Soap and shower gel can provide the skin with the hydration and protection it needs.
For both a soap and a shower gel, it is better to choose a product without harsh chemicals for the skin.
Your cleansing product should be adapted to your skin type.
Once left aside, soap has made a comeback in bathrooms in recent years. Some defend its use for ecological reasons or because it would be more respectful of the skin. But is it really better to wash with soap rather than shower gel? We take stock.
What are the differences between soap and shower gel?
Although both are used for washing the body, there are many differences between soap and shower gel. The first is most often presented in the form of a solid bar, while the other is marketed as a semi-liquid gel. The desire of some to opt for more ecological hygiene products has improved the image of soap in recent years. And for good reason, since it is solid, it is generally sold with very little packaging, if at all. This contrasts with shower gel, which is found in plastic bottles or refillable bottles.
Soap is also much more economical than shower gel and has a longer lifespan. For the same use, it would last on average twice as long, provided of course that it is kept dry.
In the category of soaps as in that of shower gels, the composition can vary completely. In both cases, you must be careful not to buy a product that contains chemical agents that are too aggressive for the skin, such as methylisothiazolinone, which is an allergen, or ammonium lauryl sulfate, a highly irritating endocrine disruptor.
How to choose ?
For both solid soap and shower gel, it is essential to look at their composition before purchasing. And for good reason: the challenge is to choose a product that respects your skin type. “There are two types of skin: oily or dry.indicates Dr Marc Perussel, dermatologist at Rennes University Hospital, interviewed by West France. Depending on this, “you have to choose a certain type of detergent that is supposed to remove the grime and dirt that our skin absorbs throughout the day”. Concretely, your choice of soap or shower gel must be guided by the needs of your skin.
It is therefore advisable to avoid using a product that is too harsh if you have dry skin. A superfatted soap or shower gel, enriched with moisturizing agents, is therefore preferable to nourish your skin and prevent dry skin or eczema. For very dry skin, it is even recommended to use a “soap without soap”, underlines the dermatologist. We then speak of syndet, which corresponds to a synthetic detergent that respects the pH of the epidermis. Conversely, a product with strong cleansing power can be used on oily skin since it will help eliminate excess sebum.
Is soap better for the skin than shower gel?
In terms of skin well-being, soap may be a better option, especially if it has been cold saponified. This production technique, which does not involve excessive heating of the material, allows most of the beneficial properties of natural ingredients to be preserved. The soap is then softer and more respectful of the skin, even fragile. It guarantees good hydration, while preserving the skin’s natural protective barrier.
Shower gel, when it does not contain aggressive cleaning agents, also has many advantages. The plurality of natural components now contained in the formulas developed makes it possible to offer products adapted to different skin types. Its foamy texture and liquid format are also more pleasant during application.
