What is the difference between a shower cream and a shower gel?
At Sanex, we love a shower as much as you do. It’s a chance to unwind or set us up for the day. That’s why we believe in creating shower products to help you and your skin get the most from the experience. But, when you shower, which shower product should you choose: A shower cream or a shower gel?
Even though both products are skin cleansers, they each have their own benefits. They have different textures, formulas and ingredients and are created to look after your skin in different ways. Carry on reading to discover more about the differences and benefits of shower cream vs shower gel.
What is shower cream?
Some people think of a shower cream as an in-shower moisturiser. That’s because many shower creams have been formulated with moisturising ingredients to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and protected.
A shower cream will usually look and feel more like a moisturiser and will leave your body feeling moisturised when you step out of the shower. So, if you’ve ever wondered: what is shower cream used for, you’ll find many people use it to nourish and moisturise dry or sensitive skin. If you decide to use a shower cream, look out for extra moisturising ingredients on the bottle.
What is a shower gel?
You’re most probably very familiar with shower gels. They’re usually a clear colour, have a gel-like texture and consistency and foam up really easily when you apply it to your body or a loofa. Mostly, They don’t feel as “creamy” as a shower cream, but that doesn’t mean some of them aren’t great at moisturising your skin. If you decide to use this option, take a look at the shower gel ingredients to determine which one is best for your skin type. You’ll usually be able to see this on the front of the packaging.
What is the difference between the two?
As you can see from above, there are differences between a shower cream vs shower gel. They have different consistencies, appearances, textures and ingredients. Even though both of them may do similar jobs, you might want to choose a product like the soothing Sanex Expert Skin Health Sensitive Shower Cream if you have a sensitive skin type. If you have a dry skin type, you could try our Sanex Zero% Dry Skin Shower Gel, which helps to minimise skin dryness with every shower.
Not all bath foam is created equal, and some can even leave your skin feeling dry and irritated, so it’s important to understand what ingredients go into them. By doing this, you can make sure those cloud-like bubbles look after and nourish your skin to keep it healthy.
Each skin type has different needs when it comes to bath foam. Sensitive or atopic skin types need a mild bubble bath or bath cream formula with fewer ingredients that could potentially leave your skin feeling irritated. If you have dry skin, you’ll want to try a moisturising bath foam or even a bath cream. And, if you have a normal skin type, you’ll want to use a bath cream or bath foam that helps to keep your skin performing at its healthy best.
Which is better: shower cream vs shower gel?
There’s no exact or clear answer to this question. The debate over shower cream vs shower gel will very much depend on your personal preference. However, what you should consider when choosing one, is your skin type and the climate. A shower cream is great for dry or sensitive skin, which can be linked to cold climates. They contain ingredients like glycerine, petroleum and mineral oil that are brilliant at moisturising your skin.
If you live in a warm climate, you might notice that you have an oily or acne prone skin type. If this is the case, you might want to choose a shower gel specifically for this skin type. Some shower gel ingredients you can look out for are mint, aloe or cucumber, which have cooling effects.
If you’re wondering, “what type of skin do I have”, take our skin type finder test to discover yours.
Discover our range of shower creams and shower gels
Sanex Expert Skin Health Pro Hydrate Shower Cream
If you have a very dry skin type, this is the shower cream for you. It’s been expertly developed to protect your skin’s natural barrier and its natural hydration. It’s also been formulated with a prebiotic and postbiotic complex to support your skin’s microbiome, helping to keep it healthy.
Sanex Expert Skin Health Sensitive Shower Cream
This shower cream has been dermatologically tested and specifically developed to help soothe sensitive skin. It’s SLS free and respects your skin’s natural pH, while leaving your skin less prone to dryness after each shower.
Sanex Zero% Kids Head to Toe Wash
Our paediatrician approved kids’ body wash has been specially developed to care for your little one’s delicate skin. It’s been made with a 99% biodegradable formula and is free from fragrance, sulphates, colourants and soap. The tear-free formula provides 8 hours of hydration to help your little one’s skin feel soft and smooth.