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When it comes to shopping for body care products, shower gel might be one of the most varied categories out there. Options run the gamut from no-frills, fragrance-free formulas to indulgent, sweetly scented gels that can elevate your daily shower to a spa-like experience. To help you on the hunt for your next favorite shower gel, we’ll dig into common questions such as:
Shower gel commonly refers to a body cleanser that starts in a liquid gel form and foams up into a lather once water has been added. Shower gels tend to be soap-free and instead get their cleaning power from ingredients called surface active agents (aka surfactants). This means that they’re less likely to strip your skin of its natural oils like soap can.
Is shower gel the same as body wash? Not exactly. Body washes tend to be thicker and creamier in texture as opposed to a shower gel, and they may be formulated with more moisturizing skin care ingredients.
That said, it’s not always cut and dry when you’re browsing the cleanser aisle. For example, you might see a clear gel cleanser labeled as a body wash, which can be confusing but isn’t necessarily a reason to fret.
“This whole area is murky and I feel there is quite a bit of overlap between the two categories,” says LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger, board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon. “Basically, if you like something and it feels good on your body, then you should use it for your shower. We have many products on our site that are great for shower gels and leave the skin feeling great.”
First things first, shower gel is used to cleanse your skin. As you rub shower gel on your body, it lathers up once water is added to help cleanse away built-up dirt, excess oil and bacteria from your skin.
For a spa-like experience at home, most shower gels are fragranced with a scent that’s enjoyable in the shower and also lingers on your skin afterward. Some medicated shower gels might also feature active skin care ingredients in their formula to help you keep your skin conditions in check, like body acne or eczema.
If you are looking to infuse some moisture into your skin care routine, you may want to look for a shower gel or body wash with hydrating skin care ingredients, such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid, as well as ingredients that work to lock in skin’s moisture, such as ceramides or shea butter.
Body acne, including acne on your back (a.k.a. bacne), is no match for this cleanser, which helps treat existing breakouts and prevent future ones with 2% salicylic acid, the highest concentration available without a prescription.
For acne on your face, LovelySkin LUXE Clarifying Gel Cleanser is a gentle and effective option. It helps minimize breakouts and large pores without overdrying skin thanks to a combination of 2% salicylic acid, 2% glycolic acid and 3% afaLUXE, a dermatologist-developed molecule of amino-based filaggrin antioxidants with vitamin C and Dead Sea minerals.
From German beauty brand Augustinus Bader, this shower gel lathers into a luxurious eucalyptus-scented foam. It provides a soothing reprieve for dry or dehydrated skin with hydrating glycerin as well as ceramides, niacinamide and nourishing oils to help lock in moisture for smoother, softer skin.
If you struggle with dry patches on your body or bumpy skin from keratosis pilaris, using an exfoliating shower gel can help smooth things over. This formula from Glytone is one of the best shower gel exfoliators thanks to 8.8% glycolic acid, which sloughs away dead skin cells on the surface of skin that contribute to dry patches and dullness.
This shower gel from Dermalogica gently conditions skin as it cleanses thanks to vitamin B5, a hydrating ingredient that also promotes healthy skin barrier function.
Its scent of rosemary, lemon, tea tree and eucalyptus is inspired by the essential oils used in traditional Turkish bathhouses.
If you’re looking for a top-rated men’s shower gel, look no further than this 3-in-1 product from Redken’s barber-approved and brewery-inspired line Redken Brews. It can be used as a body wash as well as a shampoo and conditioner. Orange peel oil lends a light scent, while malt extract helps to nourish and strengthen hair from root to tip.
If you adore a shower gel with a fruity scent, you’ll love the four fragrances of these KORRES shower gels: guava, basil-lemon, bergamot-pear and Santorini grape. Beneficial ingredients include lactic acid to gently exfoliate skin, aloe to improve hydration levels and wheat protein to lock in moisture. In a consumer study, 100% of users said they noticed an improvement in skin moisture, and 97% said they saw an improvement in skin elasticity.
If you have eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, you may have learned the hard way that fragrances featured in certain scented shower gels can sometimes cause a flare-up. “The main active ingredient in this body cleanser is bleach, which in the right concentration can actually kill the bacteria that contributes to eczema without irritating skin,” Dr. Joel Schlessinger says. “It can also help treat folliculitis, which are pimple-like red bumps that are actually caused by infected hair follicles.”
Just as a cup of chamomile tea can help calm nerves before bedtime, this chamomile shower gel can help you tap into your inner Zen. Chamomile, cornflower, linden flower and calendula extracts soothe inflamed skin while aloe vera provides a hydrating boost. As an added bonus, this shower gel can also be used as a bubble bath.
If your shower scent style is more spicy than sweet, you’ll love this foamy shower gel with invigorating notes of cinnamon and ginger. To keep the spicy vibe going, you can pair this shower gel with its scrub sidekick, Sothys Cinnamon and Ginger Escape, to help soften rough, dry skin.
Are you curious about cleansing balms? You can learn all about cleansing balms and how to use them on the LovelySkin Blog.
Aaron serves as Editor at LovelySkin. Since graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2016 with degrees in Creative Writing and English, he has immersed himself in the beauty industry. When he’s not writing about the latest beauty trends, he spends time cuddling his dogs, scouring antique stores, playing tennis and hiking.
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