A good body wash not only cleanses the body, but it also refreshes the mind. Depending on when it’s used, this product can either help prepare a person for the upcoming day or help them to relax after a hectic day. These bath products just seem to have a therapeutic effect on them that can’t be replicated when the bather uses a bar of soap.
The key to finding a product that not only cleans the body and energizes the mind but also gives additional benefits, such as it adding moisture to the skin, is to choose from among the best products. And that’s why we’ve decided to list ten of the best products currently available.
Table of Contents
Our Top Picks for the Best Body Washes
Sebamed Liquid Sensitive Skin Wash
No products found.
Some people scratch their heads when they hear that this product is soap-free. This prompts them to ask how can a body wash be soap-free and still clean a person’s skin. Well, it does it with a very mild formula that’s hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and actually has the same PH level as healthy skin. It’s soap and alkali-free and mildly hydrates dry skin. This makes it suitable for anyone with dry skin, sensitive skin, or one of the many skin conditions that plague most people today. It’s a Dermatologist recommended formula that might not have the bells and whistles of fancy bath gels, but it surely gets the job done.
Puracy Natural Bath Gel
No products found.
This product uses an innovative blend of two ingredients to make a body wash that not only cleanses the skin extremely well but helps to maintain skin balance, too. It contains both sea salt and citrus, two ingredients that go hand in hand to clean and restore the skin to its natural state. It’s like the power of the ocean in a bottle and is likely to help with all skin types. That’s because it’s designed to remove impurities from the skin, moisturize it and never leave a film that can clog the pores. All that users experience when they use this product is crisp, clean skin that’s soft and has a natural smell to it.
Vitabath Bath & Shower Gel
No products found.
Individuals who want to soothe and condition their skin, or deal with blackheads and other skin problems such as ingrown hairs, may want to take a healthy look at this bath wash. Its formula has a blend of ingredients that helps it eliminate blackheads, minimize ingrown hairs and soothe the skin in just under four weeks. Some of the ingredients which can be found in this product include rosewood, patchouli, pine, and a blend of vitamins that include A, D, and even Vitamin E. It’s also infused with helpful botanicals that help to condition and cleanse the skin. All of which makes this product suitable for just about everyone.
Philosophy Amazing Grace 3-in-1
No products found.
With an extremely distinctive scent that really lingers long after the shower, this 3-in-1 shower gel is ideal for anyone who needs a shower gel, bubble bath, or shampoo. That’s because this product can be used as these three different products and can give great results no matter how it’s used. Some of the products which can be found in this formulation include hydrolyzed silk, citrus acid, Lithospermum Erythrohizon Root Extract, hydrolyzed milk protein, Benzyl Salicylate, and alcohol. It’s a product that does a great job of cleaning the skin or hair and can be used on a regular basis.
Dove Deep Moisture
No products found.
This sulfate-free formula is recommended by many different Dermatologists because it’s so gentle. This product helps to reduce potential skin dryness by moisturizing the skin with special conditioners. These conditioners help the bather’s skin maintain its natural balance and help to remove the dirt and grime of the day. The result is not only cleaner skin but also skin that’s softer and smoother. And all that is required is just a small bead of this product in the user’s hand, shower puff, or washcloth for great results. And it’s a gentle enough product that it can be used every single day if the bather so desires.
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Wash
No products found.
This lightly scented body wash is recommended by many Dermatologists for dry-skin use. It’s also gentle for sensitive skin and is completely hypoallergenic, so most users can rest assured that it won’t irritate their skin. This product is dye-free, paraben-free, and fluoride-free and uses the soothing power of oatmeal to bring comfort to dry skin. However, although this formula is designed to be gentle, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t do a great job at cleaning the skin because it also possesses the ability to remove dirt and grime from the user’s skin quite easily. It’s a product that cleans, moisturizes, and protects the bather’s skin.
Neutrogena Rainbath Bath Gel
No products found.
Cleaner and softer skin are just around the corner with Neutrogena Rainbath shower gel. This product is a remarkable combination of herbs, fruits, and spices that help the user get cleaner but do it without drying it out. It foams up into a rich lather that easily rinses off and never leaves a heavy residue on the bather’s skin. It can be used with a washcloth, a bathing puff, or just with your plain hands, and it will still do its job without missing a beat. It’s so gentle and smooth that it can even be used as a shaving gel, so women can shave their legs while they’re in the shower or bath without having to switch to a different product.
Olay Age Defying with Vitamin E
No products found.
This age-defying formula is designed to help the user lock moisture into their skin but do it in a way that doesn’t make the skin feel coated and weighed down with oily compounds. It does this using Olay’s special blend of moisturizers that are combined with the healing ingredients of Vitamin E. It’s a combination of ingredients that have been shown in clinical studies to improve a woman’s skin condition in no time flat. This leaves her skin feeling soft, supple, and healthy all day long. And if that isn’t enough, this product also has a pleasing scent that doesn’t overpower body sprays or perfumes.
Inis the Energy of the Sea Seaweed Gel
No products found.
This magical product is not only inspired by the beauty of Ireland’s western coast but is also made in Ireland from the best natural ingredients available. This product uses a seaweed-enriched blend that not only cleanses and refreshes the skin but also hydrates it, too. This product also has other vital ingredients that help to make this product a great shower wash. This includes ingredients such as Sicilian lemon, Lilly of the Valley, sandalwood, and even clove. All of these ingredients interact in an amazing way to provide an experience to the bather that no other product can reproduce.
