Soap - isthere any difference between cheap & expensive

laddujaddu

I wonder if anyone knows what is the real difference betwen cheap and expensive soap. Is it just the way it smells/feels, but the main ingredients are the same? I'm talking about bars of soap you use for washing hands/ taking shower.My OH refuses to use basics soap, says it's bad for skin, he wants only Pears or at least Dove.Thank you.

Bongedone

Tesco do their own version of Dove which seams to be the same but half the price. The wife only like Dove but was fine with this.

Rowan9

I love nice scented soap - but it doesn't always love me so I use A$da or whatever 'Pure' - it's like S1imple but cheaper. Haven't tried the Basics etc just because I'm looking for something unscented.

quintwins

lol @ atleast dove to use dove is fancy soap, dove does have mositurisers on it thats cheap soaps won't we use liquid soap and i fill my despensers up with baby bath and have never had an issue, also one of my kids have exzma so this saves me testing loads of diferent soaps on him before i risk letting him wash with them

BitterAndTwisted

The main difference between soaps, apart from the expense of the scent, is the fat used in the base. The cheaper soaps mainly contain tallow of animal origin rather than vegetable oils. The difference in use may not be that significant to most people but will make a huge difference to vegetarians and vegans.

Farway

I just use the Morrison's Value ones, but then I am a grumpy bald old man & do not care if my skin is "worth it" or not

Penelope_Penguin

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andrealm

Have you tried the supermarket's own brand soaps, not the value ones? Dh didn't want to try the value soaps, but he's happy enough using the regular ones.

Sometimes you get offers on the branded soaps in cheapy chemists, or maybe even the pound shops.

My dad uses value soaps and has no problem with them.

Gigervamp

Dove isn't real soap although it does have some soap in it made from palm kernel oil, but it also has various surfactants amongst other ingredients.
Asda Smartprice soap is pretty much just soap with a couple of additives which stop the soap scum ring around the sink or bath.

There are good soaps and not so good soaps depending on the oils used as different oils have different properties. An all coconut oil soap, for instance, can be quite harsh on the skin and dry it out, although it is very cleansing and is often used in laundry bars. A bar with some *luxury* oils such as babassu or shea make very nice moisturising bars.

However, an expensive soap might not necessarily be worth the money, even if it does contain some luxury oils, as they could be used in a very small percentage and are only there for label appeal.

Check the ingredients list. Under EU cosmetic regulations, ingredients have to be listed in order of use from greatest amount to smallest.

glowgirl_2

My dad regularly travels to Florence and brings me back horrendously expensive soaps that are triple milled (?) and enfused with all sorts including olive oil, I would never buy such expensive soap but the difference is huge, it dosent dry your skin, scent lasts ages and they dont turn to mush so I do think you get what you pay for but I'm not sure why:rotfl:

Sublime_2

I mainly use Lush soaps. They are very good quality, and made out of natural ingredients. Currently using their scrummy Summer Pudding variety, although Figs and Leaves, and Honey Waffle (only available online from retro Lush), remain favourites.