Choosing the right body wash can make morning showers a lot more tolerable, giving your skin the rejuvenating experience it needs and transforming your mood instantly with a lasting fragrance and a squeaky clean feeling. Finding the best body wash isn’t easy because not all of them are created equal. Here are a few factors you must consider before buying a body wash.
What are the Different Types of Body Washes?
You might be tempted to think that body wash is basically liquid soap, but the two cleansers have completely different formulations. Unlike a bar of soap that contains oils, a body wash is made of surfactants, fragrances, botanicals, and even exfoliating and moisturizing ingredients, depending on your skin type. Let’s look at the different kinds of body washes you can find in the market today.
Humectant-Rich Body Washes for Dry Skin
Most body washes you’ll find in the supermarkets and drug stores contain humectants like glycerine which feels hydrating while you’re slathering it on. However, because these ingredients are water-soluble, they leave your skin feeling stripped of all moisture once you rinse off the body wash.
Don’t fall for the marketing gimmicks employed by brands that promote their humectant-rich body washes as ‘moisturizing’. Many of them contain surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate, often found in detergents, giving the body wash its foaming properties but can leave your skin feeling dry and flaky. While humectants can counteract the harsh sulfates to some extent, these body washes are not recommended for people who already have dry or eczema-prone skin.
Emollient-Rich Body Washes for Oily Skin
Slightly milder than its humectant-rich counterpart, an emollient-rich body wash contains ingredients like sunflower or soybean oil with higher moisturizing properties, giving you a gentler cleansing experience without leaving your skin stripped. Since emollients are not water-soluble, they leave a thin film of moisture on your skin even after you’ve rinsed off the body wash.
This type of body wash is ideal for people with normal to dry skin types; however, be wary of the kind of surfactant used in the formula and how it can affect your skin. Some gentle emollient-based body washes will contain ammonium lauryl sulfate, a surfactant that isn’t as harsh as some of the other sulfates used in humectant-rich body washes. You may not be able to achieve the ‘squeaky clean’ feeling with this body wash, but your dry skin will thank you for it!
Low-Foaming Body Washes for Sensitive Skin Types
Low-foaming or gel cleansers are gaining popularity among people who want something gentle for their sensitive skin. While they’re commonly available in the form of face washes, plenty of brands are now introducing low-foaming formulas to their body wash ranges as well. Ideal for sensitive skin types, low-foaming body washes are generally sulfate-free, which means that there are no surfactants in them.
People with sensitive skin types should also check the label for any irritants like dyes, and fragrances that can lead to bad skin reactions. Some dermatologists suggest looking for a body wash with a gentle detergent like lauryl glucoside and a source of vitamin E such as sunflower seed oil. Ingredients like oatmeal, aloe vera, and tea tree oil are also very effective in soothing dry, itchy skin.
Exfoliating Body Washes for Acne-Prone Skin
Our experts suggest looking for a body wash that contains glycolic or salicylic acid if your skin is prone to breakouts. Both of these potent chemical exfoliants will gently peel off the dead skin cell and keep acne at bay. Tea tree oil is also an effective ingredient that reduces inflammation and acts as a natural astringent with antiseptic properties to fight against acne-causing bacteria.
Ingredients You Should Look out for in a Body Wash
We’ve already discussed sulfates as one of the potentially harmful ingredients in body washes, but that’s not the only one you should consider before buying a body wash:
- Stay away from products that contain fragrance, a catch-all term that encompasses an array of irritating ingredients that can cause your skin to react badly.
- Look for a body wash with moisturizing ingredients like jojoba and aloe vera that protect your skin’s moisture barrier and nourish it with nutrients and moisture.
- Are you searching for an all-in-one body wash that can be used as a shampoo and a face wash to simplify your daily routine? Look for a product that has protein amino acids that strengthen your hair strands and hydrating elements such as vitamin E or aloe vera that feel gentle against the skin.
How Much Does a Body Wash Cost?
Body washes come in a range of prices from $7 all the way up to $50, but expensive products aren’t necessarily better than inexpensive ones. Our experts recommend checking the ingredient list to see if the formula suits your skin type instead of impulsively splurging on a luxury body wash that not be any more beneficial than a regular drugstore brand.
How Did We Pick the Best Body Wash?
We understand that when it comes to skincare products, no one size fits all. So in our quest for the best body wash in 2022, we’ve reviewed some of the most popular options on the market to see if they’re worth the hype. We’ve compared ingredients, price points, brand reputation, and customer reviews to find products that are worth the money so that you don’t have to waste your valuable resources on a body wash that doesn’t suit your skin type and specific needs.
Body Wash FAQ
Q. Can I use body wash on my face?
A. Most conventional body washes are high in sulfates, which are extremely drying and can strip your skin of its natural moisture. If you already have dry or normal skin, it isn’t recommended to use a body wash on your face.
Q. Is body wash better than soap?
A. While a soap bar is known for being sustainable and eco-friendly, it’s not the best cleanser for your skin needs. There are plenty of body washes that address different skin problems like dryness, eczema, or acne, making them a better choice than soaps.
Q. What’s the difference between a body wash and a shower gel?
A. Body washes, and shower gels have pretty similar formulas and functions. However, a shower gel is generally more drying than a body wash, making it unsuitable for people with normal to dry skin types. A body wash has a milkier texture because it contains emollients to moisturize your skin while cleaning it, giving it a smooth and supple appearance afterward.