Soap, Body Wash, and Feeling Clean

Episode #4 of the course Men’s guide to grooming and style by Eddy Larkson

 

Welcome to Day 4 of the course! Today, we will be tackling how to clean yourself and get rid of dirt, grime, and stench.

Many guys complain about body odor and believe that they just inherited genes for it. However, in most cases, the truth is that guys are lazy and not properly washing themselves in the bath or shower.

So, let’s talk about the basic rules of cleaning yourself.

 

Bar Soap

There are several kinds of soap. A good bar soap:

• lathers easily

• smells great

• is natural (or organic) and free from chemicals like parabens, as specified in Day 1 of our course

• lasts at least 1.5 weeks of use if you shower twice a day or three weeks if you shower once a day

• nourishes your skin or even helps detoxify it with ingredients like activated charcoal

Some newer bar soaps actually allow to exfoliate your body and get rid of dead skin cells. Great exfoliating ingredients that may be included in bar soaps are: oatmeal, crushed olive seed, jojoba meal, pumice, and lava rock. If your bar soap has any of these or other noticeable exfoliating beads, you won’t need to use any additional body scrub.

 

Bar Soap or Body Wash?

Some people think bar soaps are easier to get bacteria or “germs” on them, but other believe that body wash does not provide as much moisture to your skin as bar soap. It really comes down to preference, as both are perfectly fine.

Exfoliating bar soaps are tough to beat simply because they can polish off dead skin cells, but there are also newer releases of body washes with gentle exfoliates in them, so I recommend trying and seeing in practice what’s best for you.

Now, let’s talk about the correct way to wash yourself and some mistakes to avoid.

 

How to Easily Clean Yourself

Here are a few tips to get rid of stink and effectively clean yourself from head to toe:

• Don’t rush to get your shower over with and just slap some soap over your skin. Be gentle and use warm (not hot) water to create a lather with soap so you can remove dirt.

• Squirt a dime-sized amount of body gel (or create small lather in your hands from your bar soap, but don’t actually use the physical bar here), and wash your underarm areas to remove any deodorant.

• Don’t use your body wash (or soap bar) on your face, unless it specifies that it is gentle enough for that purpose.

• Actually wash your legs and feet (this can have huge impact on removing stink, and it’s something most guys don’t bother with!).

• Use a fresh towel each time you shower, to prevent bacteria from spreading on your skin.

 

Scents of Your Soap/Body Wash

What truly makes any kind of soap stand out is its scent. Some masculine favorites of mine include scents of cedar wood or oak moss if you prefer a woodsy smell, or thyme and blue lotus if you want an energizing herby smell. If you have trouble with insomnia, try a soap that has lavender essential oil in it. If you have trouble staying awake in the morning, try a soap with peppermint oil to wake you up.

 

Key Takeaways

If you prefer bar soaps, try to use one with exfoliants such as oatmeal to remove dead skin. If you prefer body wash, use one that emphasizes providing moisture to your skin, as those can sometimes dry your skin out. Use soap/body wash with essential oils like eucalyptus or lavender to help you wake up or fall asleep, respectively!

Tomorrow, we will talk about picking your perfect cologne and commanding the room by smelling irresistible!

 

Recommended reading

What’s the greener choice, bar soap or body wash?

 

Recommended book

MANMADE: The Essential Skincare & Grooming Reference for Every Man by Chris Salgardo

 

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