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Top 7 Best Body Washes for All Skin Types and Budgets
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- Overall Best Body Wash: Native Body Wash
- Best Body Wash for Men: Every Man Jack All Over Wash
- Best Drugstore Body Wash: Method Body Wash
- Best Splurge Body Wash: Nécessaire The Body Wash
- Best Body Wash for Dry Skin: Buttah Egyptian Coco Shea Body Wash
- Best Body Wash for Sensitive Skin: Seaweed Bath Co. Hydrate Body Wash, Unscented
- Best Body Wash for Body Acne: Alba Botanica Acnedote Scrub
- FAQs About Body Wash
While you could certainly just use a bar of soap to get clean, body washes are a leveled-up lathering experience that can both address certain skin concerns and make your bathroom feel like a spa.
Whether you’re looking to spend on a luxury body wash or need to target issues like body acne, we’ve got you covered with the right body wash for you.
In this article, check out our list of the seven best body washes for both women and men, plus the best splurge and drugstore body wash and options for dry, acne-prone, and sensitive skin.
| Best Overall | Body Wash for Men | Drugstore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Native | Every Man Jack | Method |
| Key Points | 15+ scents; Affordable; Can be used by men or women; Natural ingredients; Sulfate-free and surfactant-free; Foamy and lathers; Coconut oil base is not great for acne-prone skin | 3-in-1 product can be used for body wash, shampoo, and conditioner; Uses natural, coconut-derived ingredients to lather; Contains aloe vera to hydrate skin and hair; Not great for acne-prone skin | Found at most drugstores and big-box stores; Paraben- and phthalate-free; Biodegradable body wash made with plant-based cleansers; Gel-based cleanser; Six scents (contains fragrance) |
| Cost | $0.50/oz Shop Now | $0.48/oz Shop Now | $0.42/oz Shop Now |
Best for: Men or women looking for a natural body wash with dozens of scents that doesn’t break the bank.
We chose Native Body Wash as the best body wash for several reasons, including its affordable price, natural ingredients, and the fact that it’s sulfate- and surfactant-free.
Instead, the rich foaminess is derived from coconut oil, including cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate, which gently cleanse and lather without drying.
Native also carefully designed their body wash to have a pH of 5.5, which is gentle on the skin because it’s close to the skin’s natural pH of 5.4 to 5.9.
They have 15 classic scents—we love the Cucumber & Mint, Grapefruit & Bergamot, and Coconut & Vanilla—plus four rotating limited edition scents, like the current Sage & Sweet Citrus.
Plus, Native Body Wash is a unisex body wash, and we love that they have an Unscented version for those of us with sensitive skin.
Best for: Men looking for a natural, hydrating body wash that can also be used for shampooing and conditioning.
Men’s body care products typically have obscure, not-sure-what-that-smells-like names—lookin’ at you, “Cool Rush” and “Mountain Breeze”—but Every Man Jack All Over Wash has scents that you can actually recognize.
A couple of our favorites are the subtly spicy and rugged Cedar & Red Sage and the refreshing Citrus & Mint, but all of the Every Man Jack body washes are top-rated products.
Plus, they use natural, coconut-derived ingredients to create their lathering body wash, and it contains aloe vera to hydrate skin and hair (it’s a 3-in-1 product that can be used for body wash, shampoo, and conditioner).
Although this body wash is slightly more expensive than a typical men’s drugstore body wash, we think it’s worth it—especially if you also use it to clean your hair.
Best for: People wanting an affordable, easy-to-find, and naturally-derived body wash with unique scents.
For the best drugstore body wash, we chose Method for its affordable price, naturally-derived ingredients, and nourishing formulas.
Unlike many other body washes, Method has used unique ingredients that are refreshing (like cucumber and green tea), nourishing (like coconut milk), or ultra-hydrating (like shea butter).
The six body wash scents include:
- Deep Detox: Cucumber, seaweed, and green tea
- Wind Down: Blue lavender, starflower, and chamomile
- Stay Hydrated: Coconut milk
- Energy Boost: Citrus, sea buckthorn, and ginger
- Pure Peace: Peony, rose water, and pink sea salt
- Simply Nourish: Coconut milk, rice milk, and shea butter
However, these scents contain fragrance, which is not ideal for people with sensitive skin.
