A body wash has a deceptively simple job: remove sweat, sunscreen, excess oil, and the mysterious sticky substance you somehow acquired while doing absolutely nothing. Yet the best body washes do considerably more. They cleanse without leaving skin tight, rinse without coating the bathtub in slippery residue, and make an ordinary shower feel slightly less like routine maintenance.
To identify its standout products, Real Simple evaluated 50 body washes during six weeks of real-world testing. Editors considered cleansing performance, texture, lather, scent, hydration, packaging, and overall value before selecting eight winners for different skin types and preferences. The resulting list ranges from a dependable drugstore wash to exfoliating formulas, body-acne cleansers, and luxurious options that turn five minutes under running water into a respectable imitation of a spa visit.
Below, we examine those editor-approved body washes, explain what each one does best, and offer practical guidance for choosing a formula that suits your skin rather than merely matching your shower curtain.
The Best Body Washes at a Glance
- Best overall: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash
- Best scented: Method Pure Peace Body Wash
- Best exfoliating: Kosas Good Body Skin AHA + Enzyme Exfoliating Body Wash
- Best hydrating: Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash
- Best multipurpose: Philosophy Amazing Grace Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath
- Best long-lasting fragrance: Saltair Santal Bloom Serum Body Wash
- Best for very dry skin: Buttah Egyptian CocoShea Body Wash
- Best for body acne: Frank Body Everyday Clearing Body Wash
How Real Simple Editors Evaluated the Products
A useful body-wash test involves more than producing an impressive mountain of bubbles. Editors paid attention to how easily each formula dispensed, whether it spread evenly, how well it removed everyday grime, and how skin felt immediately after rinsing and later in the day.
Hydration was particularly important. A cleanser can feel creamy in the shower yet leave the skin uncomfortable once the water evaporates. The better products maintained a clean feeling without creating tightness, flaking, itchiness, or the urgent need to sprint toward the body lotion.
Testers also considered scent strength and longevity. Some users want a fragrance that disappears after rinsing, while others expect their shower gel to perform the opening act for their perfume. Packaging mattered, too. A wonderful formula trapped inside a bottle that requires two hands, a wrench, and emotional resilience is not particularly wonderful.
The Eight Best Body Washes According to Real Simple Editors
1. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash: Best Overall
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash earned the top position because it handles the basics exceptionally well. It creates a satisfying lather, rinses cleanly, and leaves normal-to-dry skin feeling comfortable rather than scrubbed into submission.
The formula features glycerin and oat-derived ingredients intended to support moisture retention and the skin barrier. Aveeno describes its prebiotic oat formula as a gentle cleanser designed to preserve the skin’s natural moisture barrier. That combination helps explain why the wash works well as a dependable everyday option, especially during dry weather or frequent showering.
Its main advantage is balance. It feels more nourishing than a basic gel cleanser but does not behave like a heavy shower oil. The mild scent may not suit people who require strictly fragrance-free products, so highly reactive users should read the current ingredient label before purchasing.
Best for: Normal skin, dry skin, daily use, and shoppers seeking a reasonably priced all-rounder.
2. Method Pure Peace Body Wash: Best Scented Option
Method Pure Peace Body Wash is for anyone who believes getting clean should involve at least a little theater. Its floral fragrance gives the shower a brighter, more luxurious atmosphere without requiring luxury-product pricing.
Real Simple testers liked the smooth texture, generous lather, and clean finish. Unlike some heavily scented washes that seem determined to announce your arrival three rooms in advance, Pure Peace provides a noticeable but approachable fragrance experience.
The trade-off is predictable: fragrance can be troublesome for very sensitive, eczema-prone, or easily irritated skin. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends choosing products specifically labeled “fragrance-free” when dryness or sensitivity is a concern. “Unscented” is not necessarily the same thing because masking fragrances may still be present.
Best for: Fragrance lovers, normal skin, and anyone who wants an affordable upgrade from a plain shower gel.
3. Kosas Good Body Skin AHA + Enzyme Exfoliating Body Wash: Best Exfoliating
Rough texture, clogged pores, dullness, and small bumps often require something more strategic than vigorous scrubbing with a loofah that should probably have retired months ago. Kosas Good Body Skin combines chemical exfoliants with a traditional body cleanser.
Its exfoliating blend includes glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids, along with fruit enzymes. These ingredients help loosen dead surface cells and improve the appearance of uneven texture. Glycerin and allantoin help keep the experience from feeling unnecessarily aggressive.
Real Simple testers reported smoother, softer-looking skin without the abrasive sensation associated with grainy scrubs. The wash can be especially useful on the upper arms, thighs, back, or other areas prone to congestion.
Beginners should introduce exfoliating body washes gradually, perhaps two or three times per week. Avoid using them immediately after shaving or on irritated, sunburned, or broken skin. Chemical exfoliants can also increase sensitivity, making daily sunscreen important on exposed areas.
Best for: Rough texture, dull skin, clogged pores, and mild body breakouts.
4. Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash: Best Hydrating
Naturium The Glow Getter is the wash for people who finish an ordinary shower feeling as though their skin has been replaced with parchment paper. It has an oil-rich, cushiony texture that transforms into a gentle lather and leaves skin feeling noticeably softer.
