Bar soap vs liquid soap?

shandyclover

Every winter I get very dry cracked skin, mainly from my waist down. I've tried all the moisturising bodywashes/gels and nothing seems to help. I used to use Nivea shower oil, but I haven't seen that about for quite a few years!

I was chatting to my Mum and she said she's gone back to bar soap and finds it suits her much better especially in the winter. My 4 DD's would revolt if I bought soap bars, as they all consider it unhygenic - they do have a point.

I was wondering if anyone has tried switching back to bars, maybe someone with more chemical know how can explain the differences, someone told me liquid soap is actually a mild detergent? is that true?

I'd like to get through this winter without having to spend hours slathering on expensive body butters. A Dr friend suggested just not using any soap of any kind apart from 'the bits' you know have to washed daily. Makes sense but I'm not sure I could adjust to it!

lostinrates

Hasve you seen a doctor about the dry skin....could it be a skin condition? It might be worth you considering using something like aqueous cream to wash with.

fwiw I use bar soaps, they last MUCH longer and I prefer them personally. But they can be drying.

onetomany

i get this to so i use a body shop bath oil in bath and if i shower i use body shop cocunut shower gel its fab

choille

I have dry skin & find liquid soap drying as opposed to bars - I have never had a bug from a bar of soap that I'm aware of, but I have had rashes with anti-bacterial liquid soap used when out which have been unpleasant & very itchy with weeping open sores - not nice.
Use moisturiser after showering/bathing - something like Sperdrug Vitimen E cream is good & very cheap & absorbs really quickly.

littlerat

Hmm may be worth going the doctors - when I was having trouble I was prescribed a cream, can be put on as is or used to bath with or as a bodywash - its one of the ones that locks in moisture and that works well.

Otherwise I find an expensive body wash good - No.7 blissful bodywash is amaaaaazing and don't need much, but even so... it's sorta pricey... really does hydrate my skin though.

Do you exfoliate regularly? It will remove any rough/dead/dry skin, also allows creams to soak in far better. I have a pad thing, but also some lovely scratchy gloves from the sanctuary which are nice. You can also get ones you use on dry skin.

I suffer from this every summer and winter (much less in spring and autumn though!) as I had excema for years and even when it's not up my skin can be very dry. If it's any use, have you tried palmers cocoa butter, E45 (useless for me but some people swear by it) - something like the sanctuary's body butters? I find again only a bit of them is needed.


Even with a good skincare routine I don't think I've ever had a winter where I've not had an excema flare-up due to the cold! Just mostly about keeping it at bay.

guineapig

I changed from liquid soap in the shower to bar soap and a sponge, I use the natural soaps and or glycerine soaps which I find mild for my (very) dry skin.

I wash the sponge after every shower ~ in the washer with the laundry~ ( I have lots!) so not unhygenic!

The bars last ages, some French soap I got from New York ( ironic eh?!) lasted me 4 months of daily showers/baths!

After washing I use Palmers cocoa butter body lotion, which after trying everything seems to be the best of the bunch in a world where you can pay silly money for body lotions.

I think I prefer this to some of the other more pricy lotions I have tried over the years too.

Soap and glory body butter was good too,(Boots) but more than twice the price.

My skin is much less dry than it used to be and very smooth:)

shandyclover

Thank you for all the advice and tips. I think I'm going to try using mild bar soap like Pears, Dove or Simple myself for awhile. I'll stick to getting liquid soap and shower gel for the family as everyone else seems to prefer that. We are just about to move, but once settled I'm going to see if the Dr. has any other ideas.

trigger2

Hi

Depending on your budget, I have to say L'occitane shea soaps are fab. I've used the milk one and its doesnt dry my skin out at all. My skin is sensitive and I have eczema in places. They arent particularly cheap though so I bought them when QVC had them on offer. Before that I purchased a single soap from one of their shops to try out. I also use them at the bathroom sinks for my hands and find them great for this, my hands tend to crack open at the knuckles, and they dont do this with l'occitane.

When I dont have the budget for them, I buy Dove.

regards

Trigger

SpikyHedgehog

My son has special shower gel & moisturising lotion from the dermatology nurse, which really helps with his eczema... Could be worth a try?

Outer_Limits

shandyclover wrote: »

Thank you for all the advice and tips. I think I'm going to try using mild bar soap like Pears, Dove or Simple myself for awhile.

I like the Dove extra moisturising bar soap - not sure what it's called exactly, but it has goldy writing - not all shops stock it, so you may not have seen it.

shandyclover

I just thought I'd post back. I picked up a regular bar of Dove to try last night, I couldn't find the extra moisturising one. Have to say I didn't expect miracles as I'd already tried the Dove body washes.

MY WORD! What a difference - no tightness, no vaugely sore feeling, no waking up at night itching. My skin felt much more smooth and supple and I would think it will continue to improve. Definitely going to stay with the bar soap. Not sure if it would work for everyone but seems to be working here!

Many thanks for all the advice.