What if our skincare routines didn’t have to be long drawn out processes to receive the results we want? What if technology could finally change how we take care of our bodies and not just our faces? What if we could elevate the mundane shower experience to that akin to a day at the spa or a long bath with candles?

I’m here to tell you that a body wash infused sponge can achieve all that and more!

From the immediate benefits to the long-term ones, a body wash infused sponge will make your day easier and keep your body washing tools cleaner.

Spongélle’s patented body wash delivery system is manufactured right into every buffer we make!

How does a body wash infused in a sponge work?

Body wash infused sponges are used the same way a traditional sponge is used, except that the body wash is inside of the sponge and no extra body wash application is needed.

You simply wet the sponge to lather and get going cleaning and exfoliating the body. This eliminates the need to pause your routine to add extra product before you continue sudsing up and scrubbing down. Thus eliminating the need to have a shelf full of body wash. 

One simple product does it all.

The patented Spongellé system allows body wash to lather from the inside out when water is applied to the sponge. What you get is a deeply moisturizing, spa-like exfoliation and cleansing all in one product.

Why you should choose a body wash infused sponge over traditional sponge and body wash methods:

• It’s convenient. No need to stock your shower with other products for exfoliation or cleansing. These sponges range to last 5+ to 30 + washes, depending on the buffer’s size and design.

• It’s hygienic. Sponges get gross after a while. If not allowed to dry properly, they can become a home for all the bacteria you’ve just washed off your skin. Spongelle buffers come with a strap or string to make it easy to hang your sponge in a ventilated area so it can dry between uses; also, once the sponge has lost its sudsing power, that is a good indication that it is time to replace your sponge, which should be replaced monthly.

• It gets the job done and well. It gently exfoliates to remove dead skin cells from your skin’s outermost layer while cleansing and hydrating.

• It is packed with amazing extracts and perfectly formulated to fight dryness, aging, and help fight off free-radicals.

• It saves you time. These sponges take an in-depth treatment like full-body exfoliation and pack it into your regular cleansing routine, shaving hours off your skincare routine each week.

• It saves you money. No need to purchase a separate tool for exfoliation, a separate body wash, and a separate sponge. This is an all in one tool.

• It will help keep your skin clean and clear by keeping bacteria away with its hygienic design and by regularly and gently buffing off dead skin cells and deep cleaning pores.

• You can subscribe to Spongellé’s Auto-Replenish subscription service and set it and forget it and receive your new sponge just as your previous sponge runs out of lather.

• You can enjoy a luxurious spa-like experience without leaving your home or setting aside a whole day to achieve it.

Even more reasons to try a body wash infused buffer from Spongellé:

Spongellé’s products meld skincare with affordable luxury and technology. The products are soy-based, totally vegan, cruelty-free, and environmentally friendly.

Body buffers are packed with age-defying, free-radical fighting and hydrating extracts like Edelweiss, Yuzu, and Vetiver and a slew of intoxicatingly delicious scents for an absolutely lush and pampering shower experience.

There is no shortage of scents and experiences to choose from.

With 50+ scents to choose from, you can find a buffer that transforms your bathing experience into a full-on oasis at the click of a button.

The eco-friendly buffers of the Spongology line are relaxing and made with gorgeous, non-synthetic scents. 

Choose from lavender, coconut, rose, geranium, olibanum, or tuberose for your next bathing experience. This line also includes a body wash infused back buffer and contouring glove for all those hard to reach places that need some extra love.

If you’re having a hard time choosing a scent, try to think about the aromatherapy of each specific scent. For example:

• Choose lavender to shake off the stress and relax. Let the calm wash over you.

• Go for a rose scent to reduce anxiety and to reinvigorate your soul.

 

• Olibanum, or frankincense, has a woody, sweet aroma that will help you clarify your thoughts and improve your mood.

So when choosing a body wash sponge, ask yourself how the scent you choose could improve your positive mindset and ease any current mental stress you may be carrying.

Florals more your fancy? We can’t get enough of these romantic Eastern European folk-art inspired limited edition buffers. Each buffer in the collection has been designed to transport you to a time of decadence as you treat yourself to its triple butter body wash infused magic.

Have the holidays on your brain and getting ready for cooler temps and warm pies straight from the oven? Spongelle’s Bourbon Vanilla and Pumpkin Spice buffers will get you warmed up in luscious autumnal suds in no time.

