Best Overall
Nivea Sensitive 3-in-1 Body Wash (Pack of 3)
Pros
- Deeply cleans skin without overly drying it
Cons
- Not ideal for guys who want a strong scent soap
In our rigorous testing process for our annual Grooming Awards, seven of our testers unanimously voted Nivea’s Sensitive 3-in-1 body wash as the best in its class. One tested said, “[It’s] a creamy body wash that keeps your skin clean and deeply moisturized. It’s lightly fragranced, so it won’t irritate sensitive skin or compete with your cologne.”
Indeed, after using it for two weeks, one tester found that he hardly noticed the scent at all. Our editors with sensitive skin found that Nivea’s was the rare body wash that didn’t cause breakouts our redness after using it consistently. That’s most likely thanks to its star ingredients: almond oil and bamboo extract, which provide added moisture while soothing skin. But even with its gentle formula, we found that Nivea still cleaned our skin effectively. Editors found that it wiped away grime and sunscreen as strongly as most soaps that we tried.
What makes this the very best overall is that you don’t have to have sensitive skin to reap the benefits of this wash. If you do, you’re going to love the creamy texture and gentle lather. But if you don’t, you’ll still love how well this wash cleans your body while still leaving your skin soft and moisturized, never dry or tight-feeling. We will offer the disclaimer that if you’re especially dirty (like if you’ve been working in the yard all day), you may want something a bit more heavy duty, but for daily showering purposes, you’ll be hard pressed to find something better.
Read more: Best Bar Soaps for Men
Skin typeAll skin typesKey ingredientsAlmond oil, bamboo extract
Best Smelling Body Wash
Oribe Côte d’Azur Replenishing Body Wash
Pros
- It smells like a five-star luxury spa
I first learned about this paradise-in-a-bottle soap when I was testing body washes for our 2022 Men’s Health Grooming Awards, and I’ve been restocking it in my shower caddy ever since. First, it dispenses a pearly, rich gel that just looks super luxurious. Inside is a beautiful blend of starflower oils, meadowfoam, and sweet almond that cleans, hydrates, calms, and leaves your skin with a tropical, fruity aroma that smells like five-star resort, and the scent stays on your skin for hours after you’ve used it.
For most days I use Oribe’s body wash in lieu of a cologne, since it stays on my skin so long after showering. I’ve received tons of compliments on my “perfume,” which is why I’ve been an Oribe fan ever since. No wonder Barry’s Bootcamp stocks Oribe’s Côte d’Azur in all of its locker rooms.
Skin typeRice oil, passionflower oilSuitable forAll skin types
Longest-lasting body wash
Pros
- It has a bright, invigorating scent that makes showering fun
Cons
- It’s not idea for guys who prefer a muskier scent
As if you couldn’t tell by the name, this scent from Harry’s was inspired by coastal woodlands and comes to life through notes of cypress, sandalwood, and driftwood (with a dash of citrus). It is a fan-favorite out of all the Harry’s body wash scents.
Harry’s body washes have been a standby favorite amongst Men’s Health editors. One tester noted,” the scents of the shoulder gel fade quickly, especially when competing with the strong smells of deodorant and cologne.” But even though this body wash isn’t all overpowering, it has lasting power. Harry’s Redwood Body Wash goes easy on the musk, and go hard on bright and refreshing. One tester received more compliments using this body wash than any other fragrance he’s used. “It feels luxurious and feels my skin soft,” he said.”It feels like a good spa day than a necessary bathing ritual. I don’t mind the cycle of lather, rinse, and repeat when the repetition feels fun and indulgent.”
Read more: Harry’s Body Wash Review
Skin typeAll skin typesKey IngredientsLauric Acid, Glycerin, Coconut Acid, Citric Acid
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Best Drugstore Body Wash
Old Spice Body Wash for Men, Gentlemen’s Blend
Pros
- It has a deep-cleaning, but moisturizing formula
Cons
- Not great for guys who want a fragrance-free soap
Old Spice has been around now for decades, and for good reason. Our testers love that the cleaning power of this body wash is top-notch,. In our extensive review of Old Spice’s Gentleman’s Blend, we found that it contains twice the amount of moisturizer as comparable soaps, and left our skin cleansed without feeling tight and over-stripped.“ It’s preventing moisture loss, but also adding more to help the barrier trap hydration even better,” said dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD. Plus, it has no irritating parabens or dyes, and our testers with sensitive skin conditions like eczema found that it didn’t irritate their skin, which is rare for a lot of drugstore body washes we’ve tried.
Beyond its cleaning capabilities, Old Spice’s Gentlemen’s Blend smells amazing, too. Its new lavender formula gives it a fresh scent and our testers found the smell especially relaxing. “The scent is fresh when using it, but doesn’t linger on skin, which is ideal for irritation-prone types,” said. one tester.
