Body wash or shower gel: what is the difference and which to choose?
Body wash and shower gel are almost the same thing in practice: both are liquid cleansers for your body that lather up with water. The difference is mostly in the name and the texture. Shower gel is usually clear and a little lighter, while body wash is often creamier and more likely to contain nourishing oils or butters. If you have dry skin, choose a creamy body wash, a shower oil or a shower cream. If you have breakouts on your back or chest, a body wash with salicylic acid or AHA is a good choice.
What is the difference between body wash, shower gel, shower oil and shower cream?
There is no fixed definition, and brands use the names interchangeably. You will even find products called body wash on the label and shower gel in the directions. Still, you can roughly divide them like this:
| Type | Texture | Suits | How your skin feels after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower gel | Clear, light, lots of lather | Normal and oily skin | Fresh and clean |
| Body wash | Gel or lightly creamy | Normal to dry skin | Clean and soft |
| Shower cream | Creamy, less lather | Dry skin | Supple and cared for |
| Shower oil | Oil that turns milky with water | Very dry and sensitive skin | Soft, no tight feeling |
| Body wash with acids | Gel | Blemish prone skin, rough bumps | Smoother with regular use |
You will find all of these together in the body wash collection, where you can filter by brand and scent.
What exactly is a body wash?
A body wash cleanses your skin and leaves caring ingredients behind at the same time, such as glycerin, aloe vera or plant oils. That is why your skin feels less tight after showering than with a basic gel. The Honey & Macadamia Pure Body Wash White Musk by Kundal is a good example: aloe vera is first on the ingredient list, followed by glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, honey and macadamia. It lathers richly and has a warm musk scent.
When should you choose a shower gel?
A shower gel is ideal if your skin does not dry out easily and you love plenty of lather and a fresh scent, for example after a workout or on a warm day. The Refreshing Shower Gel Wild Strawberry Granita by Organic Shop is a light, clear gel with wild strawberry extract and a sweet, fruity scent. Vegan and alcohol free.
Which shower gel or body wash suits dry skin?
With dry skin, you want to wash away as little of your natural oils as possible. A shower cream contains more caring ingredients and lathers less. The Cream & Oil Cacao Shower Cream by Fa is enriched with cocoa butter and coconut oil, is pH neutral and leaves your skin feeling supple.
A shower oil goes one step further. You apply it to wet skin, where it turns into a soft, milky emulsion. The Sleeping Soothing Shower Oil Mind & Skin Meditation by Organic Shop is based on castor oil and sunflower oil, with lavender oil and blueberry. Its calming lavender scent makes it lovely for an evening shower.
Apply a body lotion after drying off and the soft feeling will last longer.
What should you use on sensitive skin?
If your skin quickly reacts with redness or itching, look mainly at what is not in the product. A fragrance free formula is the safest choice, because fragrance is one of the most common causes of irritation. Do not shower too hot or too long, and choose a shower oil or mild body wash over a gel with lots of lather. Try a new product on a small patch of skin for a few days first. Body washes with acids are usually not the best place to start with sensitive skin.
Does a body wash with salicylic acid or AHA help with blemishes?
A body wash with acids can help with spots on your back, chest or bum and with rough bumps on your arms. Salicylic acid (BHA) gets into the pores and helps loosen sebum and dead skin cells. The Salicylic Acid Body Wash by Q+A combines salicylic acid with white willow bark, green tea and aloe vera, and smells of watermelon and agave.
AHAs such as glycolic acid work on the surface: they loosen dead skin cells so rough patches become smoother. The Glycolic Acid Face & Body Wash Bar by Kitsch is a cleansing bar with 0.7% glycolic acid, aloe vera and a fresh cucumber and eucalyptus scent. You can use it on your face and body.
Do keep your expectations realistic. A body wash only stays on your skin for a short time, so the effect is mild and you will need a few weeks of patience. Leave the lather on for about a minute before rinsing. For severe or painful acne, it is wiser to see your doctor or a dermatologist. Do not use a grainy scrub from the body scrubs collection on the same day, and apply sunscreen to areas that get sun, because AHAs make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
How do you choose a scent that suits you?
For many people, scent is the main reason to pick a body wash. Fresh and fruity scents such as citrus, strawberry or watermelon work well in the morning. Warm scents such as vanilla, cocoa and musk feel cosy and suit the evening or winter. Want the scent to linger? Choose a body lotion or body mist from the same scent family. You can read how to combine them in the everything shower routine.
How do you use body wash best?
A small amount is enough, about the size of a coin. Apply it with your hands, a washcloth or a sponge. With a sponge or an African net sponge you create more lather with less product and exfoliate a little at the same time. Shower with lukewarm water, rinse well and pat your skin dry instead of rubbing.
Frequently asked questions
Is body wash better than soap?
Not necessarily, but a liquid body wash is often milder than a classic bar of soap, because soap has a higher pH. Modern cleansing bars are often mild too. If your skin feels tight after showering, your cleanser is too strong for you.
Can you use shower gel as shampoo?
Better not. Shower gel is made for your skin, not for your hair and scalp. It can leave your hair dry and rough. Just use a shampoo for your hair.
Can you use a body wash with salicylic acid every day?
Usually yes, but start slowly with a few times a week and see how your skin reacts. If your skin becomes dry or red, use it less often and alternate with a mild body wash.