If you are at a loss for the best choice in scent for your next buffer, you can always try out our best-seller, the summery scent of relaxing Beach Grass. This scent comes in a Boxed Flower, a Pedi Buffer, and a Travel Buffer format so you can have your favorite scent for every shower on the go or give it as a gift to others.

Still not sure which scent is right for you? Take the Spongelle Fragrance Quiz to help narrow down the choices to scents that will quickly become your new favorite obsession.

Looking for something for each member of the family?

We have an entire line of kids sponges in animal shapes infused with a blended fruity scent of crisp apple, watermelon, and pear. These cute squishy and sudsy buffers make bath time fun and a time saver. 

Choose from a duck, a butterfly, or a fish. And, if you just can’t decide which is cutest, go for the assorted pack which contains all three animals.

Get your little one involved in the process and watch the buffer fill with foamy bubbles while they squeeze the wet buffer. You’ll save time and energy making sure your kids are clean.

The men’s line of Super, Extreme, and Supreme buffers is perfectly designed to get through tough, rough hard-working skin while creating a rejuvenating experience for the guys. These multi-use buffers are conveniently attached to a rope loop for easy shower hanging. And, it can be taken through airport security without a hitch.

Specialized buffers for your most high-traffic skin: hands and feet!

Hand Defense buffers were created to deep clean the hands, fight off germs with the antibacterial properties of tea tree oil, while smoothing and softening the hands through the use of shea butter and oat extracts. Washing our hands, which we now do more than ever, is one of the harshest cleansing processes we do to our body. Take back your hand health while fighting off germs and viruses.

Pedi buffers are specially formulated to soften tough, cracked heels with mineral and antioxidant-rich sea kelp which also helps retain moisture in the skin. These all-in-one pedi buffers include everything but the nail technician making it easy to treat yourself to a spa-like treatment from the comfort of your own home.

Body wash in a sponge works best! 

No matter your busy schedule or skin type, adding in an effective exfoliation, cleansing, and hydration routine doesn’t have to be a long, drawn-out chore. 

When technology and skincare meet, you can transform your regular shower into a home spa treatment in as little as fifteen minutes! So throw away your old dingy loofahs and say goodbye to the waterlogged washcloth while you let the body wash infused buffer do the heavy lifting. 

Body buffers make light work of our daily grime without adding any stress or mess to our already full capacity lives. 

It’s easy to choose a buffer that inspires you with its lavish scent or to simply make bath time fun for the littles. Buffers allow us an opportunity to give back to your skin, ensuring that it is healthy and vibrant without any of the added fuss of purchasing more products or tools.

Sources:

https://www.intheknow.com/2020/03/30/this-exfoliating-sponge-comes-infused-with-your-body-wash-of-choice/ 

https://www.pinterest.com/karrellmoore/soap-infused-sponge/ 

https://wholesale.thegrommet.com/spongelle-boxed-flower-infused-body-wash-buffer-1 

Hopping in the shower to wash the day away should be an easy task — water + soap + loofah. But did you know the cleanser you are using might not be right for your skin?

The difference between soap and body wash is real, and depending on your skin type, could be doing more damage than good in the cleaning department y’all.

Choosing the right cleanser for your body is the first step in caring for our skin. The market is oversaturated with hundreds of options to choose from so let’s talk about some of the differences and similarities between soap and body wash to help make those choices just a little bit easier.

Bar Soap vs. Body Wash

The main difference between soap and body wash is not only how they are made, but how they interact with your skin. Both soap and body wash cleanse the body, but bar soap can be harsher on the skin, and it can even be less hygienic. More on that later. 

Soap can remove our skin’s natural oil barrier of essential lipids and proteins, and even alter the skin’s pH level, which causes dry, itchy, red skin irritation.

Bar soap by nature is less hygienic than body wash because all that lovely bacteria we are washing off our hands and body bonds with the water and the soap to lift it and remove it from the skin. If the soap is stored improperly, it is the perfect hook up spot for all that nasty bacteria.

It’s good practice to store the soap in a clean, dry dish that can drain. Keep your bar soap away from pooling water where all that lovely bacteria can live and flourish. 

This sounds crazy, but you should definitely wash your bar of soap before using it, especially if it has been hanging out in a pool of water. Body wash avoids this problem altogether by not coming into contact with the skin directly. 

But hold on for a second. We aren’t out of the woods yet Snow White. A whole different set of bacterial problems arises when we use tools like loofahs and washcloths to apply the body wash to our bodies. 

Whether plant-based or plastic, if the loofah is never allowed to dry out completely, it becomes the absolutely perfect breeding ground for bacteria. A bacterial hotel and day spa is not a good look y’all. 

