Sustainable Showers: Body Soap BAR Without That Dry, Friction-like Feeling
Ditching shower gels doesn’t only have to be sustainable, you can also make it economical without having to say goodbye to that moisturizing lather either. I get it, you’re thinking that going plastic-free with your body wash constitutes pivoting to a bar of soap. If you’re like me, you wince a little at the thought because you also hate the tackiness or friction that bar soap leaves after it’s washed off. Soaps can leave you feeling weird, rubbery, and definitely not moisturized.
What if I told you there was something better, something that was a bar but wasn’t soap, that was also a shower gel, but still a bar...? It’s our lucky day because Lush has presented the solution to the heartache of ditching your single-use, plastic-wrapped, shower gels. By keeping the shower gel base ingredients and ditching the bottle, Lush allows us to do the right thing, save the world, and some money too.
The Lush Naked Shower Gel is a game changer and pure HEAVEN because it doesn’t contain the usual soap base. It has the same ingredients as their shower gels with the addition of some hero ingredients that make it a solid bar instead of liquid. Invest in this and get more for your money because it’s DOUBLE concentrated.
I am currently hooked on the Honey, I Washed the Kids scent, which nostalgically smells like the Palmolive milk and honey body wash I used for years before. Lush has converted all of their top shower gel scents into this new bar form, so it’s worth the swap if you’re already a fan of their bottled gels! The scents currently available in the UK are;
£9.50
The Olive Branch (another one I plan to get in the future)
Honey, I Washed the Kids (SO GOOD)
Dirty Spring Wash (minty fresh)
Nana (🍌)
Happy Hippy (grapefruit and bergamot!!)
£11
American Cream (a super fruity cult fave)
Plum Rain (plum-y-citrus vibes)
Sleepy (this is the next one I’ll buy, I am already obsessed with the lotion format!)
Despite reading some reviews that mention the bar being ‘drippy’, melting, or difficult to handle, there are real (and easy) solutions. This product is still, in my opinion, the best swap you could make for a plastic-free body wash. However, if you do your research, you’ll probably come across complaints such as it being drippy, melting in the shower, or too awkward to handle. Luckily there are easy solutions to these issues.
When it came to awkward-to-hold and slippery complaints, I kept plowing through the reviews and found that people have been slicing the bar so that it resembles bar soap, making it easier to handle in the shower as opposed to one massive piece. I did this as soon as my Naked Shower Gel came and I’ve had zero issues with it so far and I’m definitely converted.
To avoid drippy or melting soaps, you need to place them strategically in your shower or bathroom. High and dry is the motto. When it comes to the surface you store any soap, shampoo, or conditioner bars, they’ll need drainage and air so that they can fully dry between each use and not melt in a dish or container with no air or drainage.
More importantly, think about your splatter zone, aka the areas of your shower that are probably splashed from time to time. This includes when you’re rinsing out your shampoo, which would be the tallest section of your shower routine. You should also think about the tallest person in the house too… consider their splash zone! Now make sure your soap dish, caddy, or shelf is placed above that splash zone and consider pushing it a few (insurance) inches higher. You may be reaching higher than you’re used to, but it’ll save you money and soap. I highly recommend this shelf (in the UK or in the US), it’s the one we currently use and it’s perfect for anyone looking to transition their shower products to bar-format.
Have you ever tried cutting down on plastic in the bathroom? Let me know in the comments!