The first step in every skin care routine is washing your body, and selecting a hypoallergenic body wash is a great way to start the process off right. Hypoallergenic products contain fewer skin irritants and are less likely to cause dry skin, acne, allergic reactions, and flare-ups.
We reviewed the best hypoallergenic body washes that everyone can enjoy — whether you have sensitive skin or not. The body washes on our list contain little to no preservatives and potentially irritating ingredients. Keep reading, as our guide will help you to determine which body washes will work with your skin, not against it.
- What to Look for in a Good Hypoallergenic Body Wash
- Top 10 Best Hypoallergenic Body Washes 2024
- 1. Best Overall Pick: Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash
- 2. Best Premium Pick: Sebamed Face and Body Wash
- 3. Best Budget Pick: Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash
- 4. Best Vegan Wash: Basd Body Wash
- 5. Best for Eczema: Vanicream Body Wash
- 6. Best for Sensitive Skin: Eucerin Body and Face Cleanser
- 7. Best Organic Soap: Carolina Castile Liquid Soap
- 8. Best Fragrance: ATTITUDE Shower Gel Energizing
- 9. Most Versatile Pick: Puracy Body Wash
- 10. Best Antibacterial Pick: Botanic Hearth Tea Tree Body Wash
- Guide to Buying the Best Hypoallergenic Body Wash
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Final Thoughts
What to Look for in a Good Hypoallergenic Body Wash
The unfortunate truth is that many body washes contain skin irritants and common allergens. More worrying is that some of the body washes advertised as hypoallergenic also contain harsh chemical additives that strip our skin of its natural oils. These chemicals can also be absorbed into our bloodstream, throwing off our hormones and upsetting our body’s natural chemistry. That’s why it’s essential to consider each product’s ingredients and attributes before using it on your skin.
Consider the following factors to find a hypoallergenic body wash that will clean and nurture your skin at the same time.
Free From Harsh Chemical Additives
It’s no secret that cosmetics and hard-to-pronounce chemicals go hand in hand, which is why we need to pay extra attention to the ingredients list. Many of these chemicals are added to body washes to create a lathering or nice-smelling effect. But for those with sensitive skin, ingredient lists can be a minefield, and many of these additives can cause flare-ups or exasperate existing issues.
When shopping for a skin-friendly body wash, look for products that do not contain any formaldehyde releasers, parabens, fragrances, nitrosamines, or alcohols. To find out more about these chemicals, how they affect the body, and how they appear on ingredient lists, check out this helpful video by Ecology Skincare.
Dermatologist Approved
You may have noticed that many beauty products are promoted as dermatologist approved, dermatologist tested, or dermatologist recommended. These labels, which mean the same thing, confirm that the product was used by a dermatologist, who then approved of the product. Selecting a hypoallergenic body wash that has been tested by a dermatologist may insinuate that it is skin-friendly, but you’ll need to study the ingredient list to know for sure. Still, dermatologist-approved products typically contain fewer chemicals that irritate the top layer of your skin, so looking out for this label can be helpful.
Finding a gentle, nurturing body wash is great and all, but you still want something that smells good and feels nice on your skin. To help, we’ll also cover the following questions as we make our way through our list.
Does It Lather?
When you use body wash, you expect it to foam up and create a consistent lather on your skin. However, soap doesn’t need to create bubbles or foam to work its magic. If a body wash produces a foamy lather, it may contain added foaming agents (otherwise known as surfactants).
It’s best to avoid surfactants if you have sensitive skin or skin conditions, as they can dry your skin out. If you enjoy a lathering body wash but are looking for a gentle soap, add equal parts of water and body wash to a foaming soap dispenser and pump the mixture onto a loofah. Doing so will recreate the foamy texture you love without using the foaming chemical agents you hate.
Does It Moisturize the Skin?
Some hypoallergenic body washes contain moisturizing ingredients like mineral oil, aloe vera, jojoba oil, shea butter, etc. These ingredients combine with water to replenish your skin’s oils, preventing it from drying out. Unless you moisturize your skin after every shower, you’ll want to consider a body wash that has moisturizing attributes.
How Does It Smell?
You want your body wash to leave your skin smelling fresh and clean. However, chemical fragrances (or parfum) can do your skin more harm than good. When shopping for a hypoallergenic body wash, look for fragrance-free options or go with one that is naturally scented using essential oils.
