Anyone use a soap bar instead of shower gel?

NSAman · 02-05-2019 10:47am

Shower gels never get you feeling clean imho. I use soap actually Irish spring..(us based) and imperial leather when home. I do like to use a gel afterwards though for moisture sometimes,,,

dmc17 · 02-05-2019 10:48am

The Burren Perfumery do great quality natural products, including bars of soap. Bit more expensive, but worth it.

Rows Grower · 02-05-2019 11:02am

skallywag wrote: »

Keep it simple lads, the green Palmolive is the way to go. Lovely lather, nice scent.

Now, going back a bit, my grandparents would have had this red bar of soap at their home, which would have been a modest small farm in rural Ireland. This particular soap was found in a lot of homes at the time I remember, it was red in colour with a somewhat antiseptic smell. I wonder if anyone else knows/remembers what I mean, I'm trying to recall the name ...

That's carbolic soap, I started back using it about a year ago when I saw it for sale in the Co-op in Kenmare, no wrappers just three bars tied together. I smelt it from 5 feet away and it was like going back in time.

3 bars for 2 euro and it lifts the dirt off your hands and lasts forever.

skallywag · 02-05-2019 11:07am

Rows Grower wrote: »

That's carbolic soap, I started back using it about a year ago when I saw it for sale in the Co-op in Kenmare, no wrappers just three bars tied together. I smelt it from 5 feet away and it was like going back in time.

That must be the one, I will keep an eye out for it, you are right, it is just one of those smells that you would really associate with years passed.

judeboy101 · 02-05-2019 11:10am

if im on a promise from the missus, ill break out the imperial leather bar of soap, otherwise its gel

Seve OB · 02-05-2019 11:27am

you also need an aul scrubbing brush to clean yourself properly. just rubbing soap or gel on is not going to cut the mustard.
rub your bar of simple soap over a brush like this a few times to get it lathered up and then scrub the bejaysus out of every inch of skin you have.

John_Rambo · 02-05-2019 11:28am

Great for the reduction of single use plastic lads!

I started on the Aleppo soap about 20 years ago. It’s ancient, one of the first soaps every used. And it’s good for everything. Gentle enough for babies, good for shaving, shampooing and washing.

Seve OB · 02-05-2019 11:37am

are bars or soap much cheaper than shower gels.

bar of simple is about a quid. bottle of average shower gel is probably about 1.50-2.00, but can be gotten cheaper. but surely a bar of soap lasts a hell of a lot longer. I reckon for just shower use for myself alone, I would probably go through about 2-3 bottles of get compared to just the one bar of soap so there is a fair aul whack of a saving to be made.

Eire Go Brach · 02-05-2019 11:38am

Joey from friends on soap

https://youtu.be/WGT__4uYwlE

eviltimeban · 02-05-2019 12:26pm

If anyone is looking for a nice shower gel, Seavite do a good one. It's on the pricier end of the scale (about €15 for a bottle) but made of nice things.

Dial Hard · 02-05-2019 12:49pm

I recently switched back to bar soap for hand washing for plastic waste reduction reasons. I use the lemongrass & cedarwood one from the Handmade Soap Company (they're Irish). This has a lovely zingy smell, not floral at all.

Lush also has a great range of soap and shampoo bars. Don't let the overpowering smell of the shop put you off, the individual products are grand.

Day Lewin · 02-05-2019 3:15pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

I recently switched back to bar soap for hand washing for plastic waste reduction reasons. I use the lemongrass & cedarwood one from the Handmade Soap Company (they're Irish). This has a lovely zingy smell, not floral at all.

Lush also has a great range of soap and shampoo bars. Don't let the overpowering smell of the shop put you off, the individual products are grand.

That lemongrass and cedarwood one is gorgeous! Addictive!

pjdarcy · 02-05-2019 3:19pm

+1 for soap. I use Dove. The older style ones like Imperial Leather or Palmolive just seem to remove all moisture from my skin but Dove works great and it doesn't have a strong scent so it doesn't overpower my after shave.

baby and crumble · 02-05-2019 3:42pm

I like Pears bar soap - you can get it anywhere and it plays nicely with more masculine scents.

I've been trying to switch to solid products mostly for travelling so I have a soap from the Scottish Soap Company that i got in TK Maxx that comes in a little travel tin and it's great. My one is lemon but they always have a few of them in stock.

NIMAN · 02-05-2019 8:38pm

dmc17 wrote: »

The Burren Perfumery do great quality natural products, including bars of soap. Bit more expensive, but worth it.

Some great links to Irish producers on this thread, much appreciated.

There'll be some original birthday and Xmas presents bought this year.;)

Pawwed Rig · 03-05-2019 6:13am

I use Dove bars for showers and instead of shaving foam.

Pawwed Rig · 03-05-2019 6:19am

pjdarcy wrote: »

+1 for soap. I use Dove. The older style ones like Imperial Leather or Palmolive just seem to remove all moisture from my skin but Dove works great and it doesn't have a strong scent so it doesn't overpower my after shave.

