You’ll want to find the best body wash for dry skin out there to ensure you keep your skin nice and soft, so below are our top recommendations!
Your skin is your body’s largest organ, so it stands to reason that you should take good care of it. Recently, we’ve been seeing a boom in skincare, and while cleansers and masks are great, they only cover your face. It’s time to give your body some love.
While moisturizers and cream are great, you also need to pay attention to your body wash. There are certain ingredients in some body washes that can dry out your skin. And if you already have dry skin, this can be a terrible combination.
Keep reading for the best body washes for dry skin.
Best Body Washes for Dry Skin
Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash
With 4.8 stars from over 17,000 reviews, this body wash is well-loved for dry skin. Dove is known for its nourishing body washes – the Deep Moisture Body Wash is also a great pick, but it doesn’t hurt to pick one with “sensitive” on the bottle.
Typically, body washes meant for sensitive skin swap harsh ingredients for soothing ones like shea butter. For this one, a fourth of their formula is moisturizing ingredients. One of those ingredients is glycerin which is great for treating dry skin.
CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash
This is another good body wash to keep around if you have sensitive, dry skin! Instead of filling their formula with parabens, sulfate, and fragrances, they chose to load up this wash with hyaluronic acid, emollients, and three different types of ceramides.
In other words, this is a superfood for your dry skin. It’s also endorsed by the National Eczema Association!
Glossier Body Hero Wash
This oil-based cleanser not only smells amazing, it performs amazingly also! If you find that most body washes dry you out, you might want to try an oil-based formula like this one.
It removes sweat and dirt without drying out the skin (in fact, it adds extra moisture)! We like the scent, but some people hate it, so we’d recommend trying a sample first.
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Body Wash
If there is an ingredient to look for, it is shea butter. It has a high amount of fatty acids and vitamins which makes it great at softening your skin. If you want to get your skin as soft as it can be, go for a body wash made with shea butter (such as this one from Shea Moisture).
Their formula combines shea butter with coconut oil and myrrh extract to give your skin that hydrating boost it deserves. It’s literally a trifecta of great ingredients to help your dry skin.
Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash
Shea butter is a Godsend when it comes to soothing dry skin. If you see a bottle that heavily relies on it, grab it as fast as you can. This one by Olay combines shea butter with vitamin B3 complex to give your skin the hydration it needs.
Although it has a thicker consistency, no residue gets left behind. The fragrance smells good also, but if you are sensitive to scents, it might not be the best choice for you.
Allafia EveryDay Shea Body Wash
This brand offers several excellent body washes for dry skin! We listed this unscented version, but if you’d prefer a scent, you can check out more options here (we love vanilla mint).
Made with shea butter and coconut oil, their formulas are cleansing (yet moisturizing) so you will be left with soft, happy skin!
Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap
Dr. Bronner’s body washes and bar soaps are another excellent of the top soap brands! They’re oil-based, made with coconut oil and a few other nourishing oils that will make your skin feel soft as ever.
They come in a variety of delicious scents, plus you can choose from the liquid formula or a bar soap!
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel
While oftentimes we feel that we have to sacrifice nice scents for soft skin, that’s not always the case. Sol de Janeiro is known for its sweet-smelling moisturizers, but their shower gel is a worthy addition to your routine.
Packed with cupuacu butter and coconut oil, this gel leaves your skin feeling soft and smelling sweet like caramel and pistachios. It also functions as a shaving gel! We love multi-functionality. If you want the best of both worlds, definitely grab this gel.
L’Occitane Cleansing And Softening Shower Oil
In the search for the perfect body wash, why not go for one that is oil-based? This shower oil from L’Occitane is rich in almond oil meaning that it contains fatty acids that will leave your skin silky soft.
On top of the smell and the smooth feeling this cleanser gives your skin, it turns into a milky texture as you lather and doesn’t leave any greasy residue.
Avalon Organics Bath & Shower Gel
This gentle, organic formula is designed for extra dry skin. We love using the lavender formula during a shower before bed, but their other scents smell great as well!
It’s made with no parabens, phthalates, fragrances, or synthetic colors. Plus, it’s cruelty-free and vegan!
Eucerin Skin Calming Body Wash
Sometimes, dry skin can be more than an annoyance. Dry skin can include itchiness, ashiness, or even flakes. For those whose skin needs some serious, but gentle help, look no further. Eucerin has the body wash for you.
Eucerin’s skin calming body wash is strong enough to soothe dry and itchy skin, while also being gentle enough to not irritate your skin further. It’s full of natural lipids and omega fatty acids to give your skin the moisture it needs while also taking out any dyes or fragrances that could irritate it any further.
Bioderma Shower Oil
Another excellent oil-based formula, this nourishing shower oil cleanser is designed for dry and sensitive skin.
So, you can be sure it won’t dry you out! You will truly feel the difference once you climb out of the shower (plus, it smells amazing).
LUSH Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner
LUSH fans, you’re going to be excited you have a new excuse to visit their store. Many people with dry skin swear by their body conditioners!
Made with argan oil and a few different butters, this ultra-moisturizing formula should actually be applied after your body wash (while still in the shower) and then rinsed off. Since a little goes a long way, this is well worth the splurge!
How to Find a Body Wash for Dry Skin
There are so many body washes out there and it’s important to know what you want before you can determine what you like. When searching for a body wash that works for your skin, you need to have an idea of what your skin needs.
If you have very sensitive skin, it’s best to avoid a body wash with fragrances or other irritants. If you are someone who suffers from eczema, look out for body washes that are designed to soothe your skin.
Also, many people with dry skin recommend an oil-based body wash. The only downside to these is that the oil can cling to your skin (as well as the tub) after the shower and some oils can have allergens for those with sensitive skin.
Otherwise, oil-based cleansers can be very nourishing, so they are definitely worth giving a try if you struggle with dry skin.
In Conclusion
Overall, moisturizer is definitely an important factor in keeping your skin hydrated and smooth, but many people underestimate the power of a good body wash, too.
Try some of these top best body washes for dry skin and you’ll be in good hands. Our favorite is the top-rated Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash!
UP NEXT: Top 15 Best Primers for Dry Skin
By
By
By
By
By
By
