Our top pick is The Body Wash by Nécessaire to lather up for clean, radiant skin
When it comes to lathering up in the shower, shampoos and facial cleansers tend to get all the love. But seeing as the majority of your largest organ is located below the neck, it’s definitely worth designating a product to the skin on your body. Body wash comes in a range of formulations. Some merely cleanse the skin while others tackle other concerns like sensitivity, breakouts, or discoloration.
“You should be washing your body with a creamy body wash (unless you have body acne) in the colder months and if you have dry skin,” says celebrity esthetician Taylor Worden.
We conducted hours of research on the best body washes for all skin types, evaluating them on active ingredients, consistency, and value. We tried some of the top-rated formulas out there, our testers taking note of each formula as well as targeted results. Our team then combined these insights with our own research of fan-favorite body washes plus dermatologist-recommended picks to create this list.
Best Overall: Nécessaire The Body Wash
Nécessaire gets a lot of hype in the world of body care, and we’re here to tell you it’s all that and more. A favorite of Byrdie associate editorial director Hallie Gould and available in your choice of fragrance-free, spa-like eucalyptus, or marvelously musky sandalwood, The Body Wash is for everyone.
It’s formulated with skin-loving ingredients like glycerin,1 vitamin E,2 and marula oil3 to cleanse, smooth, and soften, plus niacinamide (vitamin B3) to nourish, replenish, and balance the skin barrier.4 You’ll notice a difference in your dermis after one use and won’t have to worry about irritation if you have sensitive skin.
“Nécessaire’s The Body Wash makes my shower experience feel luxe,” our tester said. “The eucalyptus fragrance smells like a relaxing spa: clean and calming. The formula is mild, non-stripping, and leaves skin feeling deeply cleansed.”
Best Budget: Dove Dryness Relief Nourishing Body Wash
Celebrity esthetician Taylor Worden is obsessed with this formula. “I personally love Dove’s deep-moisturizing body wash,” she says. Containing unsung hero glycerin and earth-sourced oils like jojoba and argan, it delivers an ultra-creamy lather that hydrates dry and sensitive skin.
Best Drugstore: Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash
From the drugstore aisle, we’re big fans of Aveeno Skin Relief. This hefty 33-ounce pump bottle contains a fragrance-free blend of ingredients like oat flour and coriander oil to gently cleanse, nourish, and soothe all skin types.56
Best Splurge: Byredo Gypsy Water Body Wash
Paying top dollar for body wash is an undeniable luxury—but there’s nothing wrong with splurging once in a while. Byredo Gypsy Water cleans and clarifies with glycerin and castor oil, then leaves an enchanting scent in its wake. Featuring notes of bergamot, lemon, pepper, and juniper berries, the French fragrance lasts for hours.
Best Scent: Davines OI Body Wash
Skincare authority and expert cosmetic injector Kristina Kitsos stands behind the Italian-made Davines OI Body Wash. “The roucou oil that they use in this formula is loaded with beta-carotene and antioxidants,” she tells Byrdie. “Also, it smells divine. I can’t stop smelling myself when I use this.”
Best Aromatherapy: Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash
When it comes to relaxing and refreshing scents, there may be no better combo than eucalyptus and lavender. Dermalogica’s spa-level Conditioning Body Wash soothes with vitamin E, clarifies with tea tree oil, and delivers a pleasant dose of stress-relieving aromatherapy with a blend of essential oils.27
Best Unscented: The Seaweed Bath Co. Hydrating Cleansing Body Wash
For those who prefer fragrance-free formulas, we highly recommend this unscented concoction from The Seaweed Bath Co. Containing upwards of 65 vitamins and minerals, plus aloe, coconut oil, and spirulina, it works hard to nourish your skin from head to toe.
Best for Dry Skin: Buttah Egyptian Coco Shea Body Wash
Thirsty skin? This supremely moisturizing body wash will quench skin for up to 72 hours after you use it. Formulated with cocoa butter, shea butter, and vitamin extracts, it works hard to deep cleanse the skin while softening it, not stripping it. Oh, and the scent—which includes notes of white lily, rose, and white musk—is absolutely divine.
