On The Early Show, Beauty and Wellness Contributor Dayle Haddon talked about soaps and today's latest trends. To read previous stories from Dayle Haddon, visit her archive . To keep themselves clean, people used wood ash and lime. It wasn't until the mid-1800s that a champion of hygiene, Edwin Chadwich persuaded England to pass the first public health laws and thanks to the use of soap within three to five years, the life expectancy of the working class had increased by 20 years. Today, the soap industry has been transformed from producing a bunch of identical bars to offering an overwhelming array of choices covering the shelves of drugstores and supermarkets to department stores and boutiques.
Soaps now come in all shapes, colors and scents.
The following is a breakdown of the leading soap categories. They range from inexpensive soaps found on supermarket shelves like Irish Spring, to high-end fragrance soaps by cosmetic companies such as Chanel. Because of their drying and harsh properties deodorant soaps are recommended for the body, not face. Dry facial skin is a common complaint among men who use deodorant bars on their entire body including the face. Aside from using a separate soap for face and body, Haddon recommends you know your skin type.