I want to switch to soap bars, but...

[theneverendinglaundry]

...I really hate the way my skin feels after using soap. It feels like it leaves a waxy kind of residue, whereas shower gel washes away cleanly. Am I missing something? Is it because I'm in a hard water area? Am I just using bad soap? (I tried a Faith in Nature cedar bar which smelled lovely).

Its putting me off trying any kind of shampoo bar too.

I much prefer soap. I feel cleaner afterwards. I’ve never noticed a waxy residue, to be honest. I use either L’Occitane, Jo Malone or White Company. Soap isn’t expensive, so I indulge myself just a little.

It's probably the type of soap you're using. Just buy a pear's soap and see how you get on with that.

I find the opposite. Soap makes me feel clean! I'm in a hard water area too. My only issue is that it does leave the shower screen rather scummy, but that's a small price to pay.

I totally know what you mean, its hard to describe what you mean though. I agree and don't like the sensation, I'm planning on buying dove soap next time, its not as cheap as some soaps, but way less expensive than fancy soaps, its not got a great smell though. I mean, its fine, but not amazing!

Nothing better than plain dove soap

I use dove soap after switching to bars a while ago, lasts ages!

Dove isn't soap though

Another huge soap fan and haven't noticed the waxy thing either. I am not brand loyal when it comes to soap, anything goes. Currently using some nice handmade stuff which I got for 99p a bar in the charity shop.

I get that waxy feeling with Dove bars, but I'm sure I read on here previously that its shower gel in a bar form, not soap.

Personally I love Dettol bars. But I have skin issues, so them being antibacterial helps.

I like bar soap and use Lever 2000. It's mild, no fragrance and i can get big multi packs of it at the warehouse club. I'm not sure if it's available in the UK.

My problems with soap are two fold. Firstly, getting it to lather up - I use one of those puffy things with shower gel, but you can't really do that with soap?

Also I must admit to being a bit grossed out - the idea of someone washing their bum then putting their hands allover the soap is a bit ick.

The puffy things are plastic too though... I just rub the bar over myself! It's the way we've washed for centuries. Pointless inventions like shower gel and puff things are a late 20th century invention which we really don't need.

@Pootles34 Why can't you use a puffy thing with a bar of soap? Just rub them together. Lather forms. If anything, it works better to my mind.

They are but not disposable - I just lob mine in the washing machine. Hmm maybe I will have to try that - I just couldn't imagine it working!

I've also seen people make their own puff type thing by putting their soap inside a (clean) sock. Seems to work well.

I use Aldi’s own brand (lacura?) soap. It’s fragrance free. It is wrapped in polythene though (for those avoiding all plastic) but all 5 bars together, not individually. The bars seem to last forever.

I think I actually prefer Dove but I can’t justify the price when the Aldi soap is so cheap.

I use flannels. A clean one every day I must admit. So soap never directly touches bum.

The BEST soap I've ever had was from a tiny little market in the south of France. Should have been 6 bars for 10 euros but I was chatting to the stallholder and she was a big fan of Scotland so she chucked in two bars free :-) It lasts forever and is so lovely. Haven't found anything like it over here. Unfortunately it's probably not economical to fly back to Marseille to stock up.

I’ve tried soap numerous times over the years and I really can’t get on with it; I get the residue too, and it really wrecks my skin. (My mum does just fine with it though.)

I do ok with plain Dove bar. I can even wash my hair with it.

I’ve still got loads of bottled stuff to use up, and some of that works better for me.

@Pootles34 I use a sisal soap pouch, they're about £3 on amazon I think. You put the soap bar inside and then you just rub the bag with your hand and it foams up like one of those puffy things

I wouldn't share it to be honest. If anyone else in the family wants to use a bar of soap they can get their own pouch.

Have tried different soaps, but favourite is Nesti Dante. I stock up when three huge bars from Amazon are cheap, or pick them up from TKMaxx. Lather well in really hard water and last ages.

A lot of soaps contain palm oil.

I only use soap now and my skin has been much softer and less scaly. I buy the nice soaps in TK Maxx, or the Vatika ones from Amazon. I am currently using a Chanel one that was a Christmas present.

You can't beat a nice bar of soap. Nesti Dante, L'Occitane and whatever takes your fancy in TK Maxx. Also if you have any local markets there'll usually be someone selling handmade soap.

i use soap with a shower puff (looking at swapping that when it gives up....). its better than shower gel for a lather i find.
using dove, but its not a soap strictly speaking. its a syndet bar (notice dove call it a beauty bar;)