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!

Totally converted! You get soap scum in the bath but not the shower. Dettol soap doing wonders for my skin too

I use Avène Cold Cream bars (yes I do feel like an 80 y.o. French mamie) and they're not drying at all. It feels like holding a semi-solid chunk of lotion in your hand, dissolves very easily and you literally gently stroke layers off (as opposed to lathering it between two hands or putting it directly on your skin). Lots of foam but not drying. Scent is possibly a bit strong though if you're sensitive.

Olive oil soap is also nice (smells a bit 'basic' though).

Otherwise for non-drying shower gels, I like (again) this Avène one.

Kew Gardens have some lovely soap - I'm planning to stock up once I've used up my stash of Nesti Dante

shop.kew.org/kew-fashion-and-beauty/toiletries/soap

I've spent all day reading this thread! Have now bought 2 soaps & am planning which others to get. At the moment the 2 I've bought are wrapped in bits of value tights in my drawers. Couldn't find a soap holder I liked but instead I think I'll make something like this & hang it up.

What a brilliant thread! I'm converted!

Waitrose are selling their Christmas £6 soaps for £1.50. I have several hugg ones!

DD and I are switching to soap for January. Will see how our skin goes!

Gribble my dry skin got much better!

Given that I switched to soap for environmental purposes, would it be terribly wrong of me to waste water & electricity on having a second shower today? I had my first soapy shower this morning &, while I wasn't overly keen on the initial squeaky feeling, I'm a total sheep convert & can't wait for tomorrow morning!

We've all converted to soap since reading this thread, our skin and general smell has been so much better! From my 79 year old dad to my 4 year old DS.

DD and I have happily been using soap since the new year. Not had a chance to shave yet 😳 but will try it tomorrow with the tip about running the razor across the bar first.
The bar of soap is not withering away like I expected it to as I hadn’t cured it.

Plus the insane soaps-in-glittery-music-boxes are back in stock at TK Maxx for Christmas. Love them 

My dd bought me one of these for Christmas, can't wait to use it, smells delicious 😋

I got three gorgeous gem coloured soaps from MUJI today. I think I have enough soap for a year or more

We are all so much fresher since switching to soap. Sniffing DS (19) clothes these days quite unbelievable ! Often used to smell of stale sweat, combination of soap and switching to bio washing powder has changed all that !

Soap scum isnt nice but its visibility shows its working. Within that soap scum is dirt and skin cells from your body.
No scum with shower gel cos it doesn't do the job properly.
I love feeling sqeaky clean.

I’m another convert! Read the thread a few weeks ago and I’m convinced.
I’ve got a bar of Nesti Dante, which smells lovely and makes me feel really clean but might be a bit drying on my skin, and a couple of clear glycerin based bars which I really love and think might be a bit gentler.

Do the Isle of Mull soaps contain SLS or palm oil? i have emailed them but no reply.

Overthehills - the ingredients for Isle of Mull soaps are listed on heir website.

From a quick look, they don't use SLS but do use palm oil (sodium palmate) though at least it's RSPO sustainable.

Their* website www.isleofmullsoap.scot

Are there any soaps that don't dry the skin? I switched to shower gel years ago as it suited me better but maybe I was just using the wrong products. Would olive oil soap be good?

The shea butter soap from The Body Shop is lovely and then body butter after shower.

I've now run out of underwear drawers to stock the soap in - must stop buying it.

with handmade soaps would you put them in a drawer wrapped or unwrapped?

100 yards i would keep them wrapped.
Soap can contain harsh ingredients and might transfer to fabric if stored near them for a long time.

I was inspired by this thread and ordered some pears and imperial leather with my shop this week. What a revelation! I can barely remember using soap at home. I remember it more at my grandma's and the smell of the pears took me right back there.

I grew up among all the soap is bad advertising. I've also had episodes of chronic excema in the past so was wary.

Anyway, it's only day 3 but what a difference.

TMI Warning

I get quite sweaty boobs and resulting sweaty boob rash. This isn't just in hot weather. None! Same with around the knicker line. None! ! I smell so clean ando feel squeaky clean.

The plastic consumption was a concern too as we can go through 2 bottles of shower gel a week and a handwash. I just need to convert the rest of the house.

This thread is a revelation!

Over Christmas my DM happened to mention in conversation that the reason she’s steadfastly remained a soap bar user instead of converting to shower gel or liquid soap is because of the plastic packaging. I’d always just thought she was old fashioned!

But it really resonated, I’ve always thought of myself as a bit of an eco warrior thanks to my mum who brought me up amidst saving the whale and green peace marches, but so long as I was recycling my packaging I thought all was good. Now I can see using even less is actually very viable when it comes to toiletries. And the possible upside of feeling cleaner and fresher - we’ll im off to purchase soap right now!