Real Simple editors praised its silky finish and ability to provide hydration without leaving a greasy film. Other editorial testers have also highlighted the formula’s combination of glycerin, plant-derived squalane, and nourishing oils. Health selected it as a sensitive-skin-friendly moisturizing option, while InStyle praised its softening effect on dry, textured skin.
The texture may initially surprise anyone accustomed to clear, high-foam gels. Give it a few seconds to emulsify with water before deciding it is not lathering. This is skincare wearing a body-wash costume, and it refuses to rush.
Best for: Dehydrated skin, seasonal dryness, mature skin, and anyone who frequently forgets body lotion.
5. Philosophy Amazing Grace Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath: Best Multipurpose
Philosophy Amazing Grace earns its place through versatility. It can be used as a body wash, shampoo, or bubble bath, making it especially useful in small bathrooms, guest rooms, gym bags, and suitcases already engaged in a bitter argument with the airline weight limit.
The formula produces a rich foam and leaves skin lightly scented. The Amazing Grace fragrance is known for its soft floral and musk character, while the cleanser is intended to soften and condition both skin and hair.
As a body wash and bubble bath, it provides an enjoyable sensory experience. Results as a shampoo will depend heavily on hair type. Fine or uncomplicated hair may tolerate it well, but dry, curly, color-treated, or chemically processed hair may still prefer a dedicated shampoo and conditioner.
Best for: Travelers, fragrance fans, guest bathrooms, and shoppers who appreciate multipurpose products.
6. Saltair Santal Bloom Serum Body Wash: Best Long-Lasting Fragrance
Saltair Santal Bloom is designed for users who want their shower fragrance to remain detectable after the towel comes out. Its warm profile centers on sandalwood, amber, and musk, creating a scent that feels polished without smelling like someone overturned a perfume counter.
The current serum-wash formula includes moisturizing ingredients such as monoi oil, cupuaçu butter, and kukui oil. It also contains niacinamide and a vitamin C derivative intended to support a brighter, more even-looking complexion over time.
The creamy lather and lingering aroma make it a strong choice for evening showers or fragrance layering. Those with reactive skin should patch-test it because the very feature that makes it memorablethe fragrancemay also be unsuitable for sensitive users.
Best for: Fragrance layering, normal-to-dry skin, and people who want a more luxurious shower experience.
7. Buttah Egyptian CocoShea Body Wash: Best for Very Dry Skin
Buttah Egyptian CocoShea Body Wash has the texture and lather of a product that understands winter skin has suffered enough. Developed with melanin-rich skin in mind, it combines African cocoa butter, shea butter, and moisturizing extracts in a rich cleanser.
Real Simple editors appreciated its ability to soften severely dry skin while producing a creamy, spa-like lather. Buttah states that the formula includes its DuraQuench moisturizing complex, along with ingredients intended to help lock in hydration.
Its warm scent and dense texture make it feel indulgent, although its price is higher than typical drugstore body washes. A smaller amount may be sufficient, particularly when applied with wet hands rather than absorbed into an oversized shower sponge.
Best for: Very dry skin, melanin-rich skin, colder climates, and shoppers who prioritize a creamy lather.
8. Frank Body Everyday Clearing Body Wash: Best for Body Acne
Body acne can appear on the back, shoulders, chest, and buttocks, particularly when sweat, oil, dead skin, and friction join forces like an extremely unhelpful committee. Frank Body Everyday Clearing Body Wash addresses the problem with salicylic acid, an oil-soluble exfoliant that helps clear congested pores.
The formula also includes aloe, glycerin, panthenol, coffee-seed extract, and fruit extracts. Real Simple testers found that it cleaned breakout-prone skin without creating excessive dryness. Frank Body describes the cleanser as soap-free and designed for acne, clogged pores, and excess oil.
For best results, apply the wash directly to breakout-prone areas and allow it to remain briefly before rinsing. Do not combine it immediately with an aggressive body scrub. Salicylic acid already has a job; it does not need a coworker wielding sandpaper.
Best for: Oily skin, back acne, chest breakouts, clogged pores, and post-workout showers.
How to Choose the Right Body Wash
Match the Formula to Your Skin Type
Dry skin generally benefits from creamy or oil-based cleansers containing humectants and emollients. Glycerin attracts water, while oils, shea butter, squalane, and ceramides help reduce moisture loss and support a softer skin feel.
Sensitive or eczema-prone skin usually does best with short ingredient lists, gentle cleansing agents, and formulas free from fragrance and dyes. The National Eczema Association recommends lukewarm water and fragrance- and dye-free cleansers for sensitive skin.
Oily or acne-prone skin may benefit from salicylic acid, while rough, bumpy skin may respond to salicylic, glycolic, lactic, or mandelic acid. Stronger is not automatically better. Overusing exfoliating cleansers can damage the barrier, increase irritation, and create more redness than radiance.
