And they all smell amazing
If you’re looking to ‘clean’ or ‘green’ your beauty routine, an easy place to start is with one of the personal care products you use daily, i.e. body wash. There are more organic options of the shower staple than ever before, free from potentially harmful and questionable chemicals, artificial fragrances, synthetic dyes (you get the picture), yet still with the same cleansing prowess, sumptuous lather, and pleasant scent that you want from a body wash. Whether you want something basic that the whole family can use, an ultra-hydrating option to quench dry skin or a luxurious treat that makes you feel like you’re at the spa, there’s an organic body wash for that.
We conducted hours of research to find the best organic body washes on the market, evaluating each based on their benefits and active ingredients. After considering dozens of options, we landed on these top-rated picks.
Best Overall: Dr. Bronner’s Organic Sugar Soap
This USDA-organic formula is definitely not the new kid on the block—it was first invented in 1948—but its cult-like status is certainly well deserved. (Case in point: It’s the top-selling soap in the U.S. natural marketplace.) Not only is the formula squeaky clean, without synthetic preservative, foaming agents, or detergents, there’s also no shortage of different ways to use it. As a body wash sure, but also as a hand soap, face wash, shampoo, even on your pets. There are a variety of different scents (all-natural, of course) available, so there’s something for every preference. And because it’s so hydrating and creamy, it can be used for shaving as well.
Best Budget: Avalon Organics Revitalizing Peppermint Bath & Shower Gel
Free of sulfates, GMOs, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, just to name a few, this is also NSF/ANSI 305 certified, the American national standard for personal care products containing organic ingredients. Botanical cleansers do the heavy lifting, while peppermint essential oil makes it refreshing and invigorating—ideal for helping you wake up on sleepy mornings. And let’s not forget to mention the ultra-affordable price tag.
Best Luxe: Rahua Body Shower Gel
It may not necessarily seem like a body wash made with USDA-certified organic ingredients could feel like a totally indulgent product, but trust us, it can. While we love how this lathers and rinses clean, we’ll credit the incredible scent—a blend of eucalyptus, lavender, vanilla, and Palo Santo—that smells, well, expensive and sophisticated for making this feel like the utmost indulgence. Reviewers agree, raving about how it feels and how well it works, even on sensitive skin. The formula is also designed with anti-aging in mind and has nourishing benefits for skin.
Best for Dry Skin: PLANT Apothecary Get Happy Bodywash
KEY INGREDIENTS Jojoba oil is a natural oil produced from the seed of the Chinensis plant, a drought-resistant shrub native to southern Arizona, California, and Mexico. It mimics natural sebum and conditions and seals moisture in the skin without clogging pores or exacerbating acne.
There are only eight ingredients in this gel-like cleanser, the first three being heavy-hitting hydrators: organic coconut, olive, and jojoba oil soaps. Rosemary and peppermint oils give it its refreshing scent, and it also works well as a bubble bath. FYI, because the formula is so natural, don’t be alarmed if it turns slightly cloudy; just give it a good shake or stick the bottle in some hot water.
Best for All Skin Types: Nurture My Body Fragrance Free Organic Body Wash
KEY INGREDIENTS Seaweed is a very powerful concentration of seawater and is able to uptake minerals by absorption and active transport from seawater. Because of these processes, some seaweeds have a dense concentration of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, proteins, and lipids, which all pose benefits for the skin.
This uses nine certified organic ingredients (think coconut cream and seaweed extract) and is so pure that the Environmental Working Group gave it a toxicity score of zero—you’d be hard-pressed to find a formula that’s squeakier clean than that. It’s safe to use even if you suffer from eczema or psoriasis, and is so gentle that it works well for kids, too. Stash a bottle in your shower and let the whole family go to town.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Desert Essence Organics Body Wash
KEY INGREDIENTS Aloe vera is a naturally derived ingredient known for its soothing and moisturizing properties. The aloe plant’s inner gel mucilage (the part that’s used in skincare products) is made up of 99.5% water.
Certified organic aloe vera and green tea are the first two ingredients in this cleanser; the former soothes irritated skin, the second packs a heavy hit of protective antioxidants that help combat the signs of aging1. Coconut-derived surfactants (read: detergents) gently cleanse skin without stripping it of its natural oils, and the formula is also gluten-free and contains no synthetic fragrances or colors, all common irritants, particularly for those with sensitive skin or planning to use it on intimate areas of the body.
