After Testing 25+ Body Washes, These Are the 16 Worth Stocking in Your Shower

Pros: Smells rich, lathers well, effectively hydrates skin

Cons: Pricey for a body wash

Size: 15.2, 32 oz. | Key ingredients: Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide | Benefits: Hydrating, smoothing | Skin type: All, but especially dry

If you want to smell like Baccarat Rouge at skin level, you’ll want to get your hands on this woody-clean scent from Salt & Stone. Infused with two of the heavy hitters in the timeless Maison Francis Kurkdijan scent, saffron and cedar, the fragrance of this body wash instantly reminded me of the cool girl perfume with a cult following. But what keeps me coming back to this body wash is its sensitive-skin friendly formula that smooths, refreshes, and revitalizes my eczema-prone skin—never leaving my skin dry or tight post-shower.

No matter if I’m washing off after a day at the beach or a sweaty workout class, I know I can rely on this frothy shower gel to wash the day away (and leave me smelling like a chic Upper East Sider).

Customer review: “Cannot say enough good things about this body wash. It’s literally my new favorite. I love the scent and always get compliments. It’s not super girly or overpowering.”

Pros: Hydrating, rich lather, softening

Cons: Scent is lighter than some other bodywashes

Size: 3.4, 8.4, 16.9 oz. | Key ingredients: Marula, meadowfoam, and cacay oils, niacinamide, pure eucalyptus oil | Benefits: Hydrates, evens skin tone and texture | Skin type: All, especially dry

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. Pure eucalyptus oil rounds the formula out on a soothing note with an earthy scent that makes you want to dive into the bottle.

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."

Pros: Cult favorite scent in body wash form

Cons: May be too fragranced for sensitive skin

Size: 7.6 oz. | Key ingredients: Magnolia, sandalwood, ambrette | Benefits: Hydrating, exquisite fragrance | Skin type: All (patch-test on sensitive skin first)

Known for its collection of highly regarded fragrances, the fan (and editor) favorite scent Mojave Ghost from Swedish brand Byredo comes in a body wash, so of course, senior beauty editor Jamie Schneider had to add it to her shower lineup. With nearly 8 ounces of product ringing in at $60, this bottle is no small splurge, but its enchanting after-effects make the money well worth it. The crispy woody scent lingers far past the shower, but under the water is where this hydrating elixir goes to work—leaving you with buttery-soft, expensive-smelling skin every time you emerge.

Customer review: “A soft, warm floral with woody undertones that smells sophisticated and unique. It’s not too overpowering and wears well throughout the day. I have the perfume and feel doesn’t last as long on the skin as I’d like, and you may need to reapply—but it works 2X better when you have a body wash base with the same scent!”

Pros: Gentle formula, soothes dry, irritated skin

Cons: Not the most luxurious (if that’s your goal)

Size: 33 oz. | Key ingredients: Oat flour, extract, and oil | Benefits: Relieves dry, itchy skin | Skin type: All, but especially dry and sensitive

Not only one of the most wallet-friendly, this classic drugstore buy was named the best unscented body washes by Who What Wear editors thanks to its basic, irritant-free formula that smooths and hydrates dry, flaky skin. If you prefer to stay away from scented body washes due to skin sensitivity, this gentle formula may be your best bet.

Customer review: “The Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash with its Triple Oat Formula is a lifesaver for anyone dealing with dry, itchy skin. This body wash is designed to provide deep hydration and gentle cleansing while soothing irritation, making it ideal for sensitive or dry skin types. With the power of oatmeal, it helps lock in moisture and leaves your skin feeling soft, comfortable, and refreshed.”

Pros: Calming, long-lasting scent; hydrating, gentle formula

Cons: Honestly, none

Size: 18 oz. | Key ingredients: Coconut, rice milk, shea butter | Benefits: Moisturizes and smooths skin, paraben- and phthalate-free | Skin type: All

When I need a body wash that’s kind to my skin (and bank account) at the drugstore, I beeline straight for Method’s collection of soothing body washes. Available in mood-setting scents like fresh coconut, calming chamomile, and sweet peony, each offers a moisturizing, easy-to-lather gel that never leaves my dry skin feeling stripped. As someone who’s tried the really expensive stuff, this meek $9 bottle outshines some serious competitors.

Customer review: “The Method Body Wash has been a great addition to my shower routine! The formula is gentle, lathers well, and leaves my skin feeling clean and hydrated without any residue. I also love that it’s made with naturally derived ingredients and free from harsh chemicals. A little goes a long way, making it a great value. Definitely one of my favorite body washes!”

Pros: Detoxifies the skin, relies heavily on natural ingredients

Cons: Expensive for the amount of product

Size: 9.3 oz. | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, pink clay, algae probiotics, squalane, vegan collagen | Benefits: Firms, hydrates, and detoxifies skin | Skin type: All

Inspired by the ancient luxuries of Roman bathhouses, Nerra’s jasmine-scented body wash is the bodycare step I look forward to every single day. This lightweight gel lathers up nicely between your hands and on a loofah, offering nourished, glassy skin after the first wash. Its spa-scented formula invigorates the skin with a blend of hyaluronic acid and squalane for moisture, vegan collagen and algae probiotics for a stronger, firmer skin barrier, and pink clay to detoxify and refine your pores (yes, they’re on your body, too).

