What to look for in a good shower gel or body wash
Shower Gels and Body Wash for your skin
For some of us, showers can be the most calming part of the day and for some the most energising. A good bath can make us feel unstoppable and ready to take on whatever the day has to throw at us. Sigh, it was also one of those many things we looked forward to on our commute home, you know, back in the days!
Showers can also be an integral part of a person’s skincare routine. The right soap is the key to a refreshing shower and healthy skin. So we are here to break down what you should be keeping an eye out for when finding the right body wash for you and your skin type
Shower Gel vs Body Wash
For starters, their objective is the same - they’re both meant to remove dirt and nasty bacteria thriving on the surface of our body and tone down any body odour. They both may contain synthetic or natural fragrances and essential oils to offer attractive scents. Other than the very obvious fact of one being a solid bar and the other liquid, the difference also lies in the synthesis of either product. Which means that there is a difference in the ingredients and the mechanism of dirt removal when it comes to a soap bar and a body wash.
When dirt and bacteria come in contact with our body they mix with the natural oil of our skin to form a grimy layer. The soap bar lifts this grime and breaks the oily layer, and then water washes it away. Body wash has a similar mechanism but with additional or different ingredients that are more suitable for certain skin types than others. Soap bars are often said to be more drying and not always suitable for people with eczema, Washes have additional ingredients that give them relatively more moisturising properties. Even with natural ingredients present in a soap bar, they may still have high pH levels which can again add to the dryness.
Choosing a Natural Body Wash
Body Wash- according to your skin type
Dry Skin
If you have dry or flaky or sensitive skin, it is better to opt for a moisturising body wash that will help restore skin’s moisture or prevent any flare-ups, shea butter, aloe vera and sunflower seed oils are some ingredients you can look out for.
Oily Skin
If you have acne-prone skin, try a gentle wash that contains salicylic or glycolic acid or even an oil-free wash. Acne-prone skins already produce excessive oil which is what clogs pores to give bumpy, red acne. Alternatively, one can even opt for an exfoliating body wash to give a thorough cleanse to their pores. It can also be recommended to use a loofah or a sea sponge with your body wash for better results
For anti-aging properties
For anti aging properties, body wash with salicylic acid and glycolic acid will come in handy here as well as they play a major role in removing dead and flaky skin, which helps in improving absorption of your moisturisers and thereby keeping your skin supple.
Koparo's Tip
Avoid using Body Wash on your face. This is because the skin on your face is more sensitive and more likely to have negative effects. Using a shower gel on your face can cause excessive drying, as well as breakouts.Body Wash Ingredients to Avoid
Another substance to avoid is silicone in your body wash. The reason why you feel you haven’t been able to completely wash the soap off of your body is because of the presence of silicone in your body wash. It’s only a sensory stimulation meant to give you ‘silky’ smooth finish with no actual skin benefit. Again, we must add that sulphate based foaming agents is no longer a hurdle as there are many natural alternatives available in the market, much like our very own Body Wash which avoids SLS, silicones, parabens, triclosan & synthetic dyes.
Hope this helps you in your quest for finding the right body wash!