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Seriously—these will actually leave your skin feeling happy.
A very important PSA: If you have dry skin, you'll need more than just a body lotion or body butter to make your skin look and feel silky smooth—you'll need a body wash designed specifically for your dry skin too. Here's the deal: many body washes are formulated with harsh surfactants and cleansing agents that leave your skin squeaky clean but also stripped of its natural oils …a major issue if your skin is on the dry side. So to help you find the perfect body wash for your dry skin, I did a bunch of research and spoke to dermatologist Karan Lal, MD to come up this list of the most moisturizing and nourishing options.
Keep scrolling for the entire list of the 13 best body washes for dry skin, plus all the need-to-know info when it comes to shopping for a body wash from dry skin.
Think of this multitasking drugstore option from Dove as your body wash and body serum in one. The creamy, sulfate-free cleanser is infused with a prebiotic serum that's designed to deeply nourish your skin and repair and strengthen it's protective barrier while you wash.
THE REVIEW: "I love this product—the bottle holds a ton of product and the pump dispenses the perfect amount so I don't waste any," says one reviewer. "My skin definitely feels softer right out of the shower too."
Not into scented skincare? Then you'll love this ultra-creamy fragrance-free body wash from La Roche-Posay. The gentle formula cleanses without stripping your skin and helps boost hydration levels thanks to a blend of glycerin, shea butter, and La Roche-Posay's proprietary thermal spring water (it's rich in soothing and nourishing minerals).
THE REVIEW: "I have dry skin and this is the only body wash that has helped make it feel soft and hydrated," wrote one tester. "It has even helped smooth out the keratosis pilaris on my arms and legs!"
This oil cleanser for your body is must-have for any with dry skin that's prone to eczema. It's made with low-foam coconut surfactants to gently cleanse skin—plus a blend of plant-based oils (including jojoba, sunflower, and apricot kernel oils) that help soften dry spots and soothe irritation. P.S. The silky texture works just as well as any regular shaving cream, so it's great for when you want to remove hair under your arms, on your legs, and around your bikini area too.
THE REVIEW: "I have eczema that is nearly impossible to manage but this product is a holy grail product for me," writes a reviewer. "Every other body wash dries me out and irritates my skin, but this leaves me moisturized for hours—I’m obsessed!"
This all-natural body wash from Josie Maran replaces harsh sulfates with coconut-derived surfactants to gently yet effectively cleanse your skin without drying it out. Other great ingredients for dry skin in the formula include moisturizing argan oil, nourishing organic hemp seed oil, and skin-softening marshmallow root extract.
THE REVIEW: "I was surprised by how clean yet moisturized this body wash left my skin," says a tester. "Other oil-based body washes can leave a film on my skin and traditional body washes leave my skin feeling stripped—this is the perfect hybrid."
Ideal for *super* dry skin types that are prone to cracking and flaking, this nourishing body wash contains all the hydrating heavy-hitters, including glycerin, shea butter, cocoa seed butter, and sweet almond oil. It's honestly so moisturizing that after I use it my skin feels hydrated enough that I can skip body lotion.
THE REVIEW: "As someone who has struggled with dry skin for as long as I can remember, I'm happy to say I've finally found a body wash that makes my skin feel amazing," wrote a tester. "It smells incredible and makes your skin silky smooth!"
If your dry skin is prone to itching or irritation, this is the body wash for you. Not only does it deeply moisturize skin, it helps soothe inflammation with colloidal oatmeal (the ingredient is loved by derms for its calming and nourishing properties). It's also made without potential skin irritants, like synthetic fragrance and harsh soaps, making it a safe choice for sensitive skin.
THE REVIEW: "This is only product that helped soothe my super sensitive skin," says a tester, adding that "it has a smooth and light texture and makes my skin feel so, so soft—it's also great for shaving!"
Unlike other high-lather body washes on the market, this foaming formula from Maude is loaded with skin-nourishing ingredients—including niacinamide, glycerin, panthenol, omega fatty acids, and vitamin E—to prevent your skin from drying out. Rub it all over your bod in the shower to cleanse your skin, or pour a little bit into your bathtub for a sudsy soak.
