Shower gel is the biggest scam ever, it doesn't even lather up properly and it gets used faster. A bar of soap lasts longer and is cheaper, like WAY cheaper. A bar of soap is like a dollar while a bottle of body wash is like 5-15 dollars.
This does not apply to shampoo and conditioner, just body wash.
Also, make your own soap if you can, do it once a year and you'll have soap for even cheaper. Plus it's fun and a cool thing to do with family or friends!!!
Buy a bar of soap, don't use shower gel
byu/WinterMoist333 inFrugal
Posted by WinterMoist333
34 Comments
Gel > bar
This is great, true advice. Plus, triple milled soaps are luxurious on a level gel soap cannot match.
I am a bar soap fanatic. I have separate soaps for face and body. I had to stop using my bar shampoo because it was irritating my scalp but there was a time when I had four soap dishes on my shower ledge.
I find shower gel rinses better, and doesn’t scum up the shower as quickly.
I made my own soap bars once. It was great, I loaded them up with calendula from my garden, and some local honey. The colour was most excellent!
A dollar?
Good idea but I think each family member should have own lol
I use body wash, don’t get dry skin, don’t loathe the smell, *enjoy* having a shower, and just budget for a thing I’ll use every single day to make me happier
I buy beef tallow bar soap from Stirling Soap Company. They’re about $5 a bar and they have a huge variety of scents, some of which are really fascinating like “Dirt” that smells like… Well, dirt. Exactly like dirt, it’s uncanny.
Anyway, I usually buy three or four bars and these will last me generally through a season or longer of the year. I definitely spend less than $100 on soap in a year, and it’s only that high because it is a luxury that I intentionally splurge on.
I used to exclusively use body wash, but this bar soap is significantly better, just use a wash cloth.
Yes.
I’ve used bar soap in the shower for everything for years. It lasts ages and there is no plastic container as a massive bonus for the environment.
I use a lemongrass one that comes in cardboard. Smells amazing !!
>it doesn’t even lather up properly
Can you describe how shower gel is deficient at lathering up?!?
Does it bubble wrongly? Like not the right shape of round or something?!? Or does it cut dirt and oils with the grain instead of against??
Please be specific because I don’t understand. Thanks!
Bar soap last longer if you cut it in half and use half now and half later 😉
Maybe it’s because my house has hard water but I’ve always found that shower gel makes me feel slimy. Even with a functioning water softener. Bar soap works out great on the other hand. Having a job as a mechanic I tend to get pretty dirty and do a lot of hard scrubbing. The bar soap just seems more to handle that better. Though I’m sure there’s folks out there that simply need to have their bottle of bubble bath
Problem with regular bar soap is most of them have little to no way of exfoliating. Gel doesn’t on its own either, but that’s the point of a loofah.
Pretty much you’re paying for a container and watery soap.
I buy the shampoo/body wash gel combo. Get it onsale. Lasts me a long time. 1 less item in the shower. Works great for me and overall a great value. I’m not into name brands.
I just use the sweat lodge, clean sand, and a cold plunge. Who needs soap.
how can i use it without making my skin feel dry and terrible?
i’ve tried different brands, and always use a wash cloth instead of the bar directly.
Soap makes everything scummy
Nah I grew up poor with bars of soap and they suck. I’ve tried every quick way except for melting the stupid thing.
Body wash is superior in every way
Too dry!
Dollar Store body wash works well enough. Still $1.25
I switched to dealworthy body was at target for 1.99. I don’t love it but so much less than the dove I was using.
I buy bar soap, but it’s actually not less expensive for me than buying shower gel.
Bar soap is a hard no. It’s too difficult to clean from bathroom tiles.
I mean, I feel like people sleep on bars of soap for hand soap too!
Sisal soap bags
Or if you do use gel get a Japanese shower towel.
There was a time when shower gel didn’t exist. We had basic bar soaps. Ivory, Camay, Dial, Coast, Irish Spring all come to mind.
I can’t deal with the soap scum, especially with a shower that has glass walls and black tile and grout floor. Switching to gel has made such a huge difference.
I never use it unless traveling and it’s provided. But I do keep some on hand for any guests staying over.
just a side point: lathering isn’t crucial to cleaning.
Using bar soap makes your shower really hard to clean! Ask me how I know.
But do not buy bar soap from LUSH if frugal is your goal!!! Those soaps melt and dissolve within a few days. They aren’t properly cured.
No way, bar soap leaves everything scummy and covered in a film that gel doesn’t.
Lots of guys don’t exfoliate their legs and just let the soapy water run down their legs and leg hair thinking it’ll just “wash everything away” and it absolutely does not. You have to really rub/exfoliate!!
I have felt skin that’s clean and skin that’s covered in a week or more of soap scum from just a rinsing and it makes me want to recoil.
Also idk what gel you use but if you use an exfoliating glove (like they sell at Target) you might find they gel lathers even more than bar soap.
Tell me you aren’t prone to cystic acne without saying you aren’t prone to cystic acne.
Anyway, love this for you and your wallet.