Soap vs Face Wash - Which is best for your skin

Soap vs Face Wash - Which is best for your skin

Soap Vs Facewash: Which is Skin’s Real Friend?

There is an evergoing battle between soaps and face washes as to which is better for our skin. The truth is both have their pros and cons, and the choice ultimately depends on our skin type. 

That being said, face wash in recent times has been stealing hearts. The reason? It is proven to be more mild and effective on many skin types, when compared to soaps. 

For a long time, soaps were the only products people put on their faces. But times have changed. There are many good alternatives to soaps in the market. With a lot of research going on and new skincare products being discovered, soaps have been sidelined. 

Many people claim face washes to be better than soaps, as they do not dry the skin like soaps. To know which is better, soap or face wash, we should look at both in detail to draw a conclusion. 

Let us see who wins the face-off (pun intended :p)!

CONTENT INDEX

  • What does soap stand for?
  • Pros and cons of using a soap
  • Is using a face wash a better alternative 
  • Unbottle range of handmade soaps

First, let’s take a look at soaps.

What Does Soap Mean?  

Soaps are cleaning substances used for washing the face and body. Soaps are made by treating a fat with alkali (such as sodium or potassium hydroxide), and consist of various salts of acids in this fat.

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There are many skincare brands that offer skin-friendly soaps with moisturising ingredients such as: 

  • ceramides
  • glycerin
  • hyaluronic acid
  • niacinamide

If you are going for soaps, choose a soap which is organic and does not contain any harsh chemicals. 

Why choose a soap: pros

Soaps have their own advantage in skincare. It is still one of the most widely used skin and face ingredients during shower time. 

Minimal ingredients

Soaps contain minimal and purer ingredients as compared to other skincare products. It contains just the required active particles needed for cleaning the face. No less, no more. Since the formula doesn’t require water, there is no need for adding chemical preservatives!

Cost-effective

There is no doubt that soaps are cheap and easy on your pocket, while being fairly effective for the skin. The best part is it can last for longer periods without getting spoiled. 

Eco-friendly

Soaps generally do not involve too much packaging. It is very basic, which means less use of plastics, thus saving resources and keeping the environment clean.

Despite this, why do many people switch to body wash? 

Cons of using  soap

Alkaline-based

By nature, soaps are alkaline. They are essentially fats that are treated with alkaline substances. But our skin is acidic in nature. Even if you have oily skin, the maximum pH level would be from 4 to 6.5, and not beyond that. The alkaline nature of soaps can strip off the natural moisture. If you use soap regularly, chances are that the skin might feel itchy and dry, prone to breakouts.

Enemy of our facial skin

Regular usage of soaps can severely damage our face. It can remove the naturally produced oils that are supposed to protect our skin from environmental pollution, UV rays etc. On top of that, soaps can leave our skin dull, wrinkled and prone to acne and blemishes. 

Dehydrates the skin

Do you ever feel squeaky clean after using soap? The reason may be that the soap you are using might contain sodium lauryl sulphate, a harsh surfactant that can strip your body's natural oils. That's why your skin may feel tight, post-shower.

Is Facewash Better?

With soaps being not so friendly with the skin, many people have started using facewash as an alternative. It is milder for the skin and gets extra brownie points for moisturising our face, along with cleansing.

Why you should use a facewash

There is a facewash for every skin type. This ensures that you get to put ingredients that are only suitable for your skin.

Hygienic

Bodywash is more hygienic and less messy to use compared to soaps. You just have to squeeze and pump out the product. Plus, facewash relieves you from the stress of constantly keeping it clean, when exposed to external environments like soaps. Now, even sharing the product won’t be much of a problem, right?

Listens to your skin

If you have used soaps all this while, try switching over to bodywash. You will surely see the difference. Generally. bodywashes are customised for your skin type. It has all the ingredients to keep your skin healthy and balance out any skin issues. It helps to maintain the pH balance while keeping the skin hydrated.

If you have oily skin, a skin that is shiny or greasy, the best pick would be an oil-free facewash that removes excess oil produced on the face. This also prevents any future acne or breakouts.

If you have dry skin, or if your skin feels dry, flaky and itchy, you

should go for a facewash that contains fewer or no traces of sulphate. This will replenish natural oils on the face and moisturise it.

Sensitive skin is when your skin reacts to external stimuli in the form of burning, pain, allergies and redness. The best facewash for sensitive skin would be a non-comedogenic that prevents clogging of pores and is light on the skin. Also, try choosing a fragrance-free one for less irritation. 

Though a facewash can be a bit too much for the skin, it is still considered a better alternative to a soap. In this round, clearly the facewash wins. 

Too much of anything is bad, similarly excessive cleansing poses more damage to the face than good. So, make sure to restrict cleansing your face to twice a day, so that it is not stripped off its natural oils. 

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While selecting a facewash or soaps, always check the ingredients list. Do check if they are free from harsh chemicals —  and preferably, fragrance-free as well. A milder face wash does the job of cleansing while being gentle on the face. You can still use a mild soap made of natural ingredients such as the handmade soaps from UnbottleCo, which has soaps for all your skin concerns. Skintelligent®, right?

Acne Clearing Handmade Soap Proven To Fight Acne & Dark Spots With Calendula & Neem Oil

Hi! I’m Tuco Skintelligent® 's Acne-Clearing Handmade Soap. Here are the botanical super-actives I have inside me.

To treat:

  • Calendula oil, which has antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties for soothing eczema
  • Jojoba oil promotes collagen synthesis and controls sebum production

To prevent recurrence: 

  • Chamomile acts as a powerful antioxidant which eliminate free radicals
  • Neem oil, naturally stimulates collagen production, treats acne and heals wounds

Deep Hydration Handmade Soap Proven To Fight Dry Skin With Lactic Acid & AHA 

Hi! I’m Tuco Skintelligent® 's deep hydration handmade soap. Here are the botanical super-actives I have inside me.

To treat:

  • Lactic acid is a natural AHA which helps skin elasticity and lightens dark spots
  • Sodium hyaluronate has the magical duality to moisturise skin and reduce inflammation

To prevent recurrence:

  • Arginine PCA captures skin moisture and keeps it hydrated all-day long
  • Alpha-arbutin brightens skin tone and heals skin damage
  • Tocopherol is a fantastic antioxidant to detox skin

Age Defence Handmade Soap Proven To Fight Fine Lines & Wrinkles With Grapeseed Oil 

Hi! I’m Tuco skintelligent® 's Age Defence Handmade Soap For Fine Lines & Wrinkles. Here are the botanical super-actives I have inside me.

To treat:

  • Alpha-Arbutin is as antioxidant that reduces signs of ageing
  • Grapeseed oil helps skin elasticity and flexibility

To prevent recurrence:

  • Green tea prevents inflammation and premature ageing
  • Saffron evens and brightens skin tone

To conclude, both facewash and soaps have their pros and cons. But surely facewash has an upper hand over soaps. If you are choosing a soap for your shower time, then switch to organic soaps that do not dry your skin.  

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