Newly converted real soap users - what changes have you noticed?

[KnownUnknowns]

I'm not sure if this is related to using soap instead of shower gel or something else has caused this change but I no longer have hard dead skin on the heels of my feet and dh whose feet have always been a bit of a mess with cracks etc has found the same thing - but he's a bit more cynical about soap being the reason.
So I'm curious soap users - have you noticed the same thing?

Can you use soap with one of those body puffs net things?. Really want to make the switch but i dont feel clean unless i use one of those!

Ive stopped getting little tiny whiteheads on my chest now we use soap.

Yes you can little

My feet are really soft too!

I started using a bar of solid shampoo early January and it is still going. I use it every 2nd day and the dc once a week each.

I have soap dishes (plastic but reusable) that resemble grass from tiger. They are brilliant and allow the soap to dry out properly. I also have some cheapies from Ikea.

I buy soap everywhere. I really need to stop. It lasts so well. I don't think I'll ever develop a favourite as I have so many different ones in stock to try.

What is DHC soap (mentioned by pp)?

Also, if bathing using soap do you just get in plain water (ie no bubbles)? I like the idea of soap only but would miss the bubbles. I can see the appeal for showering though. Interesting thread!

Also, ref the food transformation thing... do you all pay extra special attention to your feet, extra scrubbing etc, or do the benefits just occur naturally from 'normal' washage?

I have started using soap recently on my pits and under my boobs. It is really hot at work and I have noticed that I am less sweaty. Not always, like today, when it was really hot and muggy outside and very hot and busy inside and I felt disgusting when I got home. I'm also having hot flushes, which really doesn't help, nor does the fact I have no thyroid, so feel the heat as well as the cold.

But now you mention it, OP, I have just examined my feet and right enough, my heels are no longer cracked! I do still use shower gel as well as soap. I've been using Palmolive soap.

goldshoes DHC is a brilliant Japanese brand; they have a facial olive soap that's beloved by beauty gurus.

I buy my body soaps at TK Maxx too; it's a lovely little ritual, spending ages smelling and reading the labels and you never know what you'll find as the stock is so random.

Friendly Soap is my go to. Really inexpensive and lovely scents. Super eco friendly too

Feel fresher for longer. No slimy feeling on skin after the shower, like with gel. Excellent with salt crystal deodorant. No hint of BO all day and sometimes into the next day.

Re brands, Black African soap, Nesti Dante, Dr Bronner, Scottish soaps with glycerin. I will never ever use shower gel again. Can’t stand the feeling of it now, slimy, can’t seem to wash it off, doesn’t feel so fresh.

My feet in the past have looked pretty poor but I have not started the usual summer routine of getting out a foot sander thing and daily moisturising because there has been no need, my heels are no longer in need of special attention. But dh's have been worse than mine and with deep cracks and his feet look so much better now - again with no special attention.
I don't use rubber gloves so my hands come into contact with liquid detergents anyway through washing liquids - I going to start now though.
I like Waitrose glycerine soap it only costs around £1, but we have used free soap bars from hotels and hand made bars from my own fair hands and specialist shops.

I haven't noticed an improvement in my feet but I no longer need to use body lotion after a shower. My legs used to itch like mad but since switching to soap they don't itch at all. The dry patches on my elbows disappeared too.

We use African black soap for the shower and nesti danti for hands. The black soap has also done wonders for my son's eczema.

I want to use bar soap but I find it goes all gunky really quickly and clogs up the sink. Are there any brands that don't tend to do this?

I've started using soap on my face (Shea butter and charcoal) - I can get away with using much less moisturiser - my skin feels soooooo soft. It's usually really dry outside the T. I will try using soap on my body when the shower gel runs out.

Pears “soap” formula changed from the original some years ago, it’s now more of a detergent bar. There was a campaign about it, but the manufacturers didn’t properly change it back. I stopped using it.

Dove bars don't count as soap either - they are made from detergents too.

I have this soap dish. www.johnlewis.com/house-by-john-lewis-terrazzo-soap-dish-navy/p3160176

It allows the soap to drain rather than sit in water.

As for soap I use Waitrose own brand. Pack of 4 for about £1.50.

I converted our household to soap when the first thread came out late last year. I always buy from TKmax they do some gorgeous ones. I sometimes I find the Nestie Dante but mostly I buy for the fragrance it’s always milled soap that’s mostly made in Italy. I also love the Scottish company ones that are in tins.

I found imperial leather goes to mush extremely quickly as does most you buy in super markets. Skin wise definitely feel clean and fresher with softer feet for Dh.

I really like the cheap olive oil soap from Holland and Barrett

The best soap in the whole wide world is Roger et Gallet. It's pricey, so best for birthday gifts etc.

Since changing to bar soap:
Definitely feel generally cleaner
Less itchy
Much less smelly, arm-pit-wise

I hadn't really thought about my feet but on inspection, they are definitely less cracked.

I have the tiger fake grass soap dishes too. Love them.

I've been buying a Suma bar from a whole foods shop, no packaging at all and I'm assuming the ingredients are genuine. Everyone is a fan of the orange one so far.

Intrigued by this. Think I'll give it a go when I run out of shower gel as my feet have been shocking this year! I used to use Imperial Leather/Dove but also found they got slimy quickly so I'll have a look in TK Maxx. Love TK Maxx. Are there any ingredients we should look out for/avoid?

My holy grail is Dr Bonner Peppermint (I think Ocado have it). I bought coal tar but had to thrownit away as it stank out the whole house.

Used shower gel yesterday for forst time in ages and now have dry itchy skin .

I keep a bar of soap and half a shampoo bar in my gym bag too. Have not converted the dc yet.

I just noticed by heels too! They are so much softer and they've always been really dry. I think it's been a month I've been using bar soaps.

I have two I'm using at the moment:

1. Sexy peel by lush is amazing for days I really need to be woken up.
2. A lavender and blackberry soap from yves rocher. It leaves my skin feeling very soft.

Aldi's pure soap is good if you are sensitive to perfume in products. It is an odd green colour but you can't have everything.

The body shop soaps are lovely - love the argan oil one.

Definitely softer skin and less stinky!