The Top 5 Best Soaps for Seniors: Say Goodbye to Your Dry Skin

Our skin is exposed to thousands of dirt and pollution every day. During the day, pollution accumulates on our skin, and that, combined with makeup and dirt, can hinder the skin’s ability to renew itself at night, causing premature aging. Therefore, washing your face with the best soaps for the elderly should be an integral part of a healthy skincare routine to avoid the early signs of ageing. You need to use a gentle soap that won’t be harsh, won’t sting unbearably, and excessively dry out the already dry skin. A good skincare routine is only as good as your products. Using high-quality products can make your skin look glorious now and in the future, whereas inferior products are ineffective and can even cause harm. Thus, we invite you to read this article to know all age-related skin changes and choose the best soaps on the market suitable for your skin type.

An older woman washing her face with soap

How Do Soaps Work?

The principal chemical agent responsible for cleaning soaps is a surfactant. This chemical agent eases the process of solution oil in the water, so the oil and dirt on the skin can easily wash out using water. In addition to oil and dirt, toxins, bacteria, and other harmful substances with long-term harm to the skin are also removed. The main reason for producing lathers while using soaps is surfactants too. However, surfactants are not the only ingredient of soaps. There are different types of these products that consist of moisturizing agents, oil control constituents, Essenes, and fragrances specifically designed for different skin types.

A bar of Soap

Skin Changes with Age

We physiologically change as we age, and our skin is not an exception. Senior’s skin becomes thinner, and its strength and elasticity decline during the years. The connective tissue mainly consists of collagen and elastin, which are responsible for young wrinkleless skin decrease. Despite ageing, environmental factors like UV radiation, sun, drug consumption, etc., accelerate the process of ageing and cause damage to the skin in the elderly. In a word, both internal and external factors cause less moisture-retaining and sebum secretion in the skin, which leads to dryer skin in seniors.

best soaps for elderly skin

Symptoms of Dry Skin

  • Cracks on the skin (which may be deep and bleed)
  • Itching
  • Redness
  • Skin colour tends to gray and feels rough
  • Peeling, flaking or scaling skin
  • Feeling tight skin, especially after bathing or swimming

Why It Is Vital to Clean Skin with Soaps?

All skincare specialist says that cleaning the skin with soap is a useful tip for seniors to take care of their skin and have a more plump and fresh face. In addition to removing oil and dirt, soaps can act as an exfoliant by removing dead cells. Note that seniors’ skins tend to be dryer, so they should use kinds of soaps that contain moisturizers. To see if soap is appropriate for you, you should check its ingredients.

Beneficial and Harmful Ingredients in Soaps for Elderly with Dry Skin

The main ingredients in a soap you should pay attention to are as follow:

Useful Ingredients

  • Plant oil: Many manufacturers tend to use plant oil in their products. Some plant oil used in soap recipes (between 5-15%), including coconut butter, olive oil, palm oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, etc., are perfect for seniors’ dry skin. These plant oils also have a mild moisturizing effect on skin and produce a low creamy lather.
  • Glycerin: A natural ingredient commonly used in soaps (and other health care products). Bathing with hot water or harsh cleaning products causes your skin to have natural oil strips. Glycerin helps you to lock natural moisture in your skin and prevent over-drying, especially if you have dry skin.
  • Lanolin and hyaluronic acid: These ingredients have a hydrating effect on the skin. Lanolin is a natural animal oil capable of moisturizing and conditioning hair and skin. Hyaluronic acid (or its derivatives sodium hyaluronate) is a hydrating molecule that can penetrate the skin and hydrate it. Both Lanolin and hyaluronic acid are excellent for dry skins.

best soaps for elderly skin

Ingredients You Should Avoid

  • Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS):
  • is a kind of strong chemical surfactant that appears in many soaps, shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, etc. It is also the leading cause of soaps froth. This ingredient has no adverse effect on the face or body of many people. It is not harmful if briefly used in health care products and eventually raised from the skin. However, seniors or other people who suffer from dry skin may feel over-drying when using SLS soaps.
  • Fragrances: fragrance is an ingredient that adds to skincare products to smell good. Unfortunately, these ingredients may cause skin irritation.
  • Synthetic dyes: some manufacturers use synthetic dyes in their products to make tier appearance more attractive. These dyes can increase skin sensitivity. They can also block your skin prone and increase the risk of acne. In some cases, chemical dyes can even absorb into your body and cause more severe effects.