Do Not Judge a Cleanser by Its Bubbles
A huge lather feels satisfying, but foam volume does not prove that a cleanser works better. Gentle, soap-free formulas may produce fewer bubbles while still removing sweat, oil, and debris effectively. Dermatologists frequently recommend mild cleansers over traditional alkaline soaps because harsh cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier and increase dryness.
Consider Your Fragrance Tolerance
Fragrance can make a shower more enjoyable, but it is not a skincare benefit. People with resilient skin may happily use scented products without difficulty. Those experiencing itching, eczema, unexplained redness, or persistent dryness should consider switching to a fragrance-free formula and observing whether symptoms improve.
Remember That Shower Technique Matters
Even the world’s gentlest body wash cannot fully compensate for a 30-minute shower conducted at the approximate temperature of molten rock. Dermatologists recommend lukewarm water, shorter showers, gentle cleansing, and moisturizer applied soon after drying. Excessive scrubbing, daily physical exfoliation, and over-cleansing can strip protective oils from the skin.
What Using These Body Washes Feels Like in Everyday Life
The most revealing body-wash experiences are rarely dramatic. Nobody steps out of the shower while orchestral music swells and strangers applaud the condition of their elbows. Instead, a good formula proves itself through small improvements that become noticeable over several days.
With an everyday moisturizer such as Aveeno, the first difference is usually what does not happen. Skin does not feel tight while drying off. The lower legs do not immediately look dusty. Lotion remains helpful, but applying it no longer feels like emergency maintenance. The experience is uncomplicated, which is precisely why a product like this often becomes a household staple.
An oil-rich wash such as Naturium creates a different sensation. At first, the texture can seem unusually dense or slippery. Once water is added, however, it spreads more easily and produces a soft lather. After rinsing, there may be a faint conditioned feeling rather than the squeaky finish associated with stronger detergents. That finish can be wonderful for dry skin but may feel excessive to someone who prefers a sharply clean, residue-free sensation.
Fragranced washes create the most emotional experience. Method Pure Peace can make a rushed morning shower feel cheerful, while Saltair Santal Bloom suits a slower evening routine. Scent also affects how people judge cleanliness, even though fragrance does not remove additional dirt. A pleasant aroma can make the entire bathroom feel fresher, but the real test is whether the scent remains enjoyable after repeated use. A fragrance that feels sophisticated on Monday can become an unwanted roommate by Friday.
Exfoliating products require more patience. A Kosas AHA wash is unlikely to transform rough upper arms after one shower. Over one to three weeks of consistent but moderate use, skin may begin to feel smoother when applying lotion or getting dressed. The important experiential lesson is restraint. Using an acid wash every day, scrubbing aggressively, and applying it immediately after shaving may produce irritation faster than results. Alternating it with a gentle moisturizing cleanser is often the more comfortable approach.
An acne-focused wash such as Frank Body also works best as part of a routine rather than as a one-night rescue mission. Applying it after exercise, allowing brief contact with breakout-prone areas, and changing out of sweaty clothing promptly can be more useful than simply pouring additional product onto a shower puff. Progress tends to appear as fewer inflamed spots and less congestion, not instant perfection.
Packaging becomes surprisingly important during daily use. Pump bottles are convenient when hands are wet, although pumps sometimes stop reaching the final portion of the formula. Flip-top bottles are easier to empty but can become slippery. Thick formulas may require storing the bottle upside down, an arrangement that works beautifully until the cap was not completely closed and the shower shelf becomes an expensive abstract painting.
The most practical approach is to keep two cleansers: a gentle, hydrating wash for regular use and a targeted exfoliating or acne wash for selected areas several times per week. This strategy lets active ingredients address specific concerns without forcing the entire body to participate. It also makes the shower routine adaptable. Skin can be oilier during humid summers, drier during winter, and suddenly offended by everything during periods of stress.
Ultimately, the best experience comes from a body wash that quietly fits your routine. It should be pleasant enough that you enjoy using it, effective enough that skin feels clean, and gentle enough that you do not spend the next hour scratching your shins. Glamorous packaging is welcome. A functioning moisture barrier is better.
Final Verdict
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash is the strongest general recommendation because it combines effective cleansing, hydration, accessibility, and everyday value. Naturium The Glow Getter is the better choice for persistently dry skin, while Kosas Good Body Skin stands out for rough texture and Frank Body Everyday Clearing Body Wash targets body breakouts.
Fragrance enthusiasts have several appealing options. Method Pure Peace offers an affordable floral experience, Saltair Santal Bloom provides a warmer and more persistent scent, and Philosophy Amazing Grace adds multipurpose convenience. For an especially rich, creamy cleanse, Buttah Egyptian CocoShea is the indulgent choice.
No single body wash is perfect for every person. Choose according to your skin type, fragrance tolerance, preferred texture, and specific concerns. The winner is not necessarily the bottle with the longest ingredient list or the fanciest pump. It is the cleanser that makes your skin feel comfortable after the showerand does not force you to negotiate with your elbows afterward.
Note: Product formulas, packaging, pricing, and availability can change. Review the current ingredient label before purchasing, patch-test fragranced or exfoliating formulas, and consult a board-certified dermatologist for persistent acne, eczema, itching, cracking, or irritation.
