Ingredient Glossary: What’s in Your Bar Soap?
Ever wondered what those ingredients on your soap label actually do for your skin? At Prep U, ingredient transparency is at the heart of everything we do—especially for teens and parents who want safe, effective, and natural choices. Our bar soaps are crafted with plant-based, cruelty-free ingredients that cleanse, nourish, and support healthy skin, without any of the harsh stuff. Use this glossary to learn about every key ingredient in our bars, why we chose it, and how it helps you put your best face (and body) forward.
Key Ingredients in Prep U Bar Soaps
Coconut Oil
What it does:
Coconut oil is a superstar for cleansing and moisturizing. It creates a rich, creamy lather that gently lifts away dirt, sweat, and oil—without leaving skin feeling stripped or dry.
Coconut oil is a superstar for cleansing and moisturizing. It creates a rich, creamy lather that gently lifts away dirt, sweat, and oil—without leaving skin feeling stripped or dry.
Why we use it:
It’s gentle enough for daily use on sensitive or teen skin, helps lock in moisture, and supports a smooth, soft complexion. Coconut oil is also naturally antibacterial, making it ideal for skin that’s active or prone to breakouts.
It’s gentle enough for daily use on sensitive or teen skin, helps lock in moisture, and supports a smooth, soft complexion. Coconut oil is also naturally antibacterial, making it ideal for skin that’s active or prone to breakouts.
Olive Oil
What it does:
Olive oil is loaded with antioxidants and vitamins (like E and K) that help nourish and protect your skin. It soothes irritation, supports the skin’s natural barrier, and leaves skin feeling calm and hydrated.
Olive oil is loaded with antioxidants and vitamins (like E and K) that help nourish and protect your skin. It soothes irritation, supports the skin’s natural barrier, and leaves skin feeling calm and hydrated.
Why we use it:
We include olive oil to help balance oil production and provide lasting softness—especially important for teens experiencing hormonal changes or sensitivity.
We include olive oil to help balance oil production and provide lasting softness—especially important for teens experiencing hormonal changes or sensitivity.
Shea Butter
What it does:
Shea butter is a deeply hydrating ingredient that delivers long-lasting moisture and relief for dry, itchy, or irritated skin. It’s rich in fatty acids and vitamins that help protect and heal.
Shea butter is a deeply hydrating ingredient that delivers long-lasting moisture and relief for dry, itchy, or irritated skin. It’s rich in fatty acids and vitamins that help protect and heal.
Why we use it:
Shea butter makes our bars extra gentle and comforting for sensitive or dry skin, leaving it soft, smooth, and resilient—never greasy.
Shea butter makes our bars extra gentle and comforting for sensitive or dry skin, leaving it soft, smooth, and resilient—never greasy.
Castor Oil
What it does:
Castor oil is known for its creamy lather and mild cleansing power. It helps dissolve impurities and gently unclog pores without over-drying.
Castor oil is known for its creamy lather and mild cleansing power. It helps dissolve impurities and gently unclog pores without over-drying.
Why we use it:
This oil boosts the overall cleansing ability of our bars and helps maintain a healthy skin barrier, making it a key part of both our face and body formulas.
This oil boosts the overall cleansing ability of our bars and helps maintain a healthy skin barrier, making it a key part of both our face and body formulas.
Bentonite Clay
What it does:
Bentonite clay acts like a magnet for impurities—drawing out dirt, oil, and toxins from pores. It also helps absorb excess oil and calm inflammation.
Bentonite clay acts like a magnet for impurities—drawing out dirt, oil, and toxins from pores. It also helps absorb excess oil and calm inflammation.
Why we use it:
Ideal for acne-prone or oily skin, bentonite clay keeps your complexion clear, balanced, and refreshed, making breakouts less likely.
Ideal for acne-prone or oily skin, bentonite clay keeps your complexion clear, balanced, and refreshed, making breakouts less likely.
French Green Clay
What it does:
French green clay is a gentle, mineral-rich clay that absorbs oil, clarifies pores, and soothes redness or irritation.
French green clay is a gentle, mineral-rich clay that absorbs oil, clarifies pores, and soothes redness or irritation.
Why we use it:
We love French green clay for its ability to purify without stripping, supporting clear, balanced skin—especially for combination or blemish-prone teens.
We love French green clay for its ability to purify without stripping, supporting clear, balanced skin—especially for combination or blemish-prone teens.
Activated Charcoal
What it does:
Activated charcoal binds to dirt, oil, and toxins, helping to deeply cleanse and unclog pores. It’s a natural detoxifier that leaves skin feeling fresh and renewed.
Activated charcoal binds to dirt, oil, and toxins, helping to deeply cleanse and unclog pores. It’s a natural detoxifier that leaves skin feeling fresh and renewed.
Why we use it:
This ingredient is a go-to for deep cleaning, especially for teens who sweat, play sports, or struggle with breakouts. It cleanses without drying or irritating.
This ingredient is a go-to for deep cleaning, especially for teens who sweat, play sports, or struggle with breakouts. It cleanses without drying or irritating.
Oats
What it does:
Oats gently exfoliate and soothe, helping to calm redness, itchiness, and irritation. They’re especially good for sensitive or combination skin.
Oats gently exfoliate and soothe, helping to calm redness, itchiness, and irritation. They’re especially good for sensitive or combination skin.
