15 Best Body Washes That Leave Our Skin Feeling Baby-Soft

Editor Tip: You can grab a fragrance-free version or choose between scents like Eucalyptus, Bergamot, and Sandalwood.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, meadowfoam seed oil, marula oil | Who It's For: Everyone

Most Luxurious Lather: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel

Why It's Worth It: Infused with coconut oil, cupuaçu butter, and antioxidant-rich açai oil, Sol de Janeiro's Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel deeply moisturizes dry skin. Fatty acids and antioxidants make for a luxuriously sudsy wash that leaves your skin feeling super clean. Plus, it's scented with the brand's signature Cheirosa '62 fragrance, which features notes of pistachio, salted caramel, and jasmine petals, and smells like vacation in a bottle.

In her review, Allure contributor AnaMaria Glavin wrote, "This cream-gel wash envelops your shower in a sweet-but-not-too-sweet aroma that lingers on the skin for hours, but what's most impressive is the formula. It has a beautiful lather, despite its sulfate-free status, providing a squeaky clean feel that doesn't strip your skin of natural moisture." Enough said.

Editor Tip: FYI, the vanilla in this gel's fragrance can turn the product to a light brown color over time but don't worry, this change won't affect its quality.

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, cupuaçu butter, açai oil | Who It's For: Those who want moisture with a lightweight feel

Best for Dry Skin: Cerulean 6 Opal Aura Body Lather in Constellation

Why It's Worth It: The Cerulean 6 Opal Aura Body Lather slips, slides, and sudses across your skin in all the right ways, leaving behind a delicious mix of bergamot, apple, and amber notes. It's gentle enough for every day but strong enough for smoothing out bumpy skin. Even if you don't struggle with specific skin concerns, you'll want to add this body wash for the aromatherapy benefits alone.

Editor Tip: If you prefer a slightly sweeter, fruitier scented body wash, pick up this product in its sister smell, Cloudline.

Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, rosehip oil, lactobacillus ferment | Who It's For: People with dry skin

Best for Sensitive Skin: Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash

Why It's Worth It: According to Melissa Piliang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Cleveland, Ohio, people with sensitive skin should keep an eye out for a body wash with a consistency more like a body lotion than gel or oil, like Dove's Sensitive Skin Body Wash. Here, soybean oils and glycerin moisturize skin, while lauric acid helps reduce and treat acne-prone skin. If you don't have sensitive skin, you can still use this wash, or consider the Deep Moisture version, which won a 2023 Best of Beauty Award for its higher level of lauric acid.

Editor Tip: Intense exfoliation may be off the table for sensitive skin folks, but you can get similar benefits by squeezing this body wash onto a damp wash cloth and gently scrubbing your skin.

Key Ingredients: Soybean oil, lauric acid | Who It's For: People with very dry or sensitive skin

Best for Mornings: By Rosie Jane Wake the F*ck Up Body Wash

Why It's Worth It: Start your day right with the bright, energy-boosting scent of By Rosie Jane Wake the F*ck Up Everyday Body Wash. Notes of lemon verbena, eucalyptus, and grapefruit put a spring in your step, while the blend of white tea, cocoa, and pine bark extracts hydrates and calms skin. It makes for a mind-body moment you won't want to miss.

Editor Tip: You might be hesitant to use a glass bottle in the shower (that's what this one is), but By Rosie Jane assures users that it's made of extra-thick glass that withstands accidental knock-overs.

Key Ingredients: White tea extract, cocoa extract, pine bark extract | Who It's For: Morning showerers, people who love fragrance

Best Fragrance-Free: Iota Supervitamin Body Wash+ Soothing

Why It’s Worth It: The Best of Beauty-winning Iota Supervitamin Body Wash+ Soothing is packed with 15 vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants (shout out to chamomile flower and Indian gooseberry) to cocoon skin for long-lasting hydration. The formula's pH of 5.0-5.5 is ideal for irritated, dry, or acne-prone skin, and the fragrance-free formula means extra gentleness. What more could you ask for?

Editor Tip: Iota makes several versions of this body wash to target different skin goals. Try the Supervitamin Body Wash+ Brightening, which pairs a superfruit complex with niacinamide, to reverse dull skin.

