I will start right out by saying I have never been a fan of body wash. I never found an effective way of spreading it around to get my whole body clean. A Bar of soap fit in my hand better, was easier to suds up a washcloth, and didn’t feel like as much of a waste. At the beginning of the body wash craze, the suggestion was to use one of those plastic poofs to spread it around. But honestly, those just kind of grossed me out. I always had the feeling that, no matter how much I rinsed them with hot water, something was growing in all those folds of plastic netting. So way back in the ’90’s, I switched back to bar soap.
But evidently the rest of America is hooked on body wash and shower gel. Walk into most grocery or drug stores, or Walmart or Target, and you will find shelves and shelves of body wash and shower gel in plastic bottles. And then, on the bottom shelf, you see a couple of mainstream brands of bar soap, which–of course!–are also wrapped in plastic.
There are plenty of claims listed on the plastic packaging of body wash and shower gel to convince consumers to buy them:
- moisturizing
- calming
- deep cleansing
- revitalizing
- softening
But there is a huge range of bar soaps that offer any number of similar benefits. You just need to look around to find what you like.
My husband loves soap that he finds at farmer’s markets and general stores in small New England towns while I prefer more luxurious, moisturizing soaps. There are plenty of options out there. Many come without any packaging at all–yay! With others just be careful to make sure that it isn’t wrapped in plastic or plastic-coated paper.
Soap can provide a small, affordable adventure. Try new scents, seek out new ingredients, and get a chance to use something different every few weeks. Or find the one you love–that makes your skin feel soft, with the aroma that brings back your favorite memories–and stick with it. Either way, bar soap is just as effective at getting you clean, but without the plastic. Just don’t use one of those plastic poofs with it!
Things I Love About Bar Soap:
- Easy to Use
- Plastic-Free!
- No need for the plastic poof
- So many unique options available if you look in the right places (including farmer’s markets, TJ Maxx, Whole Foods, and lots of specialty stores.)
Things I Don’t Love:
- Messy for travel, but most hotels and AirBNB’s provide soap anyway
Product Info:
Soap is such a unique category, and such and easy switch. There are limitless options, including handmade products, which makes bar soap impossible to review. The important thing is to find one that you like, and that it comes with no packaging or plastic-free packaging. Have fun experimenting with different scents and different ingredients.
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