I don't want this, but maybe you do? Lush's Naked Shower Gel, which is a shower gel in a solid form. Wait, you say, isn't that bar soap? No, says Lush, but they need a wall of words to explain — how will that go over in the brick 'n mortar stores? It's shown above in one of my favorite scents, Happy Hippy, and I still would rather have it in the jar, even if the jar wastes plastic and then the plastic is in my fish and who knows where else.
If you want one, it's £9.25 for 240g at Lush's UK Kitchen. There is also Naked Rose Jam (!) and a bunch of other "naked" products from deodorant to body conditioner to a handwash called "Solid Liquid Soap". Props to Lush for making us all think about wasteful packaging, anyway.
It sounds stupid but there really is a difference between soap and detergent (which is what shower gel is, not to mention any other liquid “soap” and quite a few other cleaning products). They figured out a way to solidify surfactants, and good for them.
Here’s a fun thing to know: because soap is made from fat, oil paintings can gradually turn into soap given the right (extremely rare) conditions, and so can human corpses (Google “soap lady” if you think you can stand it).
No, I do understand there’s a difference, but functionally speaking, it works out the same for the consumer, right? And generally, people want shower gels over soap (or soap over shower gel) for functional reasons. They don’t want the bar (of whatever it is) melting in the shower, and they don’t want the mess, etc etc.
I don’t think most people want shower gel over soap because of the ingredients in the formula.
But of course perhaps I am wrong about why people prefer shower gel, and if there’s a functional difference I’m missing, my apologies…
Here is what Lush says (in the comments) about storage: “I think some people are standing them on flannels or keeping them in mason jars.” Right, that mess is why I usually end up buying shower gel instead of bar soap.
Exactly – that’s why I prefer shower gel, too. There are enough messes in my life already, I can’t handle unnecessary solidified detergent gloop sitting around! Plus, I don’t think I’d love holding that bottle and rubbing it on myself to create some lather. If I have to use soap, I prefer something smaller I can hold in my hands easily.
Robin, you are right about functionality. I like both solid and liquid soaps BUT it is easier to a few drops of a something from a jar and not spill rather than lathering up something. Plus, liquid shower gels last LONGER than solid soaps or solid detergents.
Plus, the plastic used at LUSH is #2, which is recycled everywhere in the world.
I thought my tuna tasted like Rose Jam !!!!!!
????
Robin! It’s all your fault! !!
LOLOLOL
????????????
Everything is my fault, Bear!
I read the wall of words and I still don’t get it. Is it a soap-like exterior with some kind of semi-soft stuff on the inside? Or is it basically soap shaped like a bottle?
It’s detergent (not soap) solidified and molded into the shape of a bottle. Because it isn’t soap, you can use it in your hair.
An interesting idea, but I bet it gets super gloppy after awhile. I like how Yves Rocher sells large refill bags of some of their shower gels, like Hamamelis (my fave), and I can simply refill a nice glass pump bottle with it. Cheaper and less plastic for the landfill.
Gotcha – thank you for the clarification!