13 Best Body Washes, Tested by Experts

This groundbreaking GH Beauty Award winner is a gently sudsing gel with a subtle citrus-floral aroma encased in first-of-its-kind air-inflated packaging to reduce waste. GH Beauty Lab assessment confirmed that the packaging has up to 47% less plastic than that of similar-size products. In a clinical study, the cleanser didn’t irritate even sensitive skin; testers found that it lathered well and rinsed clean without overdrying skin.

“The light and foamy lather feels soft,” one of our testers reported. Other testers loved the concept of the packaging and that it is fully recyclable. The only downside? One tester noticed that the bottle can be a little unstable when pumping out product.

A winner of GH's Sustainable Innovation Awards and an editor favorite, Dove's Deep Moisture Body Wash has received (not surprisingly) top scores in many of our tests. Testers loved that it truly softened skin, thanks to its gentle cleansers and moisturizers. Our Lab experts also applaud the bottle, which is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic and is super easy to pour with one hand in the shower with a flip-top cap. The best part: the budget-friendly price!

"It leaves skin noticeably (and unbelievably) soft to the touch once you towel off — almost as if you’d applied moisturizer," says GH Beauty Director April Franzino, who is a big fan of the formula. "Even as time goes by, there is no itchy, tight skin feel that body washes and soaps often cause." Some reviewers did note that the fragrance is strong, so it may not be ideal for those who are scent sensitive.

When you experience body breakouts, it's key to start your treatment in the shower with a body wash that contains acne-fighting active ingredients. "While acneic skin can also be sensitive and many washes can be drying, a little salicylic acid can go a long way," Dr. Evans says. She recommends Neutrogena’s wash, which contains 2% salicylic acid in a gel formula to thoroughly diminish excess oil. Proceed with caution if you have dry skin; as Dr. Evans mentioned above, salicyclic acid can exacerbate that.

"Its refreshing scent and effective formula keep acne at bay without drying out my skin," said one Walmart reviewer. "A must-have for anyone battling body acne!"

A great value and great for easily irritated skin, Franzino loves this Eucerin body wash for all of its calming benefits. "A body wash made with skin-nourishing plant oils like soybean and castor seed but no soap surfactants, which can dehydrate and irritate skin, this formula is also free of fragrance and cleanses well yet doesn’t leave skin feeling dry, tight and itchy," she says.

"It is a nice formula in that it has a nice lather and leaves the skin soft without any residue after rinsing," said one Amazon reviewer. "It is also great as a hand wash if you have very sensitive hands or are having episodes of dryness or eczema on the hands." The reviewer did note that the formula can be a little runny.

Curious about those little red bumps on your upper arms, sometimes called "chicken skin"? This condition is called keratosis pilaris, and "can be hard to treat, as it is caused by a genetic propensity to have tiny hair follicles on our bodies — specifically on the back of your arms and legs — that get clogged," Dr. Evans explains. "The best washes to treat KP contain salicylic or alpha and beta hydroxy acids."

CeraVe's wash contains both salicylic acid to treat the bumps and ceramides to protect the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated. "It actually improved the appearance of my KP in one go, which, in my 20 plus years trying to manage it, is the best and quickest results I’ve gotten," one reviewer shared. Some reviewers felt it irritated their sensitive skin, so try a test patch if your skin is more reactive.

Don't love intense fragrance? Vanicream's body wash is ideal for those whose skin needs a super gentle formula with no scent at all. "Sensitive skin needs to be treated with care, including in body washes that contain no fragrance, masking fragrance or irritants," explains Dr. Evans.

In fact, when GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann's skin started getting itchy from her usual body wash, she turned to this wash. "It leaves my skin smooth and soft and, most importantly, comfortable," Wizemann says. "I appreciate it as a down-to-earth body wash, with no bells and whistles; it is packed with glycerin and uses mild coco-glucoside surfactant." If you are looking for a lot of lather, this wash may not be for you. According to a few reviewers, the formula didn't really foam up.

