Why am I writing about shower gel VS body wash, right? Well, after a rough day at work, a shower in your beautiful bathroom is heavenly. Of all your daily routines, showering might be the one you look forward to when you wake up in the morning and before you settle down for the night. Your showering will be like a breeze if you are using a good body wash or shower gel.
Shower Gel vs Body Wash
The main difference between a shower gel and a body wash is consistency. Shower gels are more gel-like, like a thicker cream. Body washes, on the other hand, are more like liquid soap or lotion. This is because of the formulation which soaks up water and turns into foam in order to be able to lather well and easily rinse off residue without much effort. Generally, when looking at body washes and shower gels, body washes are generally more moisturizing.
But have you ever thought closely of the products you use when you shower?
Water is not enough to get all of the dirt, oil, and dead skin cells off your body. You need a cleansing product to give you cleaner and healthier skin. But since there are so many products out there, picking the right one is hard.
For example, two products that have become popular today are body wash and shower gel. They seem the same at the outset, but they couldn’t be more different.
Interesting facts on shower gel vs body wash.
The obvious question arises when we talk about the regular shower. What is that? The products we use are hygienic? Well, not all of those are hygienic. We will focus on everything related to the shower later.
Today our concern is to discuss the difference between body wash and shower gel. We will also tell you how hygienic those products are.
Is Shower Gel Body Wash? The Main Differences between Them.
A lot of people use shower gel and body wash interchangeably, They lather themselves luxuriously with shower gel on one day, and the next day pick up the body wash bottle next to it instead. But these two products are not the same. Here are the main differences between them.
Their texture.
Squirt a pea-sized amount of both your body wash and shower gel onto your palm. Then slowly spread the product across and try to notice the difference in their texture. You will notice that the body wash is thinner and its consistency is not unlike that of dishwashing liquid. On the other hand, the shower gel, because it has emulsifiers that work as thickening agents, is much firmer. Shower gels also often have exfoliating ingredients such as oatmeal, coffee, and sea salt.
Their ingredients.
Both shower gels and body washes are made with water as a base, but their other ingredients differ. For example, body washes mostly have ingredients that work towards moisturizing the skin. They are perfect for those who live in cold, dry climates as they keep skin hydrated and younger-looking. Conversely, body washes are made for luxury. Thus their ingredients often include stronger scents that can sometimes be drying to the skin.
Their fragrance.
If you put your nose to both your body wash bottle and your shower gel bottle, you will notice a difference immediately. While the opening of your body wash bottle gives off a very mild scent, you might have to pull away quickly from the shower gel bottle because of its sudden, strong aroma.
This is another difference between the two, shower gels have a stronger fragrance than body washes. If you are a person who loves to luxuriate in scents like lavender, citrus, vanilla, brown sugar, and so on, then shower gel is the product for you. You can even forego your favorite perfume because the gel’s scent will stay on your skin the whole day. NIVEA Men Body Wash claims their fragrance will stay for up to 8 hours. Check their current price on Amazon.
Difference between Shower Gel and Body Wash
Both the shower gel and body wash are liquid soap for cleansing the human body. Most people think that both of these two are the same.
There are a lot of questions people often asked in the online shower community. Therefore, some people use shower gel as shampoo. I am not joking! It is true. However, after the end of this conversation, you will understand everything.
The first difference between shower gel and body wash is the texture. The shower gel is firmer, and body wash is more like liquid soap or dish soap.
The next difference lays in the fragrance. The shower gel has a higher concentration of fragrance than body wash.
Body shower gels are suitable, and the better choice for warmer climates, and body wash is ideal for cold areas.
The shower gels are slightly less moisturizing than body washes.
Those are the primary differences. I am sure there are some questions you need to ask me. Let me answer those questions before you ask.
Shower Gel VS Body Wash: FAQs
Are shower gel and body washes hygienic?
It depends on the materials. I mean there are some craps available that are not made of skin-friendly materials. If hygiene is the highest priority, you have to use a product that is made of skin-friendly materials. We recommend No-Rinse Body Wash as our favorite most hygienic body wash, which is actually a non-allergic body wash. Check their current price on Amazon.
How do you know which material is skin-friendly?
Well, you have the internet, and you have Google. Google has almost every answer. Therefore, you can also ask any skin specialist. And the last option you can also irritate me in the comment section. I will get back to you!
Can shower gel be used as soap?
Yes, it can use as soap. Even shower gel is a popular alternative to bar soap. Mostly woman uses it as a bar soap for cleansing. But as we all know everything has its different purposes. It would be better if you don’t use shower gel as a bar soap. But if you are out of soap you can give it a try.
‘Is shower gel shampoo?
Nah! The shower gel is not shampoo, but those are the perfect alternative. You can use it as shampoo, and it will do the same thing as shampoo does. But it is not wise to stop purchasing shampoo and turned onto shower gel. At the end of the day shower gel is shower gel and shampoo is shampoo. Peace!
So far those are the difference between shower gel and body wash. I hope you know the purpose of these two and will use those for their specific purpose. Remember your shower gel is shower gel it is neither a body wash nor shampoo.
And your body wash is a body wash it is neither shampoo nor shower gel. Use it well.
Can you use shower gel as a body wash?
Yes, shower gel has the same formulation as a body wash, but it has a little different texture. shower gels can be used to clean your body well after taking a shower or bathing. shower gels are more moisturizing than body wash because shower gels contain lots of moisturizers that will make you feel soft and moisturized after using them. But Both do the same thing!
Which is better shower gel or body wash?
Both are good, however, body wash has the upper hand when comparing to shower gels due to the fact that they leave you feeling more moisturized and gentle.
Should You Use Body Wash or Shower Gel?
So now that you know the main differences between the two products, the next question is: which product is best for me? Should I stick to one or buy the two and use them interchangeably? This depends on what your needs are. Here are some tips to help you determine which product to choose.
Know your skin type.
When you pick your facial wash or your makeup, you immediately read the product description to find out if it is for oily skin, normal skin, dry skin, acne-prone skin, and so on. You should also do this with your shower product. If you have dry skin or skin that is prone to breakouts, go for body wash, which is milder and gentler on you. On the other hand, if you have normal skin and love strong fragrances, go for shower gel.
Know your climate.
Do you live in an area that is usually cold and dry? If so, then a hydrating body wash is the right choice for you. If you live in a tropical country with warm, humid weather, go for a shower gel that has cooling properties like cucumber.
Now that you know the basic differences between shower gel and body wash, it is time to have fun! While you should always get something that matches your skin type and needs, you will find that there are so many amazing body washes and shower gels to choose from out there. Explore the different scents and textures available, and take your shower experience to the next level (this time with complete knowledge behind your choice!)
We will discuss some other factors later regarding shower issues. Stay connected and feel free to share any information with us.
Also read:
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shower_gel
https://www.lorealparisusa.com/beauty-magazine/skin-care/skin-care-essentials/shower-gel-body-wash
As the resident shower expert at ShowerJournal.com, Wayne Lee loves to share the helpful tips and tricks he’s picked up over the years during his job as a handyman.
Hello “Christina Brewton”!
Interesting post! I appreciate your efforts in writing an article about “Differences Between Shower Gel And Body Wash”. You really explained all points very well. Thank you for sharing such useful information.