Key Ingredients: Reishi mushroom, chamomile flower, lotus seed, aloe leaf | Who It’s For: Everyone, sensitive skin

Best for Discoloration: Youth to the People Superfood + Niacinamide Body Cleanser

Why It’s Worth It: Inspired by the brand’s Superfood Cleanser—which has long been a favorite among Allure editors—the Youth to the People Superfood + Niacinamide Body Cleanser is like a green juice for your skin. It pairs a blend of superfoods like kale, spinach, and green tea with niacinamide to leave skin radiant and soft. While vitamin B hydrates, the plant-based fatty acid surfactants gently rid your skin of gunk in a rich lather.

Editor Tip: "I don't use body wash every day (unless I work out), but when I do, this is my go-to," says commerce editor Sarah Han. "It smells divine, lathers nicely, and makes my skin feel renewed." Once out of the shower, she follows up with the Glow Dream Body Butter while her skin is still damp to seal in all the hydrating goodness.

Key Ingredients: Kale, niacinamide, sodium PCA | Who It’s For: People who want brighter, more even skin

Best for Dull Skin: Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Body Wash

Why It's Worth It: We love low-price luxury, and, at under $20, the Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash fits the bill. This body wash starts as an oil before building to a gentle lather, smoothes and softens skin with squalane, and is made up of 50% glycerin, a humectant that helps draw water into the skin.

Editor Tip: Let the wash sit on your skin for an extra minute to really reap its skin-nourishing benefits.

Key Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, apple fruit extract, coconut extract | Who It's For: Everyone

Best Scent: Davines OI Body Wash

Why It's Worth It: The creamy, deep-cleansing Davines OI Body Wash formula builds to a satisfying lather that hydrates with a blend of roucou oil, sunflower seed oil, and glycerin. A little goes a long way with this made-in-Italy body wash, and if you love the scent, consider springing for Davines' OI Shampoo and Conditioner. Say ciao to dry skin.

Editor Tip: It may smell a bit strong initially, but it's for a reason. This body wash's fragrance is meant to linger throughout the day for an extra luxe touch.

Key Ingredients: Roucou oil, sunflower seed oil, glycerin | Who It's For: People who don't mind a long-lasting scent

Best for Body Acne: PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash

Why It's Worth It: For Olga Bunimovich, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Pittsburgh, PA, PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash is a go-to pick for patients with body acne. With benzoyl peroxide as its hero ingredient, you can rest easy knowing this Best of Beauty Award-winning wash will treat current pimples and prevent future ones. No need to worry about the wash drying out your skin either, thanks to moisturizing and exfoliating ingredients including glycerin and lactic acid

Editor Tip: Pat skin dry with a white towel after rinsing, as benzoyl peroxide can discolor fabric.

Key Ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide, glycerin, lactic acid | Who It's For: People with body acne

Best Splurge: Aesop A Rose by Any Other Name Body Cleanser

Why It's Worth It: You give any establishment with Aesop in the bathroom an automatic 5 star review on Yelp, it's time for you to invest in a bottle of your own. The Aesop A Rose by Any Other Name Body Cleanser is a clear, low-foam shower gel that leaves you feeling warmed up and refreshed. Washing away dirt and grime has never smelled so expensive.

Editor Tip: Pair this body cleanser with the Aesop Redemption Body Scrub for exfoliating goodness.

Key Ingredients: Rose petal, cardamom, black pepper | Who It's For: Everyone

Best for Mature Skin: Mario Badescu A.H.A Botanical Body Soap

Why It's Worth It: If you're always struggling with dull, flaky skin, give Mario Badescu's A.H.A Botanical Body Soap a shot. The natural fruit enzymes at the base of the formula gently lift dead skin cells to reveal significantly smoother and brighter skin, while glycerin adds a dose of hydration. The brand recommends applying this stuff using an exfoliating assist from a loofah, sponge, or washcloth.

Editor Tip: Since this body wash contains AHA, it can increase your skin's sensitivity to UV rays. So if you're using this product, be diligent with your sunscreen application during the day.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, grapefruit extract, glycolic acid, ginseng root extract | Who It's For: People seeking light exfoliation

Best for Deep Skin Tones: Buttah Skin Egyptian CocoShea Body Wash

Why It's Worth It: Reveal brighter, hydrated skin with Buttah Skin's Egyptian CocoShea Body Wash. Cocoa butter and shea butter combine for a powerful moisturizing body wash formulated with melanin-rich skin in mind. Thanks to marshmallow root extract and sweet almond and soybean oils, you don't have to worry about skin drying out post-shower. It smells like a dream, too; think white lily, rose, heliotrope, white musk, and vanilla.

