Conventional soaps consist of animal or vegetable fats (for example coconut oil or olive oil) and alkaline solutions – i.e. a lye with which they are cooked. A solid shower gel, on the other hand, may look like a bar of soap, but it is to be understood differently: it is a classic shower gel from which the water has been removed. In other words, the nourishing ingredients are still the same. The difference is that the solid form is significantly more economical: Depending on consumption, a solid shower gel of 100 grams should replace two to three bottles of 250 milliliters each. And those aren’t all the advantages that even convinced the consumer magazine Öko-Test.
In addition to yield, the ecological balance also plays an important role: unlike classic products, solid shower gel does not use plastic – instead it is packed in small cardboard boxes. In addition, most brands (regardless of whether they are conventional or certified organic) avoid problematic and critical ingredients: silicones and paraffins, preservatives, PEG compounds and synthetic polymers. This means that people and the environment benefit equally when you switch to solid shower gel.
Öko-Test tested a total of 30 different products, including 16 certified natural cosmetic products. A total of 21 test products received the top grade (i.e. “very good”), such as Lavera and Greendoor. But solid shower gel from conventional manufacturers was also able to convince the testers: including brands such as Nature Box and Bebe. However, the popular shower care products from Foamie, which had previously scored “very good” in the test, were only rated “satisfactory”.
The application here is no different than a classic body soap: Take the solid shower gel in your hand, rub it between your wet fingers (until it begins to foam) and distribute the foam over the skin. Alternatively, you can slide the shower block directly over the wet body in circular movements and thus distribute the foam evenly. Then rinse off the shower gel as usual.
To prevent the solid piece of shower gel from breaking over time, it is an advantage to store the product correctly – for example in an airy sisal soap bag that you hang on a hook in the bathroom (near the shower). This means it can be stored in a dry place without the risk of slowly softening. Alternatively, you can use a regular soap dish with small holes in the bottom to help water drain away.
Source: Öko-Test
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