Loofahs have an expiration date and should be replaced monthly. Otherwise, you are simply rubbing all the bacteria just removed from your skin back into your skin surrounded by the cleansing disguise of fluffy, cleansing bubbles. 

So let’s look at a little bit of the history of soap and body wash so we can get this mess cleaned up and start making the right decisions for our skin.

A Brief History of Soap

Bar soap has been around for thousands and thousands of years with one of the earliest written recipes for soap in Babylon in 2800 BC. This soap was likely made of animal fat and wood ash and used mostly to clean wool for weaving. 

In the 1800s, a Frenchman identified an interconnection between fats, acid, and glycerin, which marked the beginning of modern soap making.

In 1837 in Cincinnati, a candlemaker, William Procter naturally expanded his business from lighting to soap. He formed a company that would ultimately become, along with future partner James Gamble, the world’s largest consumer goods company.

Fast forward to the 1950s when soap became a more industrialized chemical process that moved away from animal fats, and by the 1970s, liquid soap was on the market.

Soap and body wash has come a very long way since the 1970’s y’all. Less harsh ingredients are used overall as companies focus on skincare and not just cleansing. 

To settle this debate, we are going to have to lay out the pros and cons of each:

The Pros of Bar Soap:

• Cheap.
• Usually sustainably packaged.
• Last for a long time when stored right.

The Cons of Bar Soap:

• Can easily house bacteria.
• Can remove the natural oil layer from the skin.
• Harsher than body wash and not great for dry or sensitive skin.

The Pros of Body Wash:

• Convenient packaging keeps bacteria out.
• Usually made with moisturizing ingredients.
• Water-based to help hydrate while cleansing.

The Cons of Body Wash:

• Usually more expensive for way fewer washes than soap.
• The packaging is recyclable, but not sustainable.
• Has to be used with a loofah or washcloth for best results.

As you can see, both have their share of pros and cons, but if we are talking about a better product overall to use, it looks like body wash wins! While bar soap may be more economical, it’s always better to get something of better quality to protect and replenish our skin’s natural moisturizers.

Also, if you’re careful to properly dry your dispensing tool for your body wash, you’ll be less likely to harbor bad bacteria as bar soap does. The whole point, after all, is to wash away bacteria, not introduce more of it to your body.

You’ll also love your skin while using body wash. Bar soap does not really moisturize your skin as well as body wash, and you may get out of the shower and feel your skin is too dry.

That’s why it’s so important to ensure there’s a proper moisturizer in whatever product you choose to use on your precious, protective skin.

So what’s the suds? Should soap stay or should it go now? Is body wash your new BFF?

If you have dry or sensitive skin, using body wash should be a must. There are tons of sensitive and fragrance-free, and even more moisturizing washes on the market. 

By familiarizing yourself with moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, and cocoa butter, you should be able to find a wash that works right for your skin.

If you have normal-to-oily skin, you could probably get away with using bar soap, but honestly, we wouldn’t suggest it. Instead, look for an oil-based body wash packed with cocoa and shea butter as it is going to do a better job at regulating the grease buildup and cleaning your skin while keeping natural oils intact so you can maintain happy healthy skin.

How can you avoid the shortfalls of soap and body wash all together?

Body Wash Infused Sponges

If you want the best of all worlds, opt for a sponge that has the body wash already in it. You’ll get the ease and buffing action of the sponge combined with the cleansing and moisturizing effects from the body wash.

Join Spongellé’s Auto-Replenish subscription service for sustainably made, vegan body wash infused sponges, throw your fears of bacteria-laden loofahs away while trying out new scents each month.

You could go for warm and autumn-inspired scents to get you ready for fall like our Autumn Bloom Boxed Flower or Cinnamon & Honey + Pumpkin Spice, both fan favorites!

For all the floral girls out there, there is an entire line of Boxed Flowers infused with a bouquet of tender floral scents.

Looking for invigorating natural scents? Try out our Zodiac line of products. Each of these luxuriously scented buffers has been perfectly curated to complement your astrological sign.

You’ll have plenty of scents to choose from including lavender, rose, and coconut. These scents can go a long way in reinvigorating your attitude and helping you relax while you clean!

Who Benefits from Using Body Wash

Simply put, everyone! Using body wash instead of bar soap will reveal immediate improvement in skin moisture and smoothness.

