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After a long day at the office, an intense workout<\/a>, or a fun night out, sometimes all you want to do is come home and take a nice, hot shower. As the water cascades down your face and the rest of the world melts away, there are a few potential starting points to the perfect shower routine<\/a>. But whether you reach for your shampoo<\/a>, face wash, or razor first, there\u2019s one step nobody can ignore: washing your body. The question is, though, are you team bar soap<\/a> or team body wash<\/a>? For those undecided, here\u2019s everything you need to know.<\/p>\n Both bar soap and body wash are effective cleansers\u2014the main difference is the formulation. According to the Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild<\/a>, traditional, handcrafted bar soap is made with an oil (vegetable or animal-based), water, and lye. When these ingredients are combined, they chemically change into soap through a process called saponification. Other bar soaps are made through different processes and are technically synthetic detergents (sometimes called \u201csyndet bars\u201d), according to FDA<\/a> definitions. One of the main differences between these bars is their pH levels, but we\u2019ll get to that soon.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, liquid body washes are water-based, and most are synthetic detergents, too. They also tend to have less concentrated ingredients and be more hydrating to the skin.<\/p>\n Traditional bar soaps often have a \u201chigher, more alkaline pH level compared to the skin\u2019s natural, slightly acidic pH,\u201d says Manhattan-based board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD<\/a>. \u201cWhen the pH is elevated, the skin may become more prone to dryness, sensitivity<\/a>, and inflammation.\u201d However, \u201cmodern \u2018syndet\u2019 bars can be just as gentle as liquid cleansers,\u201d adds San Diego\u2013based board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi, MD<\/a>, as they\u2019re typically pH balanced and work better with the skin.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also important to note that the idea that bar soap harbors bacteria is largely a myth\u2014\u201cThe act of lathering and rinsing tends to wash away microbes effectively,\u201d Camp says. However, it\u2019s good to avoid sharing the bar with others and to store it where it can dry between uses.<\/p>\n Liquid body washes, on the other hand, \u201care designed to be more pH-balanced and often include added moisturizers<\/a>,\u201d says Shirazi, but some still have ingredients, like harsh sulfates, that can strip the skin of essential oils and cause irritation.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why the key, Camp and Shirazi say, is the cleanser\u2019s ingredients and formulation, rather than its format.<\/p>\n As with other beauty and body care products<\/a>, the most important thing to consider is the ingredients and which ones will best address your concerns.<\/p>\nWhat\u2019s the difference between a bar soap and a liquid body wash?<\/h2>\n
How do both cleansers affect the skin?<\/h2>\n
What ingredients would benefit my skin type?<\/h2>\n
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