What Is Shower Gel Made Of?

Used on a daily basis, shower gels are products conceived in gelled liquid form devoted to the body hygiene. Generally, they are composed of approximately 70% of water, 20% of washing bases (surfactants) and some additional components. However, what is essential in a shower gel is the washing base (surfactants). This will create a delicate foam allowing to eliminate a great part of the impurities accumulated on the surface, and thus to clean the skin of the body. It is recommended that the formula is composed of a mixture of surfactants preferably of natural origin, particularly soft, non-irritating, biodegradable and well tolerated by the skin (coco-glucoside, sodium cocoyl glutamate, caprylyl/capryl glucoside, etc.)

Other substances are also significant to the composition of a shower gel as the thickening agents (e.g. glycerol stearate, polysorbate 20, xanthan gum, etc.) which give the texture to the gel by increasing its viscosity through their gelling power. Softening and humectant components (e.g. glycerin,aloe vera juice, inulin, etc.) and pH correctors (e.g. citric acid, sodium hydroxide, etc.) to stabilize the preparation and adapt the pH of the shower gel to that of the skin. And one or more preservatives that serve to protect the care against any microbial development, knowing that shower gels are mainly made up of water (an environment conducive to the development of bacteria). Lastly, certain shower gels can contain active ingredients or vegetable extracts, present in the formulation in variable quantities.