Typical bar soaps are created through saponification and are legally required to be labeled as soap. Learn why HARP® qualifies as a cleanser instead—and why that distinction matters for your skin.

Why HARP® Is Better Than Traditional Soap

Mansure & Prettyman’s HARP® is not soap — and that’s the point.

Most traditional bar soaps are made with lye and saponified oils or tallows, creating a high-alkaline cleanser that strips moisture and damages the skin barrier. No matter the price, these soaps operate at a pH of 9–10, leading to dryness, irritation, and imbalance.

They will sell you - oops I mean - tell you - over and over again that the Lye is removed during the soap making process. This is true, except the remaining product (soap) still ends up with an extremely high, unhealthy pH.

HARP was engineered to do the opposite.

Our soap-free, pH-balanced syndet cleansing bars are designed to match the natural pH of healthy skin. Instead of disrupting your skin’s protective barrier, HARP gently cleans while helping maintain hydration, comfort, and balance — even for sensitive or dry skin.

Unlike traditional soaps made from inexpensive fats and oils, HARP uses science-backed cleansing ingredients trusted by dermatologists. You get a rich, creamy lather without the tight, stripped feeling of soap. Gentle enough for daily face and body use, powerful enough to clean thoroughly.

Each HARP bar is triple-milled for durability, lasting longer and performing better than typical soap bars. Added shea butter and skin-supporting oils help protect moisture rather than remove it.

Soap strips. HARP protects.

If you want a cleanser that supports healthy skin instead of working against it, HARP sets a new standard traditional soap never reached.