body wash or bar soap, which do you prefer?

United States
February 22, 2010 9:00am CST
I tried a body wash this weekend that I really liked. I was shocked as I have always preferred bar soaps. My question has to be now which is more "green"? Bar soap has a lot less packaging that can damage the environment but I don't live in an area where plastic recycling happens much.. not yet anyway! Which do you prefer?
5 people like this
15 responses
@phoenix8606 (4942)
22 Feb 10
HI! I prefer the bar soaps, because it is easier to use and I also think it cleans better than the body wash, but its just my opinion :) I have also tried the body wash several times, but I really didn't liked it, maybe just because I am accustomed with the bar soap
2 people like this
• United States
22 Feb 10
I have tried the body wash a few times too. I guess this is the first one I have tried that I actually kind of liked. Guess I'll try a couple more before I decide for sure!
1 person likes this
22 Feb 10
yes, you can always try different types before choosing the best one :)
1 person likes this
• Canada
23 Feb 10
That would be my advice ... just keep trying different kinds of body washes and then decide. Also you can still use both, you don't have to devote yourself to just one or the other. Most people do pick one, but not everyone does!
• Indonesia
22 Feb 10
i like to take a body wash because it will energizing my body especially when i wake up in the morning
2 people like this
• United States
22 Feb 10
Sometimes it seems like it doesn't wash off as well though! Other than that I like it. I like the one I used this weekend. It seemed to wash off okay too. I guess that's why I liked it!
• United States
22 Feb 10
I love bar soaps..I always loved Ivory soap but a little while back I found out that there is a cranberry body wash that smells wonderful and it doesn't dry my skin out so I am convinced that body wash is the way to go for me now...
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Feb 10
Just so you can find it, the brand name is Dial and its called Cranberry Antioxidant..it smells great and your bathroom will smell like it for hours after you shower..enjoy!
• United States
22 Feb 10
I'll have to check out the body wash with cranberry. That sounds really good!
• United States
23 Feb 10
I just read through all this discussion and noone has mentioned what I noticed and that is with the body wash there is no soap scum left in the bathtub. Maybe it depends on what body wash is used. But for me the body wash (Oil of Olay) because I don't have to work so hard to clean the bath tub....
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Feb 10
Now see, that's another thing. I don't really have much soap scum though because the bar soaps I use are more natural that seems to keep it down a little bit!
• Canada
23 Feb 10
Definitely body wash! I love it love it love it! I just put a little squirt on the shower poof thingy, get a little bit of water on it and then BOOM tons of suds and then I wash all over. It smells soooooo yummy, and it makes my skin nice and soft too! I haven't used bar soap in years and I can't see myself ever going back to bar soap!
1 person likes this
• Canada
23 Feb 10
Sounds like a fair, easy decision to your problem because then you aren't forced to decide. I have known people that use both body wash and bar soap! I say body was all the way, but I guess it's not for everyone!
• United States
23 Feb 10
Bar soaps can smell good too! I am going to try some other body washes and probably keep both in the shower from now on. That way I will have both and not have to decide!
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
22 Feb 10
I like Body washes more then bar soaps, but bar soaps are also nice as well. In any case, If you can't recycle the body wash container you can always use it for something else. You could save one or two to put soap or shampoo and conditioner in when you travel. I know most hotels provide these amenities, but if your staying with family or at a cabin somewhere, you'll have these things and want have to buy the travel size!
2 people like this
• United States
22 Feb 10
That's true. I travel some and can use the little bottles now and then. I have tons of the little bottles because my aunt and uncle give them to me.
• India
22 Feb 10
When I first used the body wash a few years back, I found it very refreshing. Since it was a new concept in our place during that time, I found it different. After using it for a few years, I have switched back to bar soaps, which I find more comfortable. People in my house, have never liked the body wash, and they always preferred the bar soap.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
I don't think I have a preference at this point. I am just open to change and maybe try some body wash. It might be that I will keep both handy so that whatever mood I am in it will be there!
@lenapoo (678)
• United States
22 Feb 10
I have to be honest and say that I prefer to use bar soap over body wash. When I was younger I liked body wash better, but once I learned about the differences in the two and which could be better for your body I decided on bar soap.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
How is bar soap better? I just think most body washes are slimy! I am trying to decide which to purchase next!
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
22 Feb 10
I usually prefer soap. Mostly because I was just brought up using soap and that is what I am used to. But I do like to use body wash sometimes especially if it smells really good, or if my skin is really dry and there is a body wash especially formulated for dry skin then I will use it, and I do have a couple of body washes in different fragrances in my shower right now and I use them occasionally, but most days I just use soap.
• United States
22 Feb 10
I think I am going to just have to put both kinds in the shower! Then I will have both of them available when I am in the mood for which ever one I really want that day!
@hmkoct5 (2065)
• United States
22 Feb 10
I prefer bar soap. I don't like body wash at all. I have tried it before and I just didn't feel as clean. It may just be that I am a creature of habit. I like the way soap feels. I feel clean afterward as well. I have wondered if body wash moisturizes better than bar soap because my skin tends to feel softer afterward. But, I will continue to use bar soap.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
I am trying to decide which is better. I actually would like to know which is less expensive too. That is a major factor for me as well!
• Estonia
22 Feb 10
I was using bar soap for a long time before I first tried a body wash. First it felt quite strange, but then I got used to it. I think that body wash is quite refreshing and it's easy to apply it too. However, I don't actually know, which one is greener.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Feb 10
I'm not sure either! Maybe both have benefits and detriments! It is probably that way. I haven't looked at any stats to see if one is better than the other.
@chi2nasrin (1101)
• Malaysia
22 Feb 10
I considered and prefer using body wash. Because when any guest come to my house they don't have to open another pack of bar soap. You just have to pump it. You can even refill it when it's finished. Economically speaking, in my opinion, definitely body wash.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
It is definitely better when company comes or in a more than one user shower. It's gross to share bar soap although we did it when we were kids! Everybody used the same one! Now that's gross now that I think about it! I am thinking when I get my own place again it will be body wash for sure!
@anc457 (186)
• Thailand
22 Feb 10
Body wash for me, no scrubing no rubbing, and no skin dry hehehe unlike most bath soaps. good for travelers as well, really handy.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
Dry skin is a main issue. However, there are bath bars that won't dry the skin! Traveling might be a major plus though!
@Mady2791 (545)
• United States
22 Feb 10
Body wash because soap leaves my skin dry unless is a moisturizing soap.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
Yeah, I have had to look through to find bar soaps that don't dry my skin too much too! I found some that work well. Ivory works good and lye soap works real good too! I try different brands a lot.
@kaylayoe (293)
• United States
22 Feb 10
I love body wash. I was never a big fan of bar soap because it was hard for me to hold. As clumsy as I am I always would drop it! My body wash is by Caress and it makes me smell amazing! Your skin smells good all day and its sparkly! If your skin gets wet it makes the smell even stronger. I love it!
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
yeah, but if you drop the open bottle in the shower then all your body wash will spill out too! It is probably not as easily dropped though. Those bars can jump out of your hand so quickly!