You’re in the shower, rushing to get ready. What do you reach for: soap, or body wash? If you’ve ever been stuck figuring out what’s the right type of cleanser for your body, the first step is to know what’s important about both. The essential purpose of bar soap and body wash is the same - to clean the skin from dirt, oils, and dead skin. The difference lies in how they’re made.
Bar soap is made by heating oil and wax, then adding lye. It is usually a no-nonsense product with few ingredients that are meant solely to clean the skin. Previously known to have a notoriously high pH, between 9 and 10, most bar soaps now have added natural ingredients or components that help in balancing it out and making it safer for the skin.
Body wash consists of more ingredients, usually with a water base with added surfactants, fragrance, and components that give specialised results based on skin type or condition. It explains why there’s such a variety in body washes, as there are almost endless combinations of scents and ingredients.
In terms of effectiveness, you can’t go wrong with either if you’re just looking for a daily cleanser. With body washes, you get added benefits based on their composition, providing a more holistic and nourishing experience. Certain scents in body washes have also been shown to relax, adding to a calming shower experience.
Soaps and body washes work differently on varying skin types as well. Bar soaps may have a stronger stripping action, which may be harmful and damaging for sensitive and dry skin, but necessary for oily and especially dirty skin. The control over the soap gives you that extra advantage in fighting lodged grime and sweat. For skin types that can’t handle bar soap, body washes may offer some respite as they can be formulated to hydrate dry skin, or soothe irritated and rough skin, depending on your needs.
Botanic Hearth has a wide range of body washes for all skin types.
For all skin types: Tea Tree body wash
For dry skin: Tea Tree and Mint body wash
For sensitive skin: Lavender body wash
For irritated skin: Tea Tree and British Rose body wash
