Castile Soap Alternative: What’s the Best Castile Soap Substitute?

Whether you use Dr. Bronner’s or any other brand, it’s time you give your skin the upgrade it deserves with a castile soap alternative that goes beyond cleansing. You need a castile soap substitute that moisturizes, nourishes, and restores your skin to its full potential.

Don’t get us wrong, castile soap is a far better alternative than a lot of the chemical-laden slop on the market these days. But we personally don’t believe in settling for second best. We’ve put together this list of soaps for anyone looking for a substitute for castile soap:

• Goat Milk Soap
• Shea Butter Soap
• African Black Soap
• Glycerin Soap
• Tallow Soap

Each option brings something special to the table. But for the best alternative to castile soap, look no further than our goat milk soap at Oshun. It’s the most sophisticated, luxurious formulation you have at your fingertips. Discover the difference it can make in your life today! 

What is Castile Soap?

Castile soap has been around longer than most countries. As the name suggests it can be traced back to the Castile region of Spain, where it was traditionally made with nothing but olive oil, water, and lye. That’s it - no animal fats, no fragrances, no mystery. Just a plant-based cleanser that got the job done.

Fast-forward a few centuries and castile soap is still used today, but the formulation has evolved a bit. Most modern versions swap in or blend other vegetable oils like coconut, hemp, palm, or jojoba. 

The principles remain the same, though: a biodegradable, vegan-friendly soap that skips the animal fats and synthetic detergents. It cleanses well without the harshness of conventional soap bars. Castile soap can feel light and refreshing for oily or acne-prone skin types in particular.

But the real benefits of castile soap come down to versatility. Brands like Dr. Bronner’s have marketed their soap as having 18+ uses. People use it on their skin, their dishes, their pets, their floors, sometimes even their laundry!

It lathers well, rinses clean, and appeals to the DIY crowd for its “one soap to rule them all” vibe. With no sulfates, parabens, or animal-derived ingredients, it seems to check all the right boxes - so why are more and more people flocking to a castile soap alternative?

Why You Might Want a Substitute for Castile Soap

We’re not here to tell you that you need a castile soap substitute - you’ve probably already come to that conclusion on your own after using it. The truth is, there are far better substitutes for castile soap at your disposal that are gentler, more sophisticated, and more hydrating.

It’s Too Harsh or Drying for Some Skin Types

Castile soap may not be as aggressive as those extra-terrestrial shower gels or beauty bars you see on the shelves, but it’s definitely not going to leave your skin feeling silky smooth by any stretch of the imagination.

It cleans well, that’s a fact. But perhaps too well. Its high pH (usually around 9-10) disrupts your skin’s natural acid mantle, which is closer to 5.5. Translation? That tight, chalky feeling after washing isn’t just in your head. It’s your skin barrier waving a white flag.

Castile soap is watery, runny, and easy to overuse out of the bottle. You won’t get that creamy glide or cushioned lather some of us like in a bar or body wash. 

As you’re drying off you’ll feel as if your skin is a bit “bare,” almost like you washed off your natural moisture with the dirt and grime - that’s because you pretty much did! The point is, you need a more hydrating castile soap substitute that locks in moisture.

Fragrance Options and Essential Oils Can Be Irritating

Castile soap is often loaded with essential oils to jazz things up because it can smell pretty funky on its own. That’s fine until you get a full-face sting from peppermint or a rash courtesy of tea tree.

The key takeaway is that “natural” rarely means gentle. Those fragrant add-ins can be a dealbreaker for those with allergies or sensitive skin, and you’ll need a substitute for castile soap. 

A Jack of All Trades is a Master of None

Like we said from the start, we totally get the appeal of castile soap - you can buy one product and use it for your face, your body, your hair, your dog, your laundry, your car, the list goes on and on. 

But you know what they say, a jack of all trades is a master of none. A product that works well for your dishes probably isn’t the one your skin wants. 

We recommend using laundry detergent to clean your clothes, car shampoo for your vehicle, dish detergent for your dishes, and a better castile soap alternative for your skin - because if everything is a use case, nothing is truly optimized. 

It Just Isn’t That Luxurious!

Let’s be honest…some of us look forward to showering as a daily self-care ritual. It’s a chance to be alone with your thoughts and indulge in gentle, nourishing scrubbing. But castile soap looks and feels cheap - it is! 

Those who want something more sophisticated and luxurious will want an alternative to castile soap for this reason alone. Nothing’s wrong with being frugal, but we also are all for spoiling yourself every now and then - and there’s few better ways to do that then your skincare routine!

Castile soap gets you clean, but it doesn’t exactly romance the senses. There’s no creamy lather. No rich texture. No indulgent scent that makes you look forward to your shower. Those craving an experience rather than simply utility will find castile soap underwhelming.

The good news? A better castile soap substitute is just a few clicks away at Oshun.

What’s the Best Castile Soap Alternative?

So, what’s a substitute for castile soap you can count on to do more than just cleanse your skin? Fortunately, mother nature has provided a wealth of options to choose from. But there can only be one “best” castile soap alternative. Look no further than goat milk soap.