THE REVIEW: "I wish I had tried this body wash sooner! It doesn't irritate my skin or dry me out. When used as a bubble bath there are lots of bubbles that last the whole bath. I’m on my second bottle!"
Part body scrub, part body wash, this 2-in-1 formula gently exfoliates while you cleanse. The magic? Ultra-fine bamboo powder (it buffs away dead skin and flakes), vanilla fruit extract (it's rich in antioxidants and has skin-soothing benefits), and mild surfactants that clean skin without drying it out.
THE REVIEW: "This gently exfoliates so it's great for everyday use," wrote one tester. "I love that the scent is so minimal, so it isn’t irritating. It's a great choice for post-workout showers."
Made with just seven simple ingredients, this super-moisturizing body wash packs some major moisturizing punch. The combo of coconut and sunflower oils help dissolve excess oil, sweat, and build-up on the skin while nourishing it at the same time. Even better? The formula is 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free too.
THE REVIEW: "My shower experience with Spraise feels super luxe," wrote a tester. "It really smells like you are having a spa treatment in your own shower—I love it!"
Between the creamy, milk-like consistency and the ultra-hydrating ingredients (including hyaluronic acid and glycerin, two derm-favorite humectants), this soothing and moisturizing body wash is an absolute dream for dry skin types.
THE REVIEW: "I'm obsessed with how moisturizing this body wash is. I love the light scent—it’s so refreshing and relaxing to wash my body with. Will definitely will be repurchasing."
If you want your skincare to smell delicious, then you absolutely need to add this moisturizing body wash from Sol de Janerio to your lineup. It's packed with yummy notes of vanilla, salted caramel, pistachio, and sandalwood—plus a dose nourishing coconut oil and acai oil to make your skin feel silky smooth.
THE REVIEW: "I'm absolutely obsessed with the smell of this body wash," reads a review. "The scent lingers on my skin on all and the moisturizing formula makes my skin really smooth too."
Most conventional body washes are made with up to 70 percent water, which is wasteful from sustainability POV. The alternative? This waterless natural body wash from low-waste beauty brand Everist. The concentrated, plant-based formula comes out of the aluminum tube as a paste, and then turns into a sudsy, hydrating body wash once it comes in contact with your wet skin.
THE REVIEW: "This has been an interesting product to try—I am so much more familiar with regular body wash, so I was excited to try a more sustainable version. A little bit really does go a long way! It lathers a lot and works really well."
Healthy skin starts in the shower with this repairing and nourishing body wash. It uses a blend of pre-and-postbiotics and fermented rice water to balance your skin's microbiome along with ceramides to strengthen your skin's protective barrier so it can better retain moisture during the day.
THE REVIEW: "I LOVE this body cleanser," writes one reviewer, adding that "my skin feels so, so soft after my shower."
Sulfates (like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate) are foaming surfactants that help remove oil and debris from your skin, says Dr. Lal. "They can be problematic if you have dry skin, since dry is already void of skin oils and natural moisturizers." The bottom line: using a body wash with sulfates can make dry skin even more dry which is obviously not ideal, so opt a formula that's made without them.
In addition to being sulfate-free, the best body washes for dry skin are made with moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, stearic acid, petrolatum, says Dr. Lal. "Both glycerin and petrolatum will help moisturize your skin and stearic acid is a magical ingredient—is both an emulsifier and surfactant so it cleans skin and helps it retain water at the same time."
Body washes with a creamy texture often have more oil-containing ingredients that help moisturize the skin, making them a safe choice for dry skin types, says Dr. Lal. On the hand, foam and gel body washes tend to have more surfactants which remove all of the oils from your skin. "If you like using a foaming or gel body wash, don’t fret, just aggressively moisturize after showering," says Dr. Lal.
Karan Lal, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in Hackensack and Hillsborough, NJ. Dr. Lal specializes in pediatric and adult dermatology, laser surgery, and treating skin for People of Color.
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from the best anti-aging moisturizers to the best lasers for acne scars. She’s an authority in all skincare categories but an expert when it comes to body washes. She regularly tests and analyzes body washes for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists to assess new formulas, brands, and technologies.