Best Bar :DHC Coenzyme Q10 Body Soap
The best bar for sudsing up in the shower is DHC’s Q10 Body Soap. In addition to plant oils and aloe vera, the star of the cleansing bar is Coenzyme Q10 (aka CoQ10), an effective ingredient that tackles free radicals and soothes stressed skin.8
Best Organic: Suzanne Organics Wild Orange Vanilla Body Wash
Board-certified dermatologist Marie V. Hayag, MD, of Fifth Avenue Aesthetics likes Suzanne Organics Body Wash. With glycerin, white tea, oat extract, and coconut oil, this high-end cleanser works overtime to moisturize, nourish, and soothe inflamed skin.
Best Exfoliating: Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash
“I recommend this body wash because it contains a high percentage of glycolic acid, which can help exfoliate the skin, as well as prevent ingrown hairs from shaving, and help counteract sun damage,” says celebrity aesthetician Joshua Ross of SkinLab. “One thing to note is that this product will make you more sun-sensitive, so make sure you are using sunscreen and only use it at night.”
Best Gel: Jurlique Softening Shower Gel Rose
Some people prefer the cooling sensation of washing with gel. Boasting a medley of glycerin, aloe, and healing honey, Jurlique’s gel-based Australian body wash gently clarifies while softening and replenishing the skin barrier.9 Oh, and did we mention it smells incredible?
Best Oil: Glossier Body Hero Daily Oil Wash
Love oil-based skincare? Grease up with Glossier Body Hero. This moisturizing body wash flaunts a seven-oil blend that lifts dirt, grime, and body odor away from your skin and replenishes it with plant-based nourishment.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Drunk Elephant Kamili Cream Body Cleanser
Those with sensitive skin, take note. Worden recommends Drunk Elephant Kamili, a supremely creamy and notably gentle body wash that “does the job and doesn’t dry out your skin.” This luxe cleanser calls on natural oils and an amino acid blend to remove dirt and replenish thirsty skin without irritating or stripping it.
Best Sulfate-Free: Alaffia Everyday Coconut Body Wash
If you prefer to keep sulfates out of the shower, your best bet is Alaffia EveryDay Wash. This whole-body cleanser contains antioxidant-rich coffeeberry extract,10 plus Mother Nature’s go-to nourishers coconut oil and shea butter to moisturize and brighten your skin from head to toe.
Best Multi-Use: Clean Rebellion Organic Castile Soap
Looking for a one-and-done formula you can use on your body, face, and even your hair? Clean Rebellion has your name on it. This sizable bottle of ultra-gentle organic castile soap contains nourishing olive oil and a light fragrance from a blend of essential oils. (An unscented version is also available.)
Best for Sensitive Skin: Eucerin Skin Calming Body Wash
This soap-free formula gently cleanses the skin, enriching the dermis with omega oils and other lipids. It’s affordable, doesn’t irritate, and comes in a large bottle, making it a great value.
Best for Dry Skin: CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash
Natural omega oils help to gently cleanse and protect skin, while ceramides and hyaluronic acid cleanse and moisturize. This dermatologist-developed product doesn’t strip skin, which we love, and can be used on a range of skin types.
Best for Eczema: Skinfix Eczema+ Foaming Oil Body Wash
This fragrance-free and cleanly formulated product can be used on both face and body. What’s more, it works on a variety of skin types—even those with eczema. We love how the occlusive ingredients help create a barrier on the skin, trapping moisture within.
Best for Acne: PanOxyl Maximum Strength Antimicrobial Acne Foaming Wash for Face
This benzoyl peroxide-packed wash foams up to fight both existing acne and ward off future breakouts. It’s maximum strength at 10%, so it could cause irritation and might be best for use as needed, rather than every day.
Best Luxury: Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser
If you’re looking to impress your visitors with high-end products in your guest bath or just want to elevate your own showering experience, Aesop won’t let you down. The brand’s best-selling Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser gently cleanses your skin, eliminates odors, and graces you with an invigorating floral scent that smells, well…expensive.
