For centuries, soap has been used to effectively cleanse skin. Traditional soaps leave a fresh, clean feeling but may not be suitable for sensitive or dry skin types. Body wash and shower gel use surfactants, an alternative to soap, to help the formula bind to oil and impurities so they can be rinsed away. While soap will leave you with freshly cleansed skin, you may prefer a body wash or shower gel for a nourishing cleanse that will leave skin feeling softer.