If you've never put much thought into your bodywash before, I completely understand. At the end of the day, bodywash is something everyone uses, it's on your skin for virtually no time, and it's readily available at the drugstore for low prices. While the best bodywash is one you'll actually use, the kind of bodywash you're using can actually make a major difference. Choosing a bodywash you love can positively impact your skin and serve as a major moment of self-care.
How to choose the best bodywash for you
If you have dry skin, you should opt for lower-foam bodywashes that are packed with hydrating ingredients like butters, oils, and ceramides. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, you should look for bodywashes that have ingredients like AHAs and other exfoliants to clear pores and deeply cleanse. Sensitive skin should opt for fragrance-free, hydrating formulas. No matter what, it's best to choose bodywashes that won't strip skin of its natural oils.
Best overall bodywash: Nécessaire The Body Wash
Nearly every single beauty editor on our team is obsessed with this vitamin-rich bodywash from Nécessaire. Not only is it chock-full of vitamins A, B, C, and E and omegas-9 and -6, but it's also made with marula, cacay, and meadowfoam oils for a supremely hydrating cleansing experience. It also comes in an unscented version for ultra-sensitive skin.
Pros: hydrating, rich lather, softening
Cons: Scent is lighter than some other bodywashes
Customer review: "I have sensitive, dry skin and am acne prone on my chest and back and this body wash has literally cured all of it. Blown away by how great this is. It even took care of some eczema I get occasionally."
Best drugstore bodywash: Native Body Wash in Cashmere & Rain
Native bodywashes are some of the best drugstore formulas on the market. This bodywash transforms into a rich lather and is made with clean ingredients. Bonus: It smells much more expensive than it actually is.
Pros: rich lather, smells good
Cons: Might be too scented for sensitive noses
Customer review: "This is a great scent for families to share; not too feminine, not too masculine, but refreshing all around! It feels high quality."
Best unscented bodywash: Drunk Elephant Kamili Cream Body Cleanser
Drunk Elephant's body cleanser contains marula oil, sweet almond oil, and sacha inchi seed oil to moisturize and nourish skin. It's a cream formula that manages to be extremely gentle while still cleansing effectively.
Pros: Soothing, no added fragrance, good for sensitive skin
Cons: Not a very rich lather
Customer review: "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."
Best aromatherapy bodywash: Grown Alchemist Body Cleanser
One major perk for this cleanser is that it's packed with aromatherapy benefits. It's blended with chamomile, bergamot, and rosewood scents for the most zen bathing experience. Plus, it doesn't leave skin feeling stripped.
Pros: Smells good, doesn't strip skin
Cons: Pricey
Customer review: "I can't get enough of this scent. I want to shower all the time just so I can use it. I love it."
Best-smelling bodywash: Phlur Somebody Wood Body Wash
If you, like me, have an obsession with Phlur scents and candles, you'll love the brand's ultra-luxe body products. This bodywash has a warm, woodsy scent that's a perfect counterpart to Phlur's crowd-favorite Somebody Wood perfume.
Pros: Smells good, doesn't strip skin
Cons: Pricey
Customer review: "I love the smell because it's sophisticated and works with my body chemistry. The perfume is light weight, so having the shower gel makes it last just a bit more."
Best refreshing bodywash: Ouai Body Cleanser
This gentle cleanser is infused with jojoba seed oil, rose-hip oil, and lactobacillus ferment to cleanse and hydrate the skin. It's made with Ouai's fan-favorite Dean Street fragrance, which is a fresh, citrusy scent.
Pros: Smells good, good for sensitive skin, rich lather
Cons: Pricey
Customer review: "Great body wash. Light, wonderful scent that is not overpowering. I feel very clean and refreshed after using it."
Best bodywash for mature skin: Korres Guava Renewing Body Cleanser
This guava-scented body cleanser will transport you straight to the tropics. Not only that, but it also makes sure skin stays hydrated while boosting elasticity.
Pros: Smells good, hydrating
Cons: Not a very rich lather
Customer review: "It leaves my skin so soft and moisturized. A little goes a long way. Also, it smells great."
Best luxury bodywash: Aēsop A Rose by Any Other Name Body Cleanser
Aesop doesn't just have a place on your sink as a statement hand soap. This body cleanser will soon become one of your staple bathroom products too. It's infused with botanical extracts to soften and purify your skin. Keep in mind, this is a low-foaming soap, so if you'd rather use a body cleanser with a rich lather, this one isn't for you.
Pros: Smells good, doesn't strip skin
Cons: Pricey, not a very rich lather
Customer review: "This wash is a luxury product. It feels silky and has a lovely moisturizing effect, yet it rinses off clean. The scent is wonderful and smells like flowers from my garden."
Best bodywash for sensitive skin: Dove Body Wash
If you have sensitive skin, it's likely you're already a Dove bodywash devotee. My skin gets incredibly dry and flaky in the winter, and when that happens, Dove is my favorite non-stripping and moisturizing bodywash to use. It's hypoallergenic and sulfate-free, so it's incredibly gentle, even on the most sensitive skin.
Pros: gentle, hydrating, good for sensitive skin
Cons: Light scent
Customer review: "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."
Best sustainable bodywash: Uni Skin Shield Body Wash
Uni's products come in refillable containers, so you can feel good about your environmental impact when you use them. This body cleanser has nourishing ingredients like Australian caviar lime to mildly exfoliate skin and Tasmanian sea kelp to prevent breakouts.
Pros: Sustainable, non-stripping
Cons: Pricey
Customer review: "The body wash is an absolute joy to use. The fresh scent paired with a nice bubbly result as you wash is super invigorating. You will be in love with your first use."
Best bodywash for acne-prone skin: Kosas Good Body Skin AHA + Enzyme Exfoliating Body Wash
Kosas's bodywash is packed with AHAs and fruit enzymes to deep-clean, smooth, and control breakouts. It also has an intoxicating fragrance of jasmine, orange flower, sandalwood, and vanilla
Pros: Smells good, exfoliates skin, helps breakouts
Cons: May be too harsh for sensitive skin
Customer review: "Didn’t know I could be obsessed with a body wash but I am. Great for after workouts and summer humidity. Doesn’t strip skin but acne is majorly cleared up. Smells divine."
Best bodywash for dry skin: 54 Thrones Moisturizing Butter Cream Body Wash
If a body butter were turned into a bodywash, it would be this supremely moisturizing wash from 54 Thrones. It's packed with shea butter, moringa leaf oil, niacinamide, and ceramides for the most moisturizing bodywash imaginable.
Pros: Highly moisturizing, non-stripping
Cons: Some find it's not the deepest cleanse
Customer review: "My skin gets so dry after a shower to the point where it feels like my skin is made of thumb tacks. Not with this! I’ve never been so comfortable in my skin before this product. I was so happy, I cried!"
Best brightening bodywash: Saltair Exotic Pulp Serum Body Wash
Not only do we love how sustainable this aluminum bottle is, but we're obsessed with Saltair's bodywash formula. It's doubles as a serum thanks to vitamin C that brightens skin like crazy.
Pros: Smells good, brightens skin
Cons: Might need to use more than a normal bodywash
Customer review: "Best smelling body wash I’ve ever used. I’ll repurchase this forever. It lingers hours after using."