Why we use it:
Oats make our bars ideal for gentle exfoliation and comfort, leaving skin smooth and happy.
Oats make our bars ideal for gentle exfoliation and comfort, leaving skin smooth and happy.
Essential Oils & Botanicals
Tea Tree Essential Oil
What it does:
Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory hero. It helps reduce acne-causing bacteria, calms redness, and promotes clearer skin.
Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory hero. It helps reduce acne-causing bacteria, calms redness, and promotes clearer skin.
Why we use it:
It’s perfect for acne-prone skin and helps keep breakouts at bay—while being gentle enough for daily use.
It’s perfect for acne-prone skin and helps keep breakouts at bay—while being gentle enough for daily use.
Sandalwood Essential Oil
What it does:
Sandalwood oil soothes, calms, and hydrates skin while providing a subtle, earthy scent that relaxes the senses.
Sandalwood oil soothes, calms, and hydrates skin while providing a subtle, earthy scent that relaxes the senses.
Why we use it:
Sandalwood is ideal for sensitive or easily irritated skin, and it adds a luxurious, spa-like feel to your daily routine.
Sandalwood is ideal for sensitive or easily irritated skin, and it adds a luxurious, spa-like feel to your daily routine.
Amyris Essential Oil
What it does:
Amyris oil is known for its calming, woody aroma and its ability to soothe and soften the skin.
Amyris oil is known for its calming, woody aroma and its ability to soothe and soften the skin.
Why we use it:
Amyris brings a gentle, grounding scent and adds extra skin-calming benefits to our Sandalwood Cleansing Bar.
Amyris brings a gentle, grounding scent and adds extra skin-calming benefits to our Sandalwood Cleansing Bar.
Vetiver Essential Oil
What it does:
Vetiver oil is renowned for its earthy, smoky scent and its ability to calm inflammation and promote skin repair.
Vetiver oil is renowned for its earthy, smoky scent and its ability to calm inflammation and promote skin repair.
Why we use it:
Vetiver supports healthy skin recovery, reduces redness, and helps soothe irritation—making it a perfect addition for sensitive or stressed skin.
Vetiver supports healthy skin recovery, reduces redness, and helps soothe irritation—making it a perfect addition for sensitive or stressed skin.
Peppermint Essential Oil
What it does:
Peppermint oil cools, refreshes, and gently stimulates the skin. It also provides a clean, invigorating scent and a mild tingle.
Peppermint oil cools, refreshes, and gently stimulates the skin. It also provides a clean, invigorating scent and a mild tingle.
Why we use it:
It wakes up your skin (and your senses!)—perfect for morning routines or anytime you need a boost.
It wakes up your skin (and your senses!)—perfect for morning routines or anytime you need a boost.
Pine Essential Oil
What it does:
Pine oil offers a crisp, forest-fresh scent and has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Pine oil offers a crisp, forest-fresh scent and has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Why we use it:
It helps purify the skin, reduce redness, and provides an energizing, outdoorsy aroma—featured in our Alpine Shave Bar.
It helps purify the skin, reduce redness, and provides an energizing, outdoorsy aroma—featured in our Alpine Shave Bar.
Spruce Essential Oil
What it does:
Spruce oil is known for its refreshing, woodsy scent and its ability to calm and tone the skin.
Spruce oil is known for its refreshing, woodsy scent and its ability to calm and tone the skin.
Why we use it:
Spruce supports balanced, healthy skin and adds depth to the invigorating scent profile of our Alpine Shave Bar.
Spruce supports balanced, healthy skin and adds depth to the invigorating scent profile of our Alpine Shave Bar.
Fir Essential Oil
What it does:
Fir oil delivers a clean, resinous scent and has natural cleansing and soothing properties.
Fir oil delivers a clean, resinous scent and has natural cleansing and soothing properties.
Why we use it:
Fir oil helps calm irritation and leaves skin feeling fresh, while enhancing the Alpine-inspired aroma of our shave bar.
Fir oil helps calm irritation and leaves skin feeling fresh, while enhancing the Alpine-inspired aroma of our shave bar.
What’s NOT in Prep U Bar Soaps
We’re just as proud of what we leave out as what we put in. Every Prep U bar soap is:
- Free from parabens: No hormone disruptors or harsh preservatives.
- Free from sulfates: No harsh foaming agents that can dry or irritate.
- Free from phthalates: No plasticizers or questionable additives.
- Free from synthetic fragrances or dyes: Only pure essential oils for scent and color.
- Free from aluminum and gluten: Safe for sensitive skin and allergies.
- Vegan and cruelty-free: No animal products, no animal testing—ever.
You’ll never find hidden chemicals or fillers in our bars—just honest, safe, and effective ingredients.
Why Ingredient Transparency Matters
Knowing what’s in your skincare isn’t just for peace of mind—it’s about protecting your health, managing sensitive or acne-prone skin, and making choices you feel good about. For teens (and parents), ingredient transparency means:
- Confidence: You know exactly what you’re using on your skin every day.
- Safety: Avoid allergens, irritants, and harsh chemicals.
- Trust: Prep U is committed to honesty, quality, and your well-being.
We want you to feel empowered and informed—because healthy skin starts with smart choices.
Have More Questions?
You’ll find a full ingredient list on every Prep U cleansing bar product page. Still curious about a specific ingredient or want advice for your skin type? Contact us—we’re always happy to help!
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