The 11 Absolute Best Body Washes for Dry Skin (We Tested Over 50) (2024)

TL;DR

Our Top Picks

Key Ingredients: Cocoa butter, shea butter, purslane extract, marshmallow root extract | Size: 10 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

With ingredients like cocoa butter and shea butter, Buttah’s Egyptian CocoShea Body Wash offers dry skin ample hydration and relief. Our tester, Amandeep, raved about its creamy texture and how well it lathers up in the shower. It leaves skin feeling and looking clean and moisturized.

The vanilla-musky scent of this body wash also stood out because it has just the right amount of potency without being overpowering or lingering too long. The pump bottle packaging also makes it easy to dispense in the shower (read: no bottle-dropping). We just wish the bottle were slightly larger for the price.

Key Ingredients: Plant oils, essential skin lipids, vitamins | Size: 20 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Not only is Nivea's Pampering Body Wash priced well, but a little product goes a long way with this formula (so the 20-ounce bottle it's packaged in will last you a very long time). Don’t let the low price fool you into thinking it’s a low-quality product. The results it produced blew us away.

After testing, Cathie noticed a definitive improvement in her dry skin—she saw less flakiness and felt less itchy and more hydrated overall. The body wash lathers well thoroughly cleanses, and smells delightful (think light vanilla whipped cream). We just wish it was packaged in a pump bottle so it’s easier to use in the shower.

Key Ingredients: Amla, aloe, marula oil | Size: 6.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

ALO’s Mega-C Skin-Soothing + Hydrating Body Wash has a gentle formula packed with ingredients that soothe, repair, and moisturize without causing irritation (hello, marula oil, amla, and aloe). When our tester, Abby, used this body wash after exfoliating, it didn’t cause any sort of reaction—just soft, deeply moisturized skin. And it kept her skin hydrated all day (she also didn’t notice any itching or tightness).

The body wash has a thick and creamy texture that lathers nicely, and a little goes a long way. It has a slight fragrance, but it’s naturally occurring from the formula’s ingredients, not artificially added. We were really pleased with the performance of this product overall, but wish it left a more glowy appearance behind, as advertised.

Key Ingredients: Prebiotic oat | Size: 18 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

All of the body washes on this list have added moisture to mitigate dry skin, but Aveeno’s Daily Moisturizing Oat Body Wash is the most hydrating of the bunch. During testing, Chrissy's skin felt well-hydrated and nourished after each use, and over time, she noticed a reduction in general redness and itchiness. Even with the extra moisturizing effect, it still left the skin feeling clean without any leftover film or build-up on the skin.

The formula is made with prebiotic oat, which cleanses skin and helps it preserve its natural oil barrier. We love that it’s free of sulfates, which can be drying, and has been allergy-tested, so it’s safe for sensitive skin, too.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides | Size: 10 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

CeraVe’s Hydrating Body Wash is recommended and developed by dermatologists. It’s formulated specifically for normal to dry skin with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides.

Michele's skin felt super smooth after using this body wash, but also squeaky clean; she appreciates that it didn’t leave a film or clog pores. Her only note is that it doesn’t lather particularly well, which she found disappointing, but we know that’s not a deal-breaker for everyone.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, shea butter | Size: 20 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Despite its lack of bubbles, this body wash from Cetaphil left our tester, Lauren, feeling super clean (even after working out) without stripping the skin of natural oils. She typically enjoys a foaming cleanser, but thought this one cleaned just as effectively. We love the soft, milky texture for dry-skinned folks because foaming ingredients tend to be drying. It also provides gentle hydration, and over time, Lauren found less and less of a need to apply extra moisturizer throughout the day. She was also a huge fan of the large pump bottle and how much product comes in a single pump.

Key Ingredients: Sandalwood oil, lavender oil, orange peel oil, tea tree, rosemary, eucalyptus | Size: 10 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Formulated with several calming oils—including lavender and eucalyptus—Dermalogica’s Conditioning Body Wash smells beyond amazing. While heavily scented body washes can sometimes irritate dry skin, our tester, MK, didn’t experience any negative side effects with this one. Quite the opposite actually—she noticed her skin was more hydrated and nourished immediately after her first use.