Now, let’s find out which hypoallergenic body washes made our list in 2021. If you’ve got any more questions or concerns, check out our full guide for more information.
Top 10 Best Hypoallergenic Body Washes 2024
1. Best Overall Pick: Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash
Editor’s Rating:
Overview
The Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash is perfect for anyone with dry or sensitive skin. It can also be used by people who are suffering from eczema, as it gently cleanses skin without leaving a residue on it. This body wash is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and dermatologist tested. It’s so gentle it can be used on children, too. However, keep in mind that it is not tear-free.
Does It Lather?
The Ultra Gentle Body Wash has a consistency that may surprise you. It is very thick and needs to be applied to a washcloth or a loofah to properly lather the skin. However, once you mix it with water, you’ll quickly notice that it forms a nice lather that gently coats the skin. Despite its thickness, this body wash washes off with ease.
Does It Moisturize the Skin?
The Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash contains aloe vera and vitamin B5. It also contains non-irritating moisturizers that coat the skin, making it soft to the touch. If you have sensitive and dry skin, this body wash can help restore your skin’s vibrance and moisture.
How Does It Smell?
The Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash is unscented, making it a great pick for both women and men with sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin but enjoy using a scented body wash, check out the vegan and cruelty-free Basd Body Wash instead.
Pros
- Doesn’t contain fragrance
- Can be used on children
- Moisturizes the skin
- Dermatologist Tested
Cons
- The formula is quite thick
- Only comes in a pack of 3
Editor’s Rating:
Overview
The Sebamed Face and Body Wash is a gentle cleanser that works well on all skin types. However, it is especially efficient on acne-prone skin and is adored by people with eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea due to its soothing qualities. This hypoallergenic and dermatologist recommended brand supports a healthy PH, helping the skin to remain balanced.
Due to its many natural and soothing attributes, this face and body wash can be quite expensive. However, it’s well worth the price, seeing as it does not irritate even the most sensitive skin.
Does It Lather?
The Sebamed Face and Body Wash is a gentle and soap-free cleanser. It does not contain any foaming agents, preventing it from producing a luxurious lather. Although it won’t lather with ease, you can create a consistent foam by applying it to a loofah and rubbing it with water.
Does It Moisturize the Skin?
This face and body wash is 100% free of soap, parabens, and alkalis, preventing it from drying out your skin. It also contains Allantoin and Pentavitin, which combine to moisturize your skin.
How Does It Smell?
The Sebamed Face and Body Wash has a very light smell to it. However, this scent isn’t targeted to a specific gender, seeing as it was clinically formulated for both men and women. Instead, it contains a slight medicinal smell that doesn’t add an aroma to the skin.
Pros
- Doesn’t dry out the skin
- Supports a healthy PH
- Works well on acne-prone skin
- Gentle enough to be used on problematic skin
Cons
- Contains a light fragrance
- Doesn’t lather to perfection
- A little expensive
3. Best Budget Pick: Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash
Editor’s Rating:
Overview
The Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash works wonders on sensitive, dry, and itchy skin. It gently cleanses the skin, removing dirt and bacteria while also nourishing and moisturizing it.
Aveeno’s Skin Relief Body Wash contains fewer chemical compounds and is free of soap and dye. However, it isn’t entirely chemical-free, which is something to consider if you have a skin condition or are prone to skin flare-ups.
Does It Lather?
Aveeno’s Skin Relief Body Wash is soap-free, which prevents it from lathering to its full potential. You may need to use a lot of product to create a foamy consistency. Or, you can opt for the push-bottle option, which creates a more consistent foam.
Does It Moisturize the Skin?
This body wash contains soothing oats that help nourish and moisturize your skin. The product itself can feel a little thick and may be too moisturizing for those of you with oily skin. Whether you have oily skin or not, be sure to thoroughly rinse your body to remove the residue.
How Does It Smell?
Although this body wash is marketed as fragrance-free, it does contain chemical compounds that add a subtle smell to it. Aveeno’s body wash contains Commiphora Myrrha oil, a scented agent that may irritate extremely-sensitive skin (but usually has little to no effect).
If you’re searching for a body wash that is truly unscented, check out the Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash instead.