So why not put that body wash in a sponge for the ultimate tool? Men will also fall in love with a body wash sponge. It’ll help rejuvenate his skin while gently scrubbing away the impurities from a long day’s work.

Children love this option, too. It’s easy to use and simple to change out.

So throw out the loofah, the washcloths, and the body wash bottles! Get a sponge filled with body wash instead.

Bonus Material!

These sponges aren’t just a regular loofah. They gently exfoliate your skin while you wash and are jam-packed with amazing age-defying and free-radical fighting ingredients to ensure that you waltz out of that shower, putting your best skin forward y’all. 

That’s a win-win in my book.

So, it seems as if overall, body wash is the best option for healthy skin over bar soap. 

All that we ask is that your next suds choice be an educated one. Choose a soap or wash that is going to get you closer to your skin goals on-budget since taking care of your skin is an investment in your future.

 

Sources:

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/bar-soap-vs-body-wash-which-is-better-pros-and-cons-of-each

https://www.businessinsider.com/dermatologist-breaks-down-body-wash-versus-bar-soap-debate-shower-cleanliness-2017-9

https://www.bustle.com/articles/195394-is-there-a-difference-between-soap-body-wash-heres-what-a-dermatologist-has-to-say

What do you use in the shower to clean yourself? Is shower gel a good option for healthy skin?

Shower gel is a liquid soap. At a glance, it is hard to discern the technical difference between shower gel and a lot of liquid soaps out there on the market like hand soap, dish soap, and laundry detergent to name a few. 

Shower gel is the preferred body cleaning method for millions of people worldwide. It lathers quickly, is nicely contained in a plastic squeeze bottle or pump, and there are many different varieties and scents available, and it is affordable. 

We’ll cover what shower gel is, how it compares to body wash, and compare some benefits of your different options so you’re in the know.

Let’s talk about the chemistry of shower gel.

Shower gel is perfectly formulated to clean your body. Chemically, shower gel is predominantly made up of what we call a surfactant. A surfactant is a combination of two parts: a lipophilic part, which is fat-soluble, and a hydrophilic part, which is water-soluble. 

So how does it work to clean the body? The fatty part of the shower gel helps dissolve the dirt and build-up. It lifts it up and away from the skin and follicles. Then the water-soluble, hydrophilic, washes it all away. 

There are other ingredients in body wash that all have different jobs. Different brands add additional ingredients to help lengthen the shelf life, keep the gel from separating, and various fragrances or extracts to give it the scents you love.

But how can we know which product is right for our bodies? 

Besides grabbing and sniffing every bottle on the soap aisle to narrow down each brand and type by fragrance, there are two primary descriptors of shower gel to pay attention to:

• Shower gel
• Body wash or cream body wash

So what differences do they have? Which one should you choose?

Shower Gel vs. Body Wash

There are only a few differences in shower gel and body wash. 

Besides, the apparent hint in the name, shower gel is a thicker, jelly-like soap. It helps to remove oil build-up from the body in a similar fashion to hand soap. 

Body wash is very similar to shower gel in formulation but is usually less gelatinous, has a creamy texture, and includes even more of the moisturizing good stuff for your skin.

Shower gel and body wash are specifically formulated with a lower pH than bar soap so as not to be as drying on the skin. During the mixing process, humectants and emollients are added into the shower gel or body wash to help keep the skin moisturized while cleansing.

If you’re stuck between shower gel and body wash, then consider which one will benefit your skin the most. For better moisture retention, it is generally recommended to use body wash.

How does shower gel work?

Similarly to bar soap, shower gel lifts the oil and dirt molecules from the skin as you apply friction. The oil and dirt molecules then bind together and become suspended in the watery soap mixture rather than sticking to your skin. 

This helps them simply wash away when you rinse your body, but this also means that the dirt and bacteria can get stuck inside your loofah or washcloth. Be sure to rinse your washing tool thoroughly to ensure you get out all of the gel and residue before it dries.

Is shower gel more hygienic than bar soap?

Yes, because shower gel is self-contained in a bottle. It has fewer chances to come into contact with the bacteria on our skin or in our shower that could make its home in the shower gel. It is because shower gel is tucked safely away in its bottle that it stays clean and bacteria-free.

And most bottles are recyclable! Win win.

However, it is important to note that the tools you use to scrub your body with the shower gel can harbor bacteria if they are not changed out regularly or given enough time to dry fully between uses. It is always good practice to rinse your loofah or washcloth well after cleansing and then allow it to hand dry in a well-ventilated area.

