Which Should You Use: Bar Soap vs. Body Wash

Most men are aware of the importance of using a healthy face wash, but not many understand that it is equally important to select the right product to bathe their bodies. When choosing what product to use, the most common question is whether it is better to employ bar soap or body wash.

Typically, people are unaware of the difference between the two and to no fault of their own. Bar soap and body wash are rarely compared in great length and, in turn, remain a mystery. This usually means that instead of basing their choice of a product on their respective benefits, a person will decide based on how the soap looks or smells.

While there is no shame in wanting to appear and smell fresh, there are better ways to decide whether bar soap or body wash is the right choice for you.

We’ll come right out and say it: At the end of the day, choosing between the two is a matter of preference. However, for your convenience, Particle has decided to explain the composition and effects of both bar soap and body wash in great detail so that you may finally have the opportunity to make an informed decision.

Should I Use Bar Soap?

Bar soaps are a popular option for showering because they are cost-effective compared to most competing body washes. You can purchase bar soaps for as cheap as a dollar. While this is undoubtedly great for your wallet, you should take the time to consider whether such a cheaply made product is great for your skin.

Part of the cost-effectiveness of bar soap comes from its ability to last for a long period, preventing you from having to purchase another one soon after. The dense soap tends to include minimal ingredients. While less can be more when it comes to skincare, it is important to look into the important and beneficial ingredients you may miss out on when using simple bar soaps.

Bar soaps also tend to be made without water. In one sense, this is a positive because it makes more room for active ingredients. But on the other hand, this might prevent the soap from hydrating your skin.

In fact, bar soaps have gained the reputation of dehydrating the skin. One of the minimal ingredients used to make bar soap is sodium lauryl sulfate. Sodium lauryl sulfate is a type of sulfate. Sulfates should generally be avoided in skincare because they tend to strip the skin of its natural moisture. Bar soaps being made with sodium lauryl sulfate and not containing any water can leave your skin feeling tight because of the missing natural oils. 

Additionally, bar soaps have a more basic pH level than your skin naturally does. While it may be better to use basic products over products that are extremely acidic on your skin, this will still trigger a change in your skin’s pH levels. Such a change can have harsh effects on your skin’s texture. This will be especially harmful to those with sensitive skin.

The whole purpose of using soap in the shower is to clean your skin and rid it of all gathered unwanted substances. One of the risks of using bar soap is that it is capable of breeding bacteria. 

Bar soaps are often stored in unhygienic ways, left in the wet, moist bathroom for bacteria to feed on and grow. This will occur unless the bar soap is kept in an entirely dry space, which is tricky to accomplish following a warm shower. Applying a bacteria-ridden product to your skin to remove bacteria somewhat defeats the purpose.

Should I Use Body Wash?

Body wash is a liquid product meant to be used while showering to clean your body. While bar soap is known to dehydrate the skin that it is used on, body wash comes with the additional benefit of moisturizing while it cleans.

Body washes are purposefully designed to be gentle on the skin, thanks to their incorporation of emollients. An emollient is something that can soften or soothe the skin. By incorporating emollients into their formulas, body washes clean the skin without harming or removing the skin’s natural hydrating oils.

The additional hydration provided by a good body wash can help to strengthen your skin’s protective barrier. This outermost layer of skin is called the stratum corneum. This layer comprises skin cells called corneocytes that are kept together by lipids. When strong, this barrier helps your skin retain moisture by reducing waterless and protecting your skin from harsh external elements, including pollutants and ultraviolet radiation.

Body washes are also less likely to gather bacteria in the way that bar soap does. Since the formula is kept in a bottle and requires movement to release the product, it is not an ideal bacteria breeding spot the way a soap dish could be.

While bar soaps contain minimal ingredients, body washes tend to use a lot. This can be both a good or bad thing depending on the product. The most important thing is to check the ingredients. A body wash designed with your best interest in mind will likely contain little to no harmful chemicals and will feature several natural ingredients.

Deciphering the label and determining whether a body wash is harmful or helpful can be a little tricky. For example, if you see that a body wash has a water base rather than an alcohol base, you can safely assume that it is okay to use on all skin types. However, if the body wash contains water, it will need a preservative to keep bacteria out of the product. After checking whether your product has a preservative, you will need to determine whether the preservative can damage your skin. If a body wash contains a high concentration of a harsh preservative like parabens, it may not be safe to use on sensitive skin.

Determining whether a body wash is healthy definitely takes time. Bar soaps are undeniably simpler as there are far fewer ingredients to screen. That being said, if you have the patience to find a well-formulated body wash, you will find that your efforts are worth it.

Choose Particle Body Wash

We recommend trying Particle Body Wash. Particle Body Wash uses high-grade minerals from the Dead Sea to provide your body with a deep cleansing experience without damaging its moisture levels. 

This is thanks to incorporating such minerals as magnesium, potassium, and sodium. All of which are capable of enhancing your skin without causing irritation. In addition to keeping your skin moisturized, our body wash will also leave you feeling energized and smelling fresh.

The invigorating Particle Body Wash separates itself from its competition through its carefully engineered formula that is infused with Dead Sea minerals. Dead Sea minerals are characterized by their unique chemical composition, which allows them to purify and cleanse as natural moisturizers that can help maintain healthy, soft, and supple skin.

The benefits of using Dead Sea salt on the skin include strengthening skin tissue, improving blood circulation, eliminating toxins, and balancing the skin’s natural pH levels. This means that Particle Face Wash is not only safe to use on all skin types but that it can also be used to relieve various skin conditions.

Body Wash vs. Face Wash

After finding the perfect body wash for you, you may feel tempted to use it on your face. There are a couple of reasons why you might think this is a good idea.

For one thing, the product probably packs a punch, and you want your face to be receiving all the same benefits that the rest of your body is. Secondly, it might feel like the most convenient thing to do. Instead of spending time and money on a completely separate product, you can just lather some of your body wash onto your face, right?

Wrong.

Resist the temptation to use your body wash on your face. Body wash is specifically designed for the skin located on your body. While our skin is technically one large organ, it does vary in appearance, density, and texture throughout. 

The skin on our faces is considerably thinner than the skin that covers the rest of our bodies. Body wash is designed to be strong enough to penetrate thick areas of skin. If we apply this same formula to our vulnerable facial skin where it does not belong, it will likely dry you out or clog your pores.

We suggest using Particle Face Wash instead. Particle Face Wash is a cleanser designed to remove oil and grime, revitalize, exfoliate, and hydrate. It is specially engineered to be used on men’s faces. Some of the premium ingredients included in our product include Allantoin, Aloe vera, Cinnamomum extract, Panthenol, and Glycolic acid.

Together, these ingredients will remove unwanted substances, exfoliate dead skin cells, soothe your skin and reduce skin irritation. 

A single bottle can last you for two to three months. Every morning and every night, rinse your hands and face with water. Pump a handful of foam onto your wet palms and spread the product gently over your face. Once complete, rinse your face thoroughly and pat it dry.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are important differences to note about different skincare products, even if they are similar and share the same function. While both bar soap and body wash are designed to clean your body while showering, they are made differently and accomplish their shared task in varying degrees. 

Consider the pros and cons of both products before making your final decision, and select the product that will most benefit you. A healthy and handsome complexion is worth the investment.

Sources:

What is sodium lauryl sulfate, and is it safe to use? | University of Queensland

Histology, Stratum Corneum | StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

Skin layers: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Image | MedlinePlus