Just because body wash is an essential everyday item doesn't mean we can't find joy in the ones we select — something many people discovered after a year and a half of being in and out of lockdown. The pandemic saw a rise in sensory beauty [1], a trend that centres around beauty products — particularly body and skin care — that appeal to your senses to evoke feelings and emotions that are oftentimes calming or grounding. And whilst it might not feel like it, those five to 15 minutes in the shower every day offers a great opportunity to relax and indulge ourselves — and the body wash we choose is a huge part of the experience.
Here at POPSUGAR, we're passionate about products from every category, and yes, that includes the utilitarian body wash. We've come to obsess over the textures, the scents, the lathering capabilities (yes, really), and how it leaves our skin once we step out of the shower. So it's fair to say that over the years we have whittled down our favourites. Whether you're looking for a formula safe for sensitive skin, a spa-like experience, a deep cleanse after a particularly sweaty workout, or something that's simply affordable and works (and, bonus, smells like sunshine in a bottle), we've covered all the bases. Read on to see which are the best body washes on the market, according to our editors.
Nivea Sunshine Love Shower Gel
If we can't go on holiday anytime soon, you can sure bet we're going to lather up with stuff that makes us feel like we're in our favourite sunny location. The Nivea Sunshine Love Shower Gel [2] (£1) is basically sunshine in a bottle, and it'll transport you to that post-beach-day, pre-dinner shower on holiday. It lathers well and makes skin feel clean but never dry. Our only critique? We need a bigger bottle.
Noble Isle Tea Rose Shower Gel
The Noble Isle Tea Rose Shower Gel [3] (£21) is my all-time favourite body wash. Yes, it's spenny for something that essentially goes down the drain, but in my opinion, it's worth every penny. It's all about the fragrance with this one. The top note is bergamot, heart notes are black tea, rose, and jasmine, and it has base notes of clary sage and musk. Oh, and it also doubles as a bubble bath if that's your thing.
Frank Body Clean Body Wash: Sunday Brunch
Everything about the Frank Body Clean Body Wash: Sunday Brunch [4] (£10) is gentle, from the hydrating soap-free formula to the comforting milk and honey scent. Although, if you don't like any scent in your body wash, or your skin is extra sensitive, the brand does offer a fragrance-free version.
The Body Shop British Rose Shower Gel
The Body Shop British Rose Shower Gel [5] (£5.50) is my everyday go-to. You'll always find a bottle of this in my shower [and the British Rose Body Yoghurt [6] (£9) to slap on afterward]. It lathers quickly but doesn't get too foamy (which I don't like), makes my skin feel clean and soft, is nonirritating, and smells dreamy (which lasts the entire day). It's great value for the money, too. I am a big, big fan.
Aveeno Daily Moisturising Vanilla and Oat Yogurt Body Wash
If you have sensitive skin or a skin condition that can be aggravated by body wash, you may want to try the Aveeno Daily Moisturising Vanilla and Oat Yogurt Body Wash [7] (£8). Thanks to colloidal oatmeal, this body wash really helps to keep the skin soft and moisturised while it's being cleansed of impurities.
Keys Soulcare Renewing Body and Hand Wash
"A lot of people have said the Keys Soulcare Golden Cleanser is really a favourite and that they just want it all over for the body ... so boom, we have this amazing hand and body wash," Alicia Keys [8] told POPSUGAR over Zoom about the inspiration behind her Keys Soulcare Renewing Body and Hand Wash [9] (£24). The creamy gel cleanser comes in a gorgeous amethyst-coloured bottle and features the same soft, comforting scent as the rest of the products in the range (which is a combination of sage and oat milk by the way). We especially love how silky and smooth it leaves our skin after we step out of the shower.
Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel
We're not the only ones who are huge fans of the Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel [10] (£14). Once a limited-edition product that only rolled out around festive season, fans loved it so much the brand finally gave it a permanent spot in its shower gel collection. What makes it so good? Well, first it would have to be the rose-lemon-vanilla scent that smells so fruity and delicious, you may find your mouth watering the minute you squeeze the bottle. Then there's the all-natural formula — spiked with goji berry juice and argan oil — that suds up nicely and keeps skin hydrated, followed by the fact a bottle of this stuff will last you for a very, very long time.
Kopari Sudsy Shower Oil
The Kopari Sudsy Shower Oil [11] (£23) is a two-in-one, sulphate-free formula that cleanses the skin and uses an oil-based formula to lock in moisture.
Drunk Elephant Kamili Cream Body Cleanser
There are plenty of body washes out there that let the fragrances do all the talking, but the Drunk Elephant Kamili Cream Body Cleanser [12] (£17) actually features a creamy, clean, fragrance-free formula meant to cleanse and balance supersensitive skin.
