contain palm oil. We aren’t listing all those companies here but yes, they likely contain palm oil. 

I did an online search for “eco bar soap” at a major retailer. The first bar soap that came up lists these ingredients: 

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Fresh Bar Soap:

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Tallowate, Water, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Stearate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Peg-20, Masking Fragrance, Petrolatum, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate, Sucrose Cocoate, Titanium Dioxide, Pentasodium Pentetate, Tetrasodium Etidronate, May Also Contain Sodium Palm Kernelate.

The second soap that came up was a castile bar soap. It contains these ingredients. The Tocopherols may or may not be derived from palm oil. The company does not disclose the source. 

Dr. Bronner’s Bar Soap Lavender:

Organic Coconut Oil*, Organic Palm Oil*, Sodium Hydroxide+, Water, Organic Olive Oil*, Lavandin Extract, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Lavender Extract, Sea Salt, Citric Acid, Tocopherol *Certified Fair Trade Ingredients, +None Remains After Saponifying Oils Into Soap & Glycerin

Most all the big brand bar soaps use palm oil. It’s also in most all liquid soap.

To the best of our research, Kiss My Face and Ethique are the “biggest brands” who don’t use palm oil in some (Kiss My Face) or all (Ethique) of their soaps.

Palm oil is in most all soaps and detergents you will find at Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Meijer, Costco, Sam’s Club, CVS, grocery stores, etc. Soap without palm oil in these types of stores is rare.

Palm Oil Free Soap

We researched hundreds of soaps using lists with 500+ names for palm oil ingredients to find palm free bar soap. We have verified the soaps above do not contain palm oil derivatives. However, this list is not guaranteed. Please do your own due diligence.

Depending on your skin type — normal, oily, dry, acne-prone — you can find a soap without palm oil.

Use these soaps throughout your home. Keep one at each sink in your kitchen and bathRoom. Keep another bar by your shower or bath. 

Find palm oil free soap

It’s typical for soap manufacturers to use palm oil as an ingredient in soap. Why? It’s inexpensive and binds the soap together. Learn about palm oil uses.

Companies use ingredients such as Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate to do the following:

  • Create foam, lather, and suds
  • Help smooth the soap over your skin
  • Remove oil and dirt from your skin

Other common palm oil derivatives in soap include Sodium Palmate, Glycerin, and Tocopherols.

Why Use Palm Free Soap

Like many people who want to use soap without sodium lauryl sulfate, many people choose to avoid palm oil because of all the chemicals. Other avoid it for environmental reasons. In addition, some consumers avoid palm oil for health reasons.

Palm oil in soap is common. Chemical and ingredients in soap and from other topical products may be absorbed into your skin, the body’s largest organ.

Palm oil is inexpensive and prevalent in soap. Soap manufacturers use it in many ways in order to save money. Learn how to use less palm oil each week.

Finding soap without palm oil

If the soap you are using doesn’t say palm oil, palm kernel oil, or red palm oil, it still may contain palm oil. Sodium Palmate is made using palm oil.

Consumers seek out “All Natural” and other types of trending, healthy-seeming soaps. However, when you read the ingredients, often you will find they contain palm oil and palm oil derivatives, including Sodium Palmate, Citric Acid, Tocopherols, and more.

For instance, these types of soaps still often contain palm oil ingredients:

  • Castile soap – Read ingredients before you buy castile soap. Even leading brands contain palm oil and palm oil derivatives.

  • Coconut soap

  • Goat milk soap

  • Glycerin soap – If it’s not spelled out on the ingredient label, you will have to check with the manufacturer to know the source of the glycerin.

  • Handmade soap

  • Lavender soap

  • Natural soap

  • Bodywash

  • Oatmeal soap

  • Organic soap

  • Shea butter soap

You may be stunned to read the ingredients to find they are usually made with sulfates, and other ingredients, most of which are derived from palm oil.

Liquid Soap without Palm Oil 

We have yet to find a liquid soap without palm oil.

I am updating this post because I just returned from an Oils party. Guests could pay to make different products. I went with the sole purpose of buying a palm oil free liquid soap.

The hostess instructed us to use a few drops of essential oil, Glycerin and Castile Soap. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make the soap because there was a bottle of Glycerin with no ingredients listed other than “Glycerin.” When I arrived home and researched the company, I learned their Glycerin derived from palm oil. For whatever reason, they didn’t list this on the product.

Additionally, the Castile Soap, with it’s gleaming, healthy-seeming bottle, contained multiple palm oil derivatives.

Deodorant without palm oil

Choose Certified Palm Oil Free Soap

The only way to ensure a product is 100% palm oil free is if it has been certified by Orangutan Alliance or the Palm Oil Free International Certification Trademark (POFCAP). Look for Palm Oil Free labeling on products and on companies’ websites. Support these products!

