The time you spend in the bath or shower can be an essential part of your self-care routine. There’s just something so soothing about cleansing your body and taking time for yourself, especially after a long day. And while a lot of it has to do with the water temperature and how cozy or comforting your bathroom is, your bath products can make a difference, too.
You might have a favorite bath soak or shampoo or face wash, but I think body washes sometimes get forgotten in the mix. Maybe it’s because our face and hair are top priorities, or maybe it’s because we’ve been using the same body wash for a decade and are reluctant to try something new. That can be a shame because the right one can really hydrate, smooth, and nourish your skin.
Take a look at some of the best-reviewed ones for every skin type below.
Beauty editor Erin Jahns recommends this cleanser from Goop. It’s made with glacial marine clay, safflower oil, moringa oil, and a blend of essential oils for a luxurious bath experience. One reviewer on Credo Beauty wrote, “I’ve tried all kinds of body washes that would help reduce the keartosis pilaris on my upper arms, without harsh chemicals. This lathers well, is still very gentle on my skin, and has helped my KP nearly disappear. I like that there is little scent to it and leaves my skin feeling clean, yet moisturized.”
With a bright citrus scent, Fresh’s body wash will really wake you up and leave you feeling refreshed. The foaming gel contains shea butter and vitamins C and E for a hydrating effect. One Nordstrom review reads, “This is my favorite body wash, especially for summer. Gives you a clean smooth feeling and smells wonderful.”
Gentle but still cleansing, Drunk Elephant’s body cleanser contains marula oil and sacha inchi seed oil to moisturize and nourish skin. This one’s formulated for all skin types, too. A Sephora reviewer wrote, “This body cleanser is truly one of the best I’ve tried. It smells delightful even though there’s no fragrance, it’s not drying or tightening once you get out of the shower and the scent doesn’t linger, and you only need a little bit to go a long way.”
If you can’t get enough of your diffuser, you’re going to love the aromatherapy benefits of this cleanser. It contains chamomile, bergamot, and rosewood scents for a calming bath experience. Plus, it will moisturize and smooth your skin. A reviewer on Dermstore said, “I can’t get enough of this scent. I want to shower all the time just so I can use it. I love it.”
We’re already obsessed with Byredo’s candles, so of course, we’re going to love its body products, too. This cleansing wash has a light floral scent. One review on Nordstrom says, “This body wash lathers up just enough, and cleanses in a deliciously soft and gentle way, leaving a subtle scent behind. It’s just perfect for facing the day ahead as a pick-me-up, or as a soothing bedtime treat.”
This gentle cleanser from haircare favorite Ouai features jojoba seed oil, rose-hip oil, and lactobacillus ferment to cleanse, kill bacteria, and hydrate. A Sephora reviewer wrote, “Great body wash. Light, wonderful scent that is not overpowering. I feel very clean and refreshed after using it.”
Korres’s shower gel will help maintain your skin’s natural moisture while boosting skin immunity, collagen production, and elasticity. It doesn’t contain phthalates, silicone, or parabens. A reviewer on Dermstore wrote, “It leaves my skin so soft and moisturized. A little goes a long way. Also, it smells great.”
If you’re used to sudsy soaps, this editor favorite doesn’t foam as much, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get the job done. Aēsop’s cleanser has botanical extracts to soften and purify your skin. And it’s perfectly fine to use as a daily hand soap, too.
Another favorite of beauty editor Erin Jahns’s, this cleanser is packed with vitamins A, B, C, E and omegas-9 and -6. It’s formulated with marula, cacay, and meadowfoam oils for a truly hydrating experience.
Like its name implies, this cleanser is made specifically for people with eczema, dry, or sensitive skin. The coconut cleanser gently washes and moisturizes the skin. One Sephora reviewer wrote, “I don’t write many reviews, but wow, I had to for this product. My skin is so SO sensitive. It’s been trial-and-error trying to figure out what irritates my skin the least when it comes to body wash (or anything). My skin just never felt great, or was itchy, and I’m almost 33, and still have acne on my chest, shoulders, and back! Well, not anymore with this stuff!”
