The main differences are in the cleansing agents: body bars use saponified oils, while shower gels often contain sulphates.
The basics: how do they cleanse?
A solid body bar and a liquid shower gel have the same goal: cleansing your skin. But do this in fundamentally different ways.
Body bars (or soap bars) are made by saponifying plant-based oils. This process, called saponification, converts oils into soap plus glycerine. The result is a product that gently cleanses without drying out the skin.
Shower gels are water-based and therefore need synthetic cleansing agents (surfactants) to cleanse. The most common are sulphates such as SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate).
Ingredient comparison
| Aspect | Body Bar | Shower Gel |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Saponified oils | Water + surfactants |
| Cleansing | Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Olivate | SLS, SLES, Cocamidopropyl Betaine |
| Preservation | Usually not needed (no water) | Parabens, Phenoxyethanol |
| Packaging | Minimal (paper/cardboard) | Plastic bottle |
Why choose a body bar?
For those who want to avoid sulphates, a body bar offers an alternative. The saponified oils cleanse effectively but are gentler than synthetic surfactants.
Additionally, body bars have practical benefits: they need no preservatives (no water = no bacterial growth), they last a long time, and they have minimal packaging.
Our approach
Our body bars contain exclusively saponified plant oils (coconut oil, olive oil), butters (shea butter) and essential oils for fragrance. No sulphates, no parabens, no synthetic fragrance. View the full ingredient list.
Last updated: 2026-02-02