Shower Gel vs. Body Wash: Uses & Benefits of Shower Gel

Shower gel. It’s a product you’ve probably seen in the bath aisle or at a hotel.

But what actually is shower gel? Is it the same thing as body wash? What are the benefits of using it? And should it be a part of your daily shower routine?

If you’re looking for answers to any of these questions, you’re in luck! Follow along in this comprehensive spa expert’s guide on everything to know about shower gel.

What is shower gel?

Shower gel is a liquid cleansing product for washing the full body during a shower. High-quality shower gels are formulated to be gentle on the skin, often containing moisturizers, fragrances, and plant-based ingredients.

Typically, shower gel can be applied by hand or with a sponge, washcloth, or loofah to create a lather and wash away impurities.

What is the difference between shower gel and body wash?

Like body wash, shower gel is designed to cleanse the full body. However, the products differ in their texture. Shower gel, as the name implies, has a firmer, gel-like texture. Body washes tend to be creamier upon application.

What do shower gel and body wash have in common?

There are many similarities between body wash and gel. Both these cleansing shower products:

can be applied to your entire body while bathing or showering to remove impurities like dirt, oil, dead skin cells, and pollutants from the skin’s surface.
often contain fragrance to leave skin smelling fresh and clean.
typically have moisturizing agents to leave skin feeling comfortable and hydrated.

If you want body wash, consider the Relaxing Bath and Shower Concentrate, a tension-melting body wash carefully crafted by spa experts using aromatic essential oils. If you’re still leaning towards using a gentle shower gel, follow-along below.

What are the benefits of using shower gel?

It’s simple; a high-quality body wash made with plant-based ingredients can leave your body feeling and smelling wildly-refreshed. Clarins Labs’ blends of essential oils and plant extracts can revitalize your body and mind with visibly softer and cleaner skin.

Spa tip: if you’re taking a shower or bath after a day at the pool or beach, another benefit of shower gel can be after sun care. After Sun Shower Gel will remove every last trace of sunscreen, salt, chlorine odors, and sand from your face, body, and hair.

How to use shower gel?

Applying shower gel is simple. Enter the shower, pour a small amount onto your hands, washcloth, shower sponge, or loofah, work into a lather across the body, and rinse.

Be sure to check your shower gel bottle for more specific instructions based on the product’s capabilities and ingredients. In some instances, you may be able to apply it to the face and even your hair, but commonly, shower gels are meant specifically for the body.

What are the best shower gels to consider?

The experts at Clarins Labs have carefully blended powerful plant-extracts into a variety of shower gel products with various benefits for the skin and pleasant scents.

Consider these options crafted using 70+ years of skincare expertise to find your ideal shower gel that will have you smelling good and feeling refreshed:

1. Tonic Citrus Foaming Gel

If you’re looking for a fragrant shower gel that evokes feelings of happiness and leaves your skin feeling soft and clean, Tonic Citrus Foaming Gel is the shower product for you. It will brighten your mood with uplifting scents of Orange, Coriander, Caraway, Rosemary and Patchouli.

2. Wonder Fig Foaming Gel

Wonder Fig Foaming Gel is extremely refreshing with its invigorating green essence of Fig.

This foaming shower gel blends Blackcurrant, Ivy, Fig Leaf, Tea Tonka Beans and Musk to leave skin comfortable, supple, and soft.

3. After Sun Shower Gel

After Sun Shower Gel is the perfect option after a day at the beach, in the pool, or after a workout. This sun skincare product fully removes UV traces, sunscreen, sand, chlorine odors, and pollutants.

Why are after sun products important for your skin? Find out everything you need to know in this beauty expert guide.

4. Sweet Neroli Foaming Gel

The sweet, floral bouquet will soothe your senses with Sweet Neroli – a delicate blend of Bergamot, Petitgrain, Orange Blossom, Freesia and Musk. Aloe Vera and Soapwort extracts create a fine, silky, lightweight formula.

It leaves the skin feeling incredibly comfortable, soft, and supple.

What other products do you need in your shower routine?

In addition to a cleansing shower gel, other high-quality bath and shower products to incorporate into your routine include:

Shampoo: cleanse and visibly revitalize the hair and scalp with detoxifying shampoo like Invigorating Shine Gel Shampoo with Ginseng. Plant-based shampoos can leave hair soft, purified, and shiny.
Conditioner: leave your hair nourished, detangled, and full of body and shine with conditioners like Invigorating Shine Hair Conditioner with Shea Butter.
Shower Milk: Revitalizing and comforting shower milk products like Eau Ressourçante Comforting Shower Milk and Eau Extraordinaire Revitalizing Shower Milk are made with aromatic essential oils that can cleanse, soften, and soothe the body.

Smell good and feel great with Clarins shower gel

Discover the joy of smelling good and feeling great every day with Clarins shower gel – your simple step towards a refreshing and luxurious shower experience.

FAQs

What shower gels smell good?

Shower gels with fruity and floral scents can leave you smelling as good as you feel after a shower.

Clarins Labs carefully picked fruity ingredients like Fig and Orange and floral ingredients like Sweet Neroli (a gentle blend of Petitgrain Bergamot, Orange Blossom, Freesia and Musk) to craft plant-based shower gels that smell great.

Is shower gel for the body and hair?

Typically, shower gels are meant to be applied on the skin. Unless the product specifically mentions use for hair like After Sun Shower Gel, you should only use shower gel on your body and stick with shampoo and conditioner for your hair.

How to apply shower gel?

The right shower gel routine depends on your preferences. You can lather using your hand, or opt for a loofah, washcloth, or bath sponge to apply the shower gel throughout your body, armpits, feet, and groin.