Aveeno is a go-to brand for people with dry and sensitive skin, and its body wash doesn’t disappoint. The creamy formula contains oatmeal for an ultra-soothing shower experience. One customer on Amazon said, “It has a light citrus scent when smelling it from the bottle, but as you wash with it, there’s almost no scent at all. And the texture is beautiful, it’s more gel-like. It lathers up extremely well. Once I was out of the bath, there was zero need to put on lotion. Actually putting on lotion felt overkill, this stuff kept me moisturized long after the fact.”
Eucerin’s another brand that people with dry and sensitive skin gravitate toward. I’m partial to its hand cream for my eczema. The calming body wash is formulated with omega oils and natural lipids to help retain your skin’s moisture and nourish. An Amazon review reads, “I’ve been using this product now for well over a year. There is nothing else, literally nothing else I can use without severe drying and skin irritation. Great if you have itchy skin. Lasts a long while.”
This body wash is one of associate beauty editor Courtney Higgs’s favorites. It contains softening ingredients like coconut and jojoba oil. The formula is free of parabens, SLS, silicones, and other chemicals, and it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Dove works well for sensitive skin. As someone with skin like that, I have always had the brand’s body products around. The sensitive-skin body wash is hypoallergenic and sulfate-free, so it’s super gentle and non-irritating. An Amazon reviewer wrote, “I have very sensitive skin, and I’m highly allergic to anything that has coconut (oil, butter, etc.) and SPF sunscreen… The scent is not overwhelming at all. It’s a great body wash for my sensitive skin.”
This super-gentle wash is made with 95% naturally derived ingredients, and it’s biodegradable, too. You can even use it on your face and hair. A customer at Nordstrom said, “Does not irritate my skin or my keratosis pilaris! Has a very light refreshing scent that is perfect for an everyday fresh and clean feeling. My new forever body wash, now if you can please make body lotion/butter to go with it!”
This soap contains exfoliating ingredients, papaya and grapefruit extracts, to clear dead skin cells. And it also has oatmeal, which is great if you have problem skin on your back, chest, and shoulders. One Nordstrom reviewer said, “Leaves your skin soft and [it’s] not drying at all! Also the biggest bonus for me it cleared my acne on my back which I’ve had for years!! It’s inexpensive and smells fresh and clean.”
Humane’s face and body wash has 10% benzoyl peroxide to treat acne, kill bacteria, and reduce inflammation. It’s also clean and vegan. An Amazon reviewer wrote, “This will cure your acne. I wish I could give it 10 stars. Make sure to be patient, though. It’s a long process that will pay off after about three months. But you need to be ready to be dedicated to your skin routine.”
Murad’s body wash contains glycolic and salicylic acids to deep-clean skin and control breakouts. It also has green tea and licorice root extract to soothe your skin. A Sephora reviewer said, “This body wash has been a staple in my shower for three years. I repurchase it over and over because it’s the only product I’ve found that consistently keeps me from breaking out on my back. I miss it and notice a difference on days that I skip it. Highly recommend for anyone trying to control breakouts on the body.”
The salicylic acid in this body wash will exfoliate and smooth your skin, while the essential ceramides will restore and protect. This one is a good option if you also have bumpy skin or keratosis pilaris. One reviewer on Amazon said, “I have been using this cleanser for over a week now and I am really impressed with it. I notice areas where I had clusters of pimples on my back is practically clear, my ingrown hairs on my thighs are practically gone, and my back thigh bumps are really smoothed out and you can tell they are starting to go away. The thing I notice most about this cleanser is your skin feels really soft afterwards, and not just the softness of exfoliation, but that it is actually helping retain your skin’s moisture and protecting it.”
Proactiv’s body wash is formulated with 2% salicylic acid to clear blemishes, unclog pores, exfoliate dead skin cells, and get rid of impurities. A Sephora reviewer wrote, “Regular body scrubs did a good job with the dry skin, but the oils would clog my pores and make the acne worse. Other acne washes would do a good job with the acne, but end up being too drying for my already dry skin. For me, this body wash/scrub nails that sweet spot in the middle of having both dry AND acne-prone skin.” Next up, the $20-and-under eye creams that will make your skin look like a million bucks.
