Best Overall

Sol de Janeiro Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel

$26

$25 at Amazon$50 at Sephora$12 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Cupuaçu butter, coconut oil, açai oil| Size: 13 oz| Formula: Cream-gel | Fragrance-Free: No

Sol de Janeiro is known for its viral lotions and body sprays, and its body wash also won us over. It boasts a delightful, creamy texture, excellent lather, and long-lasting hydration, with its signature Cheirosa 62 fragrance (think pistachio and salted caramel) earning high marks from our testers. Not much product was needed for a satisfying lather that rinsed clean, leaving the skin soft and supple. It can even be used as a shaving cream. Our tester found that his skin actually felt softer the more he used it.

We like that it is free of harsh ingredients like phthalates and parabens, and contains nourishing cupuaçu butter, coconut oil, and the antioxidant açai oil. While we love the fragrance (and it pairs nicely with the hydrating Brazilian Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil after your shower), it may not be ideal for those sensitive to fragrances. 

Mikey, tester: “The Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Play Body Wash is an absolute dream. It provides a deep cleanse, works very well to hydrate the skin, and has a beautiful and bright fragrance.”

Best for Sensitive Skin

Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash

$11 at Amazon$8 at Target$11 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, vegetable glycerides| Size: 30.6 oz| Formula: Cream | Fragrance-Free: No

Dove Body Wash Deep Moisture not only offers long-lasting softness and hydration for your skin, but it’s also pH-balanced, making it ideal for individuals experiencing excess dryness. “If you have a skin condition, like rosacea, a pH-balanced product can be helpful to keep the skin’s proper balance in check,” says Dr. Chacon. It is also free of sulfates, which can cause dry skin and irritation. However, this means the body wash doesn’t lather as much as our tester would have preferred.

The large pump bottle makes it easy to apply in the shower, and you get a ton of product for the price. Our tester notes the amazing creamy texture and consistency, as well as the clean but subtle scent. The rough patches on her dry, sensitive skin improved and healed as she continued to use this product.

Brittany, tester: “This body wash does a great job of hydrating my skin—throughout the day, my skin felt moisturized and didn’t dry out. I also like that it comes in a large bottle that makes me feel like I don’t have to be precious with how much I need to use.”

Best Budget

Method Simply Nourish Body Wash

View on Target

$10

$9 at WalgreensView on Vitacost

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter, rice extract| Size: 28 oz| Formula: Gel | Fragrance-Free: No

This budget-friendly body wash also earned top marks from our testers. The lightweight gel texture feels soft on the skin and delivers a fantastic lather that removes dirt, sweat, and grime without stripping natural oils. Using the pump bottle in the shower is easy (no need to worry about dropping a slippery bottle). Our tester said she didn’t even need to use lotion after her shower—her skin stayed hydrated all day without it. She also noted that her skin felt less dry the more she used it. 

Full of nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and glycerin, this body wash is also pH-balanced to maintain your skin barrier. Our tester also loved the coconut scent that lingered after her shower, though it may not be to everyone’s taste. 

Ashley, tester: “This body wash has quickly become my go-to in my shower routine. I love the way it leaves my skin feeling during application and after. The pump container makes it very easy to use in the shower, and the smell is so soothing.”

Best for Extremely Dry Skin

L’Occitane Cleansing & Softening Almond Shower Oil

View on Amazon$48 at Sephora$29 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil,vitamin E| Size: 8.4 oz| Formula: Oil | Fragrance-Free: No

For seriously dry skin, Dr. Chacon says oils or creams are better than gels or foams, as they “hydrate the skin and leave some nourishment behind to protect the skin’s barrier.” As far as oils go, our testers loved the luxurious feel and warm vanilla and almond scent of L’Occitane’s Almond Shower Oil. Full of softening sweet almond oil and grapeseed oil, it left their skin significantly softer and smoother. In fact, one tester said it felt like she had applied lotion in the shower. After just one use, she said it gave her skin a “healthy-looking glow.”

The product magically transforms from an oil to a milky, creamy texture when it comes into contact with water. It doesn’t lather as much as traditional soap, but it rinses off easily. Some found that its texture doesn’t clean as effectively as lathering body washes, so they prefer to use a cream or gel-based cleanser first, followed by this oil as an in-shower moisturizer.

Erica, tester: “I like that this product has a luxurious, elevated feel that turns a routine shower into something more special. It’s like an indulgent treat for specific moments—an everything shower, a spa day, a self-care moment—rather than a mainstay product in your everyday routine.”