Customer review: “I have very sensitive skin, so I prefer to use fragrance-free products, including body wash. A lot of fragrance-free body washes are super basic and unremarkable, but using this one is a genuinely pleasant experience—it lathers well and cleanses perfectly without stripping the skin. I'm on my third bottle! I love it.”

Pros: Clears stubborn acne

Cons: Can be drying

Size: 8 oz. | Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, fruit enzymes, grapefruit extract | Benefits: Exfoliates | Skin type: Normal, oily, acne-prone

Glycolic acid is one of the trendiest ingredients among face skincare products for its exfoliating benefits, which gently reveal the bright, glowing skin hiding beneath your dead skin cells. While we often reach for serums with this ingredient to treat our faces, we often forget to give our bodies the same love—and editors fell for this budget-friendly glycolic body wash that helps clear acne (and smells divine).

Customer review: “I’ve tried a lot of body washes—some fancier than others. I always come back to this one. My skin is dry but I’m prone to occasional body acne on my bikini line/armpits/butt. This keeps that at bay without drying out the rest of my body. Smells light and pleasant. Never found something I like more than this.”

Pros: Exfoliates without irritating microbeads, hydrates and soothes skin

Cons: Some reviewers cite dryness

Size: 10 oz. | Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, ceramides, hyaluronic acid | Benefits: Fragrance-free, gently exfoliates, hydrates resurfaced skin | Skin type: All, but especially dry, rough skin

We rely on CeraVe products for everything from rosacea-friendly moisturizer to face washes for acne, but Dr. Rambhia asks us to consider their body wash for KP, too. Keratosis pilaris is the technical term for tiny, rough bumps that can develop on your skin that can feel itchy or scaly. “This fragrance-free body wash is formulated with salicylic acid, making it ideal for exfoliating rough and bumpy skin,” she says. “It helps to gently slough away dead skin cells while hydrating the skin, promoting a smoother texture without irritation.”

Customer review: “Stepping into the shower with CeraVe Body Wash with Salicylic Acid has become a refreshing and transformative experience for me. This fragrance-free body wash is not just a cleanser; it's a symphony for the skin. This body wash gets the job done, clearing away impurities and leaving my skin feeling truly clean. It's a powerhouse in the realm of skin cleaning agents.”

Pros: Cult favorite scent in a body wash

Cons: We wish it had a pump dispenser

Size: 3, 10 oz. | Key ingredients: Rosehip oil, vitamin A, vitamin C, jojoba oil | Benefits: Hydrates, moisturizes, brightens | Skin type: All

For a scent that whisks you away on vacation, look no further than the Ouai St. Barts Body Wash. Infused with the brand’s beloved St. Barts scent, with notes of dragonfruit, orange blossom, tuberose, and musk pluming with the steam of your shower, each sudsy wash is a tropical getaway with hydrating, supple-skinned results.

Customer review: “Ouai St. Barts Gentle Body Wash lathers beautifully, leaving skin soft, clean, and refreshed. The tropical scent is light yet luxurious, making every shower feel like a mini getaway. Love it!”

Pros: Great price for the quality

Cons: No lingering fragrance, if that’s what you’re after

Size: 18.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalene | Benefits: Hydrating, smoothing | Skin type: Dry, normal

A classic drugstore buy, this thin body wash from Dove is a person with dry skin’s dream. Schneider relies on this timeless formula for its hydrating properties, courtesy of hyaluronic acid and squalene, which impart up to 24 hours of moisture post-shower. But don’t be fooled by its serum-like texture—each pump lathers up into a bubbly dream, making your cleanse deep and satisfying.

Customer review: “This body wash leaves my skin so soft and hydrated! I also have very sensitive skin, and this does not irritate at all. Please keep this one around!”

Best for Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Wash AP+ Moisturizing Wash

Pros: Very hydrating, gentle enough for reactive skin

Cons: Honestly, nothing

Size: 6.76, 13.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Prebiotic thermal water, shea butter, glycerin | Benefits: Offers up to 24 hours of moisture | Skin type: All, but especially dry and sensitive

This potent body wash loves hard on very dry skin and comes highly recommended by both Dr. Rambhia and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Naana Boakye. “This gentle, lipid-replenishing formula is perfect for very dry and sensitive skin,” says Dr. Rambhia. “It contains prebiotic ingredients to help rebalance the skin's microbiome and is free of harsh soaps, leaving the skin feeling soft, moisturized, and comfortable,” she adds.

Customer review: “I have sensitive skin and have had no issues with this body/face wash! Plus, double bonus that you can use this on your face and on your body. Clean ingredients and helps me with any body acne that pops up from time to time. I always buy this when there are coupons to make it more affordable. Highly recommend.”

