Soap on Shabbat
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Question
Is it permitted, and if so, which soap can be used to clean the face on Shabbat, as well as the hands, and is there an issue with the soap containing an ingredient that prevents acne (the second question concerns medicine)?
Answer
Shalom Rav
It is prohibited to use hard soap on Shabbat, as it involves spreading the surface of the soap. Additionally, there is a prohibition of creating a new state by turning solid soap into liquid.
However, liquid soap does not have these issues.
Liquid soap intended for medicinal purposes and not typically used by healthy individuals for cleaning is prohibited by rabbinic decree. However, if it is also used by healthy individuals, it is permitted even if it heals.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 314 and Siman 328.