🧼 Bar soap, body wash, or shower gel—which is best for your skin? Learn the key differences, benefits, and get step-by-step DIY recipes to make each one at home.
When it comes to cleansing your skin, your options go beyond the traditional bar of soap. Today, bar soaps, body washes, and shower gels offer different experiences depending on your skin type, lifestyle, and preferences. But how are they different—and can you make them yourself at home?
Let’s break down the differences and show you how to DIY each type with natural, skin-loving ingredients.
🧼 1. Bar Soap
✅ What It Is:
Bar soap is a solid cleanser made from oils or fats and a strong alkali like sodium hydroxide (also known as lye). It often includes moisturizers, scents, and additives like herbs or exfoliants.
🔍 Pros:
- Long-lasting
- Minimal packaging
- Great for deep cleansing
⚠️ Cons:
- Can be drying due to high pH
- Not ideal for very sensitive or dry skin
🧪 DIY: How to Make Bar Soap at Home
Ingredients:
- Fats/Oils: Olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, shea or cocoa butter
- Lye (Sodium Hydroxide): Use with caution
- Distilled Water
- Optional Additives: Essential oils, colorants, exfoliants (like oatmeal), dried herbs
Equipment:
Gloves, goggles, digital scale, stick blender, soap mold, thermometer, spatula
Safety First:
- Always add lye to water (never the other way).
- Wear safety gear and work in a well-ventilated space.
Steps:
- Prepare lye solution by slowly mixing lye into distilled water.
- Melt and mix oils to the right temperature (100–120°F).
- Combine oils and lye solution at the same temp.
- Blend until "trace" (when it thickens slightly).
- Add optional ingredients.
- Pour into mold and cover to insulate.
- Let it sit for 24–48 hours, then cut into bars.
- Cure for 4–6 weeks before using.
💧 2. Body Wash
✅ What It Is:
Body wash is a liquid cleanser designed to hydrate and gently cleanse. It typically contains water, mild surfactants (cleansing agents), moisturizers, and botanical extracts.
🔍 Pros:
- Hydrating and gentle
- Great for dry or sensitive skin
- Easy to customize with oils and scents
⚠️ Cons:
- Can be less eco-friendly (packaging)
- May contain synthetic ingredients in commercial products
🧪 DIY: Homemade Body Wash Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Liquid Castile Soap
- 1 cup Distilled Water
- 1–2 tbsp Carrier Oil (jojoba, almond, or coconut oil)
- 15–20 drops Essential Oil (lavender, peppermint, etc.)
- Optional: 1 tbsp glycerin, 2 tbsp aloe vera, 1 tsp Vitamin E
Steps:
- Combine Castile soap and water.
- Add carrier oil and essential oils.
- Stir in optional ingredients.
- Mix well and transfer into a pump bottle.
- Shake before each use.
Tip: Add more water if too thick; less if too thin.
🚿 3. Shower Gel
✅ What It Is:
Shower gel is a gel-based liquid cleanser, usually more fragrant and thicker than body wash. It provides a refreshing, invigorating cleanse with a burst of aroma.
🔍 Pros:
- Thicker and luxurious texture
- Bold, refreshing fragrances
- Great for oily or normal skin
⚠️ Cons:
- May include more synthetic fragrances or colorants
- Not always suitable for sensitive skin
🧪 DIY: Homemade Shower Gel Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Liquid Castile Soap
- 1 cup Distilled Water
- 1–2 tsp Xanthan or Guar Gum (for thickening)
- 1–2 tbsp Carrier Oil
- 15–20 drops Essential Oils
- Optional: Glycerin, aloe vera, Vitamin E
Steps:
- Mix Castile soap and water.
- Add carrier and essential oils.
- Add optional ingredients and stir.
- Slowly whisk in thickening agent until gel-like.
- Pour into a bottle and label.
Tip: Adjust gum quantity to control thickness.
🧴 So, Which One Is Right for You?
| Product | Best For | Texture | Hydration | Customization | Eco-Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bar Soap | Normal to oily skin | Solid | Low | Moderate | ✅ High |
| Body Wash | Dry or sensitive skin | Liquid | High | ✅✅✅ | Medium |
| Shower Gel | Normal to oily skin | Gel | Medium | ✅✅ | Low |
✨ Final Thoughts
Each cleanser type serves a purpose, and with the right ingredients, you can make your own customized version at home. Whether you prefer the traditional simplicity of bar soap, the moisturizing comfort of body wash, or the luxurious feel of shower gel, these DIY recipes allow you to take control of what goes on your skin.
Why not try all three and discover your favorite?