The body wash is also thoroughly cleansing, and the lovely, spa-like scent lingers after the shower (if we had any left-over body odor, we didn’t notice it). The formula (and simple yet chic packaging) truly make it feel like a little luxury after every use.

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera juice, jojoba seed oil, calendula extract, chamomile extract, honey and colloidal oatmeal | Size: 13 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Keratosis pilaris can make cleansing challenging since, when inflamed, KP can make skin highly reactive. However, our tester with KP found this body wash gentle enough for her skin even when inflamed or irritated. It’s likely because the formula includes ingredients that increase hydration, nourish, and soothe skin like aloe vera juice, calendula extract, and chamomile extract.

But it’s not just gentle—it’s also effective. After using this body wash, Courtney felt her skin was very clean, and didn’t notice any residue or build-up. Her skin felt nourished, smoot, and soft, even on days she forgot to apply extra moisturizer. If she could change anything, it’d be to make the consistency a little less runny.

Key Ingredients: Omega oils | Size: 16.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

A cleanser that leaves you feeling truly clean post-workout shower but not stripped of natural oils might sound mythic, but Eucerin’s Skin Calming Body Wash does it. Out of all the products we tested, it was the best at scrubbing away dirt and build-up (including sweat from gym sessions, multiple layers of sunscreen, and yard work grime). Our tester’s skin felt cleansed but still moisturized (aka smooth and soft).

We love that it's fragrance-free and super lightweight, but perhaps the best part was it left the skin with a radiant glow. It’s packaged in a good-sized bottle, but Lu did need to use more than the average amount of product with each wash to feel fully cleansed.

Key Ingredients: Plant-based milks, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Size: 8.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Fresh’s Milk Body Cleanser's thick, creamy texture and deeply hydrating formula make it ideal for someone with very dry skin. After washing with this product, the skin felt nourished, calm, and hydrated, and that lasted throughout the day. This body wash was so effective and soothing, that our tester with dry, sensitive skin felt comfortable using it daily—even on his scalp.

Despite being fragrance-free, this body wash removed body odor effectively. And, over time, Garrett noticed an improvement in dry patches and less irritation. There’s nothing we’d change about the formula, we just wish more product was included for the price.

Key Ingredients: La Roche-Posay prebiotic thermal water, shea butter, glycerin, niacinamide | Size: 13.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you like a sudsy body wash (that cleanses and moisturizes), check out La Roche-Posay’s Lipikar Wash AP + Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash. A small pump of product is all that’s needed to build a rich, bubbly lather that’s easy to apply all over. We love the milky, smooth consistency, and how it leaves the skin thoroughly cleansed.

Foaming cleansers don’t always hydrate the skin well, but this one does thanks to ingredients like shea butter, glycerin, and niacinamide.Our tester, Rachel, was seriously impressed by how quickly she saw results from this body wash; within four days of use her dry patches were noticeably softer and smoother. However, it’s worth noting that this one isn’t the best at removing body odor.

FAQ

• What are the benefits of body washes for dry skin?

  Simply put, they add a dose of moisturizing ingredients to your skin while you shower. This is important because showering (especially when the water is hot) can strip your skin of moisture, so adding it back in at this point is a good move. By using a soap with a thicker texture or with a nourishing formula, you'll be able to counteract some of that dryness.

• How often should you use body washes for dry skin?

  Use daily or every time you shower—there’s no such thing as overusing these picks. Some of them might feel too thick in the summertime for some, but if you consistently have dry skin, you can definitely use them year-round.

• Does body wash help with dry skin?

  Yes! Although using a body lotion for dry skin (or body butter) is often recommended to mitigate it, using a nourishing body wash can also moisturize and soothe dehydrated, itchy skin. For those with ultra-dry skin, you should use both in your body care routine.

• Is a body wash or soap better for dry skin?

  Since soap can sometimes dehydrate and strip the skin of its natural oils, we recommend using a body wash instead if you deal with dry skin. Body washes often include more hydrating ingredients, such as ceramides and occlusives, that lock in moisture and leave the skin soft and moisturized.