The 20 Best Body Washes to Level Up Your Shower Experience (2024)

Body wash should be a relatively simple thing to shop for. You should be able to just go to the store, choose your favorite scent, and call it a day. But what is actually inside that bottle? The newest body washes feature gentler formulas, luxurious fragrances (or none at all), and all kinds of skin care benefits. To help break down what body wash is right for you, we tap Jenny Liu, a board-certified dermatologist based in Minneapolis, for her expert insights.

Which ingredients should you look for?

“A gentle formulation, with mild surfactants that cleanse without over-stripping skin's oil, with added ingredients like glycerin, panthenol, et cetera, that help to add moisture back into skin,” Liu recommends. “For specific concerns like acne, benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can be helpful.” Common ingredients may look familiar if you’re big into skincare. “Similar hydrating and nourishing ingredients in moisturizers and serums like glycerin, panthenol, niacinamide, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid,” she says.

Which ingredients should you avoid?

The issue of surfactants—that is, the agents that create the lathering, foaming action—is one that comes up often. “Cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, sodium laureth sulfate are all mild surfactants,” Liu explains. But sensitive skin types, she says, may want to avoid sodium laureth sulfate, a.k.a. SLS, as well as some other common ingredients. “It depends on one's skin type, but for sensitive skin, steer clear of SLS that may be just too harsh on skin, fragrance, and true soaps.”

Does the type of formula matter?

In short, yes. “Creams and unscented are less irritating and more suitable for sensitive skin,” Liu explains. Meanwhile, “gel cleansers foam more effectively and are better at removing impurities, bacteria, dirt, and sebum from skin. For someone with body acne, the latter may be a more suitable option.”

No matter which type of body wash you’re looking for, we’ve rounded up 20 of the very best—some fragrant, some unscented, some exfoliating, and then some more. Whichever you choose, you’re in store for your best shower yet.

Nécessaire is one of the only bodycare brands that makes genuinely great fragrance-free products. The Body Wash is no exception; it leaves skin silky thanks to softening ingredients like marula oil and vitamins A, B3, C, and E.

Dove's body wash is one of our all-time faves as it is, so shrinking it down—each four-ounce mini bottle is four times more concentrated than regular body wash—to cut waste makes it even better in our book. Once you have the starter kit, all you'll need are the refills—the bottle can be used again and again.

This gentle body wash smells sweet and slightly tropical (but not overwhelming), and the huge, 18-ounce bottle lasts forever.

The brightening magnesium and Atlantic kelp give skin an extra boost, while essential oils add an energizing, awakening scent. Bonus: The bottle is made from 100 percent recycled plastic.

Part creamy body wash, part scrub, this two-in-one formula cleanses as it gently exfoliates—and it will leave your shower smelling like a coffee shop to boot.

Safe to use on the face and body, this cleanser works wonders on dry and sensitive skin, and is even accepted by the National Eczema Association.

This best-selling scent from model Iskra Lawrence's bodycare line has moisturizing monoi oil and brightening niacinamide, and features biodegradable cleansing agents. The bottle is also made of aluminum, so it's totally recyclable.

With organic coconut water, sea kelp, and aloe, this body wash forms a creamy, hydrating lather (without the help of sulfates, we might add).

This sulfate- and paraben-free formula has rosehip and jojoba oils to soften skin. And the brand's signature Melrose Place fragrance will have everyone asking what perfume you're wearing.

Turn your shower into a spa with this eucalyptus-scented wash that not only cleanses your skin, but hydrates and soothes with the brand's Hydraclean Complex and vitamin E.

Breakouts, unfortunately, don't always stop at the neck. Using this cleanser—which has acne-fighting salicylic acid, as well as vitamin B and coffee seed extract—can help clear skin with every wash.

This cleanser from Alicia Keys's line smells great. The hardest part will be deciding whether to keep it in the shower or by the sink (our recommendation? Just get two.)

The brand's delish pistachio-caramel scent is infused in this creamy formula, which also features cupuaçu butter, coconut oil, and açaí oil for an extra dose of moisture.

This pH-balanced cleanser from the sexual wellness brand can be used to clean skin all over (wink, wink) or even as a bubble bath.

All of UpCircle's products are made with upcycled ingredients; in this case, the residual water of kiwi, a by-product of the juicing industry, adds a soothing note to the fresh, citrusy formula.

The key ingredient in Alo's beauty line is amla, a vitamin C-rich superfruit that's often used in Ayurvedic healing. Add in avocado oil, marula oil, and a vanilla-citrus fragrance, and you have your new favorite body wash for the gym (and beyond).

Designed especially for pregnant and postpartum moms, this sulfate-free, aromatherapy-inspired body wash is there when you need a few minutes to yourself.

Known for its refillable home-cleaning products, Blueland is making its first foray into beauty. The body wash turns from powder to gel when mixed with water, and is made with skin-loving ingredients like oat, vitamin E, kaolin clay, and coconut acids.

Fresh practically reinvented body wash with its citrusy-sweet formula. Pro tip: A bottle makes the perfect gift for a hostess, bridesmaid, guest, or really anyone.

This vitamin-rich body wash is like a lotion you can use in the shower, and you can even use it as a shaving cream.