Love Beauty and Planet Radical Refresher Shower Gel
The POPSUGAR editors all love Love Beauty and Planet Radical Refresher Shower Gel [13] (£3.50). The formula is thicker than some shower gels, reducing the risk of it spilling onto the floor before you get a chance to rub it into your skin (it also means a little goes a long way, win-win). The affordable vegan brand has a whole range of hydrating shower gel scents to choose from, but our favourite is hands down Coconut Water and Mimosa Flower, shown here.
Yope Coconut and Sea Salt Shower Gel
Yope is one of the best body wash brands out there, as there's a scent and a formula for everyone in your household (they even have an entire range for kids packaged in adorable bottles, FYI). The clean, naturally derived body wash is a gel that lathers up nicely (so a little goes a long way), leaving you feeling clean and refreshed. The scents are subtle and natural, rather than perfume-y or cloying. The Yope Coconut and Sea Salt Shower Gel [14] (£11), for example, smells more like a glass of coconut milk versus a fishbowl of piña coladas.
Dr. Hauschka Shower Cream
File the Dr. Hauschka Shower Cream [15] (£12) under body washes that you won't have anything similar to compare it with. With sustainability at its core, this cream was created specifically to lower the brand's environmental impact and plastic footprint (it also condensed its previous body range). The packaging is made from recycled milk bottles, with a very practical, twisty dispense cap, meaning no faffing with opening and closing lids. The lemongrass scent is light and refreshing (thanks to the in-house perfumer) and leaves the skin feeling silky-smooth.
Weleda Creamy Body Wash
Another natural option is Weleda's Creamy Body Wash [16] (£8), which comes in several beautiful scents. Because it's a cream and sulphate-free, this won't lather as much as a traditional shower gel, but that's OK, as the silky formula glides easily over your limbs and leaves you feeling clean and your skin incredibly soft (honestly, the softest of any body wash we've tried). Our favourite scents include Citrus (shown here, which literally smells like a jug of fresh-squeezed lemons and limes), and Lavender, which smells warm and creamy and will help lull you to sleep if you use it before bed.
Fresh Brown Sugar Bath & Shower Gel
The Fresh Brown Sugar Bath & Shower Gel [17] (£21) features a simple blend of lemon and caramel fragrance that's so good, it'll leave your bathroom smelling like a baked dessert.
Korres Basil Lemon Showergel
"The Korres Basil Lemon Showergel [18] (£9) is fresh, lightweight, and makes my skin feel moisturised and super soft after I step out of the shower," POPSUGAR contributing editor Ange Law said.
Ouai Body Cleanser
Jen Atkin did it again, people. The Ouai Body Cleanser [19] (£24) is good — really good. It lathers well but leaves the skin feeling super soft (thanks to the jojoba and rose hip oils) and never dries it out. The scent is noticeable but very light — the brand's Dean Street scent, to be exact — which I can best describe as smelling "clean." My boyfriend also loves it (when I allow him to use it, that is). My only note would be the bottle; don't leave it upside down to get the last dregs out — it will most likely spill out, much to my disappointment.
Kiehl's Creme de Corps Smoothing Oil to Foam Body Cleanser
Castor and grape-seed oils are the star ingredients of the Kiehl's Creme de Corps Smoothing Oil to Foam Body Cleanser [20] (£30.50), a lightly scented formula that cleanses the skin to leave you with a velvety-smooth finish.
Aromatherapy Associates Renewing Rose Body Wash
If you aren't a bath person but still want the beautiful-smelling products that accompany the ritual, try the Aromatherapy Associates Renewing Rose Body Wash [21] (£27). It's strongly fragranced in the best way — incredibly spa-like, but not overpowering. If I feel the need to unwind after a long day, I take a long, hot shower and make sure I use a dollop of this body wash. The scent is both relaxing and uplifting — the best combination after a stressful day.
Dove Body Wash Pro Age
The reason we like Dove Body Wash Pro Age [22] (£4) has absolutely nothing to do with its promise to "nourish ageing skin." It's the luxurious formula and genuine cleaning power that has won us over. The thick, milky formula feels like old-school Dove soap (which many of us know and love) that lathers really nicely on the skin. The scent has that "traditional" clean soap smell, and leaves the skin feeling incredibly soft.
Philosophy Amazing Grace Shampoo, Bath, & Shower Gel
A multitasker in a bottle, the lightly scented Philosophy Amazing Grace Shampoo, Bath, & Shower Gel [23] (£18) can be used in three ways with the ultimate goal of conditioning and hydrating the hair and skin.