Squeaky Clean

Though traditional bars of soap were once the standard for scrubbing up in the shower, there is a new trend emerging - body wash. Instead of a solid bar to wash all over with, body washes come in a liquid - almost gel consistency, that some people even swear by. But no one has really asked the question why? What are some of the advantages of body wash, and what should you look for when buying your bottled bubbles? Keeping these tips in mind will help you successfully select your suds.



1. Make Sure It Is Body Wash - Not all shower gels are actually meant to be a replacement for your old bar of soap. Many are simply meant to be bubble baths or bathing gel, in which case it will be much more concentrated, and not at all effective for cleaning the skin. Make sure the shower gel you pick up is meant for washing your body. This may seem self explanatory, but you would be surprised how many of you out there aren't actually washing with a body wash at all.

2. Skin Type - If you find you have oily skin all over, you may want to stick with the traditional bar of soap. For those of you with normal to dry skin, the body wash will help moisten skin for a nice, soft, touchable feel. Additionally, if you have sensitive skin, body wash will be a good option for you as well. The pH in body washes are more closer to our own skin, making it less abrasive if you use it in the wash.

3. Extra Ingredients - Many body washes will be filled with extra ingredients - vitamins and minerals - that claim to keep your skin softer and smoother. But be careful, many claims are simply unfounded and you will end up paying more money for those infused ingredients. Two things to look for in your shower gel that have been proven effective are petroleum jelly and aloe vera, so if you are looking for soft skin, those two ingredients are your best bet.

4. Fragrance - One of the main benefits of a body wash is the millions and millions of fragrances they have, and the choice is all yours. Make sure you take a smell in the store - scents that may sound appealing on the label might not translate into a very yummy fragrance. If you have sensitive skin, be careful with fragrance. Often the chemicals used in making body washes smell nice can effect sensitive skin - if this is the problem go with a fragrance free option, or body wash made especially for sensitive skin.

A great body wash with a lovely fresh scent is:

Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash Value Pack, Two 24oz Body Washes with Free Body Pouf

It has great moisturizers, a clean scent everyone likes, and comes with a free bath pouffe to lather yourself up with. :)

Buying body wash is something that should be fun. Keep in mind your skin needs and fragrance preferences, and you should be well on your way to bubbled bliss.