Lathering up with a foamy body wash can be an invigorating start to your morning or a relaxing end to a long day. Like soap, body washes get rid of the dirt, but they also contain a mix of ingredients to target specific skin concerns. Some are infused with essential oils and natural floral scents to moisturize and provide a spa-like experience; others contain glycolic acid to help exfoliate. Plus, there are options for every skin type, including oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin and mature skin.
SKIP AHEAD Dry and sensitive skin | Oily and acne-prone skin | Mature skin | Body washes for relaxation
“As a dermatologist, I understand how frustrating it can be to find the right body wash that caters to your skin’s unique needs,” says Dr. Dusan Sajic, a board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist and director of the Derma Skin Institute in Ontario.
The best place to start is to know which ingredients are best for your skin type, experts told us. Below, we share their insight about what to look for when shopping for a body wash and which options are their top picks for various skin types.
Our top picks
- Best overall/editor’s pick: Dove Go Fresh Refreshing Body Wash
- Best for dry and sensitive skin: La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash
- Best for oily and acne-prone skin: Cetaphil Acne Relief Body Wash
- Best for mature skin: Olay Cleansing & Renewing Nighttime Body Wash with Retinol
How we picked the best body washes
To help us determine the best body washes, we spoke to board-certified dermatologists about what ingredients to look for and what to avoid depending on your skin type. The body washes we list below are either directly recommended by our experts or personal picks from Select staff. When shopping for a body wash, the dermatologists we spoke to recommend considering the following factors:
- Skin type and ingredients: If you have dry skin, look for products with shea butter and glycerin that’ll draw in moisture to the skin. If you have sensitive skin, consider body washes that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic so that your skin isn’t left irritated. For people with oily and acne-prone skin, keep an eye out for acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid. For mature skin, look for a body wash with retinol or antioxidants to stimulate collagen production and firm the skin.
- Formulation: Body washes come in various formulations, including creams, foams, gels and scrubs. We curated multiple types for each category below.
- Price: All of the body washes in our list are under $20.