While it's important for everyone to keep their skin barrier intact to maintain healthy and hydrated skin, it's extra crucial for those with eczema to minimize irritation and flareups. Ceramides are a top ingredient for ideal skin barrier function and nourishment. "This is a great product for eczema sufferers with three essential ceramides and omega oil," Dr. Evans says. Plus, it contains hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate and niacinamide to calm skin. While there is technically no fragrance, some reviewers did not like the formula's natural scent.

"This product feels good on the skin, leaving skin feeling moist without excessive oiliness," said one Amazon reviewer. "This stuff works," added another. "It actually healed my dry skin and somehow now my clothes don't hurt when they rub against my skin like they did for so long before."

The perfect pick for those who prefer a light fragrance over a strong perfume-like scent, Aveeno's body wash also rated best for its lather in GH Beauty Lab testing. Testers described the formula as “silky” and “creamy.” Users also thought that it was easy to use — simple to dispense, non-irritating and rinsed off easily from skin.

Lab testing found that it didn't disturb the skin’s barrier function. “I am very sensitive to strong florals and fruits and this wash was light, fresh, clean and very pleasant," said one tester. "The lather was creamy without being too heavy." FYI: A few reviewers noted a recent change in the formula and preferred the old version.

A GH Beauty Award winner, Alaffia’s silky, lightly sudsing gel formulation is made from just six mild ingredients, including plant-based coconut oil and shea butter as well as vanilla extract and spearmint leaf oil for scent. "It smelled invigorating but not overpowering, and my skin didn’t feel tight post-shower,” a tester commented.

Many Amazon reviewers love the recycled bottle, refreshing scent and great lather. "I love this body wash and if you have sensitive skin, it's truly the best," one said. There were a few reviewers, however, that weren't big fans of the scent and felt it was too strong.

If you want to go "green," this eco-conscious body wash is former GH Beauty Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D.'s top pick. "The bottle is made of 100% recycled plastic, 20% of which comes from ocean plastic, and the pump has no metal spring, so the packaging is fully recyclable as-is," she says. "Plus, I love the uplifting herbal-botanical scent, a mix of geranium, rosemary and sage."

The combination of included Atlantic kelp extract and magnesium PCA hydrate and soften skin. "This body wash leaves your skin soft as silk and smells soooo good," one Amazon reviewer shared. "A bit pricey but worth it!"

Boasting its proprietary moisture boost complex, this luxe GH Beauty Award winner contains hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, a specific version of the hydrating hero ingredient that has been broken down to smaller components so that it is small enough to penetrate deeply into skin. In a clinical study, it improved skin moisturization by 25%, according to Beauty Lab data review.

"It morphs into a creamy fine lather that coats skin like a dense mousse," says Aral, who tested the formula. "Though it has very creamy feeling, it rinses clean without feeling slippery and leaves skin silky smooth once dry." It has a sweet vanilla scent which may be overpowering for some.

Dr. Teal's is known for their signature essential oils and relaxing epsom salts and this cleanser boasts them both. In GH Lab testing, 100% of users said it rinsed off easily and left skin feeling clean. The gel also ranked highly for its pleasant “fruity” scent and making skin feel moisturized and smooth.

“Absolutely loved it,” one tester raved. Others loved the size of the bottle and how easy it is to pump the product out. The only con: a few testers found that the lather didn't last.

A unique woodsy-floral scent set this GH Beauty Award winner apart from other pleasantly scented body washes. In addition to the subtle but stellar fragrance, Saltair's gel formula performed like a pro when it came to purifying and softening skin.

It was unanimous: Every tester agreed it fully cleansed skin, and it also scored the highest for leaving the body feeling both soft and smooth. A few also loved the contemporary packaging and moisturizing effects. “Long after I shower, my dry skin still looks hydrated,” one shared. Testers were mixed about the lather; some felt it was rich and foamy, while others felt it barely bubbled.