Bath Soaps & Cleaning

[seedub]

Dr. Squatch

Sooo...I finally was coaxed by the creative, clever commercials on YouTube and Facebook (and there are very few three minute ads I will sit through without clicking Skip), and got me some Squatch. These ads make it appear that all products can be had only with a subscription. But, when I got ready to check out, I was happy to see that their products are available for one-time, "a la carte" purchase.

I bought a pat of the bar soap in Bay Rum "flavor" for $7 USD which I felt was reasonable for a specialty, boutique soap. I liked the concept of all-organic ingredients. I wanted to test their claim that their soap does not dry out the skin. Mated with my mechanically softened household water supply, this meant that I could ditch the store brand lotion I have been using for my chronically dry skin.

I was disappointed. My skin was actually *DRIER* after using it...much drier. The commercials tout the scent as being something like a replacement of cologne or other scents; but, it has a very faint scent that's barely noticeable. I don't wear cologne as it makes me sick to the stomach after smelling it for several hours so that might be a good thing. But, the Old Spice Red Zone hair and body wash I'd been using for three years has a bolder smell that lasts eight hours according to the bottle, without getting cloying like cologne does.

I can recommend Old Spice because it rinses freely and easily away. Considering toilet soap in general, I have no favorite brand and buy what's cheapest or has a good sale or coupon. I like the scent ("Swagger" is my favorite "flavor"), and Procter and Gamble regularly offers aggressive discounts which make it competitive with less expensive brands.

**TLDR**, and back to Dr Squatch: I wish to make clear that my results may not be what others experience - it dried out my skin; it may do as advertised for others. I've not made a decision about whether I will buy more. I'd like to try both the Pine Tar and the Spearmint Basil Scrub. Again: I like that everything is organic. I am looking at picking up their deodorant offering seeing as I have a reaction that makes it impossible for me to use anything but Arm & Hammer or Tom's Of Maine. But, I was...a taste disappointed.

 

[lakewebsterkid]

Body Wash

In the summer I use Neutrogena Rain Bath. It lathers great, smells very herbal and clean, and leaves your skin very fresh and free of residue, but does strip your skin more than I prefer in the winter. No polyquats here!
During the winter I use Aveeno unscented. It leaves my skin far more hydrated, but does coat it slightly with glycerin. This is just too much during the summer.

As far as face lotion goes, CeraVe Retinol Serum is by far the best.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

"Neutrogena Hydro-Boost water gel (that one with tons of hyaluronic acid that you feel "frying" your face the moment you rub it."

I'll have to check that out.

Here's my list:

Oxy-Wash 10% benzoyl peroxide
Neutragena 3% salicylic acid shampoo
Lava bar soap
Sulphur soap when I can find it for a good price

My 'moisturizer' is Tretinoin 0.1%

Can you tell that dry skin is NOT a problem for me?

 

[thomasortega]

Warmsecondrinse, that thing is awesome.

Best of all, it doesn't leave that greasy feel behind. It disappears co.mpletely in a couple of minutes.

 

[chachp]

Dr. Squatch

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">I, too, was taken in by the Dr. Squatch videos so I tried their shampoo, conditioner and tar bar soap.  The bar soap was OK but the shampoo and conditioner sent my psoriasis and/or allergies to overdrive.  It is really highly scented with something minty.  My head was literally burning which normally doesn't happen to me and never has on my scalp.  I am also allergic to some essential oils so whatever was going on with it, I couldn't continue using it.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hubby uses the Nivea for men and I use a Philosophy product called "Amen".  I like the scent and it doesn't bother me.  We have a glass door on the shower and the combination of these products and our soft water don't seem to leave much on the shower door.  We keep a squeegee in the shower and I run it down the door when I'm finished and that helps too.  I don't clean the shower so I don't know exactly what we use to clean it.</span>

 

[polkanut]

[COLOR=#333333; font-family: 'Amazon Ember', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: 400]I usually stock up with several bottles when we're near a TJ's.  I've been using it for about 5 years now, and still love it.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#333333; font-family: 'Amazon Ember', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: 400]This description is from Trader Joe's website:[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#333333; font-family: 'Amazon Ember', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: 400]"All for One and One for all! Multitaskers unite! Presenting Trader Joe's new 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash all-in-one-bottle. This unique and versatile product was created for deep cleaning, while maintaining a soft, hydrated feel for your hair and body. It has a fresh scent with notes of bergamot, lemon, sage, clary, ginger and jasmine. It was designed for the whole family pH balanced, color safe, hypoallergenic and no harsh chemicals. Now all you have to decide is what to do with the time you save!"[/COLOR]

