10 Best Shower Gels for Men in India 2021 (NIVEA, Fiama, and more)

Here is our list of the best shower gels for men you can buy online from brands like L'Oreal Paris, NIVEA, Adidas, and more. We have taken care to recommend products that contain moisturizing ingredients, so your skin won't dry out.

The obvious difference between a shower gel and a body wash is the texture. Body wash has an opaque, creamy texture, while shower gel has a translucent texture. Shower gels also produce more lather than body washes, making it a go-to cleansing product for people looking for a rich and luxurious shower or bath.

When shower gels were first released in the market, they were used mostly by people with oily skin as they can thoroughly remove all the sebum. Now you can find shower gels with moisturizing ingredients in them, making them suitable for all skin types. Another difference is the fragrance.

The fragrance in a shower gel is stronger, giving you an aromatherapy-like shower that can do wonders to calm your mind. Shower gels are also suitable for baths. You can hold a cap or two under running water while you fill the tub for a relaxing bubble bath. Read our buying guide to learn how to choose a product depending on your shower and bath preferences.

Read the buying guide to learn how to choose the best shower gel based on factors like skin type, fragrance, ingredients, and more. This information will come in handy when you are shopping from our top 10 list later in this article.

As we mentioned earlier, shower gels used to be very drying to the skin. But when the demand increased, companies started adding moisturizing ingredients to them. But they can do more than just moisturize the skin. Keep reading to find out more.

The most commonly used moisturizing ingredients in shower gels are natural oils and glycerin. They nourish and moisturize your skin but don't make it too oily. Glycerin is typically safe for the skin unless you are allergic to it. And when it comes to natural oils, there is no limit to the options available.

From the usual choices like olive and coconut oil to essential oils like cedarwood and rosemary, there are a plethora of options, and each has its own moisturizing and skin-renewing properties.

Shower gels contain artificial moisturizing ingredients too. Dimethicone, lanolin, and petrolatum work by forming a barrier on the skin to reduce water loss. Glycerin, propylene glycol, proteins, and urea attracts water and lock in your skin to keep it hydrated. We suggest reading the ingredients list to find out if you are allergic to any before using it.

You must already know that a shower gel is also meant for your face. But you can have oily skin anywhere on your body, and the same goes for acne too. Two of the commonly used ingredients to tackle these issues are salicylic acid and tea tree oil. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of these ingredients can soothe acne-prone skin and heal it.

When the oil produced by our skin combines with dead skin cells, bacteria, and pollution in the atmosphere, it clogs the pores on our skin, resulting in acne flare-ups. Salicylic acid can combat this by reducing sebum secretion and removing dead skin cells.

Tea tree oil works a bit differently. Its antiseptic properties can kill the bacteria in the pores and unblock the sebaceous glands by unclogging the blocked pores. If you have dry skin, check if there are any moisturizing ingredients before opting for a shower gel with salicylic acid, as this ingredient can be drying.

The pH of human skin lies between 4 and 7. It is essential to maintain the natural pH level of the skin to prevent skin issues from occurring. So always go for products that mention "pH balanced" or "soap-free". A shower gel marked as pH balanced doesn't disrupt the normal pH level of the skin.

The term soap refers to strong hydroxides (for example, sodium and potassium hydroxide), which are cleansing agents present in a shower gel. But they are extremely alkaline in nature and can strip your skin of its natural oils and disrupt its pH, leaving it dry. A soap-free formula doesn't use any such harsh chemicals. Instead, they cleanse your skin using emulsifying ingredients that break up dirt and oil.

If you choose to check the ingredients list, you may find that some products have harsh hydroxides but are still marked as pH balanced. The reason could be the presence of an acid in it. The addition of alkaline hydroxides can balance the pH of the shower gel, thus making it suitable for all skin types.

Sulfates are surfactants—compounds that cleanse the skin of oil and dirt. But they can be drying, and for people who are sensitive to it, sulfates can cause redness and itching. Several shower gels are also meant for your hair. If you have dry scalp, we advise you to stay away from shower gels with sulfates.

If a product contains parabens, it is present in safe quantities. Yes, you heard it right. But here is the problem. They can build up in your body. Build-up can happen if you use the shower gel daily or if other products that you use contain them. In men, parabens can cause acne, gynecomastia, and developmental and neurological disorders.

Triclosan has once been common in soaps and shower gels as an antiseptic and antifungal agent. But the health issues they cause like infertility, decreased cardiovascular function, and the possibility of contributing to antibiotic-resistant germs put it on a blacklist as it can damage your immune system. Make sure to read the ingredients list before buying to stay free from these harmful substances.

You can choose a fragrance that energizes you depending on your mood and time of the day. For example, a citrusy fragrance can be invigorating to your senses. It can freshen you up to prepare you for a busy day or relax you after a long and tiring trek or workout. When it comes to perfumes, men tend to choose woody fragrances more. The same goes for shower gels.

The scent may not stay for too long, but it works to give an immediate impression. You can find fragrances like cedarwood, sandalwood, patchouli, etc. You don't have to rely on essential oils for aromatherapy all the time. For example, a shower gel with lavender fragrance can have a relaxing effect on your mind.

During hot weather or after a stressful day at work, showering with a shower gel with menthol or mint extracts will cool your body. Many people also find the cooling effect of mint and menthol to be refreshing, so you can try using it before going to work too. 

But this cooling effect is not an actual fall in body temperature, instead, the triggering of cold-sensitive receptors on the skin called TRMP8. You can also use a menthol shower gel to get rid of the burning, painful sensation on your skin after you spend time in the hot sun at the beach. But, don’t worry, we have included products with cooling effects in our list of the best shower gels for men in India. 

Your facial skin may be different from the rest of your body. When you buy a face wash or a beard growing oil, you need to consider your skin type and condition. We discuss these and more in our articles on the best face washes and beard growing oils you can buy online for men.

To make yourself presentable, you have to look good and smell good too. Our article on the best body sprays for men in India will help you choose depending on your mood, duration it lasts, and more. Don't forget to check out our top 10 sections in every article featuring the best products you can buy online.

When shopping for shower gels, remember to choose one based on your skin type and the fragrance you like. The most common fragrances men tend to choose are citrusy and woody. You can also consider some aromatherapy-like baths by choosing fragrances like lavender, known for its mind-calming effects. We also recommend stocking your bathroom with a shower gel with menthol or mint extracts.

It produces a cooling sensation on your skin that can freshen you up or reduce the burning sensation after staying in the sun for too long. Make sure to choose a product that maintains your skin's normal pH while also being free from harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and triclosan. We hope you get the best shower gel from our recommendations list. 

Author - Arun F Xaviour