The Best Natural Soaps to Reduce Dark Spots

Beauty and skincare brands everywhere promote facial foams and liquid soaps in beautifully packaged plastic bottles. It’s fun to try them out, but they take up a lot of space on our shelves and eventually contribute to plastic pollution when we throw them out.

Maybe it would be a good idea to ditch those bottles and go for a more sustainable and affordable option for washing our skin – the more economical and eco-friendly bar of soap.

One skin problem soaps target is dark spots from melasma or hyperpigmentation. If you’d like to learn what the best soap for dark spots could be for your specific skin problem, then this is the list for you. Here we look through the best options in the market for bar soaps with ingredients that can help brighten the skin and consequently fade those stubborn dark spots, whether they’re on the face or the body.

What Soaps are Best for Treating Dark Spots on Legs, Inner Thighs and Face?

1. Koji White Koji Acid & Papaya Soap

One of the best ingredients in soaps that can fade dark spots is kojic acid. It is an alpha hydroxy acid (or AHA) that helps chemically exfoliate the skin gently to slough off dead skin cells and make sure healthy, brighter skin can resurface. It also suppresses melanin production that gives the skin dark spots to begin with, and that’s why it is a magical ingredient for fading spots.

Koji White is a brand that focuses mainly on providing options of kojic acid soaps that can lighten the skin and make the skin tone more even when it is ridden with dark spots. For this soap in particular, they combine kojic acid with papaya, which is known to have enzymes that brighten the skin and improve its texture.

If you’re worried that this soap might be too drying, don’t worry. The soap also contains hyaluronic acid to make sure the skin is moisturized and hydrated even with daily use.

Aside from the soap’s effectiveness, I also loved the luxurious feeling it gave off when I used it. It has a refreshing fruity scent, thanks to the papaya, which made me feel like I had a relaxing spa treatment in a tropical paradise. The soap also looks better than the usual rectangular shape with unruly edges. It is square-shaped with rounded edges, making it feel more luxe.

Koji White is a great brand to look into if you’re trying to find a soap that removes dark spots. If you’re into fruity scents and want a more luxurious feel to your shower or cleansing routine, try out this kojic acid and papaya soap.

2. Aspen Kay Naturals Turmeric Soap

Some people with sensitive skin are a bit wary when it comes to soap for skin lightening. They tend to assume that soaps that can fade dark spots are too harsh for their skin type. Luckily, Aspen Kay has a highly effective brightening soap that can also be great for sensitive or dry skin.

This soap has not one but three forms of turmeric in its formula — organic turmeric powder, organic turmeric extract, and turmeric essential oil. This powerhouse ingredient has been used for centuries by women who want to get lighter, more even-toned skin. Because of its brightening properties, it can also help reduce the appearance of dark, discolored spots.

But the soap isn’t drying or stripping off moisture at all. Instead, it helps moisten the skin. Thanks to ingredients like shea butter, olive oil, and coconut oil, the soap makes sure your body is supple and soft after showering with it.

If you have sensitive skin and face issues like acne on the face or eczema in some parts of your body, this soap is great for you. It has calendula and chamomile extracts that help soothe inflamed or irritated skin and help with itching as well.

If you have a green thumb, this is an awesome option for you. The soap is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Aspen Kay also makes sure the packaging used for the soap is plastic-free and compostable. The label is even printed with vegetable-based ink.

This is a great option if you’re looking for a dark spot remover soap that is potent thanks to its brightening ingredients and yet still gentle for sensitive skin.

3. Wonderfully Natural African Black Soap

Black soap is another type of soap known to aid in fading black and brown spots on the skin, especially if they’re the aftermath of active pimples. This black soap by Wonderfully Natural is recommended not only for the face but for dark spots on the body as well.

Wonderfully Natural’s black soap is made with ingredients engaged in fair trade in Ghana, so you know you get the best botanicals available and help out small African communities. The soap helps to soothe and treat current active acne and prevent hyperpigmentation or post-acne scarring.

Because of ingredients like organic shea butter, palm oil, and palm kernel oil, the skin is strengthened with vitamins A and E. It also makes the skin supple and soft after use. It helps heal wounds faster because these ingredients are soothing and promote a healthy skin barrier.

This soap gives excellent value for money because one bar is already huge and amounts to 1lb in weight. That means a single purchase of this item is probably enough to last you many months, even if you shower or wash your face with it every day.

When you purchase from Wonderfully Natural, you are also supporting an African-owned company. This is great if you want to be more thoughtful about where your money goes when you make skincare purchases. You’re also ensured that the formula used is authentic, and therefore more effective than other black soaps made outside of Africa.

