Shower gel or shower cream, also known as bodywash, is the general term for liquid products used for cleaning the body. In the United States, it is usually marketed as body wash. Most commercial shower gels do not contain any soap, in the technical sense, although they are sometimes referred to as "soap", colloquially. Shower gel/bodywash is an emulsion of water and detergent base (derived from petroleum), usually with added fragrance, used as a skin cleansing agent in the shower or bath. It has advantages over soap because it is less irritating to the skin, lathers better in hard water areas and does not leave a mineral residue on the skin or in the bathtub after usage.