Goat Milk Soap

If Castile soap is the useful friend who gets things done, goat milk soap is the friend who brings snacks, lights a candle, and makes everything feel better while doing it. 

It's moisturizing, pH-balanced, and rich in naturally occurring lactic acid that gently exfoliates while keeping your skin barrier happy. We’ve seen it referred to as the best soap for aging skin, and many consider it to be the best moisturizing bar soap as well.

This is all thanks to the high fat and vitamin content in every bar. It feels luxurious and leaves your skin supple and soft instead of stripped. Those with dry, sensitive, or eczema-prone skin will love this castile soap substitute from the very first wash.

But truthfully, anyone can benefit from choosing this castile soap alternative. Just wait till you see (or perhaps feel) the goat milk soap before and after results! 

Here’s the thing, though - not all goat milk soap is created equal. If you’re serious about finding the right substitute for castile soap you need the best goat milk soap, which is where Oshun comes in. We make goat milk soap worth switching for.

Our bars are made with raw Nubian goat milk, virgin coconut oil, shea butter, Himalayan salt, and pearl powder along with a few other ethically sourced plant-based natural ingredients for anti-aging. No fillers, oils and synthetic junk to hide here!

The end result is a bar that nourishes your skin, balances oil production, and leaves you glowing instead of guessing where that weird tightness is coming from. Face, body, even hair - we’ve made it your new go-to without compromising on clean ingredients, sustainability, or skin feel. 

There are no disadvantages of goat milk soap for skin, so we could end our guide to finding the right castile soap substitute right here as you head over to Oshun to buy your first bar, and never look back. But, we’ll look at a few other alternatives to castile soap below to help you weigh your options.

Shea Butter Soap

Shea butter soap is rich, dense, and built for skin that needs extra care - but especially skin struggling with flakiness, cracking, or dryness that laughs in the face of lotion.

It’s high in vitamins A and E so it works well to soften rough patches, support collagen production, and create a protective seal on the skin. The thick, creamy texture produces a velvety lather that feels indulgent, too.

It’s not exfoliating or fancy, but if you want a bar that treats your skin like royalty, this one doesn’t mess around. However, we’ve compared shea butter vs goat milk soap in our blog, and the simple fact of the matter is you’ll end up settling for less than the best castile soap alternative if you choose shea butter. We’ll leave it at that, but you can learn more in our blog if you’d like.

African Black Soap

African black soap is gritty, raw, and no-nonsense. This soap is typically made from plantain ash, cocoa pods, and shea butter. It’s loaded with antioxidants and minerals that help clear breakouts, fade dark spots, and even out texture.

Those with acne-prone skin love it, but be advised: it’s pretty dang strong. It’s not buffered with creams or milk like goat milk soap or even shea butter soap for that matter. Sensitive skin will probably get irritated pretty quickly if you use African black soap daily.

Expect a rugged texture, a smoky scent, and a bar that means business. This is a good castile soap substitute for those who want a natural deep-clean and aren’t particularly interested in bringing the spa-like experience to their bathroom.

Glycerin Soap

Glycerin soap is the unsung hero of the sensitive skin world. It’s clear, mild, and deeply hydrating, thanks to its humectant properties. It pulls moisture into the skin rather than stripping it away.

It won’t clog pores, so those with reactive or combination skin can definitely consider this as a castile soap alternative. But just know it can be a bit…plain for lack of a better term. Boring, bland, you get the point.

Glycerin soap doesn’t deliver any added nourishment or exfoliating perks of something like goat milk or black soap. While it’s gentle and safe, that’s where the benefits end.

You can learn more about the subtle nuances between glycerin vs goat milk soap base in our blog to see why ultimately, Oshun’s formulation is the no-brainer substitute for castile soap.

Tallow Soap

Finally, we have one of the most old-school types of soap in the world: tallow soap. It sounds gross because you’re essentially rubbing rendered beef or mutton fat on your skin, but hear us out.

Tallow fat is chock-full of skin-loving fats and vitamins that mimic your skin’s natural sebum. That means better absorption, deeper moisturization, and less irritation. 

It’s firm, long-lasting, and creates a thick, satisfying lather without any of the drying effects you’ll get from Castile-style soaps. Some people avoid it for ethical or dietary reasons, but if you’re focused purely on results? Tallow delivers.

This is one of the better substitutes for castile soap if you have dry, aging, or eczema-prone skin that needs more than just a gentle cleanse. But like we said from the get-go today, there’s only one best castile soap substitute - and it’s right here waiting for you at Oshun.

Parting Thoughts on Finding the Right Castile Soap Substitute

Castile soap certainly has its place - but that place might not be in your grooming routine. Whether it’s too drying, too watery, or just not giving luxury, you deserve something better. Fortunately, you can see just how many substitutes for castile soap you have to choose from.

But there’s one choice that stands head and shoulders above the rest of the field, and that’s goat milk soap. It’s the best castile soap alternative with its rich texture, skin-balancing pH, and nutrient-dense ingredients that leave your skin softer, calmer, and actually nourished.

Toss the all-purpose, choose the all-glow with goat milk soap at Oshun. Get the upgrade your skin has been screaming for today and see what keeps customers coming back for more!