Does anyone use soap instead of shower gel?

[shimmerondown]

I've seen it recommended loads on here but I have a question...

I tried using just a soap bar and I feel loads cleaner, squeaky clean and fresher for longer

However, it really does seem to dry out the skin? I don't know how to describe it, but basically it's fine when cleaning with it but when you rinse it under water, the skin has this tight feeling?

I don't mean dry skin when dry if that makes sense.

What soaps do people use that don't have this as any soap I've ever tried does this?

I rub the soap on my body and lather it up with my hands. The soap is rinsed and dries in the soap dish.

I make the distinction between soap and not-soap because handwash dries out my hands. Some are sold as liquid soap but are detergent-based.

@APurpleSquirrel A very good vegan friend of mine used to rave about her favorite cheap soap. I never had the heart to tell her what sodium tallowate meant. We just all had a flurry giving her lots and lots of different vegan soaps until she found a new favorite.

It's totally fine to use gentle soap on the vulva, labia, perineum and anus. I wouldn't feel clean if I only used water there.
Obviously you don't need to clean the vagina with soap though.

You really should avoid soap on the vulva. It is an irritant. Emollient is the best thing to use if you want to use something.

I use olive oil soap. It doesn't irritate me at all. I don't find emollient necessary as that area isn't dry.

We’ve always used soap, not originally because it meant less plastic, but that’s an added reason now.
At the moment we have a stash of Greek olive oil soap dh ordered from somewhere.

Yes we started using bar soap a few years ago in order to cut down on plastic. We use the dove soap bars and have never found it dries the skin.

Can't stand shower gel. It seems never to rinse away. Never use the well known tea tree and mint one on your nether regions. Ouch!

Olive oil soap with natural fragrance please. Can't bear the scent of shower gels, all of them seem to be over-scented with a variety of chemicals.

I never use shower gel or hand wash. i use soap, preferably triple milled, beautifully scented ones (but usuall;y it's Tesco's lemon or magnolia ones! )

I will NEVER ever use Dove products again, after they tweeted their admiration and support of Lauren Hubbard, the Male weightlifter in the NZ olympic WOMAN's team. He was too fat and too mediocre to lift for the Men's team so took a woman's place in the olympics, and didn't even lift a weight. He also got nominated for NZ Sports WOMAN of the year (and that's NZ for you)... But I digress.

Dove championed him for being Stunning and brave. Their market being - mostly women, I assume?

I have not bought Dove since. And I noticed that during the Pandemic, Dove was the only soap left on the shelves. People know that it's not soap.

I use bar soap and like anything honey or goats milk that you can buy in huge triple milled bars in T K Maxx. I also use body lotion daily.

I'm off to Greece soon, does anyone know if their soaps are any good ?

Yes! I always buy some there. Pure olive oil soap, its lovely.

@Shuttheblinds Brilliant! I'll stock up, will be my first job of the holiday!

Everything is very good. Face creams, soap etc. I always buy olive oil soap. I went to Crete a year and a half ago. I’ve still got lots of gorgeous stuff I bought there. All organic and hand made.

@Ishouldbeoutside Oh fab, I never thought of face cream. Should I be looking in the pharmacy or can I pick stuff up at supermarkets?

Bar soap for pits, fanny and feet. Body wash for the rest and always body cream afterwards.

None of it has to be expensive but triple milled soap is best.

We used to see local stuff in both but last time we went to one Greek island it was all stuff shipped from the UK for double the price. I bought locally made soap and cream from the shop in a hotel in another island. Have a good look and buy products made in Greece and preferably locally.

@Ishouldbeoutside Thank you, I'll make sure its local. Dont know if I'm more excited about the sun or the soap! 😄

I use soap first as I feel with cleaner with it. And then go in with shower gel after too.

I use olive oil soap it does go a little gungy

I find it dries my skin out less than dove or simple

and whatever they have in TK Max

These days I use Aldi's Juliet soap bars that have shea butter in them. Never tried gel.

Anyone else with hard water feel the drains clog more with soap?