I Refuse to Shower Without Having at Least One of These 15 Bodywashes on Hand
Your dry, cranky skin doesn't stand a chance.

Dry skin may be more prevalent during the cold temperatures and crisp air of the winter months, but there's nothing seasonal about it. Sure, for some people, their natural skin texture may return in summer, but for others, harmful UV rays in between sunscreen sessions or moisture-stripping salt water and chlorine may exacerbate dryness. When our skin isn't hydrated, it runs the risk of looking parched and flaky while feeling tight and itchy. The good news is that there are easy ways to avoid it with minimal effort.
No matter when it makes its appearance, dry skin can be brought back to life. Moisturizing body lotions, butters, and oils are often regarded as the first line of defense, but don't count out the benefits of using a moisture-boosting bodywash. Keep scrolling to learn more about which ingredients to look for while selecting the best bodywash for your dry skin, and see our official edit of the best products for the job.
What Are the Best Ingredients for Dry Skin?
When shopping for a bodywash that will revive and nourish your skin at its driest state, start by scanning the back of products to learn more about which ingredients make up the formulas. (Not all of them will actually make a difference in the health of your skin.) There are many bodywashes that promise to deliver skin that's healthy and hydrated, but it's important to pay attention to what's in their formulas. Below are the ingredients to keep a look out for that can do everything from supporting moisture retention to strengthening the skin barrier.
- Hyaluronic Acid: a humectant known for its unique ability to attract and retain moisture, leaving the skin plump, smooth, and hydrated
- Shea Butter: an emollient rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and fatty acids that provides a protective barrier for the skin against dryness
- Niacinamide: works to improve the skin's moisture barrier while also combating redness, inflammation, and uneven textures
- Ceramides: naturally occurring lipids present in the skin that support the moisture barrier by keeping it hydrated and youthful-looking
- Mineral Oil: helps lock moisture into the skin barrier, a key ingredient for defending against dryness while promoting moisture retention
- Glycerin: a humectant that helps moisturize and protect the skin from signs of aging (reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles)
Wondering which bodywashes this beauty editor would use to combat dry skin? Keep scrolling to discover the 15 products I've used over the course of my career (and far preceding it) that have made a notable different in the overall look, feel, and health of my skin backed by glowing five-star reviews from customers who can attest to the benefits each of them provides in and out of the shower. Warning: Once you start adding these nourishing bodywashes to your shower routine, you'll wonder why you ever bothered taking one without them.
The Best Bodywashes for Dry Skin, Listed
- Dove Hydration Boost Serum Body Wash
- Naturium The Booster Hyaluronic Acid Body Wash
- Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Shower Oil
- Osea Undaria Algae Body Wash
- Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash
Key Ingredients: shea butter, vitamin B3 complex
Perhaps one of the best-kept secrets for achieving hydrated, plump skin is to sprinkle shea butter into your bodycare routine. It's packed with vitamin E and and fatty acids, making it key for keeping skin moisturized, soothed, and nourished all while neutralizing free radicals. The Ultra Moisture Body Wash With Shea Butter is a great place to start because it's built around the ingredients while also offering a moisture barrier–strengthening vitamin B3 complex.
Customer Review: "I’ve been using this for many years. Whenever I would try another body wash, I would always come back to this one. It smells nice, lathers nicely, but most importantly it helps keeps my skin hydrated. I felt other body washes were more drying."
Scented: yes (shea butter)
Key Ingredients: hyaluronic acid, squalane, active MicroMoisture
If you're dedicated to boosting moisture levels in your skincare, then what's stopping you from doubling down with products that can do the same for your body? Dove's Hydration Boost Serum Body Wash is formulated with a mixture of hydration boosting hyaluronic acid and squalane to strengthen the skin barrier. I also love how its soothing formula starts out as a creamy bodywash that transforms into a velvety foam, releasing dewy floral notes.
