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Mar 29, 2025

The Best Body Washes, According to Real Simple Editors

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. We tested 50 options, and these eight deserve a spot in your shower. In This

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

We tested 50 options, and these eight deserve a spot in your shower.

In This Article

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Like skincare, body wash is entirely unique to your skin type and concerns—what works for one person may not work for another. Personal preference also plays a role. Do you like a creamy, oily, or gel-like consistency? What about a strong scent, subtle scent, or no scent at all?

Because body washes are skincare, our list has something for all of the above, whether you need a solution for acne, sensitive skin, dry skin, or something in between. We tested 50 different products over the course of six weeks to find our top eight picks, so finding the right one for you is as simple as scrolling, shopping, and washing your way to better skin.

It’s great for dry skin, sensitive skin, and those with sensitivities to scents.

Some may prefer a scented body wash for a more sensorial shower experience.

Whether you want something hydrating, fragrance-free, or sensitive skin-friendly, you’ll find it all in Aveeno’s Skin Relief Body Wash. This gentle formula made our skin feel hydrated and nourished all day long and even allowed us to go without lotion on some days. In fact, we noticed our dry, red, itchy skin noticeably improved since using this body wash.

Not only did it hydrate, but it also made our skin feel clean without stripping it of its natural oils or leaving behind any residue or film. Although it’s unscented, we thought it had a pleasant smell, and a small amount goes a long way—at $14 for 33 ounces, it’s a great value buy too.

We’d recommend this body wash to anyone with dry skin or skin irritations. It’s a welcome upgrade from our usual bar soap and makes our skin feel soothed, refreshed, and less flaky than it would without.

Key Ingredients: Triple oat blend (oat flour, oat extract, oat oil) | Size: 18 oz. | Scent: None

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It feels and smells ultra luxurious—perfect for bubble baths.

Because it’s fragranced, those with sensitive skin may want to be cautious.

If you’re someone who typically avoids floral scented body washes, don’t be swayed from trying Method’s Pure Peace Body Wash—this had such a soothing and luxurious smell that wasn’t too overwhelming or perfumey. It made us feel so fresh and so clean, and we smelled like a bushel of peonies and rose water.

It didn’t strip our skin of its natural oils either; our skin didn't feel parched after using it or have any remnants of residue. Our skin felt great while using this body wash, and we felt refreshed after each shower.

Although the scent didn’t linger long on our body or give us a headache, it did give our bathroom a temporary floral scented burst of fragrance, which can be a pro or a con depending on your preference.

We appreciated the luxurious-feeling and -smelling wash, plus the fact that it lathers into soapy bubbles easily and quickly with its milky and creamy texture. For that reason, we’d think it’d make for a great bubble bath too.

Key Ingredients: Peony, rose water, pink sea salt | Size: 18 oz. | Scent: Floral

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Our skin was more radiant and glowy after using it, without any consequential irritation.

The scent is rich, so it might not be for everyone.

We loved the consistency of this product and how it made our skin super soft and glowy. It felt less abrasive and drying than the other body washes we’ve tried, and the sweet smell was intoxicating—almost like breakfast cereal or an Orange Julius.

Because our skin felt super soft and smooth after using this wash, we found ourselves able to forego our usual body lotion on most days after using it. Our skin also looked more radiant, thanks to the AHAs in the formula (chemical exfoliants that gently dissolve dead skin cells), with no resulting irritation, sensitivity, or flakiness.

We felt sufficiently clean after using it too, and one of our favorite things was that it wasn't stripping or drying of any of my body's natural moisture—it left our skin nourished and hydrated all day long without any film or residue left behind.

The thick, gel-like consistency lathered well, albeit not as much as other body washes—we found ourselves needing to squeeze out a bit more than one pump for each use. That said, we think the gentle yet effective result is well worth the drawback.

Key Ingredients: AHA blend, tropical fruit enzymes, allantoin | Size: 9 oz. | Scent: Juicy creamsicle

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It makes our skin feel smoother than any product we’ve ever used.

We didn’t notice a huge difference in shine or glow despite the name’s claims.