Black soaps may be considered the best soap to remove dark spots on body or face in the African region, and the popularity of this soap has been growing in other continents, too. If you’ve never tried black soaps before, then try this one — it’s a hard-hitter.

4. Mangrove Beauty Goodbye Dark Spots Soap

If you have skin that is quite resilient and can handle stronger formulas, this kojic acid soap by Mangrove Beauty might be the best soap for dark spots on face for you.

This bar soap is made with pure kojic acid, which is known to exfoliate the skin to ensure that dry flakes and dead skin cells are shed to make room for healthier, more vibrant skin. Kojic acid is also great for lightening the skin, especially dark-colored spots.

The formula includes lemon and orange peel powders, which can help fade existing spots and scars on the skin. Together with the kojic acid, these ingredients immensely brighten the skin and make for a more even skin tone.

Aside from being a strong and powerful brightening soap, this option is also great because it addresses both acne and hyperpigmentation. It also doesn’t take long for the soap to deliver results, because it is quite potent. I’ve noticed that it only took a few days of daily use to start seeing a subtle change in my skin’s radiance!

But because the soap is potent and highly efficient in clarifying and brightening the skin, it may be a little drying, especially for those with flaky skin. It is recommended to use a natural oil to moisturize the skin after washing with this soap. One good oil to use after is tamanu oil because it’s hydrating and soothing.

While this soap is not recommended for those with sensitive skin, it’s great for anyone who has had experience using AHAs and active acids before. As long as your skin is resilient and you can bear a soft, tingling sensation on your skin now and then, this is an excellent option for soap to remove dark spots on face and body.

5. Koji White Kojic Acid & Charcoal Soap

Another soap from the Koji White line is this pack of two charcoal bar soaps. Kojic acid is still the star of the show in this product since it’s the key ingredient that can help fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation while exfoliating the skin to slough off any other dead skin. But when paired with charcoal, it does way more than just brighten the skin.

Charcoal is a great ingredient in skincare for those that have oily skin. It is known to absorb oil and excess sebum by cleansing deep in the skin’s pores, so it pulls out all the grime and impurities, leaving the skin matte and clarified. This benefit makes the soap great for those with oily or acne-prone skin.

This soap comes in the signature Koji White shape — thick and square-shaped with rounded edges to distinguish it from other rectangular bars with straight-cut edges.

Like many other soaps in the Koji White product lineup, this charcoal soap is made only with natural ingredients. It contains no parabens or dangerous chemicals that might burn the skin. So you are assured effective skin brightening, reduced appearance of dark spots, and safe ingredients all in one product.

This charcoal variant is a great dark spots soap because it targets not just existing discolored spots, but also acne and active pimples, which are a common cause for the appearance of blemishes in the first place. That said, this may be the best soap for pimples and dark spots for overly oily, acne-prone skin.

6. LAISAE Papaya Brightening Soap

For a soap that packs a lot of punch in the brightening department, check out this papaya soap by LAISAE. It’s formulated with so many holy grail ingredients when it comes to fading dark spots and evening the skin tone.

Papaya extracts are combined with kojic acid (a miracle combo, if you haven’t noticed) to brighten up dull, tired skin and make it look vibrant and new again. Because both ingredients have AHA properties, they also help fade discoloration and dark spots, whether on the face or body.

The formula also contains vitamin B3, snail extracts, and ascorbic acid (the most popular form of vitamin C in skincare). These three are fan favorites among skincare lovers who want to brighten the skin and face acne scarring and hyperpigmentation, so they’ll do very well in eliminating dark spots or blemishes.

It also contains aloe vera, a humectant that is great for making sure the skin is moisturized and hydrated even after using a bar soap for washing.

Because it’s gentle enough for the face and the body, it’s perfect for discoloration and dullness brought about by accidental tan lines, melasma, rosacea, and age spots that show up in random areas of the body.

The only thing is that because the formula is gentle, results are rarely noticeable on body parts with very tough and stubborn discoloration, like dark underarms or in between the legs. For these issues, maybe a better option is available. But if the skin issue troubling you the most is the appearance of dark spots, this should work like a charm.

If you’re looking for the best soap for dark spots on body parts that are heavily affected by rosacea, melasma, or tan lines, this papaya soap by LAISAE is a great option considering how effective and gentle it can be for all over the body.

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7. Palmer’s Anti-Dark Spot Complexion Bar

Palmer’s is an American skincare brand that has been tried and tested by many generations since the 1800s. They are most well-known for their use of cocoa butter and other moisturizing products for sensitive skin in need of nourishment, but they also have soaps for targeted concerns, like dull skin with dark spots. For that, they carry their Anti-Dark Spot Complexion Bar.

