Bar Soap or Body Wash - which is preferred and what brands are best?

[aja8888]

During my lifetime, I have been showering with bar soap - many different brands, usually depending what DW picked out when shopping. But lately, I have been assigned the shopping task (widower now) and have been sticking with bar soap.

This subject came up one early morning at a ROMEO coffee/breakfast meetup and some guys went with whatever their DW had bought and some had moved to body wash. Note: There are still some Old Spice users in this group! There was no consensus on what was "better", bar or pump stuff. What else would one expect from 12 or more old dudes who can't remember what they did yesterday?

I'm almost out of my Irish Spring bar soap and ready to "move onto" bigger and better things (quickly, may I say). I need the combined knowledge and experience of this group to point me in the right direction!

(FWIW, DW liked Dove bar soap, me, not so much)

Please give me your thoughts, recommendations and experiences! (asking a lot, I know)

For Gumby: I am NOT going to make soap like you do.

 

[OldShooter]

She who does the shopping buys unscented Dove bars IIRC at Costco. So that's what I have been using for as long as I can remember. If she starts buying something else, I will start using that without complaining, as that will just get me shopping duty.

 

[aja8888]

She who does the shopping buys unscented Dove bars IIRC at Costco. So that's what I have been using for as long as I can remember. If she starts buying something else, I will start using that. Without complaining, as that will just get me shopping duty.

LOL!

 

[Qs Laptop]

Body wash is somewhat more convenient than bar soap in that it's less messy in the shower, however, it loses out on the cost factor. It's ridiculously expensive compared to bar soap. I know it's not a lot of money, but I figure it costs at least 3X as much to say, take 100 showers, as it would with bar soap.

Then there is the increased waste of the plastic bottle.

 

[Midpack]

We both have dry skin, so we always bought Dr Bronner's bar soap, there are 7-8 scents. If you shop around it's under $4. But we've been shopping at Trader Joe's regularly, and our default is now the one shown below. Regularly $3.99. Both are gentle on dry skin. Trader Joe's has a couple nice bath bar soap choices.

If you want cheap, we got along with Dove bar soap OK, but no other basic bath soaps - Ivory was the worst for us.

 

[jgrdarrash]

If price isn't a consideration Mando for the men, Lume for the ladies have helped our 23 year old smell much better. They have bars and wash styles. I can't use aloe so it's plain Dial bar soap for me.

 

[CardsFan]

Always used bar soap. Usually Coast, Dial or something similar. I find it more convenient than body wash, particularly if you don't have mounted containers.

I have noticed more hotels have switched to the body wash. Probably economical for them to refill the mounted containers with the cheapest wash they can buy.

 

[aja8888]

Always used bar soap. Usually Coast, Dial or something similar. I find it more convenient than body wash, particularly if you don't have mounted containers.

I have noticed more hotels have switched to the body wash. Probably economical for them to refill the mounted containers with the cheapest wash they can buy.

I noticed that too last time I was in a Holiday Inn Express.

 

[audreyh1]

I’ve never found a body wash that I cared for - at least not in the many hotels that provide them. They just didn’t feel like they got me clean and/or were too hard to rinse off. I definitely prefer a bar of soap at home and when traveling.

When we lived in the motorhome I regularly used Dr. Bronner’s which is a liquid soap. I don’t think that’s considered a body wash.

 

[aja8888]

I’ve never found a body wash that I cared for - at least not in the many hotels that provide them. They just didn’t feel like they got me clean and/or were too hard to rinse off. I definitely prefer a bar of soap at home and when traveling.

When we lived in the motorhome I regularly used Dr. Brommer’s which is a liquid soap. I don’t think that’s considered a body wash.

Seems like they make a sugar soap and a castile soap from a quick search. Which did you use?

 

[audreyh1]

Seems like they make a sugar soap and a castile soap from a quick search. Which did you use?

Definitely the Castile soap, and I think I had to use their “baby” unscented one because the others would irritate my skin somewhat.

My favorite soap is the French milled Castile type soaps. We picked up some Marseille soap on our last Europe trip. Lathers up nicely, rinses off well.

 

[aja8888]

Definitely the Castile soap, and I think I had to use their “baby” unscented one because the others would irritate my skin somewhat.

My favorite soap is the French milled Castile type soaps. We picked up some Marseille soap on our last Europe trip.

Thanks!

 

[6miths]

Yes I am down with the unscented Dove from Costco and I do the soap shopping. Body wash seems so wasteful and environmentally unfriendly to me. I used to use Allenbury's Basic but too expensive these days and DW doesn't like the 'smell' so much.

 

[GrayHare]

I don't care for more plastic bottles, so bar soap it is. Been using Ivory for a long time, but noticed the batch I purchased a few months ago is different for the first time ever. It smells different and the bar feels sort of slimey now. I might be switching to something else.

 

[njhowie]

We use this stuff - always stock up when it's on sale, like this week. I use it for hair/body. DW uses it for body and has all of her own hair junk.

https://www.shoprite.com/sm/pickup/rsid/3000/product/arm-&-hammer-ultra-max-cool-water-3in1-body-wash-shampoo-and-conditioner-225-fl-oz-id-00815195014608

 

[braumeister]

My favorite soap is the French milled Castile type soaps. We picked up some Marseille soap on our last Europe trip. Lathers up nicely, rinses off well.

Same here -- I can't stand the scented stuff.
I normally use this:
A LA MAISON Hypoallergenic Unscented Bar Soap

If I shop around, I can normally find it in a store at considerably less than Amazon's price.

 

[Phroig]

Another vote for unscented Dove from Costco. You can frequently get it on sale. The Kirkland brand is our second choice.

 

[Jerry1]

I use Aveno body wash. I have a tendency to have a reaction to many soaps and this one has done me well. Either way, I prefer a body wash. I put mine in small plastic pump bottle for the shower, similar to a hand soap bottle typically found near the sink, which makes it easier to dispense.

Daily Moisturizing Oat Body Wash for Dry Skin| Aveeno®

 

[Dtail]

Use Maja soap, which is more expensive than the regular bar soap, but just like it.

 

[Irishgirlyc58]

I use Aveno body wash. I have a tendency to have a reaction to many soaps and this one has done me well. Either way, I prefer a body wash. I put mine in small plastic pump bottle for the shower, similar to a hand soap bottle typically found near the sink, which makes it easier to dispense.

Daily Moisturizing Oat Body Wash for Dry Skin| Aveeno®

This is what I use. It’s been so long since I used bar soap I can’t even remember when it was.
When I go on a trip I put some in the little 2 oz plastic containers with lids. I have very sensitive skin and I don’t take any chances with hotel products.

 

[Ronstar]

Body Wash. Currently Saltair. I use whatever DW buys, but I do like body wash more than bar soap.

 

[teej1985]

I grew up with Dial antibacterial bar soap and that's what i've always used. My parents even pack it with them when they travel.

 

[Healthy Lifestyle]

DW buys Irish Spring. Not my favorite but is okay.

 

[badatmath]

I prefer bar soap but the part of me that prefers not to scrub too much cleaning the shower prefers body wash.

Hard water so scum is much reduced without a bar.

So I vary.

 

[motley]

I guess I'm in the minority; I haven't used bar soap in my entire adult life, with rare exception. Liquid soap is far more convenient and doesn't leave a gooey mess anywhere. I've used diff brands and never noticed much diff, so I usually get the inexpensive Suave stuff.