Pros
- Moisturizes the skin
- Great value for the price
- Dermatologist tested, allergy-tested, soap-free, and dye-free
Cons
- Does contain some chemical compounds
- Has a light scent to it
- The product is a little thick
4. Best Vegan Wash: Basd Body Wash
Editor’s Rating:
Overview
The Basd Body Wash is an organic and vegan product that is Leaping Bunny Certified. It was designed to meet the needs of people with sensitive skin and does not contain any parabens or toxic ingredients.
The Basd Body Wash can be used on all skin types. It works wonders on acne-prone skin as it does not clog up the pores. It contains ingredients that calm red blotchy skin. Better yet, it contains natural ingredients, like aloe, green tea, and coffee, which combine to fight against acne, stretch marks, and cellulite.
Basd products come with convenient pump applicators. However, some of these may be damaged on arrival, rendering them unusable.
Does It Lather?
Since the Basd Body Wash is made with natural ingredients, it won’t produce many suds. This organic body wash instead generates a mild lather.
Does It Moisturize the Skin?
The Basd Body Wash is made with green tea and organic aloe vera juice, which combine to hydrate the skin. This product will not dry out the skin. However, if you enjoy a heightened sense of hydration, you can follow up this body wash with a Basd Body Lotion.
How Does It Smell?
The Basd Body Wash is naturally-scented with peppermint oil. It smells nice and leaves the skin feeling tingly fresh. However, this tingly sensation may be too unnerving for those of you with extremely sensitive skin.
If peppermint isn’t your preferred scent, the Basd Body Wash is also available in Creme Brulee, Citrus Grapefruit, or Sandalwood.
Pros
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Has a nice and natural scent
- Can be used as a facial cleanser, body wash, shaving gel, or shampoo
Cons
- Mint scent may irritate highly-sensitive skin
- Some pumps may be defective
5. Best for Eczema: Vanicream Body Wash
Editor’s Rating:
Overview
The Vanicream Body Wash is a gentle cleanser that is free of dyes, fragrances, parabens, formaldehyde, soap, oil, gluten, and much more. It also doesn’t contain formaldehyde releasers or hidden fragrances. This liquid soap works well on all skin types but is especially effective on eczema-prone skin.
Due to its non-irritating ingredient list, you can expect a bottle of Vanicream Body Wash to be on the expensive side. However, it does nourish and protect the skin, making it worth the money.
Does It Lather?
The Vanicream Body Wash doesn’t contain foaming agents and will not lather to perfection. However, it does create a soapy texture when applied to a washcloth. If you’re used to using body washes that contain foaming agents, it might take you a while to get used to it.
Does It Moisturize the Skin?
This body wash is oil-free and won’t leave your skin feeling heavy and over-moisturized, but it won’t dry your skin out either. For added moisture, you can use the Vanicream Moisturizing Cream. Or, you can opt for the Sebamed Face and Body Wash instead, as it can clean and moisturize the skin.
How Does It Smell?
The Vanicream Body Wash is completely odorless.
Pros
- Free of harmful and irritating chemicals
- Dermatologist tested
- Completely odorless
Cons
- Isn’t very moisturizing
- The format is quite small for the price
6. Best for Sensitive Skin: Eucerin Body and Face Cleanser
Editor’s Rating:
Overview
The Eucerin Body and Face Soap is an affordable body wash that balances your skin’s PH. This soap-free body wash prevents your skin from drying out. It’s suitable for all skin types but works wonders on dry, itchy, and acne-prone skin. It’s so gentle it can be used on children, too.
This dermatologist-approved skincare product isn’t overly expensive, and it comes in a large format, so you’ll get your money’s worth.
However, if you have serious skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, we recommend going with something more refined, like the Vanicream Body Wash.
Does It Lather?
The Eucerin Body and Face Soap doesn’t have a huge lathering factor. You’ll need to wet your hands with warm water and rub in the liquid soap to create a slight foam.
Does It Moisturize the Skin?
The Eucerin Body and Face Soap is free of drying agents and formulated to retain your skin’s natural moisture. It’s gentle on the skin and won’t strip it of its natural oils. However, it won’t do much to repair severely dry skin. If your skin requires added moisture, Eucerin has a great calming lotion that you can apply after the shower.
How Does It Smell?