Our skin was immediately silky and smooth from the very first time we used Naturium’s Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash—we’ve never experienced anything like it. It made our skin softer over time with consistent use, and it didn’t cause any irritation with its scent-free formulation.

This product is so good that we entirely stopped using a body scrub after adding this wash to our regular shower routine. It was decently moisturizing too—more like a body oil than a lotion. It turned into foam easily and lathered well, and we needed very little product (less than one full pump) to cover our whole body.

We didn’t notice as much shine or glow as we would have hoped, and the silky-smooth feeling didn’t last as long as we would have liked. Still, we’d recommend it to anyone in search of a wash with a hydrating, oil-like consistency.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, a blend of linoleic-rich oils, plant-derived squalane | Size: 17 oz. | Scent: None

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It doubles as a shampoo and bubble bath.

It’s the most expensive option on our list.

This body wash felt high-end and made our skin softer than other products we’ve used in the past. Our skin felt moisturized, glowy, and radiant—all without irritating our skin. The subtle floral musk scent is the cherry on top—it wasn’t overpowering or lingering and left us smelling and feeling clean.

This body wash was thick and gel-like as well as textured and exfoliating. It had a great lather, and a little went a long way. It left our skin feeling hydrated and nourished, and that hydration lasted all day without leaving behind a film or residue. It didn’t strip the skin or leave it feeling tight either.

Although you can use it as a bubble bath concentrate and a shampoo if you’re in a pinch (or if you simply want an all-in-one product), that versatility comes at a price: It’s the most expensive option on our list.

Key Ingredients: Water, sodium laureth sulfate, lauryl betaine | Size: 16 oz. | Scent: Floral musk

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The warm, woody, light fragrance and long-lasting hydration exceeded our expectations.

Lovers of strong fragrances might find it too subtle, and it might not be hydrating enough for drier skin types.

We absolutely loved the silky lather of this body wash, the warm, woody, comforting scent, and the easy pump feature of the bottle. Overall, this product feels luxe and fun at an inexpensive price point (just $12!). The delicious smell elevated our shower experience altogether, and it was so good that we wished it lingered on our skin longer. (We wouldn’t mind if it were more powerful than it is.)

As far as our skin afterward? It looked and felt hydrated and plump after each use, and there was no irritation or reactions to it or the fragrance. It actually reminded us of the much more expensive Le Labo Santal 33 (just with more florals and sweetness).

Our skin felt clean and soft too, seemingly maintaining the perfect level of hydration for our skin, even in colder and drier temperatures. When we rinsed the body wash off, our skin immediately felt smooth and slick as opposed to dry or tight.

When we got out of the shower and didn't apply lotion, our arms were buttery soft, and this lasted throughout the entire day. Our arms and legs didn't get ashy or dry at all, and after a full 24 hours, we could feel that our skin was still soft and holding moisture from the shower the day before.

However, because it’s a light gel consistently, it’s not as hydrating as a thick gel or cream body wash. While it didn't show any drastic changes in our skin's hydration levels, it maintained hydration levels for our normal skin type at a very comfortable level.

Key Ingredients: Monoi oil, cupuaçu butter, and kukui oil | Size: 17 oz. | Scent: Rose, jasmine, and sandalwood

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It has plenty of hydrating ingredients that are great for dry skin, like cocoa butter, shea butter, and multi-vitamin extracts.

It’s not very budget-friendly—for $30, you get 10 ounces of product.

This body wash had an amazing fragrance and creamy texture. We’d recommend it to anyone with super dry skin—after using it, we no longer needed to use moisturizer, even in the winter, which was not the case with products we’ve used in the past.

After every use, our skin felt smooth and refreshed, and it even developed a natural glow. We didn’t experience any skin irritation either, and it did a great job of removing body odor without feeling harsh on our skin. We didn't experience any tightness, discomfort, film, or residue after using this wash.

The fragrance of the body wash was so nice that we often received compliments on how good we smelled after using it, and on top of that, we noticed that our arms looked smoother and more hydrated.

