Skin cleansing bar soap compositions comprising particles of absorbent gellant materials

The subject invention relates to skin cleansing bar soap compositions comprising: (a) from about 40% to about 95% surfactant component comprising fatty acid soap and/or synthetic surfactant, such that the composition comprises: (1) from 0% to about 95% fatty acid soap; (2) from 0% to about 50% synthetic surfactant; (b) particles of absorbent gellant material, the amount of absorbent gellant material, dry weight basis, in the composition being from about 0.02% to about 5%, the absorbent gellant material having an extractable polymer content of less than about 25%; (c) from about 5% to about 35% water; (d) from 0% to about 25% moisturizer; (e) from 0% to about 15% other ingredients comprising one or more of polymeric skin feel and mildness aid, perfume, solvent, colorant, antibacterial agent, and preservative.