Palm oil free soap

Many people may want to make their own soap without palm oil. With a few soap making supplies, you can get started. There are recipes.

You can find palm free soaps which exfoliate and detoxify. Some are therapeutic and/or antibacterial. Some are unscented. There are options for acne-prone skin. You have choices, no matter what your skin type.

With this list, you can find soap for your hands, face, and body… all without palm oil.

If you know of other palm oil free soaps, please list them in the Comments so we can research them and include them on this list. See our current list of palm oil free products to help making find them easier.

Please support these companies who make soap without palm oil. It’s always great to find palm oil free products.

Please note, the information above is based on our own Internet research, reading labels, and reaching out to companies. We are always updating our posts.

Please note, we are not medical professionals. Consult with your physician or health provider if you are seeking medical advice.

As we find more soap without palm oil, we update this list. Always read labels as manufacturers change ingredients.

Why do you choose palm free soaps and products? Have you found others? Do you purposely choose soap without sodium lauryl sulfate? Please Comment below so we can all learn.

Haverwench

Saturday 11th of March 2023

What about Kirk's bar soap? According to the website (kirkssoap.com/ our-ingredients), it's made with coconut oil only.

editor

Monday 13th of March 2023

Thanks for writing in. That's great Kirks Soap uses coconut oil. It's likely they use many more "real" ingredients and less palm oil than most soap companies lining grocery store shelves and general merchandise retailers (Target, Walmart, Costco, etc.).

However, this is a great example of a company that is sort of being transparent but also sort of not. They are spelling out they use coconut oil in the ingredients that contain coconut but are vague and do not spell out what makes up many of their other ingredients.

As an example, for Glycerin, the Kirks Soap website states: Glycerin is classified as a humectant, meaning it attracts moisture to the skin, leaving the skin moist and healthy. It has very emollient properties and can help soften and smooth the skin.

Nowhere do they spell out the ingredients that make up the Glycerin. (In liquid soaps, shampoos, etc., it's typically palm oil.) If it is only coconut oil and other ingredients, they should spell them out in this section.

Another example is how they describe Preservative: Preservative is a substance or preparation added to a product to destroy or inhibit the multiplication of microorganism. Preservatives are necessary to prevent contamination.

What are the ingredients that they use in their Preservatives? They are simply defining terms, not specifically saying what the ingredients are.

With all companies, be aware of what the companies are disclosing and highlighting and what they aren't disclosing. They do use coconut oil in their products but that doesn't mean they don't use palm oil.

They may not use palm oil but unless they list out every single ingredient that makes up the ingredients shown on their product labels, there is no way to know. You must ask, in addition to coconut oil, what other ingredients are in your Glycol Stearate SE, etc.?

The only way to know for sure is if a company certifies their products Palm Oil Free by Orangutan Alliance or Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark (POFCAP).

Thanks again.

Pamela D

Sunday 9th of October 2022

I found this palm free liquid soap.

bayhousearomatics.com/liquid-soap-base-certified-organic-palm-free.html

Thank you for all the hard work you put into this. Buying palm-free has to be one of biggest challenges in daily life.

editor

Monday 10th of October 2022

Thank you for reading, for your interest, and for writing in with the suggestion for this palm oil free soap base. It's great to see!

Ashley Jones

Friday 27th of May 2022

We stumbled over here different web address and thought I might as well check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you.

Ann Wardlaw

Sunday 22nd of May 2022

In the past I have bought Country Life soap which was meant to be free of palm oil. Now I can find only this soap with palm oil. Where to go from here?

editor

Tuesday 24th of May 2022

Thank you for reading labels and for caring about palm oil free soap. I have been interviewing the owners at Viva La Body (www.vivalabody.com), in Australia, and will be publishing a post in a few weeks about all the amazing things this company does. All of their products are certified Palm Oil Free by Orangutan Alliance.

Leah

Wednesday 20th of April 2022

Your website has been a God-send to me, and I'm SO grateful!!!

Also, I wanted to share that just today I was online searching (yet again) for palm oil free soap....still hoping something new and more-readily available will pop up. And it did!! At Kroger the Simple Truth Pure Castile Bar Soap is listed as "no Palm Oil" right on their packaging! (Hallelujah!)

I also recently found that they also have pure liquid castile soap labeled "no Palm Oil"!

I assume you will be able to find these products at any Kroger family stores that carry the Simple Truth brand soaps.

editor

Wednesday 20th of April 2022

That's great to hear! Thanks for taking the time to write and for being interested in palm oil free soap and other products. It's so important that companies know consumers are reading labels and paying attention. I hope they certify their products palm oil free through Orangutan Alliance or through Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark (POFCAP).