Best Moisturizing: Bioderma Atoderm Cleansing Oil
Want to avoid dry, tight skin every time you step out of the shower? This oil-based body wash will douse you with moisture from the neck down and replenish lost lipids.3 It’s formulated to help your skin stay hydrated for up to 24 hours while nourishing it with antioxidants like vitamin E and niacinamide. We also appreciate the generously sized pump bottle.
Final Verdict
The best option overall is undoubtedly The Body Wash by Nécessaire, a luxurious cleanser containing skin-loving ingredients like vitamin E, marula oil, and niacinamide. For a more affordable pick, consider Dove Dryness Relief, an esthetician-approved body wash boasting an incredibly creamy formula. And if you’re open to splurging on the top-shelf stuff, go with Byredo Gypsy Water Body Wash.
What to Look For
Ingredients
The main thing to look for when shopping around for a body wash is the ingredients list. Most formulas clean the skin with glycerin, castile soap, and other emulsifiers. In addition to being moisturizing, plant oils such as jojoba, coconut, argan, and castor oil are naturally antimicrobial, meaning they repel bacteria.11 If you’re interested in an oil-based formula, go with Glossier Body Hero Daily Oil Wash.
If you have sensitive or eczema-prone skin, you might want to look for soothing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, vitamin E, and aloe vera. Our top choice for the eczema-prone set is Skinfix Eczema+ Foaming Oil Body Wash.
Those with acne-prone skin should keep an eye out for skin-clearing actives like tea tree oil7 and exfoliating AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) such as glycolic acid or lactic acid.12 Those battling breakouts should reach for PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash.
Scent
Body washes are often scented with synthetic fragrances or essential oils. A lot of skincare experts recommend steering clear of products containing fragrance to avoid irritation. However, the skin on your body might be less sensitive than the skin on your face,13 in which case a light scent may not cause a reaction.
Our favorite scented body wash is Davines OI Body Wash, which smells like fresh cedar. If you prefer a floral scent, Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser is pretty amazing too.
Container
If you prioritize overall value and ease of use, look for a large pump bottle, like the generously sized Bioderma Atoderm Cleansing Oil. The pumps are user-friendly, allowing you to dispense the product without lifting the container, plus they often yield several months’ worth of use.
That said, there are some really great higher-end products that come in smaller containers without pumps, as well as cleansing bars with no container to speak of, like DHC Q10 Body Soap. In the end, it’s a matter of preference.
Skin Type
Your body wash should correspond to your skin type, so it’s important to look for formulations that will work for you. If you’re dry, look for a product that will hydrate and won’t dry the skin out (soap-free formulations are best), like Buttah Egyptian CocoShea Body Wash.
If you’re oily, look for something with ingredients that aim to rid the skin of bacteria (like glycolic or hyaluronic acid), such as Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash.
FAQ
What are the benefits of body wash?
Compared to traditional bar soap, body wash tends to offer a substantial lather and an all-around more luxurious bathing experience. What’s more, some formulas are moisturizing and nourishing, while others provide exfoliation or skin-clearing benefits.
Gel-filled bottles and pump containers are also convenient and easy to use. Additionally, liquid body washes can be used for bubble baths.
How do you use body wash?
Cleansing with body wash is pretty straightforward. Start by dispensing a small amount into your hand (somewhere between the size of a dime and a quarter). Gently rub your hands together to disperse the product and create a lather. Next, rub it all over your body, making sure to cleanse under the arm pits thoroughly before rinsing.
Can you use body wash on your face?
“It’s not advisable to use body wash on your face,” says Kitsos. “This is because the skin on the face is normally a bit more sensitive than the skin on the body, and it’s possible that body washes may be too harsh and abrasive.”
However, she notes, “If you are in a pinch and need to use it as face wash once in a while, it will work to clean the skin.” Just be sure to start with a very small amount, rinse thoroughly, and follow with a moisturizer.
What is the difference between bar soap and bodywash?
Bar soaps tend to be more drying to the skin because of their formulation. But they also often last longer, creating a better value. If it’s something moisturizing you’re looking for, bodywash is likely the way to go.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