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Sky Organics African Black Soap
The namesake ingredient in this wash—which is sourced directly from organic artisanal farmers in Ghana—delivers a laundry list of skin benefits. We’re talking, improving skin tone, reducing inflammation, and healing irritation; it also has antibacterial properties, all qualities that make it a great pick for anyone prone to body breakouts. Because let’s face it, bacne is a real thing.
Best Simple: Carina Organics Unscented Daily Moisturizing Body Wash
Purists will appreciate the straightforward ingredient list, free of all kinds of nasties and filled with certified organic plant and other natural extracts instead. There’s no scent, just a basic and simple formula that gets the cleansing job done, no-frills (or harsh chemicals) required. Even better, it’s totally biodegradable, so it won’t have a negative impact on the environment after it gets washed down the drain.
Best for Intimate Use: Organyc Feminine Intimate Wash for Sensitive Skin
Free of parabens, sulfates, and synthetic fragrance, this is a good choice to wash intimate areas without causing irritation. The pH-balanced, certified organic formula includes chamomile, aloe, and glycerin to soothe and hydrate delicate skin. It has a very subtle, fresh scent and rinses clean without leaving a residue. Overall, skin feels clean and refreshed.
Best Value: Renpure Rose Water Body Wash
The Rose Water iteration of Renpure’s moisturizing product line smells divine and is hydrating to the skin. And at a generous size and budget-friendly price, it’s also a solid value. Renpure notes that it partners with Salvation Army to donate personal care items to people in homeless shelters, so picking up a bottle of this body wash should make you feel extra good. Although the coconut oil-based formula is organic, it’s worth noting that it does contain polyquaternium-10 and diazolidinyl urea, a formaldehyde-releasing preservative. So if a squeaky-clean formula is important to you, you might want to reconsider this particular body wash.
Final Verdict
The multipurpose and versatile Dr. Bronner’s Organic Sugar Soap is our top choice on the list. With a clean formula that hydrates, exfoliates, and soothes with organically grown, fairly harvested ingredients, it’s a cult favorite for good reason. Avalon Organics Revitalizing Peppermint Bath & Shower Gel is a less expensive alternative that invigorates with peppermint oil as it cleans skin.
What to Look For in an Organic Body Wash
No Questionable Ingredients
Organic body wash should include organic ingredients that cleanse and nourish the skin while leaving out less desirable elements. Some of these questionable ingredients you may wish to avoid include sulfates, GMOs, parabens, and synthetic fragrances.
One way to help determine this is to check the brand’s Environmental Working Group toxicity score. Nurture My Body’s Fragrance Free Organic Body Wash is so clean it received a zero on the organization’s toxicity scale. You may also wish to look for an indication that the body wash is made in an environmentally-friendly way, has recyclable packaging, and is biodegradable.
Pleasant Scent
Organic body wash may not have synthetic fragrances, but it can use natural essential oils to provide a lovely scent. Essential oils can be aromatic, so look for ones that appeal to your tastes, such as bright and peppy peppermint and eucalyptus or bright, mellow citrus. It’s good to look for an organic body wash with a scent you thoroughly enjoy, or unscented if you’re looking to steer clear of any type of fragrance.
Natural Active Ingredients
While avoiding less desirable ingredients is one benefit of choosing an organic body wash, you’ll also want to ensure it contains well-sourced, effective natural ingredients. For body wash, this means cleansing, nourishing, and treatment-centered ingredients. Examples include nourishing plant oils, botanical extracts, antioxidants, plant proteins, and essential oils with the goal of combating signs of aging, hydrating, and softening skin. You’ll want to take extra care to look at the ingredient list if you’re pregnant or nursing, to be sure there aren’t any ingredients that aren’t safe for use.
FAQ
What do you not want in your organic body wash?
Depending on your preferences, you may wish to avoid synthetic fragrances, parabens, sulfates, preservatives, and colorants in your body wash. Look for natural, plant-sourced ingredients without the additional additives you’d prefer to avoid.
Is organic body wash good for your body?
Organic body washes with nourishing, cleansing ingredients can boost the health of your skin. Organic body wash can be good for your body because it helps to keep it clean, moisturized, and fresh.
What does certified organic mean?
For a product to be certified organic, it must meet several standards, including being free of genetically modified ingredients and synthetic dyes and other chemicals, and parabens, to name a few requirements. If a product is labeled as “organic” but not “certified organic”, you can be sure it contains some organic ingredients but does not meet every qualification needed to be designated as certified organic. For example, the Renpure Rose Water Body Wash is labeled as organic but not certified organic, while Organyc Feminine Intimate Wash for Sensitive Skin is certified organic.
