The Very Best Body Washes for Dry Skin

Key ingredients: Glycerin, linoleic-rich oils, squalane | Scent: Fragrance free

If you’ve read any of our other body-care coverage — like our list of the best body lotions for dry skin — you’ll find that Naturium is widely praised (and loved by us) for having some of the most intensely hydrating formulas on the market. With that in mind, I knew the brand’s Glow Getter Multi-Oil would be important to test for this story. And after using it for over four months, I can honestly say it lives up to the hype.

The Glow Getter is silky and lightweight, lathers quite well despite being oil-based, and never leaves any trace of greasiness after my shower. It’s formulated with a blend of linoleic-rich oils, which is major for those of us with dry skin because, as our writer and resident beauty expert Tembe Denton-Hurst puts it, linoleic acid “helps to make similar lipids to the ones already existing in our skin (a.k.a. ceramides), which helps with hydration and keeping moisture in.” It also contains a whopping 50 percent glycerin plus squalane, ingredients that are considered staples in many products formulated specifically for dry skin. With consistent use, I’m getting the exact results I want: My dry skin is now soft, smooth, and, dare I say, radiant. I never feel the need to smear on a moisturizer after showering. I’ve also started using the Glow Getter on my legs when I’m shaving because it creates the perfect glide for my razor.

One feature to note is that the Glow Getter is made with naturally aromatic extracts of vanilla and coconut that, according to the brand, condition the skin while leaving behind a subtle scent. I usually go for scented body washes and consider the Glow Getter to have a milder smell, though sensitive skin types may need to avoid added fragrance.

Key ingredients: Glycerin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid | Scent: Fragrance free

I’ve used CeraVe’s Hydrating face wash on and off over the years, but I hadn’t tried the brand’s body wash until recently — and so far, I’m impressed. The face- and body-wash formulas are similar in texture (a soft and creamy gel-to-foam), though the body wash is definitely heavier and less runny. The formula leaves my skin feeling smooth, and it suds up more easily than Naturium above (it’s also a few bucks less, which never hurts).

CeraVe is a favorite brand of dermatologists, and two that I spoke with for this story recommended this body wash. Dr. Emmy Graber, board-certified dermatologist and founder of the Dermatology Institute of Boston, likes that it’s formulated with three essential ceramides, which are super-hydrating and work to repair the skin barrier. Dr. Amanda Doyle, a board-certified dermatologist at Russak Dermatology, adds that there are “very few patients that would be sensitive to this.” The CeraVe has also received a seal of approval from the National Eczema Association, which means it’s free of irritants and allergens that can lead to eczema flare-ups. And while it’s technically unscented, I think it still leaves skin smelling clean and fresh.

Key ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide, coconut esters, sunflower esters | Scent: Fragrance free

Those with very dry skin will benefit from a deeply hydrating shower oil like this one from Bioderma, which also appears in my roundup of the best body washes for every skin type. I’ve included the oil-based formula here because it’s a favorite of Strategist staffers (more on that below) and dermatologists, including Dr. Noëlle S. Sherber, co-founder of Sherber + Rad and clinical associate professor of dermatology at George Washington University, who notes that “it cleanses while restoring moisture to the skin.”

After testing this body wash herself, former Strategist editor Maxine Builder says a little goes a long way: “I use about two full pumps for my legs and lower body and two full pumps for my arms and chest and upper body,” she says. Builder likes to apply it after she’s shaved or exfoliated because the heavier texture helps to alleviate the feeling of skin tightness; meanwhile, Sherber notes that it offers a nice slip to the skin, making it a more hydrating alternative to shaving cream.

Key ingredients: Glycerin, bisabolol, hemisqualane | Scent: Fragrance free

If your skin is dry and sensitive, then SEEN’s body wash is the one for you. The nonirritating and noncomedogenic formula includes ultrasoothing bisabolol and glycerin, a powerful humectant that “helps the skin absorb and retain moisture, keeping the treated areas more hydrated and soft,” Doyle says. Like the CeraVe above, this SEEN formula is approved by the National Eczema Association, so it’s considered safe for sensitive or eczema-prone skin. (Just note that although this one contains no added fragrance, you may notice it has a slight scent — according to the brand, this is because of the raw ingredients.)

