Image: Tedibar
Okay, so I have been using the same baby soap since forever. You know how it is—you find something that works (or seems to work), and you just stick with it. Never really questioned it.
Then last month at a mom meetup, someone casually mentioned “soap-free bathing bars” and I was like… wait, what? How does soap-free soap even make sense?
That night, after putting the baby down, I fell down a Google rabbit hole.
Things I Learned (That Nobody Tells You) –
Turns out, even baby soap isn’t as gentle as I thought. Most soaps are alkaline—like pH 9 or 10—while baby skin is around pH 5.5. I had no idea what this mattered, but apparently it does.
Regular soap basically strips everything off—the dirt, yes, but also all the natural oils that protect skin. And then we are like, “Oh no, dry skin!” and slather on moisturizer to fix what we just washed away.
I literally sat there thinking: I have been creating the problem and then trying to solve it. Every. Single. Day.
So next time I was at the pharmacy, I asked about soap-free options. The woman there showed me a few options and mentioned Tedibar* . She said a lot of moms pick it up for their kids, especially ones with sensitive skin. It’s 100% soap-free, which I guess is the whole point.
So here are my observations:
First Impressions
I tested it on myself first, like any cautious mom would..
The texture is different. It doesn’t lather up like regular soap—way less foam. My brain was like, “Is this even working?” because we are so used to thinking bubbles = clean.
What Actually Happens –
From what I understand –
- Regular soap is alkaline, which disrupts your skin’s natural pH
- Soap-free cleansers work differently—they clean without all that harsh stripping
- Baby skin is more delicate and still developing its protective layer
- pH-balanced products (around 5.5) work with your skin instead of against it
Tedibar being 100% soap free gently cleanses my baby’s sensitive skin & helps moisturize it while making it soft & supple.
The hardest part? Getting used to less foam. I had to actively remind myself that cleaning and lathering aren’t the same thing. My mom still side-eyes me about it. “Where are the bubbles?” she asks. I just shrug.
My Honest Take
We’ve been conditioned to think more foam = better. But that’s just what we’re used to, not what’s actually best for skin. Especially baby skin, which is way more delicate than ours.
Would I go back to regular soap? Probably not. Once you understand what’s actually happening during bath time, it’s hard to un-know it.
Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be specific medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare practitioner for further guidance.
* This is a cosmetic product. It does not treat or cure any skin condition. Results may vary from person to person
Refrences:
1 – Gfatter R, Hackl P, Braun F. Effects of Soap and Detergents on Skin Surface pH, Stratum Corneum Hydration and Fat Content in Infants. Dermatology. 1997;195(3):258–262. doi:10.1159/000245955.
2 -Skin cleansing without or with compromise: Soaps and Syndets — Ananthapadmanabhan KP, Moore DJ, Subramanyan K, Misra M, Meyer F. Dermatologic Therapy. 2004; 17 Suppl 1:16–25. DOI: 10.1111/j.1396-0296.2004.04s1002.x
3 -Telofski LS, Morello AP III, Mack Correa MC, Stamatas GN. The Infant Skin Barrier: Can We Preserve, Protect, and Enhance the Barrier? Dermatol Res Pract. 2012;2012:198789. doi:10.1155/2012/198789.
4 – Erasmus R. Tan-IJ, Lio PA. From Discovery to Modern Understanding: The Acid Mantle in Dermatology. Journal of Integrative Dermatology. 2025;
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