Pros: Soft, unscented formula, cleanses skin without stripping it

Cons: None here

Size: 12 oz. | Key ingredients: Water, glycerin, coco-gluside | Benefits: Intensely hydrating, very minimal ingredients | Skin type: All, but especially dry and eczema-prone

Voted one of the best body wash brands by dermatologists and editors, Vanicream is a go-to name for people who experience dry, bumpy, or scaly skin outbursts. Dr. Boakye hails this cleanser for eczema-prone and reactive skin because of its “very minimal” formula that consists of “no dyes, fragrance, or common irritants”—plus, it’s earned a Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association.

Customer review: “Works very good for sensitive skin. I have cancer so I have to watch very carefully on what I use on my skin. I have had chemo and radiation, [and] Vanicream products work very well for me.”

Pros: Great value, stunning scent, array of fragrance options

Cons: Scents may not be suitable for sensitive skin

Size: 17 oz. | Key ingredients: Monoi oil, kukui oil, cupuaçu butter, niacinamide | Benefits: Hydrating, evens tone and texture, brightens skin | Skin type: All

Beauty director Erin Jahns and editor Kaitlyn McLintock praise this body wash for its smoothing results, cleansing properties, and lavish scent. The formula is a cocktail of nourishing monoi and kukui oils that hydrate and plump the skin and (minimizing the appearance of wrinkles or aging), and niacinamide helps to brighten the skin, simultaneously smoothing tone and texture.

Customer review: “Y’all, if you’re on the fence, just buy it!! I’m a black woman with eczema who doesn’t play about her skin. I have super sensitive skin, I switched from dove to natural soap only about 3 years ago because my skin would get so itchy. And after using Saltair, I’ve had NO REACTION! I was concerned because of the fragrance, but nothing! I’m officially adding this to my rotation! #aforevercustomer”

Pros: Intensely nutrient-dense, great for all skin concerns

Cons: Expensive (but TBH, very worth it)

Size: 10 oz. | Key ingredients: Oishii omakase berries, vitamins B and C (to name a few), pre and postbiotics, aloe leaf | Benefits: Evens tone and texture, boosts radiance, hydrates and strengthens barrier | Skin type: All, including acne-prone and KP

Both Schneider and McLintock swear by the Iota Oishii Berry Body Wash, which leans on its fruity makeup for the antioxidant properties rather than the scent. Its multi-enzyme brightening formula has such a laundry list of vitamins and plant extracts that we’d be here all day if I listed them all, but the results don’t lie—glowier, healthier skin with healed body acne, smoothed KP, and hydrated dry spots are the results of this nutrient-packed body wash.

Customer review: “I almost never use body wash, sticking to exfoliating gloves instead. I decided to look for a fitting body wash and came across this one. The fragrance is so nice, like creamy raspberries and strawberries. The musk scents aren't too strong. The body wash is also very hydrating and not stripping at all, it also lathers easily. My skin type (body) is quite dry and easily gets blemished and ingrown hairs, so if you have a similar skin type, this body wash is perfect.”

Pros: Clears acne, moisturizes and softens skin

Cons: High price

Size: 2.5, 8.4, 16.9 oz. | Key ingredients: Sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil | Benefits: Helps acne, softens skin, adds radiance | Skin type: Normal, dry, combination, oily

If you’re not familiar with shower oils, they make sound greasy or like a slipping hazard (we still think you should avoid too much of a shower performance when you use this one). However, editors named this skin-softening shower oil as one of the best because of its fast-absorbing and easy-to-lather formula, acting as a great shaving base and leaving the skin noticeably softer than before.

Customer review: “After looking for years, I have finally found exactly what I have been wanting to end my shower routine. For reference, I have very dry skin. I apply this shower oil as the final step in my routine. I rinse off, and I'm left with smooth, supple skin every time. I have recommended this product to everyone I know in real life. It's worth the money and a little good a long way.”

Pros: Gently treats body acne and dull skin

Cons: May be too dehydrating for dry skin

Size: 9 oz. | Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, tropical fruit enzymes, mandelic acids, allantoin | Benefits: Exfoliates, evens tone and texture, brightens | Skin type: Oily and acne-prone

Made with acne-prone and oily skin in mind, the Good Body Skin body wash from Kosas is wiz when it comes to unclogging pores and evening texture. It comes in two scents—Juicy Clean, a citrusy vanilla, and Beachy Clean, tropical bliss—with one sensitive-skin friendly formula that exfoliates and rejuvenates dull skin, battles blemishes, and moisturizes freshly-scrubbed skin. Though this sounds like a spa treatment itself, the formula is gentle enough for everyday use.

Customer review: “I like the scent of the pink bottle—it smells fresh without being too overwhelming. I also like having some exfoliant and acids to help get rid of dead skin especially on days that I shave my legs! I think it helps to keep from getting in-grown hairs.”