That being said, the most effective and clean way to clean your skin is with a clean washcloth or a clean loofah and body wash. Bar soap tends to have leftover bacteria hanging out on its surface since your last cleansing and is typically stored improperly, not allowing the soap to dry out between uses.

If you do use bar soap, be sure to rinse it off well before using it on a clean loofah, sponge, or washcloth.

We discuss all the pros and cons of bar soap versus body wash here.

Should I choose shower gel over body wash?

This choice ultimately comes down to skin type. Shower gel is more effective than body wash at cutting through grease because it lacks the extra humectants and moisturizers that body wash uses to hydrate the skin.

If you have normal to oily skin, shower gel can help you remove excess oil and dirt without the squeakiness of bar soap. If you have dry or combination skin, a body wash may be more suited to your needs and help you pack in more moisture. 

However, all skin types need added moisture, and a moisturizing body wash can have a better long-term effect on your skin's oil production levels than simply removing the excess oil with a shower gel. It is always better to add moisture back into the skin whenever available to you throughout your cleansing and skincare routine.

When it comes to making the choice of shower gel over bar soap, shower gel wins hands down. 

Still, in our opinion, the benefits of a body wash with more moisturizing components far outweigh the blasé cleansing power of shower gel. Especially when moisturizing is the number one component in healthier, more vibrant, younger-looking skin.

To suds up and get the best cleanse of your skin's life you can follow these simple steps:

1. Warm up the shower and let it get steamy. Steam helps to soften the skin and will make your cleansing more effective and be gentler on the skin. 
2. Be sure to use warm water, not hot water. Our skin acts as a natural air conditioner for our bodies. When it gets hot our pores open up so water can evaporate and cool us down. This process is drying and irritating to the skin. Even though it feels awesome it is best to shower a cooler temperature so all that gorgeous hydration already in your skin isn’t evaporating.
3. Grab your favorite loofah or washcloth, preferably one that has been stored properly, and get it nice and wet. Rubbing your skin with a dry loofah is not going to do you any favors.
4. Squeeze the shower gel directly onto the loofah, apply more water if necessary, and get it nice and foamy.
5. Begin scrubbing your body. We like to start with the less grimey and bacteria prone areas first so not to spread even more bacteria around while scrubbing.
6. Apply more shower gel as needed to keep the loofah sudsy and slippery to get the most effective wash.
7. Rinse and pat dry with a clean towel. I know that rubbing with the towel feels more effective dry, but gentle pat drying won't tug or pull on the skin.
8. Finally, apply moisturizer or lotion to the skin while still damp. This will help lock in all the juicy moisture you just applied during your wash and lotion actually absorbs into the skin better when it is damp.

Which cleansing method do you think takes the cake?

We just can't get enough of Spongellé’s Spongology line right now with its body wash infused buffers and back scrubbers. These products take the worry out of clean shower tools ensuring you have enough body wash for up to 20 to 30 + washes depending on which tool you choose.

And, what’s great is we have specific products for your kids or that special man in your life. But, at the end of the day, the buffers and scrubbers are invigorating gifts for anyone you care for.

They even come in a cute travel format so you can slide past TSA with no problems on your next vacay and always have your favorite body wash!

Do you use shower gel, body wash, or hand soap?

Let us know your favorite and why it works for you!

Sources:

https://www.sunrisespecialty.com/shower-gel  

https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/bath-body/difference-between-body-wash-shower-gel-bar-soap 

https://www.verywellhealth.com/do-i-need-a-moisturizer-if-i-have-oily-skin-15595 

https://www.greenandgrowing.org/10-interesting-things-body-wash/ 

Alright, ladies, it is time to discuss those gorgeous gams. Yes, we mean your legs.

Summertime is all about the leg. Yes, we want to look good in our bikinis on beach trips, but more often than not, we aren’t living our entire summer lives at the beach. Although we wish we were.

So how do we bring those beach vibes home? By showing off smooth tanned legs in short shorts and short skirts all summer, that’s how! We all want supple, smooth, showable legs that are free of redness, razor burn, and ingrown hairs. How in the world do we get there? 

Why Exfoliating Your Legs Works

 

There seems to be a product or treatment for everything these days. Trust me, we get it. 

There are only so many hours in a day. There is only so much money in the bank and only so much shelf space in that bathroom. So how can we get the legs we want without the next best thing in beauty trends? 

Why, with the age-old practice of exfoliation! This stuff has been around for centuries. Even the Egyptians exfoliated in one way or another using clay, alabaster, and honey. 

