It's a beauty basic that comes in a wide range of prices but is expensive really better when it comes to shower gels?
You can find them in supermarkets and Home Bargains for under £1, or spend upwards of £10 on more luxury versions that come in a swanky bottle to add a touch of glamour to your bathroom. A popular alternative to a bar of soap, shower gels offer a quick lather and many have a scent that promises to relax, invigorate or something in between.
This week, we put the bathroom staple to the test, trying out a range of brands with varying price tags to see which lived up to our expectations. Here's our verdict:
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Radox Feel Active Shower Gel from Sainsbury's
I love a fresh scent to wake me up in the morning, so I was drawn in by the name and look of this Radox Feel Active Shower Gel from Sainsbury's. It comes in a clear tube with the sea blue gel shining through, looking refreshing and tranquil all at the same time.
It promises 'an awakening shower experience that revives your senses'. As someone who's in the shower before 6am most weekdays, this sounded like just what I needed.
When it came to the test I squirted some onto a flannel - probably a bit more than I needed in hindsight, so go easy is my advice. The product description says it's made with a blend of herbs and minerals, which activates with hot water. I certainly got a strong scent as soon as I added water and it lathered up brilliantly.
The smell was beautiful - really vibrant in a totally refreshing way, without being too heady for first thing in the morning. It's made with sea salt and lemongrass and the citrus notes really came through.
It foamed up so much I was able to scrub every inch of my body and there was still plenty left on the flannel that needed rinsing out. Sadly, once washed off, the scent didn't linger on my skin, but I still found the whole shower experience a really refreshing start to the day. For £1, this is great value if you like a fresh aroma to get you going in the morning.
Rating: 5/5
Price: £1
Where to buy: Sainsbury's, Tesco and other high street stores
Imperial Leather 'Let's Flamingle' Shower Gel from B&M
I'm a huge fan of anything sweet in terms of shower gel, I just think it really wakes you up in the morning and sets you off for the day. As a whole, I'm generally not that fussy with shower gel, as long as it smells nice and doesn't irritate my skin it's all good.
I was immediately drawn to the Imperial Leather 'Let's Flamingle' shower gel from B&M, which is actually a limited edition shower gel at the moment. Its pink aesthetic was what hooked me originally, until I found out the scent was pink lychee and raspberry and I was destined to try it.
I've used a lot of Imperial Leather bubble baths in the past and really liked them, they always smell amazing and create lots of bubbles, so I had high hopes for this shower gel. After using it in the shower for the first time, I was obsessed.
It smelt absolutely amazing and really refreshing, and lathered up so well. The shower gel itself was quite thick too which I personally prefer as a little goes a long way.
What stood out to me the most was the fact that the shower gel scent lingered on my skin for a good hour or so afterwards, which is a rarity these days when it comes to shower gels. For £1, I was so impressed, and I'll definitely try out the other Imperial Leather scents in the future since there are so many!
Rating: 4/5
Price: £1
Where to buy: B&M and other high street stores
Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel
I am a tad obsessed with Lush and spend a fortune in there. If only I could bottle the scent of the shop up and release it in my house! Never again would I have to deal with the overpowering aroma of my neighbour's excessive smoking habit.
Rose Jam is one of my most favourite smells on the entire planet. I first came across this dreamy, fresh and sweetly floral scent when testing Lush's body sprays and I fell instantly in love. When I discovered it came in a shower gel, I snapped it up immediately.
Much to my relief, the shower gel fragrance is identical to the perfume and body spray products - hints of rose, lemon, goji berry and more. It's quite a strong aroma without being overpowering, and it lathers up into satisfyingly luxurious, frothy bubbles.
I adore this shower gel and, as it's quite expensive, I stock up on pay day to ensure I never run out. It does come in a range of sizes to suit more budgets, and I'd definitely recommend giving it a try - I'm constantly complimented on how lovely I smell and it's all down to this.
I would like it to be a little more moisturising for my dryer-than-the-Sahara-desert skin, but the beautiful fragrance and rich, thick consistency of the product means it'll remain my favourite shower gel for years to come.
I just wish Lush did a regular, good old fashioned body moisturiser in this fragrance so I can slather myself in even more Rose Jam products. Come on Lush, make a gal's dreams come true.
Rating: 4/5
Price: Varies dependant on size, but starts at £8 for 100g and goes up to £42 for 1kg
Where to buy: Lush stores and online
Radox Mineral Therapy Shower Cream Nourish from Superdrug
I'm partial to a moisturising shower gel, so when I saw this offering from Radox, I knew I had to pick it up. The product is blended with minerals, herbs, shea butter and ginger scent and aims to moisturise your skin. I had high hopes for the scent, however I found it to be a little underwhelming. It doesn't have a strong smell in my opinion, so if you prefer something more neutral then it might be one for you.
However, I did like the feel of the shower gel. It definitely does what it says as I felt like my skin was nice and smooth after using it. It foams up really well too, meaning you don't have to use too much of it. As someone who is more of a fan of sweeter fragrances, I would have liked the scent to be a little stronger, but I still think it's a good product.
Rating: 3/5
Price: £2.35
Where to buy: Superdrug stores and online.
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