The product’s key ingredients are vitamin C, soy, and licorice, which are all great in brightening up dull and discolored skin but also known to be very gentle ingredients. That makes it a great dark spot removal soap for sensitive skin.

Another reason it’s amazing for sensitive skin is that it doesn’t contain dangerous chemicals that may irritate the skin, like parabens, sulfates, and dyes. Using this soap can give you peace of mind that you are only giving your skin the vitamins and botanicals it needs for dark spots to disappear faster.

This soap gives a deep cleanse to the skin, washing away impurities and grime not only on the surface of the skin, but also in the deeper layers, and giving you a fresh and clean feeling after one wash.

This is a very simple and basic dark spot remover soap, but it gets the job done. After using it religiously and diligently throughout a couple of weeks, I noticed that it faded some of my dark spots that normally take a few months before disappearing.

Palmer’s is loved by many for a reason. Buying from a trusted, well-known brand that has been around for centuries is something you can do if you’re a beginner skincare shopper and don’t know which brightening soap to go for.

8. Larawa Turmeric Soap Organic Natural

If you’re looking for a multi-benefit soap with all-natural ingredients, then Larawa has just the bar soap for you. This turmeric soap targets multiple skin troubles, from annoying dark spots to active and inflamed pimples, all in one product.

The main ingredient of this soap is turmeric, which has been used by women for centuries to brighten the complexion and lighten and even out the overall skin tone. It’s also excellent at fading dark spots, making it a great soap for hyperpigmentation.

Tamarind is another ingredient you can find in this soap. It is known to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that disinfect the skin and fight free radicals, so it’s great to clean and heal active pimples. It’s an exfoliating ingredient as well, so it helps out in scrubbing off dead skin cells to let healthy skin shine through.

To make sure the skin isn’t dried out when cleansing with this soap, it also has honey, coconut oil, and glycerin to hydrate and nourish the skin and ensure that moisture is retained even after washing. These ingredients make this soap gentle and hydrating enough to be used from head to toe if you wish.

However, one thing to be noted is that this soap doesn’t exactly smell like the botanicals listed in the ingredients. It smells more like any other generic hand soap — clean and crisp, but very common. If you’re looking for a soap that smells more like turmeric or honey, then check out the other options on this list.

If you’re looking for a soap that can remove pimples and dark spots, then try your luck with this soap by Larawa. Its natural ingredients and many benefits may make it the soap that can target your acne and the scarring that comes afterward.

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9. Sabunnga Turmeric & Honey Formula Soap

Another option for a turmeric and honey combo is this sweet-smelling soap from Sabunnga. While it only has two key natural ingredients, the formula is very effective, and the experience of showering with it is wonderful. I’ll tell you why.

Turmeric and honey are both very effective skincare ingredients. Turmeric is known to lighten dark marks on the skin and make the overall tone less dull and more vibrant and glowy. Honey, on the other hand, is great for soothing and calming the skin, and rejuvenating the skin by providing more nourishment and hydration, too.

This combo of powerhouse ingredients also has the ability to calm the skin, and therefore reduce redness and inflammation of active zits and pimples. This makes it a great option for those who have troublesome, acne-prone skin.

It even comes with its own exfoliating soap bag. All you have to do is slip the bar right in, lather it up, and scrub all that dead skin away! It’s fun and satisfying to use, especially because you’ll feel squeaky clean after a good rinse.

This is one of my favorite soaps on the list because not only is it effective in lightening dark spots and making me feel clean and hydrated, but it also has a very captivating scent. As soon as I lather it up in my hands, a beautiful and delicious aroma of turmeric and honey fills the room. The smell makes for a more relaxing and luxurious shower experience, which I always look forward to.

Though this soap by Sabunnga is more on the premium side when it comes to pricing, I would say that it’s definitely worth it for the results and overall experience of showering. It lightens dark spots, hydrates the skin, and smells incredible. If you want a soap that delivers results and also stimulates the senses, then this is the one for you.

10. Koji White Kojic Acid & Vitamin C Soap

Another option that Koji White offers for those who want to lighten their skin and diminish stubborn dark spots on the face and body is this vitamin C soap.

Both kojic acid and vitamin C can brighten the skin and give it more luminosity and vibrancy. They also help to fade dark spots that are stubborn and have been around on the skin for months. In particular, Vitamin C also helps out with reversing the damage caused by the sun on the skin, which includes the development of too much pigment, thus the appearance of dark spots.