So with all this new technology in skincare, why is exfoliation still the number one way to get the legs you want? 

Exfoliation has advanced leaps and bounds since ancient times. While the process of exfoliation is still simple in steps, it has advanced in accessibility and versatility for a variety of different skin types.

Back to legs. If there is anywhere on your body where exfoliation is most beneficial, it’s the legs. Our legs are prone to all kinds of little skin irritants that, if not treated or rather, mistreated, can lead to scarring and unsightly rough patches.

Every 28 to 30 days, our body produces brand new skin cells under the layers of the epidermis. Our skin tries its best to remove these dead skin cells on their own, but sometimes they can become clogged in our pores and follicles. These clogs can lead to blemishes and ingrown hairs. 

Exfoliation is the act of applying friction with a scrub or exfoliation tool to remove these old dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, lifting the hair away from the follicles and anything blocking its way and creating a smooth surface for shaving.

So, let’s go over the best way to exfoliate your legs properly for the best, most comfortable shave of your life! 

 

Step One: Steam up the shower and start with a cleanser. 

A warm steamy room will help soften up your skin and prehydrate it, making it easier to cleanse deeply. 

Go ahead and wash your legs with warm water and a hydrating soap before exfoliating. Especially if you have been using a lot of tanning products or SPF on your legs, try an oil cleanser to really get in there and get the product build-up and grime out of there.

Bar soap can possibly dry out the skin, and, if you improperly store bar soap, it can harbor bacteria. This could lead to irritation and dry legs if used before shaving.

Pro Tip: Steer clear of hot water while showering, but especially while cleansing and exfoliating. Hot water will draw the moisture out of your skin, making your treatment have to work harder to keep your skin hydrated and smooth.

Step Two: Exfoliate!

After cleansing your legs, the next step is to exfoliate. This will help prepare your skin for a smoother and closer shave.

We’ve found five steps to get the most out of your exfoliation routine:

1. Start at your feet and work your way up. Go ahead and give your heels and toes a once over while you’re down there so you can have gorgeous feet to match your smooth legs. 
2. Next, please pay close attention to your ankles. Shoes and socks can rub the backs of our ankles and create small ingrown hair bumps. Gently exfoliate this area in a circular motion with medium pressure before moving on.
3. Move onto the calves and exfoliate in a gentle upward circular motion, being sure to pay extra attention at the knee and back of the knee before moving up the thigh. 
4. Don’t forget to exfoliate the inner thigh where our legs can often meet and rub, causing bumps and chafing.
5. Don’t over-exfoliate, or you will end up with opposite results from what you want to achieve. Exfoliation is a treatment that works best over time with gentle, circular strokes that are not too hard.

Pro Tip: Exfoliate before shaving. Legs can be really tender and sensitive after shaving. Exfoliating after shaving not only defeats the purpose of exfoliating, you want to remove all the dull cells and build up before shaving. It can also be too harsh a treatment on recently shaved legs.

Step Three: Rinse it all off. 

Make sure to thoroughly remove all the body scrub or body wash from your skin and say bye-bye to all that build up. 

Note that build up occurs from not only specific products but the tools you use. It’s best to rinse thoroughly for a few minutes before beginning to shave. If your shower pressure is low, use a removable shower head to really reach and wash away any residue. Or, grab a clean washcloth and wipe down your legs.

Step Four: Get ready to shave!

Whether you shave with a cream, a gel, a body wash, or our personal favorite, body oil, be sure you are using something hydrating and not just regular ol’ bar soap. The key to smooth legs and a smooth shave is retaining moisture. Find a shaving solution that adds moisture back in as shaving itself is a very drying process for the skin.

Pro Tip: Though your shaving tools and method are up to you, we always suggest starting with a sharp razor blade. A dull blade is way more damaging to your skin than any tiny knick you may get from a sharp blade. 

Make sure you clean your razor well, removing soap and hair debris. Store your razor in an upright position to allow it to drain and always store in a dry place to reduce rust and degrading between now and your next shave. 

It’s annoying, but it’s best not to keep your razor in the shower where it can repeatedly come into contact with moisture several times over before its next use.

And, be sure to use a razor blade that will contour around your shin bones and knees so you can get every nook and cranny when you are shaving your legs. You also might need four or more blades in your razor for it to work as efficiently as you need. Typically, more razors can assist in getting a closer shave so you stay silky smooth for longer.

Step Five: Moisturize like it is going to save your life!

