The concept of body and hand wash has been with us for millennia and has an interesting history. The emphasis on washing the body goes back to the Bible and earlier. John 13:10 mentions Jesus saying, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean.”
Ancient people cleansed their bodies with various plants, such as date palms, pinecones, and tamarisk. These plants contain ingredients like modern-day soap: an alkali, an oil, and an abrasive. Clay was also used to clean the body. Ebers’ papyrus, dated 1500 BC, describes combining animal and vegetable oils with alkaline salts to form a soap-like material.
Soaps are solid and have a higher pH than skin, which can strip the skin of natural oils and lead to irritation. Body washes and shower gels contain more fragrance than soaps. Soaps have been used since the third millennium BC, while body washes were invented in the 1800s.
The body wash is a derivative of liquid soap. It offers a hydrating, spa-like experience and cleans the skin of dirt, oil, makeup, and sweat. It is made with natural and synthetic ingredients, including moisturizers and essential oils. Body wash is often formulated to be pH-balanced and suitable for sensitive skin, and it differs from bar soaps, which contain harsh surfactants that can be drying for the skin.
Body washes are closer to the skin’s natural pH range and include emollients and other hydrating ingredients. They can address dryness, clogged pores, and skin flaking. Body wash ingredients are mainly water and surfactants, which are cleansing agents. These are blended with thickening agents, emulsifiers, conditioners, fragrances, essential oils, humectants, and preservatives.
Ingredients such as shea butter, aloe vera extract, glycerin, coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, and avocado oil moisturize the skin. Honey, too, could be added to seal moisture into the skin and for its antibacterial properties.
There are several types of body wash. Exfoliating beads are used on all skin types and contain exfoliating ingredients that help remove dead skin from the surface, making the skin smoother and softer. Mousse-type body washes provide a luxurious lather, and milk is good for dry skin. Washes are available in foam, gel, and lotion formats.
Surfactants bind with proteins and remove lipids from the skin surface, leading to irritation, allergic reactions, and impaired skin barrier function. Three products, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), hydrolyzed wheat protein (HWP), and polyvinylpyrrolidone/hydrolyzed wheat protein cross-polymer (PVP/HWP), were studied for their safety of use and ability to reduce irritant potential. The PVP/HWP cross-polymer in a body wash formula was seen to have the strongest ability to reduce skin irrigation potential. (Bujak, T, et al., 2015)
Body washes with Moringa oleifera leaf extract, which contains flavonoid and phenolic compounds, reduces skin irritation, and improves product safety. (Niziol-Lukaszewska, Z, et al., 2020). Saponins are a class of active substances found in plants. They are used extensively in the cosmetic industry. Bodywash containing saponin-containing plants (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Viola tricolor, and Solanum dulcamara) decreased the product’s skin irritation potential. (Niziol-Lukaszewska, Z, et al., 2018)
Hand wash
The four common types of handwash are liquid soap, antibacterial soap, antiseptic hand rub, and alcohol-based rub. The antiseptic and alcohol-based hand rub kills germs on the hands without water.
Hand washing cleans the hands with soap or handwash to remove viruses and bacteria. This class of products contains surfactants that break down oils and dirt on the skin. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate are the most common surfactants in hand washes. Some people avoid SLS because it can irritate the skin.
Cosurfactants are often added to handwashes to enhance surfactant foaming and cleaning abilities. Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) is an example of a cosurfactant used in hand washing. It is a combination of coconut fatty acids and propylene glycol. Glycerin is added to give lather while washing, and preservatives like sodium benzoate extend the shelf life of liquid soap.
Cleansers contain thickeners like sodium chloride. Petroleum-derived dyes and methylisothiazolinone are used as preservatives to inhibit bacteria growth.
Hand wash soap is thinner and less foamy. It removes dirt, grease, and germs, but some may irritate larger body areas. The body wash is milder and thicker and rinses off easily.
You will find much more in Holy Beauty on skincare, perfumes, and MedSpa procedures.