 

Best Soaps for Dry Skins

Here we provide some brands of soaps that are proper for senior’s dry skin:

1- Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar

This soap leaves no residue on the skin and is mild and non-irritating. It also has no fragrance in the formulation and never over-dry your skin. And mild enough for daily use for the body and face.

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2- Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented Beauty Bar

This brand has a light scent but is hypoallergenic, making it safe for the body and face. You can wash your body and face daily using this soap. It is a gentle enough soap for eczema or rash-prone skins, and you can use it during bath therapy.

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3- Dove DermaSeries Dry Skin Relief

best soaps for elderly skin

It is a gentle liquid soap for adults and dry skin. However, this soap contains preservatives that may potentially irritate sensitive skin. The preservatives are listed below:

  • Methylparaben
  • Phenoxyethanol
  • propylparaben

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4- Method Bar Soap Simply Nourish

It is a natural soap and contains plant oil like coconut, rice milk, and shea butter in the formulation. It is very gentle to the skin and almost free from most preservatives and harmful ingredients, including paraben, aluminum, and phthalate.

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5- Trilogy Cream Cleanser

best soaps for elderly skin

The last but not least of the best soaps for dry skin is Trilogy Cream Cleanser. It is a very gentle facial cleanser for daily use and contains hydrating ingredients such as glycerin and aloe vera. Although it is a mild cleanser, it can remove dirt and makeup effectively without over-drying your skin. The interesting point is that it is a Paraben-free and fragrance-free product that contains antioxidants and essential fatty acids to help your skin’s moisture barrier.

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Final Words

Cleaning the skin is quite essential to have fresh and dirt-free skin. It is the first step of a health care routine; choosing a suitable soap or cleanser is essential based on our skin type. Remember: “Glowing skin is always in.”

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Maggie
Maggie
2 years ago

Is there any way to test beforehand if you are allergic to a particular product? I’ve washed my face with face washes and soaps, and it looks like some of them are not good for my skin. I just want to know how to choose the best and safest product whenever I’m buying one. 

Roger
Roger
Reply to  Maggie
2 years ago

You can test new products on your forearm, don’t apply too much and watch for redness or any discomfort. If it doesn’t give you an allergic reaction on your forearm, you could consider that product safe for your skin. And if your skin is allergy-prone, try baby or infant products. 

Vincent
Vincent
Reply to  Maggie
2 years ago

Apply a small amount and wait for at least 24 hours. If your skin showed no signs of irritation, then you are unlikely to develop any allergic reactions to the product later.

Jessica
Jessica
2 years ago

Can anyone tell me which one is better? Washing your face with soap or face wash? Which one makes the skin brighter and softer?

Jane
Jane
2 years ago

I use a trilogy cream cleanser to wash my face; It’s not that bad. I never use any soap on my face. Is it safe to use soap as a face cleanser? 

Lauren
Lauren
2 years ago

I have dry skin, and almost all soaps that have glycerin in their formulation are good for me. I’ve used Trilogy cleanser, and like other glycerinated soaps, it was really great.

greta
greta
Reply to  Lauren
1 year ago

I love Trilogy Cream cleansers because they contain botanical oils, which are great for having a soft and smooth face and nourishing oils such as jojoba and carrot. It’s also great to remove my makeup and feel my face refreshed. I use this product twice a day.

Emma
Emma
2 years ago

I like soaps with lavender essence. It smells excellent and calms me when washing my face. But I heard it’s better that skincare products should better have no essence or fragrance. It makes me doubt whether I should buy a fragrance-free cleanser or not? 

Rita
Rita
1 year ago

I am allergic to soaps, and every time I use them for washing my face, they cause skin eczema. I don’t know what type of soap is suitable for me, does anyone has suggestions?

tracey
tracey
1 year ago

My grandmother told me that handmade soaps are one the best ones for our skin because they could be especially for your skin type, and they usually contain olive oil, which is excellent for moisturizing your face, but I’m not sure if I should use them or not. Did someone use handmade soap?

Diana
Diana
1 year ago

My mother is always complaining about her face dryness and wrinkles. She is using perfumed soaps right now. I don’t know if they are the reason for her face dryness or not. Does anyone know a solution?