Key ingredients: Aloe vera, chamomile, lavender | Scent: Unscented

“For my patients with very dry or sensitive skin, I often recommend formulas designed to be mild enough for babies,” says Sherber, whose top choice is this two-in-one shampoo and body wash from New York–based brand Paloroma. Because it’s formulated to work for newborns, it contains nourishing chamomile, calming lavender, and moisturizing aloe vera, which all work together to soothe and protect delicate baby skin. Sherber also likes that it’s free of “common irritants such as high concentrations of essential oils” and is without synthetic fragrance, parabens, phthalates, silicones, sulfates, dyes, and petrolatum.

Key ingredients: Glycerin, shea butter, aloe vera, niacinamide | Scent: Unscented

If you’re dealing with inflammation caused by dryness — which can range from tiny patches of redness to more significant reactions — I’d go for this La Roche-Posay cleanser. When I tested it, I loved that it created an almost cooling effect when it first touched my skin, providing instant relief in some of my driest areas, like on my arms and legs. And even after patting myself off with a towel post-shower, those once-rough patches felt soft for hours.

Mitchell and Sherber both recommend it, too, and Sherber specifically likes that “it’s formulated to be suitable for facial skin, which is thinner and more sensitive than body skin.” The ingredients list includes glycerin and shea butter for hydration, plus La Roche-Posay’s proprietary thermal water, which “is famed to be super soothing,” Sherber says. The formula also includes aloe vera, which has calming, anti-inflammatory properties. I found the consistency to be similar to La Roche-Posay’s gel-based face washes: It pumps out as a thick translucent lotion but turns into a milky foam when combined with water in the shower.

Key ingredients: Water, glycerin, panthenol, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate | Scent: Fragrance free

If you want to avoid oils — say if some parts of your skin are dry while others are oily — another favorite from Naturium is the Booster, which the brand just launched in March. It’s a rich gel-like body wash infused with hyaluronic acid and comes recommended by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Connie Yang of PFRANKMD by Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank. Compared to our best overall Glow Getter Multi-Oil, which contains 50 percent glycerin, the Booster only contains 30 percent glycerin. However, the Booster contains two types of hyaluronic acid (hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid and sodium hyaluronate), so it still has powerful hydrating capabilities similar to the Glow Getter formula. The Booster also contains beta-glucan and panthenol (a soothing B5 vitamin), which work to nourish the skin. During my testing, I found that it had a soft, cushy gel texture, almost like the weightless hyaluronic-acid serums I’ve used over the years, plus a delicate lather. I swear I can feel its plumping effects — it’s as if my skin is truly holding onto more moisture, even after I step out of the shower. According to the brand, the formula can also be applied to the face, which is how I sometimes use it after cleansing my entire body. It’s also fragrance-free, so it’s well-suited for sensitive skin types.

Key ingredients: Glycerin, glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid | Scent: Fresh, tropical

Those with dry and acne-prone skin will want to look for a body wash that features enzymatic exfoliants, which work by clearing away dead skin cells without fully absorbing into the skin, helping to prevent further irritation and breakouts. Sherber recommends this cleanser from Kosas, which she told me is formulated with facial-quality actives and combines exfoliating papaya and pineapple enzymes with a mild concentration of AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids, such as glycolic or lactic acid) for additional pore-clearing benefits. It also has hydrating glycerin to keep skin from drying out, making it my pick for those with dehydrated skin that’s prone to breakouts.

Ingredients: Glycerin, ginger root extract, aloe vera, chamomile | Scent: Apple, cucumber, and green tea

If you really can’t go without using scented products in the shower, this purifying body wash from Red Flower is the one Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang uses on her drier skin. It’s made with omega-6, which promotes moisture retention, plus soothing cucumber, chamomile, and green tea. Yang, who uses it “every day, all year long,” describes the scent as being “a low-key floral with a little mystery to it,” adding that the fragrance doesn’t stay on you all day (a plus in her book).