Liquid body cleansers come in two families. Shower gels use synthetic or plant-derived surfactants; liquid castile soaps are true soap made with potassium hydroxide, which keeps them liquid.
Both contain water and therefore need a preservative system, which is screened along with every other ingredient.
Reading the label
- Castile soap
- On a label, liquid castile usually reads as "potassium olivate" or "potassium cocoate", the potassium salts of the oils it was made from.
- Fragrance-free
- Unscented and fragrance-free are not always the same thing. The ingredient list shows whether any scent ingredient is present.