The smoothness remained for a good part of the day, and we saw an improvement in the dryness of our arms after using this product regularly. This can be attributed to its creamy consistency that lathers up very easily, and only a small amount is required for each shower (about one pump).

Key Ingredients: African cocoa butter, shea butter, multi-vitamin extracts | Size: 10 oz. | Scent: Pharaoh’s Love

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It gives your skin a thorough clean while staying gentle enough to moisturize and use daily.

We wouldn’t recommend it to someone who is sensitive to citrus-heavy smells.

If you’re looking for a body wash to address post-workout sweat or skin that feels like it needs a deep clean, this one from Frank Body is worth trying. It gently removed grim and dirt without stripping our natural oils, and our skin didn’t feel tight, filmy, or residuey—just moisturized and really clean.

We would agree with the brand’s claims on this body wash’s ability to unclog pores, balance oil production, soothe redness, and promote a healthy skin barrier—we noticed that clogged pores on our arms and chest started to improve and that our skin wasn’t as dull after use.

Despite the thorough clean, we didn’t notice any irritation when using the product. Though the smell was heavy on the citrus, which was a little overpowering, it didn’t linger, and it still felt gentle enough to use each day and provide moisture to our skin. One pump was plenty of product too (and you could even get away with a little less than one pump).

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid | Size: 12 oz. | Scent: Mandarin and cedarwood

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For a body wash that’s gentle on the skin and senses, Aveeno’s Skin Relief Body Wash is ultra nourishing and soothing to even the driest and most sensitive skin. For a scented alternative with a slightly less expensive price tag, we also recommend Method’s Pure Peace Body Wash for its delicious yet subtle fragrance and all-around luxurious feel.

Our testing process to find the best body washes on the market was simple yet thorough—we started by rounding up 50 products to test over six weeks, making sure to include a selection of body washes that targeted different skin concerns for different skin types.

We added each product into our daily shower routine, dispensing up to a quarter-sized amount of product onto hands or a sponge or loofah. If we felt like we needed more, we made a note of how much product we ended up using and went about showering as we normally would.

After rinsing thoroughly, we judged each body wash based on the following criteria: consistency, hydration, cleansing ability, effectiveness, value, and scent. If the body wash cleansed effectively, hydrated our skin, smelled good, targeted a specific skin type or concern, and had a decent price point, it made it on our list.

Because your skin is your largest organ, you’ll want to be mindful of the ingredients in your body wash. According to Dr. Friedler, your skin type or skin concerns can help you decide which ingredients to prioritize.

"Remember, consistency is key,” Dr. Garcia says. “Whichever body wash you choose, stick with it for at least four to six weeks to see results.”

Like we mentioned above, fragrances aren’t for everyone. “Some people have fragrance allergies,” Dr. Friedler says. “People with naturally sensitive skin or eczema can also experience negative effects from body washes with fragrances, as they will be more sensitive to allergens.”

Dr. Garcia adds that you should always listen to your skin. If you experience any redness, stinging, or increased dryness, stop using the product and consult a dermatologist.

You might see body wash and shower gel used interchangeably, but the distinction between the two is important if you have dry skin. Dr. Kung explains that body washes have a thin, creamy consistency, like our overall best pick, whereas shower gels are thick and jelly-like, like our best multi-purpose pick. In that case, which one should you aim for?

Dr. Kung says: “Body washes tend to work better in moisturizing and hydrating the skin, while shower gels may feel tight on dry skin.” For this reason, those living in drier climates should prioritize an actual body wash, whereas those living in humid climates can get away with a gel formula.

This article was written by Camryn Dilger, an associate editor at Real Simple with years of hands-on experience researching, testing, editing, and reviewing dozens of products. She’s personally tested dozens of body washes to find her favorite one before finally landing on Dove’s Soothing Relief Body Wash for its creamy, fragrance-free, dry skin-friendly formula, much like our overall best pick.

Stefanie Waldek also contributed to this article and interviewed Suzanne Friedler, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist with Advanced Dermatology PC, Elaine Kung, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Future Bright Dermatology, and Annabelle Garcia, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist with Sonterra Dermatology.