Read more: Old Spice Gentleman’s Blend Body Wash Review
Skin typeAll skin typesKey ingredientsPetrolatum, Sodium Citrate
Best Strong Fragrance Body Wash
Jack Black Black Reserve Body & Hair Cleanser with Cardamom & Cedarwood
Pros
- It has a cologne-like scent that smells luxurious
Cons
- Formula might be too strong to on hair
Old standby Jack Black has been making fragrance-forward body washes. Take this two-in-one body and hair cleanser, which has a strong cedarmom and cedarwood (read: really woodsy) scent that lasts for hours after hopping out of the shower, our testers noted. That’s great if you want a multi-purpose body wash that also functions as your cologne.
“It leaves your skin smelling expensive, but not overpowering,” said one tester. “At the same time, it makes you skin feel clean without making it too dry.” That’s thanks to its sulfate-free formula. Plus, its pump dispenser makes for easy application. And while it’s marketed as a shampoo as well, we recommend using a separate hair wash. Some testers said the formula didn’t play nice with their mane.
Skin typeAll skin typesKey IngredientsJojoba protein, aloe vera, panthenol
Best All-Natural Formula
Aesop Coriander Seed Body Cleanser
Pros
- Ingredient list is easy to understand
If there is such a thing as status body wash, this would be it. Aseop, the purveyor of ubder-luxe hand soaps dispensed at five-star hotels, also makes some premium cleansers for the rest of your body. Take this Coriander Seed wash, which our editors report has a rich, earthy scent, which one editor says, “smells like money.”
“Keep this in your shower to impress anyone who might see it,” says another tester, “Even if it’s just you.” Plus while our other fragrance-heavy body washes irritated some of our testers with sensitive skin, this one did not. That’s probably since it’s sourced from natural ingredients like coriander seed oil, glycerin, and castor oil, so you can feel good about putting it on your body.
Read more: Best Deodorants
Skin typeAllKey IngredientsCoriander Seed, Black Pepper, Patchouli
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Best value body wash
Method Body Wash, Cedar + Cypress (Pack of 3)
Pros
- It features quality ingredients for the price point
Cons
- Fragrance can be too strong for some
If you want a low-cost body wash that you can restock over and over again without breaking the bank, then Method’s classic body wash i your guy. Our testers found that the Cedar + Cypress soap offered a lot of value for the price point. It contains naturally derived ingredients (sodium lauryl sulfate, citric acid, etc), that provided a thorough clean that we want from an everyday wash.
One tester found that the soap’s outdoorsy scent “made me feel like I just came back from a hike, even though all I did was wake up and stumble to the shower.” Though other testers note that its Pacific Northwest fragrance was too strong and woodsy for for them, and competed with their colognes. Still, Method’s body wash is hard to beat in terms of value.
Read more: Best Dopp Kits for Traveling
Skin typeAll skin typesKey ingredientsCitric acid, aloe extract, coconut oils
Best Post-Workout Body Wash
Huron Invigorating Daily Body Wash
If you look for a tingly, fresh feel in your body wash, this cleansing gel contains menthol and eucalyptus to deliver it. The lather is rich and conditioning, but still effective at stripping away excess oil. It’s perfect for after a long run or a day out in the sun.
The ingredients in this formula are more like something you’d find in body washes twice the price if not more. There’s the aforementioned menthol and eucalyptus, of course, but also ultra moisturizing coconut oil, vitamins E and B5 to help strengthen and protect your skin, witch hazel to help naturally deodorize and also clarify skin and ginseng to give it an invigorating effect (beyond the minty tingle). Compare it to other luxury washes you’ve tried and we found that it stands up and sometimes even exceeds it.
Read more: Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoos
Skin typeAll skin typesKey IngredientsCoconut Oil, Ginseng, and Vitamin E
Best for Dry Skin
Use this body wash to soothe super dry skin—even eczema. It works because it contains a combination of the specific ceramides that are predominant in the skin and replenishes them to build up your skin barrier, according to Dr. Zeichner.
Honestly, skin barrier support is important for everyone, not just those with dry skin. Using this wash, even if you don’t have chronic dry skin, is a great way to bolster your skin’s protective barrier, which is why our testers loved this creamy, ultra-soothing wash even if they didn’t have dry skin. There’s also niacinamide and hyaluronic acid in the formula to aid in calming and hydration, respectively. If you do suffer from chronic dry skin, however, this wash is a must. Our testers noticed a near immediate improvement in their dryness and inflammation, with a compounded effect the longer they used it.
Skin typeAll skin typesKey IngredientsCeramides 1, 3 and 6-II, Omega Oils, Hydraulic Acid
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Best Luxury Body Wash
Patricks BW1 Multi-Action Body Wash
Pros
- Incredible scent
- Rich leather that feels amazing
Patricks only continues to grow its loyal following thanks to high quality grooming products that are simple and effective. The BW1 body wash is void of parabens, phthalates, and sulfates and creates a rich foam that soothes the skin. As for the scent, we’d be hard pressed to find anything more pleasant at the moment.
