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- Healthy and Glowing Skin – Invest in its future -

-Bar soap versus Body wash-

When it comes to deciding bar soap or body wash, the first thing I think we have to do is to weigh up the pro’s and cons of each on their own merit.

-THE BENEFITS OF TABLET SOAP -

Tablet soap has a nice creamy feel between the hands, almost a sensual feel when lathering the soap up to a rich lather. It feels relaxing to rub the bar along the skin, almost as in a form of massage, as you knead the soap in circular movements along your arms or legs.

Tablet soap has been around for a long time, since the Babylonian days of 2200 BC when they used a combination of cassia oil and alkali to form a sop like substance in a clay tablet. In the 19th century it was promoted to the masses that the link between health and cleanliness was all too evident, and by the 1950’s tablet soap became a part of our daily hygiene regime.

The use of perfumes and moisturisers began to be added to the soap to make it less basic, and more appealing to the consumer, First tablet soaps produced were more carbolic and medicated. Manufacturers initially felt that hygiene and disinfectant type soaps were the correct way to go. Nowadays the more scented and moisturised the bars, the better.

It’s more about beauty and health these days, as opposed to harsh coal tar soaps and carbolics. There are also unperfumed ranges of soap for the sensitive skin, and all manner in between. The Dove range contains the most beautiful perfume, and is extremely moisturising, it lathers up to a rich soapy lather which makes for a very luxurious wash. So in a way I do like to use the tablet form of soap for the creamy lather it produces. On the down side, bar soap can be extremely drying to the skin, and I wouldn’t suggest using it on your delicate facial skin.

-THE BENEFITS OF BODY WASH-

Body wash is soap that is encased within a container. It usually has a pump down action to release the liquid soap, or a squeeze to release action. I find these great when you are in the bath or shower simply because of their convenience. With a bar soap it can slip and slide all over the place, sometimes ending up deep within the bath water, never to be seen again! And when you do eventually manage to find it is is much reduced in size and it very sludgy and slimy. Sometimes it actually leaps out of the bath, and you can spend your supposedly relaxing bath time experience retrieving the soap. Bar soap is an elusive devil when dropped in the bath water, and not practical at all.

With liquid washes they are perfect to use when in the tub. They are hygienic and re-sealable. If they are dropped in the bath, they just float, and with no loss to the liquid soap inside. They are contained so that no harmful bacteria can settle, unlike soap which is left standing uncovered. Body wash is also extremely moisturising and beautifully perfumed. Essential oils are used in quite a lot of these products, which have very therapeutic qualities, and they also leave a wonderful perfume on the skin. I like the feel of the liquid wash, and the abundant lather it produces also. Moisturising properties within our body wash are all important, as our skin needs to be cared for and fed. I think it’s easier to contain these ingredients within a liquid wash as opposed to a bar of soap. –

-OUR SKIN-

From day one skin needs to be cared for. A baby will have its skin moisturized after it’s bath. We need to protect and nourish our skin all through our lives. I have always looked after my skin, and am happy that I did so. As we age we will lose our vital moistures and collagen’s. The skin loses it’s ability to retain water, it loses elasticity, and wrinkles form.

To slow this process down, we have to give back the much needed moisture to our thirsty skin. We must put back what we can due to the environmental damage, and ions in the atmosphere causing negative and harmful effects to the skin.

If we look after our skin now, we can delay the signs of aging caused by UV rays and free radicals. To nourish, and protect our skin now is an vital investment in our skins future.

So when asking Body wash or bar soap? I think I would definitely have to go with the liquid body wash. 1. for its convenience. 2. for its hygienic aspect. 3. for the sheer enjoyment of using it.

Christianna Garrett-Martin