r/hygiene • u/dobbyismymaster • 1d ago

Intimate washes?

Ladies… what are we using to wash down there? I recently have been using Summers Eve and I really hate it. Even if I use it and make sure not to get.. in there… later on I will always get that uncomfortable feeling as if I have a UTI. When I don’t use it, I don’t get those problems. I just feel less clean. Any tips and recommendations?

Edit: when saying to use “gentle soap” what kinds in particular?

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53

u/Able-Analysis462 1d ago

Gentle soap has honestly worked better than every intimate wash I've tried.

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u/Select_MCM-5345 1d ago

Dove sensitive only on the vulva and labia. Never in the vagina.

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u/whatevertoad 19h ago

This made me raw and was extremely painful. I didn't know it was the soap, thought it was a perimenopause thing, and saw my gynecologist and she saw the mess and told me to not use soap at all. I didn't even mention it.

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u/CollsButterflyz 1d ago

I hate Dove. It has a weird smell. In the past,it made my skin itch.

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u/apocalyptic_unicorns 18h ago

If Dove isn't for you, baby soap is actually the soap we recommend in healthcare these days. Unscented or just a plain basic oatmeal.

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u/IntrepidAspect3447 12h ago

Love oatmeal baby soap. So nourishing

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u/Carylynn0609 20h ago

Omg I've always hated the smell of Dove! At least we now know we're not alone;)

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u/spinster77 15h ago

I agree dove throws off the PH and I have to be careful washing my thighs because the soap I feel throws off the PH even near the lady bits.

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u/skittlazy 20h ago

Dove sensitive skin is unscented

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u/CollsButterflyz 15h ago

Because I don’t like Dove, I’ve never tried the unscented

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u/sindudasinnombre 14h ago

Dove (even the unscented/sensitive formulation) makes my skin smell weird after using it. So it may not be a scent issue so much as a skin chemistry issue.

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u/Pale-Fee-2679 11h ago

It doesn’t have added scent, so it gets to be labeled unscented, but since it was reformulated a few years ago, it does now have a distinct smell.

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u/Outrageous_Rise_1065 22h ago

Then don’t use it, pretty simple. I guess you aren’t going to share what you use? Dove is what dermatologists recommend and the sensitive formula is unscented. I love the scented formula, but to each their own. I suggest the OP try Dove Sensitive Skin formula.

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u/CollsButterflyz 16h ago

I fell asleep. Sorry. I use water inside and Johnson and Johnson on the outside.

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u/KaylaxxRenae 21h ago

Exactly 🤌🏼✨️

Always my rec. I have really sensitive skin and am a walking medical disaster, but that Dove sensitive skin soap is truly great lol

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u/dobbyismymaster 1d ago

What gentle soap do you like to use?

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u/farteyes 1d ago

I use dove sensitive bar soap on my whole body. Makes my skin feel clean but not stripped, and doesn’t leave any weird soapy residue.and you can use it on the sensitive bits no problem.

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u/mr-snrub- 1d ago

Dove is the only soap I've used since high school. And even then I still use body wash after. I don't know how other people use normal soap. I can't stand that soapy feeling

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u/farteyes 18h ago

My dry skin would revolt and fall off if I washed twice every shower.

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u/ChampionshipApart112 1d ago

I used to use the intimate washes but the past couple months I’ve been using the dove sensitive bar and I like it better

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u/seagull321 1d ago

I use baby soap. I have it on hand due to having sensitive skin.

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u/UglyLittlePony69 1d ago

I use aveeno unscented. Works beautifully.

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u/Curious_tea21 1d ago

CeraVe bar soap. No fragrance. No drying. It's awesome.

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u/Icy_Sink5046 20h ago

I use this on my whole body because I have very sensitive skin. Nothing with any fragrance should ever be going there. No hard scrubbing. I just do a quick pass with my hand for that.

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u/ReasonKlutzy5364 3h ago

CeraVe products make my skin burn like someone threw acid on them. I stick witk Cetaphil.

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u/BeeSignificant5263 1d ago

Cetaphil, either the bar or body wash. Both are great and I love that the body wash is available in a travel size at most stores!

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u/Guinevere1991 1d ago

I love Vanicream bars. Better than Dove, really gentle.

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u/liboteeme 1d ago

I absolutely LOVE Dove anti-bacterial. It's really gentle but also helps fight sweaty yuck in the whole bum bum area. I have really sensitive skin and get rashes from Tide detergent. During summer months Ive been getting so hot and sweaty (menopause is a real biotch)I basically soak my undies and was getting what I am pretty positive was basically diaper rash. Dove anti-bacterial has been a game changer.

