If you’re also experiencing major skin-dry out from soap during the winter months (same), know that the best body washes are out here to change your shower game. These hydrating body washes contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help keep your skin strip-free and moisturized, even if the temperature drops to below freezing.
Don’t know where to start your search? We’ve got you covered (with suds). Our top pick is the Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash, because it gives us a major lather, smells phenomenal, will layer nicely with your favorite perfume, and leaves skin feeling buttery smooth (without drying you out post-shower). Ahead, see everything you need to know about choosing the best cleanser for you and your skin type, according to dermatologists, plus editor-reviewed picks that we put to the test.
The best body washes, at a glance
- Best Overall: Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash, $9
- Best Scent: Nécessaire The Body Wash, $25
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Odele Ultra Sensitive Body Wash, $12
- Best for Dry Skin: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Wash AP+ Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash, $17
- Best for Acne: CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser, $14
- Best Cleansing Oil: Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash, $16
Your body wash questions, answered
How to choose the best body wash for your skin type
The best body wash for your skin type depends on your skin’s needs, says Pooja Rambhia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Union Derm.
For dry skin, opt for gentle cleansers with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides, in a cream or lotion texture. “Cream cleansers gently cleanse using natural oils, making them ideal for sensitive or dry skin,” she says. The same goes for mature skin, though Brendan Camp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in NYC, also suggests ingredients that encourage cell turnover and improve the appearance of fine lines, such as lactic and glycolic acid.
If you have oily or acne prone-skin, look for salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to help manage breakouts. “Foaming and gel formulations are effective for oily skin, as they work to dissolve excess oil that can clog pores and lead to breakouts.” If your skin is rough or bumpy, or you have keratosis pilaris, Dr. Rambhia recommends an exfoliating body wash with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) to smooth texture.
For extremely sensitive skin, avoid fragrances and potential irritants like dyes, she adds.
How we tested body washes
We tested body washes for a duration from one week up to six months, and even included picks that some of our editors have loved for years. We looked at how well the body washes lathered, how our skin felt after application (was it dry, or stripped, or did it feel fresh and moisturized?), and paid attention to the fragrance and long-lasting smell. We narrowed it down to the best body washes that lathered well, made us feel clean, and gave us smoother-looking skin.
Meet the experts
- Pooja Rambhia, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Union Derm
- Brendan Camp, MD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in NYC
- Nava Greenfield, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group
- Rachel Nazarian, MD, board-certified NYC-based dermatologist
Best Overall: Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash
Board-certified dermatologists Dhaval G. Bhanusali, MD, and Marisa Garshick, MD, both highly recommend Dove’s nourishing body wash. “It’s simple and has a great ingredient profile and is tolerated by all skin types,” says Dr. Bhanusali. Dr. Garshick agrees. “This body wash is a great option for all skin types, especially those with dry skin, as it not only provides a gentle cleanse, leaving the skin feeling clean, but it’s now also formulated with moisturizing MicroMoisture Droplets to nourish the skin and improve the moisture barrier for a full 24 hours,” she says.
“I was extremely pleased with how fresh it smelled, how well it lathered, and most importantly, how clean I felt after using it. This wash made my skin feel soft, velvety, and so smooth that there wasn’t even a need to apply moisturizer after my shower. I wouldn’t recommend this one for someone who doesn’t love fragrance as it’s quite strong and lasts a while, but if you love ‘feeling clean,’ this is the one for you,” says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary.
- Key Ingredients: Plant oils, glycerin
- Scent: Fresh and clean
- Size: 30.6 fl. oz.
- Pros: Suitable for all skin types
- Cons: Won’t combat body acne
Best Drugstore: Cerave Hydrating Body Wash
If you’re looking for another dermatologist favorite, Dr. Bhanusali recommends this drugstore body wash to his patients at Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery in NYC; it features core essential ingredients like glycerine, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. Lauren Penzi, MD, especially loves the hydrating ingredients. “A fantastic choice for those with dry skin, this wash contains powerful humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin that help retain water and moisture inside the skin, leaving your skin hydrated and ready to soak in whatever moisturizer you choose to apply after the shower,” she says.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides
- Scent: Fragrance-free
- Size: 10 fl. oz.
- Pros: Hydrating; formulated for dry skin
- Cons: No exfoliation
Best Scent: Nécessaire The Body Wash
You’ve likely seen the Nécessaire body wash all over Tiktok. But could something so trendy really be worth the hype? According to Dr. Shirazi it is. “Formulated with niacinamide, vitamin B3, and plant-based surfactants, it’s gentle and effective without overstripping the skin,” she says. “It also uses multiple oils, such as marula, meadowfoam, and cacay oils rich in vitamins A, C, and E, and omega-6 and omega-9, to support the skin barrier. It’s also free of sulfates and parabens.”
Glamour’s Kilkeary says: “This pick is a body wash I always find myself going back to over the years. It’s silky smooth and lathers gloriously, and I’m a huge fan of all the scents. It’s a little pricey but well worth it, since it’s a luxury wash in a bottle that simply makes your shower feel like a spa, not to mention it also has salicylic and glycolic acids to help slough off dead skin cells and make your skin look bright and smooth. I reach for it every time I shower before a special occasion to make me feel nourished and fancy.”
- Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, niacinamide
- Scent: 4 scent options including Hinoki, Santal, Eucalyptus
- Size: 8.4 fl. oz.
- Pros: Great for sensitive skin; hypoallergenic; sulfate-free; available in other scents like invigorating eucalyptus, bergamot, and smoky sandalwood
- Cons: On the pricey side
Best for Dry Skin: La Roche Posay Lipikar Wash AP+ Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash
Both Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC, and Dr. Garshick recommend this gentle cleanser to people with sensitive skin. “This moisturizing wash can be used on the face and body, and is designed for those with extra-dry or sensitive skin,” says Dr. Garshick. “It’s accepted by the National Eczema Association and can be used for babies through adults, as well as individuals undergoing chemotherapy. It incorporates La Roche-Posay’s prebiotic thermal water, shea butter to help support the skin barrier, glycerin to draw moisture in, and niacinamide, which is soothing on the skin. Together this helps to gently cleanse while also protecting the skin and providing 24-hour hydration.”
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, niacinamide, glycerin
- Scent: Fragrance-free
- Size: 13.5 fl. oz.
- Pros: Good for sensitive skin
- Cons: Won’t combat body acne
Best Cleansing Oil: Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Body Wash
“Transforming from an oil into a gentle lather, this cleanses without stripping the skin of its natural oils,” says Dr. Garshick. “It’s formulated with glycerin, a humectant to draw moisture in, as well as a blend of linoleic-rich oils and plant-derived squalane, to keep the skin feeling soft and smooth.”
