After a long day at the office, an intense workout, or a fun night out, sometimes all you want to do is come home and take a nice, hot shower. As the water cascades down your face and the rest of the world melts away, there are a few potential starting points to the perfect shower routine. But whether you reach for your shampoo, face wash, or razor first, there’s one step nobody can ignore: washing your body. The question is, though, are you team bar soap or team body wash? For those undecided, here’s everything you need to know.
What’s the difference between a bar soap and a liquid body wash?
Both bar soap and body wash are effective cleansers—the main difference is the formulation. According to the Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild, traditional, handcrafted bar soap is made with an oil (vegetable or animal-based), water, and lye. When these ingredients are combined, they chemically change into soap through a process called saponification. Other bar soaps are made through different processes and are technically synthetic detergents (sometimes called “syndet bars”), according to FDA definitions. One of the main differences between these bars is their pH levels, but we’ll get to that soon.
Meanwhile, liquid body washes are water-based, and most are synthetic detergents, too. They also tend to have less concentrated ingredients and be more hydrating to the skin.
How do both cleansers affect the skin?
Traditional bar soaps often have a “higher, more alkaline pH level compared to the skin’s natural, slightly acidic pH,” says Manhattan-based board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD. “When the pH is elevated, the skin may become more prone to dryness, sensitivity, and inflammation.” However, “modern ‘syndet’ bars can be just as gentle as liquid cleansers,” adds San Diego–based board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi, MD, as they’re typically pH balanced and work better with the skin.
It’s also important to note that the idea that bar soap harbors bacteria is largely a myth—“The act of lathering and rinsing tends to wash away microbes effectively,” Camp says. However, it’s good to avoid sharing the bar with others and to store it where it can dry between uses.
Liquid body washes, on the other hand, “are designed to be more pH-balanced and often include added moisturizers,” says Shirazi, but some still have ingredients, like harsh sulfates, that can strip the skin of essential oils and cause irritation.
That’s why the key, Camp and Shirazi say, is the cleanser’s ingredients and formulation, rather than its format.
What ingredients would benefit my skin type?
As with other beauty and body care products, the most important thing to consider is the ingredients and which ones will best address your concerns.
- Hydration and nourishment: Camp says “glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and shea butter are excellent choices because they help retain moisture and support the skin barrier.” Jojoba and coconut oil are also beneficial.
- Exfoliation: “Gentle chemical exfoliants like lactic acid or salicylic acid are great options, depending on your skin type,” says Shirazi, noting that physical exfoliants can be harsher on the skin, so she recommends using them sparingly.
- Body acne: Manhattan and Englewood, New Jersey–based board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, previously told Vogue she recommends salicylic acid for those with oily skin, as it “works to unclog pores and remove excess oil.”
- Sensitivity: Shirazi and Camp recommend soothing ingredients, like aloe, colloidal oatmeal, and niacinamide. “These help calm the skin and maintain the barrier,” Shirazi says. They both also recommend avoiding strong fragrances, harsh sulfates (like sodium lauryl sulfate), and overly aggressive exfoliants.
