Choosing a Body Gel or Wash: What do You Want it to Do for You?
Feb 12 '01
The Bottom Line With so many choices available for bath gels and body washes, decide before buying what you want it to do for you.
Every time I visit the mall or any department store, I turn around and see bath gels, body washes, and exfoliating scrubs. They come in every scent on the planet, every color and hundreds of textures. They have dozens of different functions: moisturizing, calming, aromatherapy, buffing -- you name it, these products can do just about anything for every part of your body.
Some bath gels and body washes are even designed for different parts -- elbows, feet, hands, inner thighs, and rear end.
My daughter loves any kind of bath product. She has beads, shaving cream, exfoliating scrubs in every scent, peppermint foot scrubs. If you don't believe me, take a look at the ring in my bathtub that has to be scrubbed away every single day.
How Can You Choose From Among Hundreds?
Since I'm past 40, I've lived much of my adult life without all of these fancy bath gels and body scrubs. Even though I'm a definite bathtub freak and would live in there if it was possible, just like the lady on the Drugstore.com commercials, I have and will continue to keep my life relatively simple and uncomplicated by making a careful decision about what I want my bath products to DO for ME.
Give Me Versatility and Smooth Legs
When I'm lounging in a hot bath, I don't want to think about which bottles of lotions and potions I have to line up beside me to take care of all of my parts. I want ONE product that does several things:
* Gets all of me clean without being harsh
* Smells pleasant and has rich lather
* Doesn't leave a horrible bathtub ring
* Will work as a shaving cream with my Schick Silk Effects Razor
* Won't be too greasy, since I always use traditional lotion after bathing
The type of product I describe is difficult to find all in one bottle, and I can't name one that has every one of these properties. But the closest I have come to satisfaction in this area is inexpensive and effective:
Softsoap Soap Free Clear Antibacterial Liquid
It's not fancy, it's very inexpensive at about $7 for 64 oz. and usually comes with a free sink-sized pump. But it doesn't dry my skin, it lathers well enough for me to enjoy a close shave on my legs, thighs and underarms.
And there's never a bathtub ring, or any soap-like residue on my body. It rinses off easily and there's no "tight" and dry feeling when I'm dry.
For Occasional Use
There are times when I'll use products like Oil of Olay Revitalizing Body Wash, which also works up enough of a lather for me to shave my legs with -- but there is the telltale bathtub ring.
And I've enjoyed Clinque's Exfoliating Sparkle Body Scrub, which has a pleasant, zesty scent and really does seem to give my skin a polished glow.
The only drawback to these kinds of products -- used in the bathtub instead of the shower, you'll feel like you're lying naked on a sandy beach with all of those little grainy exfoliators settling to the bottom of your tub.
Soap is Soap, No Matter How You Slice It
Although I enjoy various bath products, especially gels and washes above oily products that can actually be dangerous in a slippery tub, I won't often spend extra money on them.
No matter what the manufacturer promises, it's all basically soap that (hopefully) will get you nice and clean. The scent may very well soothe and calm you after a hard day -- and that's certainly worth something!
It's not all that likely that you have to spend additional money on bath gels and body washes if you have lots of siblings or people who give you presents for your birthday or during the holidays. You'll probably receive one or two sets of this stuff every year, or as in the case of the Oil of Olay Revitalizing Body Wash, as part of a holiday gift package.
As of this writing, I think I have about six bottles of body gels, washes and exfoliators in my bathroom closet. The Clinique gel is the only one I've bought for myself.
And in the meantime, I need to pick up another half gallon of good old Softsoap this week.
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Member: Ms Hooterville
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News and feature writer, graphic designer and artist, wife and mother, small business owner.
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