Oil, Foaming Gel Or Soap Under The Shower?
Something you wouldn’t want on your face, shouldn’t be put on the rest of your body either. Even if body care products never cause a skin reaction, choose mild products for in the bath or under the shower. And you don’t have to wash with soap or other gels every day!
The same guide for face and body
Skin on your arms and legs is different than on your face. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing that you are unable to tolerate many products on your face but never have a problem with body products. Having said that, the advice for ingredients still applies to both. The substances to avoid for your face should also not be present in your body care products. This means no aggressive cleaning substances such as sodium lauryl sulphate, a preservative like methylisothiazolinone, and preferably no perfume. Fragrances adhere readily to skin and can definitely cause problems if you go in the sun after showering.
Don’t use soap or shower foam
There is soap and soap. Many soaps have a high pH level and this causes more harm than good to your skin. A little while ago, I wrote in depth about what you need to look out for when buying soap products. And what does that mean for the, now very popular, foaming products in aerosol cans? The principle of these is similar to shaving gel. A gel is pumped out of the can which changes into a blob of foam when it comes into contact with water. In order to produce that foam, more cleaning and foaming substances are required. And that will increase the chances of dry skin and irritation. In fact: the less foam you use, the better it is for your skin!
Oil or cream reduces the risk of irritation
I am a fan of cleansing with oil. It doesn’t dry out the skin and it removes that layer of sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria simply, without irritating or drying out your skin. Furthermore, a fine layer of oil is left on your skin keeping it hydrated. Try this yourself. Wash one arm with a shower gel and wash the other arm with a shower oil. You will notice that the shower gel arm feels dry and tight and the other arm feels very soft. It depends, of course, on your daily activities but, in principle, it is not necessary to wash your skin with a shower gel every day; just water is fine. Especially if you smooth a cream or oil into your skin after showering.
A shampoo and shower gel in one?
Did you know that by looking at the ingredients list alone you cannot usually tell whether you have a shower gel or a shampoo in your hands? The composition of these products is almost identical. There is however, as a rule, a difference in the amount of cleaning agents used. So manufacturers will put more sodium laureth sulphate (the most widely used cleaning agent) in a shampoo than in a shower gel. On the other hand, a shower gel will contain more hydrating ingredients than a shampoo. If you have dry skin or more oily hair, then a 2-in-1 product is definitely not ideal. Such a product would probably be less effective at de-greasing your hair and actually make your body dry. So two separate products are best.
The price of your shower gel
Shower gel needn’t be expensive. Such a product doesn’t require a lot of active ingredients as all those fine substances would already be washed down the plug hole before they could start to work. It is better to invest in a good oil or cream containing active ingredients such as antioxidants and soothing substances, which you can apply after showering. Then you can be sure that everything is ‘covered’.
PRODUCT ADVICE FOR UNDER THE SHOWER:
Dermolin Douchegel
Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Glyceryl Oleate, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Tetrasodium, Glutamate Diacetate
Eucerin Washfluid 5% Urea
Aqua, Sorbitol, Glycerine, Sodium Myreth Sulfate, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Lactic Acid, PEG-40, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyquaternium-10
Eucerin Atopicontrol Clensing Oil
Glycine Soja, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Laureth-4, MIPA-Laureth Sulfate, Laureth-9, Poloxamer 101, Propylene Glycol, Aqua, BHT, Propyl Gallate
Louis Widmer Gel Douche (non-scented)
Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Coco-Glucoside, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Caprylate, Glyceryl Oleate, Isostearamide MIPA, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Glyceryl Laurate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate.
Neutral Shower Gel
Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Citric acid, Sodium benzoate, Sorbic acid
La Roche Posay Cicaplast Lavant B5
Aqua / Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Panthenol, Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Glycerin, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Citric Acid, Cocamide Mea, Copper Gluconate, Manganese Gluconate, Peg-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polyquaternium-11, Ppg-5-Ceteth-20, Propylene Glycol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil / Sweet Almond Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Zinc Gluconate
Zarqa Sensitive Bath & Shower Gel
Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Coco-Glucoside, Methylpropanediol, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Betaine, C12-13 Alkyl Lactate, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis, Leaf Juice, Maris Sal, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Melaleuca Alternifolia Oil, Panthenol, Sodium Sulfate, Phenylpropanol, Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate, Citric Acid.
Regards,
Jetske
(Research Physician Cosmetic Dermatology)
You can also read:
– Product advice for body lotion and cream
– More about the use of oil