What is personal hygiene?
Personal hygiene encompasses all daily care routines designed to maintain the cleanliness and health of the skin—from cleansing the body to caring for specific areas (teeth, nose, underarms). In drugstores, personal hygiene products differ from mainstream cosmetics in their more carefully formulated ingredients and their suitability for sensitive, reactive, or compromised skin.
Discover our full range in our personal hygiene section.
Which soaps and shower gels should you choose for sensitive skin?
Body cleansing is the most important daily hygiene routine—and the one most likely to irritate compromised skin if the wrong product is chosen.
- Superfatted soaps: enriched with plant oils (shea, olive, avocado)—cleanse without disrupting the hydrolipidic film—ideal for dry and atopic skin
- Clay soaps: absorb excess sebum without drying out the skin—suitable for combination skin and oily scalps
- Sulfate-free gels (SLS/SLES-free): for very sensitive or reactive skin —mild surfactants (cocoglucoside, decyl glucoside) cleanse effectively without irritating
- Cleansing creams: for severe atopic skin—an emollient texture that cleanses and moisturizes simultaneously—physiological pH that respects the skin barrier
- Avoid on sensitive skin: allergenic fragrances, alcohol, synthetic dyes, harsh sulfate-based surfactants
How to choose a natural deodorant at the drugstore?
Deodorant is one of the most controversial personal care products—balancing effectiveness, skin tolerance, and a gentle formulation.
- Mineral deodorants (alum): naturally occurring aluminum salts—limit bacterial growth without clogging pores—fragrance-free, well-tolerated—less effective for heavy sweating
- Baking soda-based deodorants: an alkalizing active ingredient that neutralizes odors—be careful with high concentrations, which can irritate sensitive skin
- Essential oil-based deodorants: tea tree, lavender, palmarosa—effective against bacterial flora—avoid using on freshly shaved underarms
- Difference between deodorant and antiperspirant: deodorant masks or neutralizes odors — antiperspirant (aluminum chlorohydrate) reduces sweating itself — two distinct approaches
- See our line of sports deodorants
What are the best daily personal hygiene practices?
Beyond the products themselves, a few simple rules make all the difference in protecting your skin and preventing discomfort.
- Shower temperature: lukewarm water, never very hot—excessive heat disrupts the hydrolipidic film and worsens dryness
- Duration: 5 minutes maximum for sensitive or atopic skin—spending too long under the water dehydrates the skin
- Pat dry (don’t rub)—friction irritates delicate skin
- Apply moisturizer while the skin is still slightly damp—this ensures optimal occlusion
- Change towels and bedding regularly—to prevent skin infections caused by bacterial recolonization
Personal Hygiene and Supplements: What’s the Connection?
External hygiene is linked to other aspects of care—oral, nasal, and intimate.
- Oral hygiene: toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss—complements daily personal care
- Nasal hygiene: saline spray, nasal irrigation—particularly important during the winter and for children
- Hand sanitizers: a supplement to handwashing when on the go—at least 60% alcohol for documented antiviral effectiveness—not a substitute for daily handwashing with soap