I had forgotten my soap one day so used the carex hand washer for my shower instead. Holy crap I was actually in pain it dried me out so much. Lesson learnt.

theguzman · 04-05-2019 11:31pm

NIMAN wrote: »

Would love there to be an Irish soap out there I could try, always willing to support Irish firms.

https://www.fruugo.ie/irish-spring-deodorant-soap-bars-original-375-oz-x-3-ea/p-28064849-60116137?language=en&ac=google&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIttb71faC4gIVjp3tCh13nQjfEAQYASABEgLBlfD_BwE

NIMAN · 07-05-2019 9:20am

Already mentioned. And apparently its American, not Irish.

Gffg · 07-05-2019 4:15pm

Some of the chemicals in shower gels aren't good for you.

DoozerT6 · 12-05-2019 5:35pm

Dr Bronners do soap bars (also liquid) that you can use for washing everything from your hair to your car lol.

Kidding aside, I've used their bars for a few years now. They're over €6 per bar, but they last for ages, and smell lovely (I use the Rose one).

I started using bars to cut down on plastic waste too, and I'm loving the change. I see no reason to buy gels any more, except perhaps travel-sized ones for travel and sure I never do that, lol.

Glebee · 12-05-2019 5:41pm

+1 for the soap as well. So much cheaper as well. Imperial leather soap all the way and a drop of shampoo for the hair. Cant go wrong..

CalamariFritti · 18-05-2019 7:25pm

Went a short while ago back to soap bars. Nothing fancy, Imperial Leather. I'm sure if I started looking around there'd be nicer ones to buy, but its grand. It was her idea to give credit. Now I can't remember why we ever went to shower gels. They now seem a bit stupid. Soap bars are smaller and last longer and they are cheaper to buy. They produce a much nicer lather on the skin and you actually feel cleaner. And they only create a small fraction of a shower gel's foam in the water. Also come in a paper wrapper. Are shower gels a big con we all fell for?

Glebee · 18-05-2019 7:28pm

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Went a short while ago back to soap bars. Nothing fancy, Imperial Leather. I'm sure if I started looking around there'd be nicer ones to buy, but its grand. It was her idea to give credit. Now I can't remember why we ever went to shower gels. They now seem a bit stupid. Soap bars are smaller and last longer and they are cheaper to buy. They produce a much nicer lather on the skin and you actually feel cleaner. And they only create a small fraction of a shower gel's foam in the water. Also come in a paper wrapper. Are shower gels a big con we all fell for?

I think so, as well as fancy gillete razors with blades that cost a fortune.

Glebee · 18-05-2019 7:28pm

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Went a short while ago back to soap bars. Nothing fancy, Imperial Leather. I'm sure if I started looking around there'd be nicer ones to buy, but its grand. It was her idea to give credit. Now I can't remember why we ever went to shower gels. They now seem a bit stupid. Soap bars are smaller and last longer and they are cheaper to buy. They produce a much nicer lather on the skin and you actually feel cleaner. And they only create a small fraction of a shower gel's foam in the water. Also come in a paper wrapper. Are shower gels a big con we all fell for?

I think so, as well as fancy gillete razors with blades that cost a fortune.

quietsailor · 19-05-2019 9:34am

Lush have a shampoo bar for sale as well as soap bars. I bought one two days ago so have only used it once but it worked well. Good lather and my hair felt clean after it

For those that are already using bars of soap a practical question, how do you store them when travelling?

Rows Grower · 19-05-2019 10:02am

quietsailor wrote: »

Lush have a shampoo bar for sale as well as soap bars. I bought one two days ago so have only used it once but it worked well. Good lather and my hair felt clean after it

For those that are already using bars of soap a practical question, how do you store them when travelling?

I just leave mine on the soap holder next to the sink as usual.

Stoner · 24-05-2019 1:17am

Rows Grower wrote:

I just leave mine on the soap holder next to the sink as usual.

Lol me too. The soap doesn't like planes.

Addle · 24-05-2019 5:36am

https://www.amazon.com/slp/travel-soap-container/4cpmmsttej82888

Soap is ‘in’ now so lots of options to purchase out there.

DavyD_83 · 24-05-2019 2:32pm

I've been using soap since I saw this thread.
Not sure if it's a permanent switch yet.

So far just using a bar of soap I found in the bathroom, possibly from l'occitane. Gonna try buy something I like soon for better testing.
Have always felt like shower get is a bit crap

byte · 26-05-2019 12:42am

John_Rambo wrote: »

Great for the reduction of single use plastic lads!

I started on the Aleppo soap about 20 years ago. It’s ancient, one of the first soaps every used. And it’s good for everything. Gentle enough for babies, good for shaving, shampooing and washing.

Got some of the Aleppo soap off Amazon* earlier in the week; so far, so good. No itchiness of note.

*I had rang the local health food shop about Aleppo soap and the hadn't a clue what I was on about, so grabbed a few bars from Amazon. Cost over £7 a bar, but I won't mind if it works out with my crap skin.

corks finest · 27-05-2019 12:15am

Soap for the nether regions and between the toe toes- gel for the rest

Anyone use a soap bar instead of shower gel?

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