Bath and shower soaps: alternatives for healthy skin

Remember when everyone unwrapped a bar of hand soap while preparing to take a bath? Those days are long gone, with more people taking showers than hopping in the tub these days--And now they can choose from a wide selection of cleansers for body washing. Here are some of the possibilities, which make nice gifts in addition to useful hygiene products.

1. Bar none--with an attitude. If you prefer the solid feel of old-fashioned bar soap, you can still buy it everywhere in one of several recent iterations. There are hand soaps that contain lotion, streaks, speckles, and germ-killers. You can find tiny ones at hotels or motels and regular-size bar soap at the supermarket. You can even buy king-size bars that last forever! Some come with a scent while others claim to be scent- and dye-free. The good thing about bar soap is you can get your fingers around it. The bad thing is it can become slippery when wet and will slide around on the shower floor or tub surface. You may want a plastic storage container between bathing sessions.

2. Liquid soap. Also known as pump soap, you can find numerous scents and types to choose from if this is your preference. Fruit flavors like peach, strawberry, and apple might be mixed with herbs such as chamomile or ginseng. Then there are those with flavor, such as almond or vanilla. Liquid soap usually comes in an attractive color, although you can buy the clear version as well. Most types are thick enough to stick to your skin but thin enough to ooze from the pump. You'll like the ease with which it squirts into your hand, but you it will be difficult getting those last few drops from the bottom of the container.

3. Gel or squeeze cleanser. Like manipulating toothpaste from a tube, squeeze soap can be forced from a tubal opening into the palm of your hand for ready usage. It's a good idea to set it upside down on the cap so that gravity can pull down the contents and make it easier for you to squeeze out the soap instead of waiting for it to creep toward the cap from the bottom of the tube. You may need to rub a daub of this into your washcloth to make a lather before wiping it onto your body. The down side is the potential mess that can result if a bit drips on the side of the container, which can make it sticky and slippery.

4. Bath beads, pellets, or globes. These types of gelatin-type soap are formed into small shapes that resemble capsules. While running a tub of fresh, hot water, you simply throw in a handful of these products and watch the lather flow. Available in an assortment of colors, shapes, and scents, they are pretty enough to stack in a jar or bowl near the tub to await your use. However, this type of cleanser can clump in the water or fail to dissolve completely. In a warm or humid bathroom, they also may stick together in the container, though they should easily separate with a gentle tug.

5. Bath crystals or flakes. This dry, powdery type of cleanser has been around for quite a while, emerging in previous decades as a kids' bathtub cleanser. Often packaged in see-through containers, these items like others are dyed and perfumed, and may irritate sensitive skin. Follow package directions to use the correct amount and avoid the potential drying effect on your skin.

With plentiful brands of scented and pretty soaps to choose from, no one has an excuse for not bathing. Experiment with several forms of cleanser until you find one you want to stick with. Or keep rotating them to try something new on a regular basis and bath time will never get boring!