The formula also contains vitamin E and honey, both of which work to keep the skin soft and supple, and highly moisturized. They also improve the skin’s elasticity, making it plumper and more bouncy. Doing this to the skin also prevents the early onset of wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging. These ingredients give an additional glow of radiance to the skin after using the soap, too.

As usual, this variant of the Koji White lightening soap line comes in its signature square shape with rounded edges for a more luxe feel and an easier grip on the soap.

Koji White prides itself on only using the best, most high-quality ingredients in their products, and this soap is no exception. They look for the best sources for all the vitamins and natural ingredients to make sure you see results as soon as possible.

The presence of both kojic acid and vitamin C in one soap creates a highly effective powerhouse soap for dark spots and hyperpigmentation. If you’ve been loving our recommendations under the Koji White line, then this is another one you should add to your cart next time you go skincare shopping.

11. SheaMoisture Organic African Black Soap

Another exquisitely and thoughtfully formulated African black soap is this one by SheaMoisture, which incorporates soothing ingredients into a soap that brightens dark spots.

While African black soaps are always packed with herbs and botanicals, one of the key ingredients in this soap is tamarind extracts. Tamarind exfoliates the skin gently and properly to make sure all remaining dead skin cells on the surface are washed off. This means that pockets of pigment on the skin (which make up dark spots) are also scrubbed away slowly but surely.

The formula also includes tea tree oil, a natural, potent oil that dries out and soothes any active pimples in the skin. It also reduces redness, irritation, and inflammation for those with troublesome, acne-prone skin, or even eczema.

This soap clarifies and purifies the skin, leaving a smooth, matte finish after one wash. This makes it great for those with oily skin that produce too much sebum.

The formula also contains fair trade shea butter from small communities. This means that when you buy and use this product, you are directly supporting the livelihood of those who farm and produce the ingredients.

If you’re looking for a soap that can brighten your skin, especially the darker spots, but also want to help out communities and farmers who engage in fair trade, this African black soap is a great option. Just make sure you follow up with something moisturizing after cleansing with this, as it tends to make the skin overly matte, especially in the colder months.

12. Suona Handmade Apricot Turmeric Soap

Handmade artisan soaps are all the rage for those who love personal care products. Among the best ones are those that are 100% vegan and organic, so you know you only use safe, natural ingredients on your precious skin.

Suona provides an endearing line of bar soaps that are made only from clean, natural ingredients and good for the skin. They have charming packaging that indicates the soap is handmade. But don’t let the cuteness of this soap fool you—it’s filled with so many powerhouse ingredients that deliver results.

In particular, this soap is excellent when it comes to lightening dark marks because of two key ingredients: turmeric and apricot. Turmeric is known to lighten and even out the skin tone, while apricot can prevent the overproduction of pigment on the skin, so it helps to ensure that the occurrence of dark spots is less frequent.

Aside from those, the formula also has parsley powder in it. Parsley has beta-carotene, which is known to boost the elasticity of the skin, making it plump, supple, and bouncy. It has anti-aging properties that can help delay the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

This soap also has natural hydrators like olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, and shea butter to make sure the skin is soft and nourished, and never goes dry. It leaves the skin feeling replenished and moisturized after a shower, but not tacky to the touch.

If you are done with drugstore brands and are ready to explore more artisanal options for your bar soaps, then this handmade, vegan soap by Suona is a great start. It brightens the skin, rids it of dark spots, and boosts plumpness and elasticity. What else could you ask for?

What to Look for When Buying Soaps for Dark Spots

Skin-lightening ingredients

To make sure the bar soap you purchase can deliver results in lightening dark, discolored spots on the skin, make sure it has at least one or two lightening or brightening ingredients in the formula. Some of these ingredients are turmeric, kojic acid, and rice extracts.

You can even opt for exfoliating ingredients, like glycolic acid. Exfoliating ingredients will help slough off the top layer of skin slowly and gently. This layer of the skin includes dead skin cells, and the pockets of overproduced pigment making up those stubborn dark spots. Over time, using soaps with exfoliating acids will help make your dark spots disappear, so you only get smooth and clear skin.

Some chemicals to stray away from are those that can bleach and even burn your skin, like hydroquinone. While it’s frustrating to see dark spots on your face or body every day, you always have to make sure the soaps you pick and choose are friendly to your skin.

Hydrating properties

Bar soaps often get a bad rap for being too dry. Mixing them together with clarifying, exfoliating ingredients helps fade dark spots but makes them even more susceptible to drying out the skin. That’s why it’s crucial to find a bar soap formula that also has hydrating properties. You have to make sure your skin won’t go flaky and rough just because you’re using bar soaps.