Editor Tip: You can squeeze several pumps of this product into a warm bath for a rich, rewarding soak.

Key Ingredients: Marshmallow root, cocoa butter, shea butter | Who It's For: Everyone, but especially those with medium to dark skin

Best 2-in-1: Malin + Goetz Eucalyptus Hand + Body Wash

Why It's Worth It: A rare 2-in-1 that doesn't shirk either of its roles, the Malin + Goetz Eucalyptus Hand + Body Wash is ready to cleanse every bit of your bod. Especially good for sensitive skin types, this wash is formulated with eucalyptus and amino acids to purify and hydrate, while surfactants erase the day's grime. It leaves your skin smooth, clean, and smelling fresh as hell.

Editor Tip: This product is a notably non-drying hand wash, meaning you have nothing standing between you and your hand hygiene.

Key Ingredients: Amino acids, glycerin, eucalyptus | Who It's For: Sensitive skin

Best for the Whole Family: La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash

Why It's Worth It: The fragrance-free, non-comedogenic La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash has our backs—and our necks, and torsos, and arms, and legs. Philadelphia-based, board-certified dermatologist Michele Farber, MD previously told Allure that the product is formulated with "shea butter to hydrate, glycerin as a humectant, and niacinamide to soothe." It's also approved by the National Eczema Association, and you can use it on your face.

Editor Tip: Suitable babies 2 weeks and up, so if you have a little one, feel free to spread the wealth.

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, niaminicide, glycerin, probiotic thermal water | Who It's For: Everyone, people with eczema

Frequently Asked Questions

When choosing a body wash, consider your general preferences as well as your skin care goals and concerns. Keep in mind that, unlike your average bar soap, body washes can include active ingredients to target acne, eczema, and dryness. "Patients who have acne can use products with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide," says Dr. Bunimovich. "Patients with eczema should avoid those same ingredients due to their irritating effect and instead look for moisturizing ingredients, such as natural oils, ceramides, and glycerin."

Dr. Piliang steering clear of washes with fragrance, as these can potentially irritate the skin. "They do not enhance the cleansing ability of the body wash, so it is best to avoid fragrance," she explains. However, if you know you tolerate fragrance in body care well, go for it.

While it's tempting to cloak yourself in that delicious, delicious soap, Dr. Piliang warns against overdoing the body wash. Overuse can lead to dry, irritated skin, especially during the winter months when the skin is already stripped of moisture. "Taking hot showers and baths can magnify the problem as the hot water removes even more of the skin's natural oils," she explains.

Dr. Bunimovich recommends that you stick to once-daily showers with lukewarm water and use a moisturizer after cleansing to prevent further overdrying of the skin. Also, pay special attention to washing the folds of your skin, as bacteria likes to hang out there. Don't attempt to use body wash as face wash, though, as it could clog pores and worsen acne.

As with any new skin care product, finding a new body wash may require trial and error. And that error? A potential adverse reaction. Nothing dire, necessarily, but your skin could become irritated or itchy if it disagrees with the formula. Daniel Belkin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, previously explained that an allergic reaction to a body wash can be different than an allergic reaction to a beauty product. "Usually allergic contact dermatitis [caused by a beauty product] will present as a red, itchy rash at the site of exposure, but an allergy to body wash is an exception because body wash is used all over and washed off," he said. "It will, therefore, present as a patchy and diffused rash, probably sparing the face because most body wash is used from the neck down."

Still, just because you're noticing redness on your body, it doesn't always mean you're allergic. "Allergic and irritant contact dermatitis are different but can look the same," Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Hamden, Connecticut, explained. "Irritant contact dermatitis is not allergic in nature. [It] can come from soap-based surfactants that have a higher pH than skin and create irritation to the barrier."

In any case, if you notice persistent redness or irritation after applying your body wash, stop using it immediately and consider calling your dermatologist to discuss what might be causing your skin's reaction.

• Daniel Belkin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Hamden, CT
• Melissa Piliang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Cleveland, OH
• Michele Farber, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Philadelphia, PA
• Olga Bunimovich, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Pittsburgh, PA

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of best body washes, we considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, fragrance, texture, and skin concerns. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

More on skin care:

• The 22 Best Face Serums for Every Skin Type
• 17 Best Face Moisturizers Allure Editors Have Tested and Reviewed
• 14 Best Moisturizers With SPF That'll Plump and Protect Skin

Now watch Madelyn Cline's gorgeous, glowy 10-Minute Beauty Routine:

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