What to Use: Shower Gel, Shower Gel or Soap?
When it came to bathing in America, soap bars reigned supreme for part of the 19th and most of the 20th century. But by the late 1980s, traditional solid soap bars began to compete fiercely with liquid alternatives known as “shower gels” and “shower gels.”
Through clever marketing, including promoting the idea that bar soap is disgusting, body washes and shower gels eventually outperformed bar soap . Now the move to personal care products with fewer chemicals and less waste has allowed bar soap to make a comeback. But apart from being popular, which cleanser is right for you? Here’s what you need to know.
The difference between bar soap, shower gel and shower gel
First, let’s start with the basics. But like us, keep in mind that bar soaps, shower gels, and body washes are all mass product categories, and these are generic descriptions of each (so there are plenty of exceptions).
bar soap
A bar of soap is a solid bar of cleanser traditionally made by mixing oil (today most commonly coconut oil, palm oil, and olive oil) with a liquid (usually water) and lye (sodium hydroxide, also known as lye).
However, most big brand soap bars on the shelves today are actually “syndet bars” (“synthetic detergent”), which means they are made using synthetic forms of traditional soap ingredients. They are often referred to as “beauty bars” or “cleansing bars”.
Shower gel
Shower gel tends to have a firmer gel-like consistency , a higher concentration of added fragrance, and is sometimes formulated for use on both the body and hair .
Body gel
Like shower gels, body washes are liquid cleansers that use mild surfactants to cleanse the skin . But in general, products labeled “shower gel” tend to be thinner and creamier than shower gels.
How to choose the best cleanser for your skin
There are so many formulations of bar soaps, shower gels, and body washes at the moment that if you look closely enough (read the labels, for example), you can probably find the features you need in your preferred format. But again, generally speaking, here’s what to consider when choosing your shower (or bath) soap:
Dry skin
If you have dry skin and prefer a liquid cleanser, shower gel is a better option for you as it is more moisturizing and hydrating than shower gel. There are also plenty of beauty bars with high doses of moisturizer for those who prefer bar soap.
Oily skin
On the other hand, those with naturally oily skin (who don’t need extra hydration) and/or live in a hot or humid area may opt for shower gels or more traditional soap bars. Shower gel also works if you just want to get clean and nothing else, or prefer a “squeaky clean” feeling.
Soft skin
People with sensitive skin already know that some types of soaps and detergents can cause very bad reactions and understand the importance of reading labels to evaluate product ingredients. One factor to consider is pH. Shower gel usually has a lower pH than traditional bar soap, making it more suitable for sensitive skin that is also dry.
Two other main ingredients to look out for are flavors and preservatives . Body washes and shower gels tend to contain more than cleansers, but again, this varies by product.