Try to look for bar soaps with a lot of natural oils and butter that can help keep your skin hydrated after the shower. Some ingredients to look for are shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil. These rich, natural sources of fat make bathing with bar soaps feel more luxurious, and it’s good for your skin, too!

Natural ingredients

Because soaps are most likely used all over the body, it’s important to make sure the ingredients are very safe. One way to ensure safety in the formula is by making sure that many, if not all, of the key ingredients of the bar soap, are all-natural. That way, you know you can reap the benefits of what nature has to offer, and you don’t have to worry about dangerous chemicals being too harsh on the skin.

Some natural ingredients that are great for lightening up dark spots on the skin are parsley powder, apricot, lemon and orange peels, and aloe vera. While these are powerful superfoods and botanicals in brightening the complexion, they are also very safe to use when formulated in the right amounts.

Tried and tested brands

When trying out different bar soaps, it’s good to check what brand manufactured it. A quick online search can determine how long the brand has been around or if it’s a brand that is recommended by dermatologists and skincare experts. Try to look for brand names that are tried and tested, like Palmer’s, especially when you’re a skincare newbie afraid of making a purchase you’ll regret.

Other Important Factors to Consider

What is soap for dark spots?

It is a bar soap with safe yet effective ingredients that help in fading dark spots, whether from skin conditions like melasma, rosacea, or hyperpigmentation from acne.

Unlike facial foams and cleansers, bar soap is usually formulated for use all over the body, not only for the face. This makes it a better option for those who have dark spots not just on the face but in other areas like the torso, arms, and legs. Some lightening soaps are also effective in areas that are more difficult to lighten, like the underarm or between the legs.

How do these soaps work?

The lightening agents in the soaps and their lather rub up against the skin, ensuring that the active ingredients come into direct contact with the problematic areas that have dark spots. Once washed away, the skin will feel refreshed, and the complexion will be brighter and more vibrant.

Bar soaps with lightening ingredients usually contain active acids and ingredients of mid to high potency, because the formula will be rinsed off anyway. Because of this, it’s important to always rinse under lukewarm water properly after soaping, to avoid any issues with the ingredients accidentally irritating the skin because they stay on the skin for too long.

Who are these soaps for?

These soaps for dark spots are perfect for anyone suffering from bothersome dark spots on the face or body. This goes for people with skin conditions like melasma and rosacea. People who are prone to acne scarring or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation will also find these soaps very useful. Getting rid of stubborn dark spots can be a confidence booster for people who find them distracting and embarrassing.

Older men and women often develop age spots in random areas of their bodies through the years. A soap for getting rid of dark spots can benefit them as well.

What are the different types of soap for dark spots?

There are all kinds of soaps for dark spots, depending on their key ingredients. Two of the biggest classifications for bar soaps that help out with lightening dark spots are kojic acid soaps and black soaps.

Kojic acid is a skin-lightening agent made from fermented rice and it is very popular in Asia. Kojic acid soaps are known to lighten the overall skin tone if used religiously and help fade dark spots, too. However, these soaps are not recommended for use in sensitive areas, like between the legs, since the acid might rub the skin too thin. These soaps are usually bright orange, so they’re impossible to miss in an aisle of soaps.

African black soap is another classification of soaps for dark spots altogether. It is made out of crushed-up plants and dried peels, and most of the time includes brightening ingredients to help fade discoloration. Unlike kojic soaps, these can be used all over the body without worrying about the skin’s sensitivity. This is because these are more nourishing and usually contain natural butter to hydrate the skin.

Why do you need soap for dark spots?

Dark spots can be very distracting. They tend to be a source of insecurity when they’re on a noticeable part of the face or body and are difficult to remove.

A soap that targets dark spots, scarring, and discoloration comes very handily when you start noticing even just several spots appearing on the skin. Using these soaps can help speed up the process of fading these spots and prevent the skin from producing too much melanin so that you don’t allow even more spots to show up.

Having said this, soaps for dark spots boost confidence in those who constantly have to deal with seeing sun spots, age spots, freckles, and acne scars on their face and body.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

While there are so many new formats for facial foams and liquid soaps out there, you shouldn’t forget that some of the best products for lightening dark spots are in the form of bar soaps. So many brightening and hydrating ingredients can be packed in one little soap, so you can be sure they have what it takes to get rid of those pesky little dark spots.

Remember, even the best soap for dark spots will only show results when used consistently. Commit to diligently using the soap for a few weeks or months so that you can see the results you want. Try to be patient when you work with these soaps, and make sure to look for the right soap for your skin type. Good luck with your skincare journey!