Shower cream and shower gel: what's the difference?

Shower gel is a daily hygiene product in aqueous form, without soap. It has the same objective as soap: it’s used to cleanse the body of all the impurities which build up on your skin. However, don’t confuse shower gel with liquid soap, because it doesn’t contain saponified oil. Instead, it contains synthetic surfactants derived from either petrol or plants.

Shower gels are mostly water with small quantities of active ingredients and additives (humectants, pH adjusters, preservatives, etc…) so are suitable for all skin types. Plus, shower gel is less drying for your skin than traditional soap, thanks to its neutral pH, which is weaker than that of soap.

Just like shower gel, shower cream helps to rid your skin of any dirt that accumulates throughout the day. The difference is that shower cream contains hydrating and moisturising agents (shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, argan, aloe vera, etc…). That’s why shower cream has a softer, more unctuous and more hydrating texture than shower gel. It helps give your skin a hit of hydration in the shower.

With a shower cream, you wash and hydrate your skin all in one. Shower cream also helps to form a protective film on the surface of your skin, leaving it soft and comfortable. It can be used for almost all skin types but is especially effective for dry or sensitive skin. However, we don’t recommend it for those with oily skin, who are better suited to a shower gel or a hydrating soap.

Shower gel is made of aqueous substances only, so it can feel light and fresh. However, it is less hydrating than a shower cream. As well as getting rid of impurities and pollution microparticles, shower cream is an indulgent product which soothes, nourishes and intensely hydrates your skin by wrapping it in a protective film.