[this post was last edited: 12/27/2020-11:02]

 

[seedub]

Reply# 20

Thanks for the tip on face cream. I need to read back through and see whether there are any other suggestions. For an anti-wrinkle treatment, I've been using Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair cream. But, I don't know if that's the best, and have been looking around.

Possibly, that should be a separate standalone post.

 

[kb0nes]

All my soap scum issues when away when I eliminated bar soap from the house. Even a detergent bar like Zest left some film. In the shower I use a shampoo conditioner as my only bodywash. Only one product to buy this way and if its safe on my head it is on the rest of me too. I get it in bulk from the local Coop so I don't even waste the plastic bottles!

 

[mrsalvo]

Thank-you for all the posts, sorry for the delay in getting back, holidays ya know. I read each post very carefully.

I've eliminated bar soaps last week and switched to a liquid hand soap that I had on hand for right now, Zest. I did buy a large bottle of SoftSoap body wash that I'm anxious to try, not crazy about the scent but if it works I'll be satisfied.
I also bought a knock-off of Scrubbing Bubbles to wipe clean the tub, a once over. I hope it works, as I can't afford to get down in my back. Since I used Zest bar I've noticed the tub surface is dull now, the sheen, when clean, is gone. I was using Bon Ami and bleach spray to scrub it down, in the past it has always given excellent results in bringing back the sheen and shine. I'm a little upset over this. I'm going to keep working with it, to bring it back.

It's taking some getting used to with the liquid, feel that I can't get rinsed off good, that slippery feeling. So I'm spending longer in the shower. Skin feels drier.

Barry

 

[mrboilwash]

So I'm spending longer in the shower. Skin feels drier.

Some shower gels will leave a slippery feel from the skin conditioning agents left on the skin which cannot be removed by rinsing, others will give the impression to "rinse clean".

No matter which type someone prefers you shouldn`t stay longer in the shower, because you`d only dry out your skin. Just rinse as thoroughly as you`d do with soap and you`re good.

 

[DADoES]

 
Skin feels a bit slippery if the natural oils/sebum aren't stripped completely off and no soap-scum residue remains.

why does softened water feel slimy?

 

[robbinsandmyers]

I tried Dr. Squatch early on when they were bombarding FB with their commercials. I tried the Pine Tar and Bay Rum bars. First thing I noticed was how SMALL those damned things are! Not a good value for the price. Bay Rum was OK but the Pine Tar left me feeling pretty clean and I loved the smell. Problem was the damned bar lasted 2 weeks tops. And if I left it on the shelf where the shower stream hit it I noticed the water running down the side of the stall was black from the bar eroding and it lasted only a week! I switched to Shea Moisture African black soap with shea butter because my skin gets drier than the Sahara in winter and this is the only thing that prevents that soap wise. I still have to slather on moisturizing cream head to toe after a shower though. Out of all the soaps mentioned here which ones are best for severe dry skin?

 

[sudsmaster]

Easy Peasy

I have a detachable shower head on a hose. For regular washing, it stays in place where a fixed shower head normally is. But to wash certain body areas (use your imagination there) I detach it and set it anywhere from gentle to massage stream. That handles the body cleaning very well.

But I've also discovered it's very important at the end of the shower to use the gentle spray to rinse down all the shower stall interior surfaces. This pretty much prevents soap scum and body soils from building up inside the stall. About once a year I have to get in there with a scrub brush, but it's minimal. Before that the shower stall was hard to keep clean.

I've forgotten the brand shower massage head I have in the master bath. It's very simple, just a gentle spray and a more focused massaging central spray. All I need. The handle says "Sansu" on it, but I've not been able to find that on Google. Any brand really would do, I think. I like this one because it's simple and doesn't seem to wear out like some more complicated ones I've had. I recall I got it at Orchard Supply Hardware, it was discounted for some reason. Simple is better, I think.