Best for: Anyone looking for a top-rated luxury body wash that leaves skin feeling soft.
At almost $3 per ounce, Nécessaire The Body Wash is not inexpensive—but many say that the luxurious, essential-oil-based body wash is worth it.
Not only does Nécessaire provide a rich, plant-based lather, but it also contains skin-supporting ingredients like vitamins C and E and omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids to nourish the skin.
It also uniquely has niacinamide, a vitamin B3 derivative that strengthens the skin barrier, fades hyperpigmentation or uneven skin textures, and brightens the skin.We love that this is a fragrance-free body wash—rather, you’ll find plenty of essential/natural oils and plant extracts, including eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, orange peel, patchouli, green tea, and ginger.
Best for: People with dehydrated, chapped, irritated, or extra-dry skin.
Anyone with dry skin will love the ultra-nourishing Buttah Egyptian Coco Shea Body Wash, which has a base of shea butter and organic African cocoa butter.
This body wash also includes marshmallow root to soothe, cleanse, and heal, and a proprietary complex (“SP Duraquench”) that has been found to moisturize for up to 72 hours.
It also contains purslane extract, an antioxidant-rich and anti-aging compound that brightens and heals damaged skin.
As a Black-owned brand, Buttah Egyptian Coco Shea Body Wash is also the best body wash for Black skin, although anyone with dehydrated or dry skin can benefit.
While this body wash is expensive, anyone with dry skin or itchy skin would agree that it’s worth it to not have cracked and dehydrated skin.
Best for: People with sensitive skin; anyone looking for a natural and nourishing unscented body wash.
People with sensitive skin do best with unscented products (even if the scent is naturally derived), and Seaweed Bath Co. Hydrate Body Wash, Unscented is our top choice.
This is the best body wash for sensitive skin and people with eczema or rosacea, as it’s highly hydrating and nourishing, containing ingredients like Atlantic seaweed, vitamin-rich blue green algae, and a blend of Hawaiian kukui and coconut oils.
We also love that this body wash is sustainably harvested, cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free, paraben-free, and sulfate-free.
Plus, Seaweed Bath Co. supports ocean conservation and partners with marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation organizations.
Best for: People dealing with body acne who want a natural body scrub to fight breakouts.
Ah, the dreaded back-ne.
If you’re dealing with body acne (hey, we’ve all been there), Alba Botanica Acnedote Scrub is an excellent choice to battle the breakouts.
Although it’s more of a scrub than a body wash, Alba Botanica Acnedote still cleanses, as it contains a high dose (2%) of the acne-fighting salicylic acid, which works as a chemical exfoliant to dive deep into pores and dissolve oil, residue, and impurities.
It also has a plant-based blend of botanical ingredients like willow bark (a natural source of salicylic acid), calming witch hazel and parsley extract, and walnut shell powder, which works as a physical exfoliant to remove dead skin cells.
Plus, this scrub can also be used on the face—a win-win for fighting acne all over.
FAQs About Body Wash
What Does a Board Certified Dermatologist Recommend for Showering?
A board-certified dermatologist will typically recommend a nourishing body wash for showering, especially if you have dry skin or sensitive skin. If you have normal skin, it is also fine to cleanse with a bar soap instead of body wash.
Is It Better to Take a Shower at Night or in the Morning?
It truly doesn’t matter—whenever you want! Showering in the morning can help you to feel ready for the day (and cleanse you if you’re a sweaty sleeper), while showering at night can remove grime from the day and prepare you for sleep.
Which Body Wash Kills the Most Bacteria?
Alba Botanica Acnedote Scrub contains salicylic acid, which can help to kill bacteria.
Is It Better to Take a Hot Shower or Cold Shower?
Warm showers and cold showers both have benefits. Warm showers can help to relax you, soothe stiff joints, and get you ready for sleep, However, keep in mind that too-hot water is bad for the skin—especially sensitive skin—as it dries it out more and can cause fine lines and wrinkles to appear. Cold showers are also great, as they reduce inflammation and pain, cause alertness, improve circulation, and may even help boost healthy brown fat levels.
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