Customer Review: "Always leaves my skin soft to the touch and a great prep for using chemical exfoliants. Sometimes I'll exfoliate and then shower to buffer any irritation. I also make sure to use this body wash with luke warm water. Using extremely hot water defeats the purpose of hydration in general. I am absolutely obsessed with the scent and would love a lotion version of this! I've tried to find scents that come close but can't find anything close enough. I would immediately buy a whole line of products of this."
Scented: yes (soft florals)
Key Ingredients: hyaluronic acid, glycerin, oat beta-glucan, vitamin B5, vitamin B12
The last time I checked, all of us Who What Wear beauty editors have been long-term fans of Naturium's wide bodycare offerings, with The Booster Hyaluronic Acid Body Wash making the top of our list. It stands out to us because the bodywash uses a formula that reduces water loss by enhancing skin-barrier function with hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid and seven molecular weights of sodium hyaluronate. Its rich gel provides deep nourishment and cleansing for healthier-looking skin.
Customer Review: "Love that it’s fragrance free for use in more sensitive areas. After using it for a few days, my skins never been so soft. It doesn’t lather quite as well as some of the other body washes from this line but if it keeps my skin feeling like this, it’s worth it. Their whole line is great, depending what you’re looking for."
Scented: no
Key Ingredients: prebiotic thermal water, shea butter, glycerin, niacinamide, patented Aqua Posae Filiformis
I love any product that has a multipurpose use and can help cut down on the time I spend getting ready in the mornings and evenings. This gentle foaming moisturizing wash by La Roche-Posay is uniquely formulated to be used as a both a face wash and bodywash to flood the skin with long-lasting hydration. Its noncomedogenic formula is perfect of use on all skin types and combines the benefits of shea butter, glycerin, and prebiotic thermal water to leave the skin soft, soothed, and hydrated.
Customer Review: "I'm addicted to this skincare line. The body wash was very gentle on my skin and my skin was hydrated. I have tried multiple expensive body washes and my skin was irritated and dry. I used this product on my face and body and had no breakouts or dry patches. I will be a forever customer with this product."
Scented: no
Key Ingredients: Brazilian oil blend, prebiotic hibiscus, bacuri butter
I discovered this one while on an overnight hotel stay at Casa Cipriani, and I couldn't be happier with how nourished and moisturized my body felt after slathering it on. Sol de Janeiro's newest moisturizing oil-to-foam lathering bodywash blends the benefits of a Brazilian oil blend, prebiotic hibiscus, and bacuri butter to nourish the skin barrier while supporting the microbiome. Plus, its stunning tropical fragrance (sugared violent, vanilla orchid, and sandalwood) has earned me a lot of compliments.
Customer Review: "I saw this product and thought maybe this would help my dry skin after swimming six days a week. It delivered! The shower oil is that and more. It feels like I’ve bathed in Brazil. It feels silky and it does lather up nicely. The scent is like a wood kind of scent, it’s subtle and nice. I’ve replaced my shower gel with this. I’ve already bought another bottle."
Scented: yes (sugared violet, vanilla orchid, sandalwood)
Key Ingredients: jojoba seed oil, rose-hip oil, lactobacillus ferment
I discovered Ouai years ago, and Dean Street has remained one of my favorite fragrances. Combining bright citrus notes of lemon and mandarin with the powdery freshness of rose and magnolia against smooth amber and musk, it's an instant go-to for my gym days. I stocked up on the Gentle Body Wash because it uses that same scent but also offers a gentle cleansing system that removes impurities without stripping away the natural oils your skin needs to stay healthy and hydrated.
Customer Review: "This stuff is amazing! It makes my skin feel clean and soft. Moisturized without the oily residue feeling like some body washes. Smells really good too! A bit pricey but a little goes along way making it worth it for me."
Scented: yes (mandarin, grapefruit, amber, musk, rose, magnolia)
Key Ingredients: shea butter, moringa leaf, niacinamide, ceramides
This is the bodywash equivalent of a rich, moisturizing body butter that you would apply to your skin after hopping out of the shower for max moisture. The Butter Cream Body Wash is creamy, non-stripping, and filled with ingredients to improve moisture retention, support natural collagen, and restore the skin barrier: shea butter, moringa leaf, and a nourishing niacinamide and ceramides. Afterward, your skin will look healthy and hydrated and have a yummy vanilla-honey scent.
