Soap instead of shower gel

[Firstaidnovice]

Just wanted to say that based on a thread I read on here probably a few months ago, I swapped my shower gel for soap (I think the original thread was about deodorant, as OP felt a bit whiffy not long after showering, but lots of people recommended switching shower gel for soap instead).
Anyway, the difference is remarkable! I went to a stupidly hot soft play with DS at the weekend, where I had to follow him round the bloody playframe for an hour, (which is a whole other thread!), and still felt pretty fresh that evening, which I never would have been before. Same for the mornings, I usually wake up feeling a bit stinky because I seem to get very hot overnight, but no more! I'm just using Simple soap bars, two for £1. Amazing!

MeToo I love the look of that cloth. Can it be put in the washing machine? How often?
Thanks

That flat scrubby thing looks great, but maybe a bit too exfoliating for daily use?
I buy cheap flannels (for pence in places like Ikea) and have a huge stash, which means I can use a clean one every day, and chuck the used ones in the washing machine. I tend to buy them in charcoal grey so they don't show the dirt and don't look yuk after a few washes (learnt the hard way with white ones).

The Body shop "flat scrubby thing" doesn't exfoliate much at all...it's not scratchy like lots of others. I chuck it in the washing machine whenever I remember but it's very hygienic anyhow - it's very thin so really just rinsing under the shower washes it. It dries very quickly. Much more hygienic than sponges, which I used to use.

I noticed someone mentioned upthread about KP/bumps on arms. Mine have almost gone too

I have never got on with shower gel, never feel quite clean with that residue that is supposed to be good for the skin. It's getting more difficult to find good soap though as the marketers of shower gel win their war against it. I buy boxes of royal horticultural society rose soap by mail order. It's lovely.

Kumil How do you define good soap? Here's a list of the ingredients of the Royal Horticultural Society Rose soap you refer to!!! Looks like a triumph of marketing!

Hydroxycitronellal, , 0.0728 Alpha-Isomethyl ionone, , 0.0454 Benzyl Salicylate, , 0.0454 Melissa Officinalis (Balm Mint Extract), 0.0400 Propylene Glycol, 0.0400 Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, , 0.0364 Tetrasodium Edta, 0.0229 Butylphenyl Methylpropional, , 0.0182 Linalool, , 0.0108 Rosa Centifolia (Rose extract), 0.0100 Sodium Benzoate, 0.0008 Methylparaben , 0.0004 Xanthan Gum, 0.0004 Sorbic Acid , 0.0002 Butylparaben, 0.0000 Ethylparaben, 0.0000 Propylparaben, 0.0000 Isobutylparaben, 0.0000 Methylchloroisothiazolinone, 0.0000 Methylisothiazolinone, 0.0000 CI 15620, trace CI 74160, trace , , 100.0000

OrangePlastic - I think people are easily fooled by pretty packaging and nice smells. Looking at some of these soaps people are in love with and then seeing what they are made with is interesting.

Yes, interesting! I would say the fewer, very simple to understand, ingredients the better.

My favourite soap contains:

Olive oil, Coconut oil, RSPO certified sustainable palm oil, Shea butter, Rose geranium essential oil, Rose petals, Patchouli essential oil, CI16035, Citral, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Linaloo

Why on earth would I think that a shorter list of ingredients would mean a better quality? I define quality as having an easy lather producing a rich creamy texture quickly (lots of soaps take a lot more hot water and effort and still produce rubbish lather)

I have never seen an advert for the soap I use, I use it because I tried lots and this was the best.

I think your definition of "quality" isn't the same as mine kunil.

kunil Makes sense if you only judge a soap by an easy lather producing a rich creamy texture quickly. The marketing I refer to is not about the advertising - more about the attractive, old fashioned, wholesome packaging - which would influence most consumers - but maybe not you.

For a posh soap that's palm-free, cruelty-free, and handmade (not just hand-poured...) in the UK, Pure Nuff Stuff soaps are beautiful. They're also great if you have dry or sensitive skin.

I was wary at first as I have quite dry skin and found old-school soaps like Imperial Leather left my skin tight and itchy. Lush soaps were hit and miss (and they kept discontinuing ones I liked). The Pure Nuff Stuff soaps are totally different, like washing with creamy silk

I love the oats and clay one, and secretly want to bite its lemony gingery loveliness, mmm.

Genuine question - if the palm oil is responsibly sourced, why might people still have an objection to its use?

I don’t know that Orange, this gives some interesting facts.

I don’t know enough about RSPO to know if it is ‘good enough’, their web page seems to suggest that it is .... but then it would wouldn’t it.

orange For me at least, I avoid certified palm oil where I can because I don't trust the ethics and sustainability of certification schemes like RSPO. They still allow big palm oil companies to clear virgin forest, endanger wildlife, and there have been problems with child labour and other human rights abuses.

Certified palm oil is better than non-certified, but no palm oil is usually better again.

I've lurked on this thread and enjoyed reading the feedback from everyone. I picked up a handmade bar from TKMax, its nice but not as strong smelling as I'd like but definitely feeling clean and fresh afterwards. I'm quite fussy about smells, I don't like anything floral and it's hard to pick a soap if it's wrapped!!

Thanks to geekaMaxima for the recommendation I've just ordered two bars from Pure Nuff Stuff and looking forward to them arriving. One is for DH - I'm just as fussy about how he smells I hope he likes it but as long as I do that's all that matters

Thank you Geekmamma

Sorry I meant thank you geekaMaxima

macnab it was another MNer put me on to Pure Nuff Stuff a couple of years ago so I like to share the love. Hope you enjoy them

The Pure Nuff company that Geeka recommends does Hair and Body bars, with extra glycerine:
www.purenuffstuff.co.uk/products/Hair-Body-Bar-Peppermint?cat=64
Someone on here was after a shampoo-soap...

The Pure Nuff soaps look lovely. Might ask for a trio for Christmas.

Interesting that some have found their KP/bumps on arms improved - mine is much better too.

Someone on here was after a shampoo-soap...AuntyElle I was asking about shampoo soaps but I just starting using the soap I was cleaning my body with and it was fine, hair looks good.

I mentioned shampoo bar way up thread, as I had bought one, but not used it.

Well, I fished it out and dd tried it. She is 15 and going through that greasy hair stage at the moment, and I think washing more frequently is making it worse in the long run.

It is a homemade soap, the ingredients stated are:
95% olive oil with sweet almond oil, bee's wax, honey and coconut cream. I will ask her again when I am there, if that is the full ingredient list.

So dd tried it, the first wash hardly lathered at all. As she was doing it over the bath (a rush job really as were heading out for school run) I helped her with the second wash. I rubbed the bar on her scalp, she said it was the nicest feeling, like getting a head massage at the same time. It smells so lovely. And it foamed really well the second wash. My hands were so soft the whole day. She said her hair felt dryer than usual (she didn't condition it after) so I said she should just hang in there and try it again in two days. So she washed it again last night. Her hair is so shiny! It looked a little greasy and needed a wash, but far less so than it would normally look on day two.

So I will keep an update going if you like. I was tempted to use it but my hair has been coloured recently, so I am a bit nervous that it may strip the colour. So dd is test subject

I have used the dove beauty bar for many years now, more so on my face and it's the only thing that keeps my face in good condition. I have started using it more as a wash as ran out of shower gel..then I use the Nivea in shower moisturiser.