Because honestly, it is going to save your skin! You’ve just performed two intense treatments on your legs. While they both are going to help your legs feel absolutely magical, we want all that magic to stay inside of our freshly buffed skin!

Moisturizing not only adds that extra layer of smoothness, but it helps lock in moisture to all those fresh new cells we uncovered. 

Pro Tip: Moisturize right after shaving, let that soak in, and then moisturize again before you leave the house. All that smoothing and buffing and shaving made your legs thirsty, and a second round will ensure they stay hydrated, smooth, and silky all day long.

Exfoliating Your Legs The Right Way is Worth It

Putting in the extra time and steps for smooth legs pays off every time.

Now that we’ve shared the best way to exfoliate your legs properly, we want to know how you are getting your shave on. 

Are you a shave everyday kind of gal? Do you have a specific regimen you follow? Nighttime shaver or daytime shaver?

And if you want to elevate and luxuriate your exfoliation routine, be sure to check out all that Spongellé has to offer. Our body wash infused buffers make cleansing and exfoliating while moisturizing your entire body a dream come true.

Our pedi buffers will make light of those calloused toes and cracked heels, ensuring you’ve got excellent summertime feet to go with those silky legs.

And you can always finish off the process with one of our amazingly hydrating body lotions, a personal favorite of mine for its refreshing. Yet, soothing scents of summer is the Beach Grass, which also comes as a pedi buffer and a body wash infused buffer.

Exfoliate your legs properly, and you’ll be dying to wear that short dress in no time!

Sources:

https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-shave-correctly

https://www.byrdie.com/top-shaving-tips-346378

https://www.skincare.com/article/how-to-exfoliate-legs

Choosing the best body wash for your skin is no small job. 

We want our skin to be clean, but also healthy and happy. Dryness affects all skin types. Even oily skin types can have a daily battle with dryness. Lotion is a good combatant for dryness, and so we lotion up our skin whenever we see a dry patch here or there. 

However, a lotion isn't the end all be all fix for obtaining moisturized, glowing, youthful skin. The fight for skin hydration starts right at the beginning of your routine with your body wash.

Body wash itself is inherently moisturizing to an extent. It is definitely a better choice over its harsher counterparts, good ol' bar soap and shower gel. 

However, if you continuously see dryness even after washing and moisturizing with lotion, chances are the problem lies in the wash. And, switching up your body wash and routine could save that dry, itchy skin, and replace it with happy, hydrated, and younger-looking skin.

How To Find the Right Body Wash

Bar soap. Body wash. Body gel.

There are thousands of body wash products to choose from, and countless claims of moisturization.

In general, the soap market is oversaturated, so finding a new body wash to get the job done the right way can be incredibly overwhelming. You’ll need to know what to look for in a body wash as well as things to avoid.

To that end, we are here to help calm the irritation and slip some knowledge in there that will assist you in making the best choice for your next body wash without the worry for buyer’s remorse or fear of missing out.

It all starts with the essential ingredients.

 

Identifying the ingredients in body wash that will help moisturize your beautiful skin is the first step in the process.

The essential ingredients to be able to identify in your body wash are the occlusives, humectants, and emollients. Though each of these is stand-alone moisturizers, they are the most effective at promoting long-term moisturization when paired together. 

Unlike bar soap, body wash helps to replenish your body’s natural moisture levels. These bad boys are what get in there with all that moisture you need for hydrated, dewy skin. 

So let's break down what humectants, emollients, and occlusives are, how they work, and how to identify them as ingredients in your products and body washes.

Humectants

Humectants work by pulling water from the second layer of skin up to the skin's top layer. This process increases the moisture level in the layer of dead cells that cover your skin's top layer. When this layer is moisturized, your skin will be less prone to cracking and chafing and will look less flaky.

Humectants also aid in shedding these dead cells by breaking down the proteins that hold the cells together. Humectants can even draw water vapor from the air or any water leftover on the skin from showering to help keep the skin moisturized.

Common humectants to look for:

Aloe Vera is harvested from the aloe plant. It is a natural humectant that draws in water from the air for maximum hydration. This is why it is widely used to heal sunburns.

Honey is created by honey bees and harvested for food and beauty products. Honey is a humectant and naturally attracts and absorbs water.

Glycerin is a clear, naturally occurring liquid in the human body, as well as in animals and plants. Plant derivatives are often used in all kinds of skincare products.

Vegetable glycerin can be derived from soy, palm, or coconut.

Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule produced in the body that keeps tissues cushioned and lubricated. It’s produced synthetically for skincare use.