Customer Review: "Absolutely incredible! Run, don't walk, and buy yourself some luxury in a bottle. When I say that they packed EVERYTHING you need to achieve smooth and butter soft skin, that only scratches the surface. I am absolutely obsessed and will most definitely be purchasing another bottle!"
Scented: yes (vanilla honey)
Key Ingredients: undaria seaweed, plant-based surfactant blend, glycerin, oil blend (jojoba, coconut, avocado)
While living in Los Angeles, I discovered how much undaria seaweed could do to support the hydration of my dry skin with the help of Osea's Undaria Algae Body Wash. Ideal for all skin types (but especially helpful for dry, oily, and combination skin), this pH-balanced, seaweed-boosted bodywash offers gentle cleansing while supporting the skin barrier. Its skin-loving ingredients of undaria seaweed and glycerin moisturize and hydrate the skin while delivering much-needed nutrients.
Customer Review: "I absolutely love this body wash! I little goes a very long way and it leaves my skin feeling and looking hydrated. The smell is invigorating. I have very sensitive skin and have had zero issues with this body wash or any of my Osea products."
Scented: yes (grapefruit, lime, cypress, mango, mandarin)
Key Ingredients: niacinamide, vitamin B3, patented Skin Barrier Therapy
I would be remiss if I didn't mention this classic Bioderma shower gel. Its formula is so gentle and moisturizing that it can be used on both the face and body, making this another multipurpose shower gel that's constantly on rotation for me. It uses standout ingredients like niacinamide, vitamin B3, and the brand's patented Skin Barrier Therapy to soothe the skin while supporting its barrier. At its essence, this bodywash is a moisturizing, silky dream for even the driest skin.
Customer Review: "I purchased this on the recommendation of a dermatologist that I follow on Instagram. She has been spot on with her product recommendations and this body oil wash has been one of them. I take two showers a day and this helps with keeping my body not only clean, but moisturized. As I'm aging, my skin is more dry and this helps to keep my skin moisturized."
Scented: yes (fresh florals)
Key Ingredients: glycerin
One of the things I struggle with the most when my skin is in a dry phase is how frequently it gets irritated when I use the wrong combination of bodycare products. The Comfort Cleanse Ultra-Soothing Shower Gel by Soft Services, however, is one of the most trusted products in my shower lineup for keeping my skin happy. It works as an all-in-one bodywash, intimate wash, and shaving lubricant with a water-to-oil formula that softly foams when lathered. This one's superhero ingredient is glycerin, which is a must for boosting hydration levels.
Customer Review: "A product that gives you a squeaky clean feeling without your skin feeling tight or irritated. It's good for sensitive skin and great for shaving as well. Sometimes you want staple products (like a body wash) to just do the job they're intended for, be consistent and generally not have to worry about them. Comfort Cleanse hits all those marks, looks good in your shower and somehow also makes your skin feel more hydrated after using it."
Scented: no
Key Ingredients: blueberry extract, vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
I've been counting down to the release of this warm and woodsy fragrance option of Salt & Stone's classic gel body cleanser. Formulated with ocean botanicals, niacinamide, and probiotics, this product works to support skin collagen production while also strengthening the skin barrier and playing defense against signs of aging caused by free radicals and sun exposure. Plus, it helps balance the skin's microbiome and restore it from the drying effects from the environment.
Customer Review: "This is one of the best smelling body washes I’ve ever used. The scent is so clean and luxurious smelling, but not overpowering. It’s extremely hydrating but leaves my skin feeling super clean after using. Also, the bottle has a pump which is best thing in the world!"
Scented: yes (neroli, basil, tuberose, French lavender, eucalyptus, shiso leaf)
Key Ingredients: marula oil, meadowfoam oil, cacay oil, niacinamide, eucalyptus oil
Whenever I'm craving a last-minute trip to the spa, I know Nécessaire's The Body Wash will do the trick. This daily, multi-oil treatment cleanser is rich in luxe oils (all packed with vitamin C and E as well as omega-6 and -9) and niacinamide to replenish the skin while supporting its moisture barrier. I'm also obsessed with the fact that it's fragranced with pure eucalyptus oil, Siberian fir, lavender, and ginger for the ultimate spa-like experience in the comfort of my own shower.