Andalou Naturals Shower Gel
No products found.
Natural ingredients form the heart of this body wash, and that helps the bather not only to clean their skin but do it in a very gentle manner. This product contains Argan oil, coconut water, rosehips, and Aloe Vera. These ingredients help to gently cleanse the skin and do it while imparting moisture to the user’s skin. It’s a product that can not only be used to wash the body but can also be used to wash the face as well. And since it has a vitalizing scent that has notes of vanilla, roses, and mandarin oranges, the user is sure to feel as energized as they are clean.
How to Buy Body Wash
As I said in my intro, a good body wash should not only clean the skin, but it should also excite the senses. But then again, even that may be an oversimplification. Each person has their own laundry list of things they want their body wash to be able to do. Some people want a body wash that can moisturize the skin, others want a product that exfoliates, and still, others may want a wash that can combat body acne. The best body wash is always the one that’s best for you, no matter what anyone’s top ten list says.
With that being said, we’ve decided to put together a little bit of a list that will help you determine what your needs are and what to look for in a good body wash. If you follow the following bits of advice, then, in the end, you’ll be able to buy a product that does what you want it to do and does a good job of cleaning your body.
Be Wary of Harsh Chemicals
Most people today are looking for bath products that don’t contain harsh chemicals in them, and if you are one of these people, then you are going to want to avoid products that may contain triclosan, formaldehyde, salicylates, parabens, MEA, TEA, DEA, petroleum-ingredients and artificial dyes or colorings. Other ingredients, such as triclosan or sulfates (SLS, SLES, and SCS) or phosphates, are somewhat of a mixed bag. While some of these ingredients are effective in getting rid of bacteria or washing away dirt and oil, they can be extremely hard on the skin. Therefore, you may want to skip products that contain those ingredients if you feel they’re too harsh for you.
Avoid Silicone
Silicone is such a particularly nasty ingredient that it warrants its own section. Whenever possible, you should avoid buying soaps of any type which contain silicone. That includes washes, shower gels, and shampoos. Why do you ask? Because silicone leaves a residue that prevents the pores from breathing and is difficult to wash off. Your best bet is to avoid silicone altogether.
Cruelty-Free Products
If it’s important to you, then you may want to be sure to buy products that are cruelty-free, which just means that they haven’t been tested on animals. The only real way to determine if a particular product is cruelty-free is to read the label. If the product is truly animal cruelty-free, it will list that fact on the label. You can also look for products that are certified by PETA to be cruelty-free.
Body Washes For Dry Skin
If you have dry skin, then you are not only going to want to buy a body gel or wash that contains oils to add moisture back to your skin but also doesn’t contain ingredients that may dry out the skin. Look for products that contain almond oil, glycerin, or other types of oils which can help replace natural oils that are lost during the washing process. Some of the more common oils used include Jojoba oil, olive oil, Aloe Vera, and Shea butter.
Another thing to keep in mind if you have dry skin is to choose a product that doesn’t foam too much. When a body washes and foams a lot, it can pull essential oils from the skin. Therefore, most good dry-skin body washes use a low-foam formula. Also, be sure to choose washes that are alcohol-free, as this ingredient can dry out skin pretty badly.
Body Washes For Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin, you are also going to want to choose a product that doesn’t contain ingredients that can irritate your skin or cause allergic reactions. Ideally, you would want to choose a product that doesn’t contain artificial dyes, fragrances, or preservatives. This usually means buying an organic body wash that’s fragrance-free. However, if that’s not an option, then moisturizing washes are usually the least irritating products available, so you may want to try one of those.
Body Washes For Oily Skin
If your skin is on the oily side, then you are going to want to make sure that you buy a body gel that doesn’t contribute to your problem. That means avoiding moisturizing products or ones that have an excessive amount of oil in them. Look for products that contain clay in them because this ingredient can pull oil from the skin and help to dry the skin out without drying it too much. Other ingredients which may help with oily skin include activated charcoal, tea tree oil, and Aloe Vera.
Suggestions For Acne Sufferers
If you have body acne, then you may want to choose a product that can address that particular issue. These products usually contain ingredients such as sulfur, Vitamin C, citrus by-products, Benzoyl Peroxide, Neem oil, and Salicylic acid. These compounds can do a pretty good job of controlling acne. However, some of these ingredients (particularly Salicylic acid and sulfur) can be pretty harsh, so they should only be used long enough to control the problem and shouldn’t be used on a long-term basis.
Tea tree oil is another product that has been used with success to treat acne problems. This ingredient works by addressing the bacteria problem that may underlie some cases of acne. Tea tree oil is an ingredient that can kill bacteria and fungi and is an ingredient that has been used as an antiseptic for wound care. This makes it an ideal ingredient to not only deal with acne but a whole range of different skin conditions.
The last thing to consider is buying a wash that doesn’t contain comedogenic ingredients. This means ingredients that may clog the pores and actually cause acne. Some of the ingredients that acne sufferers should avoid include Benzaldehyde, D & C Red (coloring), Lauric Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Almond Oil, Acetylated Lanolin, and Isopropyl Palmitate. Avoid these ingredients if at all possible.
Suggestions For Men
Generally speaking, men usually have oilier skin than women, and their body chemistry is also quite different from a woman’s. Therefore men usually benefit from a wash that’s made specifically for men. These products address the man’s specific needs and may also have fragrances that the man feels are more “masculine.”