Urea is a colorless crystalline organic compound that occurs naturally in your body as part of your skin's natural moisturizing factor, which sustains hydration. It is produced synthetically for use in skincare products.

Sorbitol is a naturally-occurring sugar found in plants and fruits that works well as a humectant.

Propylene glycol is a colorless synthetic liquid also used in some foods and drinks. It’s used to replace vegetable glycerine in some products.

Be sure to check for humectants when you purchase a body wash. It’s great for reinvigorating your skin and bringing it back from the dead (skin cells that is)!

Emollients

Emollients can be occlusives, but their main job is actually to soften and moisturize the skin.

Common emollients to look for are:

Cocoa and Shea Butter: Plant-derived and filled with natural fatty acids.

Oils: These can be either natural options like coconut oil or synthetically derived ones, such as mineral oil.

• Avocado
• Coconut
• Olive
• Argan
• Sunflower
• Safflower
• Grapeseed
• Almond
• Jojoba
• Mineral oil

If you want to make sure your body wash is going to make your skin silky smooth, then be sure to check for emollients. They will help you to achieve the softness your skin deserves.

Occlusives

Occlusives are designed to provide a protective seal over the skin to help lock in moisture and slow down the transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Occlusives ultimately work to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized. Most oils and waxes are occlusives, and you will see some crossover ingredients from the emollient list.

Common Occlusives to look for are:

• Petroleum jelly is a byproduct of mining crude oil. It is not a sustainable resource, but it is an incredibly useful occlusive.
• Mineral oil is another byproduct of mining crude oil like petroleum jelly is not a sustainable resource.
• Lanolin is a natural secretion from sheep's skin. Similar to human sebum, it is created to moisturize the sheep's wool. It is collected from the wool using hot water to separate it.
• Beeswax is naturally produced by bees when forming or building their hives.
• Avocado is pressed from the fruit of an avocado tree.
• Coconut is pressed from the meat of the coconut.
• Olive is pressed from the flesh and pits of olives.
• Argan is produced from the kernels of the Argon nut.
• Sunflower is produced from the macerated and pressed seeds of sunflowers.
• Safflower is pressed from the seeds of the safflower plant.
• Grapeseed is pressed from ground grape seeds that are a byproduct of the wine industry.
• Almond is pressed from the seed of the almond fruit.
• Jojoba is produced from the seeds of the jojoba shrub.

So, having occlusives in your body wash will ensure your skin is more protected from environmental conditions and daily exposure to the elements.

Other Essential Things to Consider for Body Wash

Besides the top three essential ingredients, what else should you consider?

Well, for convenience, you may want to think about the tools you are using to apply your body wash. A clean washcloth is fine. Other products include sponges and scrubbers.

But what if you could have the best of all worlds?

Well, then, you may consider a body wash infused sponge to be the best thing since sliced bread! Not only do you get all of the benefits of a well-rounded body wash, but you get the light scrub your body needs with our premium sponge.

And, with Spongellé, you can choose from a ton of different scents and a ton of different scrub styles so you can make sure you get exactly what you want and exactly what you need! Each scent provides benefits to your mind, body, and soul.

Essential Body Wash Ingredients for Good Skin

Okay, now that we have laid all that business out, it is time to review! 

Emollients smooth out the skin, humectants attract moisture to the skin, and occlusives seal in moisture to prevent hydration loss.

Finding a body wash with the right balance of all three of these types of ingredients is actually not that difficult. 

Soap production has come a long way since its humble Babylonian beginnings and even further since the first commercialized soaps. These days most brands are as focused on moisturizing as they are cleansing, though some fall short of this mission.

Choosing the best body wash will depend on how much moisture you need to keep your skin happy. If you don't know which oils work best with your skin or how your skin reacts to synthetic ingredients, we suggest researching your skin type and reading through recommended products that have been perfectly formulated for your skin type.

At Spongellé we are dedicated to delivering the most moisturizing experience available through our body wash infused buffers. Using a number of natural oils, humectants, and occlusives we have created body buffers infused with rich, deep moisturizing, and equally foamy lathers that hydrate your skin, don’t disrupt your natural oils, while cleansing and exfoliating the body. 

If you are still searching for a body wash that will work overtime for you, consider all that Spongellé body buffers have to offer!

Sources:

https://stylecaster.com/beauty/body-wash/

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/a31156276/what-are-humectants-skincare/ 

https://sciencebecomesher.com/emollients-occlusives-humectants/