Customer Review: "I am in love with this body wash! The scent is natural and not overpowering, my morning shower is now spa-like experience. The product is thin and lathers well so a little goes a long way. This left my skin feeling clean but not stripped. Would highly recommend, this will be a staple for me going forward."
Scented: yes (eucalyptus, Siberian fir, lavender, ginger)
Key Ingredients: eucalyptus essential oil, lavender essential oil, sandalwood essential oil, orange peel oil, vitamin E
Knowing how to condition your skin can be challenging, but the Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash makes it easy. Ideal for all skin types, it purifies with eucalyptus, lavender, sandalwood, and orange peel oil while gently washing away grime and dirt from the surface. Not only does it condition the skin without stripping it of its natural moisture (i.e., oils), but it leaves the skin lightly fragrances with a heady botanical blend that's luxe and relaxing.
Customer Review: "Super hydrating and the scent is reminiscent of a spa. It's leaves my skin feeling so smooth and silky soft. My skin is very sensitive to harsh preservatives and chemicals and slightly bumpy sometimes on my arms, but his calms any skin irritation. Also really love the gel texture of the wash. I will continue to use this product from now on."
Scented: yes (eucalyptus, lavender, sandalwood, lemon)
Key Ingredients: niacinamide, kale extract, green tea extract, plant-based, gentle amino and fatty acid surfactants
You've always been told to eat your greens, but it's also smart to add them to your bodycare routine to keep skin hydrated and glowing. Youth to the People's Superfood + Niacinamide Body Cleanser is one of my favorites for accomplishing this using a luxurious foaming gel formula that purifies and balances the skin while maintaining its moisture barrier with nourishing vitamins and antioxidants. Your skin will be left soft, smooth, hydrated, and scented with an earthy, aromatic blend of fresh greens, black pepper, and cedarwood.
Customer Review: "The Youth To The People Superfood + Niacinamide Body Cleanser is a refreshing blend of antioxidants and hyaluronic acid, leaving your skin feeling clean and nourished. The superfood ingredients provide a revitalizing experience, and the inclusion of niacinamide adds a beneficial touch. Overall, it's a hydrating body cleanser with a skin-loving formula. I feel like it lathers well, and a little goes a long way. Definitely something I would recommend!"
Scented: yes (fresh greens, black pepper, cedarwood)
Key Ingredients: sweet almond oil, grape-seed oil
Growing up, I remember seeing this almond-infused shower oil tucked neatly into the corner of my mother's shower and didn't understood why it seemed as if she never grew tired of it. Now, as a beauty editor, I've come to appreciate its ability to replenish the skin with softening sweet almond oil and fatty acid rich grape-seed oil all in a decadent, milky lather. The most recent iteration of L'Occitane's classic product now houses the shower gel in a refillable, 100% recyclable bottle.
Customer Review: "I’ve used this product for the last few weeks and I am ready to give my full review. This shower oil is beyond amazing, it makes my skin baby soft after one wash, and smells wonderful, I pair this with scents like Sol de Janeiro’s 62 and it enhances the scent even more. I highly recommend this product!"
Scented: warm vanilla, fresh almond
How We Chose
When it comes to landing on the best products for a well-rounded beauty lineup, personal recommendations always take center stage. To create this edit, I began by rounding up the hydrating bodywashes that have claimed a permanent spot in my shower and bodycare collection over the past few weeks, months, and years, before tapping my fellow beauty editors for their favorite formulas. As I composed my list, I also took the customer reviews of cult-favorite formulas into consideration. From there, I was able to land on the top 15 bodywashes on the market that can be trusted to transform dry skin into a hydrated, healthy masterpiece.
Why Trust Who What Wear?
Since 2006, Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.

Maya Thomas is an Associate Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.
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