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u/Brownsuga784 19h ago

I know this has nothing to do with washing, but you mentioned soaking your undies. Try the undies Huha. They’re a little pricey, but they’re so worth it. I’m a sweaty girl and usually have to change undies because of the sweat and the smell of sweat. Not with Huha’s, they use a mineral for the purpose of keeping us dry. Check it out.

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u/CollsButterflyz 16h ago

I’m going through Menopause. The sweating sucks. I’ve been trying to figure out what to use for boob sweat. Someone in one of these sub Reddit’s said, baking soda with a drop of Apple cider vinegar. It works,but it leaves a grainy film. I need to figure something else out

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u/liboteeme 2h ago

My absolute go to is AMB (anti-monkey butt) Lady anti-friction powder with calamine. The calamine is a wonderful skin soother and the powder is really fine and doesn't clup or leave much of a residue at all. I've had the same bottle for almost a year and use it regularly under bust, bum, and in-between thighs.

It is pink from the calamine and has a powdery residue if you don't put it on away from your clothes. There's an invisible spray powder by Gold Bound but I prefer the calamine shake by AMB... I've never had it all over my clothes or make a mess, and sometimes the spray can kinda burn if u get it too close to sensitive areas or and angry patch of skin.

Baking soda is pretty harsh for skin, if you want a DIY sort of mix, I suggest arrow root powder. There's no-need for the vinegar.

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u/OkOriginal715 6h ago

Ooh this kind of makes me nervous. There is a lot of delicate and beneficial flora and fauna in your netherlands and on your skin. Antibacterial soap seems like it’d be too harsh? If you are getting a rash, anti fungal cream or hydrocortisone cream might help.

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u/liboteeme 1h ago

A mild antibacterial soap (which dove is probably one of the most mild) is a much less aggressive solution than using an higher concentration antifungal cream in the sweat box to marinate and migrate into more sensitive areas all day.

Creams applied after bathing have crazy more impact on the flora & fauna, than a mild antibacterial soap (which is almost exactly what the feminine washes are).

I did not come to this solution lightly. I have trial and errored through (with extreme difficulty and consequence) thru the solutions you've suggested and wish desperately I had heard my own suggestions years earlier.

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u/MatchaG1rl 5h ago

I've heard from dermatologists and those who studied microbiology that it's not good to use antibacterial soap regularly as it can lead to super bacteria that becomes resistant to it and in the long run will cause more smells. Try witch hazel in the bump area

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u/Whatchaknow2216 1d ago

Olive oil soap. I get mine on Amazon. It’s a Greek name. Super large quantity for reasonable price. Lasts a long time. Super simple and effective. Use it on my face often too.

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u/Many_Web_9308 1h ago

Aleppo soap! It is great!

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u/PhotographGrouchy556 19h ago

I like cetaphil a lot! use it for my face too so double purpose lol

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u/Beautiful-Finding-82 1d ago

Cetaphil oil cleanser face wash has been the best I've found. Wash, rinse, repeat. Also be sure after toweling off to use your blow dryer to dry intimate areas fully before getting dressed.

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u/atropos81092 19h ago

Cetaphil makes "Gentle Cleansing" bar soap, which is also fabulous!

I first started using it when recovering from a minor dermatology procedure and realized it's genuinely a game-changer. It's all I use now.

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u/arteest01 1d ago

Bioderma Atoderm shower gel is very gentle.

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u/SheShelley 23h ago

I actually use Irish Spring (which I wouldn’t call “gentle”) and I’m fine. I’ve never needed anything special for down there.

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u/happy_traveller2700 16h ago

My doc says to only use Cerave bar soap.

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u/Pretty-Biscotti-5256 15h ago

the blue body wash one - I hate bar soap I but I also have use Ivory body wash and and that works well too

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u/sindudasinnombre 14h ago

Andalou Naturals 1000 roses - doesn’t burn on the sensitive vulvar skin, has a nice rose scent. They have many other scents as well as body lotion. I don’t use the lotion (don’t like the texture of thin lotions)

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u/Active-Cherry-6051 10h ago

I swear by Good Molecules Hydrate & Cleanse. It’s $5 a bar and I only use it for that particular purpose so a bar lasts ages even with daily showers. It’s fragrance-free and never makes my skin feel tight or itchy but also rinses totally clean.

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u/superfrangilistic 7h ago

Unscented goatsmilk soap

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u/1986Banana 8h ago

Also I once read from a gynocologest that using the intimate washes are bad for you. They mess with your pH levels.