Best Fragrance-Free

Soft Services Comfort Cleanse Shower Gel

$32 at SephoraView on Softservices.co

Key Ingredients: Glycerin | Size: 10 oz| Formula: Gel | Fragrance-Free: Yes

We love this gentle, scent-free wash, especially considering it doubles as a shaving lubricant. Free of harsh ingredients like sulfates, the lightweight cleanser is also a gentle, nonirritating intimate wash. Our tester loved the silky feel and texture, which created “the perfect amount of lather.” It rinsed clean, leaving no residue behind. It left the skin feeling hydrated and soothed. It is the most expensive on our list, but since it can serve multiple purposes, we believe it is worth the investment. 

Derek, tester: “With most body washes, I find that they leave my skin feeling slightly drier than usual, but this one immediately leaves my skin with a satisfying softness. When used as a shaving lubricant, it also leaves the skin with a nourishing feel. Over the long term, I noticed that my skin felt softer and hydrated.”

Best for Ezcema-Prone Skin

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Wash AP+ Moisturizing Body & Face Wash

$20 at Amazon$22 at Ulta$20 at Target

Key Ingredients: Prebiotic thermal water, shea butter, glycerin, niacinamide| Size: 13.5 oz| Formula: Foam | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Do you have skin that is both dry and sensitive? In that case, board-certified dermatologist and RealSelf expert Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, M.D., recommends La Roche-Posay’s body wash, as it’s “gentle, fragrance-free, and ceramide-rich.” It also contains skin-soothing niacinamide and prebiotic thermal water to moisturize skin without irritation. Our tester appreciated the foaming formula, which effectively cleansed the skin without causing irritation or stripping it of its natural oils. It ultimately soothed her itchy, flaky skin and worked well on her 5 year old with eczema. 

While this product is designed to be used on both the face and the body, some users felt like it didn’t remove makeup well, so it may be better suited as a body wash. Regardless, we love this gentle wash that cleans while also hydrating sensitive skin. 

Ashley, tester: “I have used a handful of cleansers over the years, including moisturizing body washes, but this one is by far the most gentle I’ve ever had. It gets the job done without a strong scent or leaving residue behind.”

Best Shower Gel

Naturium Hyaluronic Acid Body Wash

$17

$17 at Amazon$17 at Ulta$17 at Target

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol| Size: 16.9 oz| Formula: Gel | Fragrance-Free: Yes

Naturium’s body wash includes hyaluronic acid, an ingredient that is a homerun for those with dry skin. “Hyaluronic acid is a moisturizing powerhouse, as it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, delivering deep hydration to the skin and providing an incredible primer-like effect–increasing the benefit of other serums or creams used afterwards,” says Dr. Chacon. In addition to hyaluronic acid, it also contains glycerin and vitamins B5 and B12 to nourish and soothe skin. 

Our tester loved the texture; it starts as a gel but turns into an oil once it comes into contact with water. It thoroughly cleansed her skin, rinsing it clean and leaving it soft and moisturized afterwards. If you prefer a foamy lather, this product may not be for you, but otherwise, it is a fabulous choice for a hydrating body wash.

Shiri, tester: “This body wash made my skin feel cleansed without feeling dry or stripped of moisture. It felt super hydrating upon application and right after.”

Best Scented

Buttah Egyptian Coco Shea Body Wash

$29

$21 at Amazon$29 at Ulta$29 at Macy’s

Key Ingredients: Cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable glycerin| Size: 10 oz | Formula: Cream | Fragrance-Free: No

A body wash with shea butter, like Buttah Skin Coco Shea Body Wash, is ideal for dry and irritated skin. “Shea butter is an emollient rich in fatty acids and vitamins that soften the skin and reinforce the lipid barrier,” explains Dr. Bansal. “It’s excellent for sealing in moisture and soothing irritation, making it especially beneficial in body washes for dry or compromised skin.”

Our testers loved the rich, creamy lather of this body wash, along with its musky floral and vanilla scent. She noted that her skin felt moisturized and soothed after her shower, and it continued to improve with each use. Some users felt that, for the price, the bottle of body wash should be larger, as it ran out quickly.

Ashley, tester: “My skin felt so soft and hydrated just after one use, and I loved using it every single day in the shower. My skin felt hydrated throughout the day, and I noticed a difference in the dryness level of my skin if I skipped using it that day.”