Best Body Washes For Women In 2023: Top 5 Products Most Recommended By Experts

Whether ice-cold or steaming hot, for the majority of Americans, a daily shower is a must: It helps us wake up or wash off the day and doesn’t just clean our body but also clears our minds. A good body wash can enhance the relaxing shower experience and become a valuable part of our skincare routine. But what’s a good body wash? Should you choose scented or fragrance-free, cleansing or nourishing, high-end or drugstore? Don’t break a sweat – StudyFinds has created a list of the best body washes for women that should include the right product for everyone.

Are you “camp clean” or “camp dirty?” Recently, celebrities have been raising eyebrows by advocating a less rigid bathing routine. Meanwhile, poll of over 1,000 Americans revealed only a slight majority of people, 35 percent, shower every day. About a third, 31 percent, say that it’s not necessary to shower every day. Fifteen percent shower only every other day. Luckily for the rest of us, only eight percent shower only once a week.

When it comes to personal hygiene, women claim to be the “cleaner” sex, with more knowledge about and more time spent on washing and grooming. But that’s not always true: “Hygiene routines can vary from person to person, regardless of sex. There are numerous reasons for this, starting from cultures, education, habits, and possibilities,” says Danela Zagar, global brand manager at INTIMINA. “Either way, maintaining personal hygiene is the key to feeling carefree and healthy.”

No matter how frequently you enjoy a shower (for environmental reasons we recommend maybe don’t overdo it): StudyFinds reviewed the experts’ recommendations of ten related websites and built a top-five list of the best body washes for women to keep you feeling clean and comfortable.  

The List: Best Body Washes For Women, Recommended By Experts

 

1. Nécessaire The Body Wash

The body wash with the chique French name, while not the cheapest, comes highly – and most frequently – recommended by skincare experts. “Our top pick for the best body washes is Nécessaire The Body Wash With Niacinamide,” writes InStyle. “This body wash does it all: It hydrates the skin while also balancing, is fragrance-free for sensitive skin types (but, it also comes in scented for those who prefer it), and the added niacinamide refreshes, nourishes, and promotes a healthier skin barrier.” 

Byrdie is also a big fan and, like InStyle, picked the product as best overall. “Nécessaire gets a lot of hype in the world of body care, and we’re here to tell you it’s all that and more. A favorite of Byrdie associate editorial director Hallie Gould and available in your choice of fragrance-free, spa-like eucalyptus, or marvelously musky sandalwood, The Body Wash is for everyone. […] You’ll notice a difference in your dermis after one use and won’t have to worry about irritation if you have sensitive skin.”

“Nécessaire believes that the skin from your neck down deserves the same level of care as your face — which is why you won’t find parabens, phthalates, sulfates, silicones, and synthetic fragrances in any of its products, including this gel-oil cleanser. Instead, it’s formulated with a variety of fatty acids and antioxidants that leave skin soft, smooth, and lightly scented,” adds Oprah Daily.

2. CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash 

CeraVe is a favorite among dermatologists and accepted by the National Eczema Association. Its Hydrating Body Wash is the top pick of Women’s Health, Today, and Oprah Daily, as well as the best drugstore option for Verywell Health. “It not only contains three different ceramides, all of which protect the skin barrier and lock in moisture, but it’s also formulated with hyaluronic acid, a humectant that works like a sponge to help skin retain water,” Oprah Daily quotes Debra Jaliman, board-certified dermatologist and author of Skin Rules.

According to Today, “Dr. Danilo C. Del Campo, a board-certified dermatologist based in Chicago, regularly recommends this ‘go-to’ non-comedogenic cleanser and swears by its moisturizing formula. So does Dr. Marisa Gashick, a board-certified dermatologist who serves patients in New York and New Jersey.”

Women’s Health likes that this product is family-friendly and affordable. “Great for sharing among family members, this fragrance- and oil-free formula is hydrating, but non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores. It also contains ceramides to help retain moisture on the skin’s surface and protect the [skin] against environmental irritants.”

3. Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash

In addition to quality, affordability is important in a product we use every day. Dove’s Deep Moisture Body Wash is Good Housekeeping’s and InStyle’s best value pick: “The price on this pick is hard to beat. Dove products contain one quarter moisturizer in every formula, meaning it keeps skin feeling soft and hydrated with every shower — even before putting on lotion. It also won’t strip your skin of its good bacteria to maintain a healthy microbiome,” says InStyle.

“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,” writes Good Housekeeping. “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.”

Real Simple even awards this gentle, affordable body wash the best overall on its list. “This popular body wash is sulfate- and paraben-free and contains tocopheryl acetate, a form of vitamin E that protects skin cells from free radical damage (like UV rays or pollution). Sunflower seed oil and soybean oil act as emollients to protect and moisturize your skin.” This body wash is however not a good choice for “people who want a body wash that targets specific skincare concerns, like acne or eczema.” 

4. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash

Probably best known for its baby products, Aveeno has product lines for all ages. The Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash “made with nourishing oatmeal ()” is another affordable body wash option. According to The Pioneer Woman, “Sun damage, harsh soaps, and cold weather are strong culprits in dry skin. Replenish much-needed moisture with Aveeno’s Daily Moisturizing body wash—made with nourishing oatmeal!”

Glamour reviewer raves that it yields immediate results: “As I applied Aveeno’s oat-infused body wash in the shower and scrubbed it into my skin, I noticed immediately that I felt hydrated, not stripped, by the lather and suds.”

Real Simple praises that “this lightly scented body wash is free of parabens, dyes, and soap. It contains oat kernel flour and oat kernel oil, both of which help to hydrate skin and strengthen its protective barrier. It also contains dimethicone, a moisturizing ingredient, to help keep skin hydrated after you step out of the shower.”

As a nice “green” touch, this product is also available in a 36-ounce refill pouch. However, since this body wash is scented, it may not be suitable for everyone.

5. Tie: Drunk Elephant Kamili Cream Body Cleanser and Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser

These two products got an equal amount of expert praise and both have a bigger price tag (especially Aesop), so they tied. According to Glamour, “it’s hard to find formulas that don’t leave you feeling dry from the neck down, and [the Kamili Cream Body Cleanser] is a rare gem. It cleanses your body thoroughly, with no discomfort at the end.”

And Women’s Health writes: “Made from non-fragrant plant oils, this sulfate-free body wash is gentle enough for sensitive skin and won’t further irritate dry skin. Instead, [the Kamili Cream Body Cleanser] relies on a multi-amino acid blend to rinse dirt and fatty acid-rich marula, sweet almond, sacha inchi seed, and maracuja oils to hydrate.” 

The Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser is InStyle’s and Real Simple’s “best splurge:” According to InStyle, “If you’re looking to splurge, there is nothing more divine than this body cleanser from Aesop. Albeit pricey, it’s worth every penny for its scent, cleansing ability, and sustainable formula. It’s also deeply clarifying, which is great for oily skin type.”

“This cleanser contains bergamot oil and mandarin orange peel oil, which hydrate your skin, as well as geranium leaf extract. Research suggests that geranium extract has anti-inflammatory properties, can reduce bacteria when applied topically, and can help treat acne, making this a highly impactful body wash for all sorts of purposes,” notes Real Simple.

Have your own recommendations? Please leave them in the comments section below!

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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.

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