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?

The difference in my hands is incredible, they were so dry and rough before even with moisturiser. I did find a beeswax one that worked but it was way more expensive than bar soap.

Overall my skin is much less dry and I feel fresher during the day.

Im currently using Nesti Dante Lime & Mosambi Peel, I love the smell. It's about £5 but it's lasted for months now, the bars are so big.

Brownturkey I think coal tar soap could possibly be a health hazard. Didn't the EU ban coal tar shampoo as potentially carcinogenic?

I love the smell of coal tar soap. I'm not sure they have any actual coal tar in them anymore though, just the scent. Shops still sell Wright's so it must pass whatever the criteria is.

I’ve only ever used bar soap because that’s what my mum had. But I do notice that when I use shower gel (eg when I stay over at someone’s house and that’s all they have), I feel less clean, smell more at the end of the day and sometimes itchy.

Funnily enough my mum has gone up in the world and now buys posh shower gels! Might mention this thread to her.

I like non scented soaps for body such as imperial leather gentle care.

I have good skin and feet.

@SimonBridges

I thought Waitrose had stopped selling their own brand soap? I used to love it - the fragrances were amazing but then it disappeared from their website and I’ve struggled to find a good replacement.

But I only buy soap that isn’t tested on animals so it restricts my choice a bit.

Do you think this thread and it’s predecessors could help save bar soap for future generations?! Apparently millennials aren’t buying bar soap cause they think it’s covered in germs.

www.marketwatch.com/story/three-in-five-millennials-think-bar-soar-is-gross-research-firm-2016-08-28

I just looked at my feet and yep lovely and soft ..although I do have a flakey skin bit at the top so might soak in soap later.
I love using bar soap I feel so much cleaner I normally use lux bar soap 55p from supermarket and its lovely smells great.

I went into body shop and brought a couple they smell amazing but I found they dont last very long? has anyone else found this with body shop soap?

N0ne we do have Sostrene Greene in the U.K. but only a handful of shops (Nottingham Chester Belfast). It’s a shame because I like it too. There are quite a few in the Republic of Ireland so I think it’s only a matter of time they start opening across the U.K.

They are like Ikea and tiger in that they force you to walk around the whole shop on a one way system- which I find a bit annoying

Asda’s unscented soap for sensitive skin is the best I’ve tried.

I didn’t know this was a thing. Does it make your shower tray scummy?

@SuburbanRhonda
I got 3 lovely bars of glycerine soap from W this week. Sustainable palm oil and happy bunny marks on them all.
On offer for £1 each.

Pigeonpresent it does in the sink definitely but I don't think it does in the bath more than shower gel, I think the amount of water from the shower washes it away.

Thank you, @TheClitterati.

I like glycerin soap but the ones I used to buy were the three-packs of normal soap and they lasted for ages. They had the same fragrances as their bubble baths and smelled far more expensive than they actually were. I have no idea why they stopped selling them - everyone I know loved them!

Those Waitrose multi packs were the first soap I bought on my return to soap several eyars ago - I still have a couple of bars in my stash. They don't give up.

the still have 4 packs online (and I'm pretty sure instore but maybe not in all stores - can you click & collect?)

www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/essential-sensitive-soap-bars/476197-568700-568701

www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/essential-waitrose-chamomile-bar-soaps/412070-568510-568511

www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/essential-waitrose-grapefruit-soaps/809523-569552-569553

www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/essential-waitrose-seamoss-soaps/767892-569420-569421

not sure of their bunny status but they have the sustainable palm oil mark.

Waitrose essential soap still very much available and with the leaping bunny.

You can’t get it on Ocado though.

I have pretty much always used bar soap and get terrible hard skin unless I stay on top of it!

I use most soaps from the supermarket and TKmaxx.I am going to try the fenjal soap bar next as the fenjal mousse thread!

I use savon de Marseilles which arrives as a huge cube. Cut chunks off it. It's 72% olive oil, and only has a few ingredients. I react a lot of chemicals so it's great for me. Bit of a cult product and having a real revival.

Sinks we have Waitrose sea salt and kelp bars.

Shower and face wise the savon de Marseilles has mean I don't have snow shower style dry shins. My bumpy upper arms are no more. I don't get any spots on my body, ever. I am not particularly sweaty but I've not noticed a hint of smell, even on not, sticky days after teaching in a baking classroom.

My face is smoother too. I use it after oil cleansing and it doesn't dry my skin at all.

I'm so impressed with it.

I've recently switched to reduce plastic and the only difference I'd noticed was that the bathroom smells lovely but now you mention it my feet are softer and I'm not itchy anymore.

Interesting - my heels are also much softer since switching back to soap.

I have a few in my stash - Nesti Dante which is huge and lasts ages, Savon de Marseilles, L’Occitane Shea and Faith in Nature.

Trying to find one for my hair as I can longer use SLS shampoos.

I have a bar of body shop moringa soap at the bathroom sink and love it. Loccitane milk, simple or dove in the shower. (We do have shower gels as well but definitely feel cleaner with soap)

Dammit now I want to go to Tiger for soap dishes and TK Maxx for soap. I'm intrigued to try this.

Omg thank you @SimonBridges.

Will have to visit the big Waitrose in the next town. How exciting!

I splurge on Diptyque soap it's so lush! The smell really hangs around

I don't use fabric softener but I keep my soaps in my towel cupboard and now my towels smell lovely

I've noticed I don't spend as long rinsing in the shower.

I don't smell under my arms as much.

I've tried a few soaps since returning to bars (thanks mumsnet ). I bought a mix of Friendly Soap and I love it, still working my way through it. The Friendly soap mix box (one of everything they do) contains shampoo soap but the Funky soap seems to suit my hair better so I'm using the shampoo soap as normal soap. Animal Aid the vegan website do soap. I ordered the box of 12 which is one of every soap they do and I've not found one I don't like yet. A few have exfoliating bits in them and my FIL has commented about how nice his hands felt after he visited us.

@boldlygoingnowhere try www.moogoo care.co.uk for SLS free shampoo and conditioner. No more itchy scalp here and it smells lovely and is curly girl method friendly too.