The Eucerin Body and Face Soap may be fragrance-free, but it does have a slight medicinal smell to it. If you have a sensitive nose, this smell may bother you. If you’re looking for something that is 100% odorless, the Vanicream Body Wash may be exactly what you’re searching for.
Pros
- Retains the skin’s natural oils
- Keeps the skin’s PH in perfect balance
- Great value for the price
Cons
- Isn’t completed odorless
- Doesn’t lather well
7. Best Organic Soap: Carolina Castile Liquid Soap
Editor’s Rating:
Overview
If you’re looking for a basic liquid soap that is made with organic ingredients, the Carolina Castile Liquid Soap is for you. This hypoallergenic body wash is naturally scented, cruelty-free, and vegan. It was formulated to cater to sensitive skin types, as it does not contain harmful ingredients that dry out your skin.
This versatile product can be used as a face wash, a body wash, a shampoo, dish soap, detergent, and much more. It’s also gentle enough to use on children, babies, and animals. However, it isn’t tear-free so use it with care.
Does It Lather?
The Carolina Castile Liquid Soap doesn’t create a lathering foam when you apply it to your body. It cleans the skin without soaping it up. However, if you enjoy the lathering effect, you can add the soap to a foaming dispenser.
Does It Moisturize the Skin?
The Caroline Castile Liquid Soap was designed to nourish and moisturize your skin. It’s made with olive oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, almond oil, as well as other moisturizing ingredients. It will leave your skin feeling silky smooth.
How Does It Smell?
This liquid soap comes in a few scents: Almond, Orange, Mint, and Sage lime. However, keep in mind that each scent is mixed in with a strong olive oil scent. If this isn’t to your liking, we recommend looking into another hypoallergenic vegan soap like the Basd Body Wash.
Pros
- Highly versatile - can be used as body wash, shampoo, laundry soap, shampoo, etc.
- Vegan and organic
- Gentle enough for use with children
Cons
- Doesn’t lather well
- Smells like olive oil
8. Best Fragrance: ATTITUDE Shower Gel Energizing
Editor’s Rating:
Overview
The ATTITUDE Body Wash is a dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic body wash that gently cleanses the skin while allowing it to retain its moisture. It is one of the only body washes on our list that is EWG verified, meaning that it avoids the use of concerning ingredients and operates in transparency. This non-toxic formula is paraben-free, silicon-free, formaldehyde-free, and free from synthetic fragrances.
It’s a great body wash for those of you with sensitive skin. Plus, it’s made with orange leaf extract, an antioxidant that regenerates and restores your skin.
Does It Lather?
The ATTITUDE Body Wash is known for its marvelous lathering properties. It produces a decent amount of suds, allowing you to feel fresh and clean after every shower.
Does It Moisturize the Skin?
This body wash is enriched with natural oils that replace your skin’s natural oils. However, those who already have dry and itchy skin may find that it does not add enough moisture to their skin, causing it to remain dry. If you have dry and itchy skin, we highly recommend the Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash.
How Does It Smell?
One of the best things about the ATTITUDE Body Wash is its smell. Unlike many hypoallergenic body washes, which are odorless, ATTITUDE uses natural scents that leave your skin smelling lovely. It smells like oranges. However, the scent is quite strong and may be too pungent for people with sensitive noses.
Pros
- EWG verified
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Produces a good lather
Cons
- May dry out the skin
- Its scent may be too strong for those with sensitive noses
9. Most Versatile Pick: Puracy Body Wash
Editor’s Rating:
Overview
Puracy Body Washes were created by doctors and designed to cleanse all skin types. They do not contain any harsh chemicals like parabens, phosphates, or formaldehyde. Puracy Body Washes are 99.3% natural and contain very few ingredients that are known for irritating the skin and causing flare-ups.
However, since they aren’t 100% natural, they aren’t compatible with people who have serious skin conditions, excessively dry skin, or eczema. If this is you, we would recommend an unscented product like the Vanicream Body Wash instead.
Does It Lather?
The Puracy Body Wash creates a foamy and rich lather that generously coats your skin, cleansing it in the process. It washes off easily without leaving behind any residue.
Does It Moisturize the Skin?
The Puracy Body Wash contains coconut-based cleansers and sea salt, which hydrate and purify the skin. It will moisturize your skin unless you have very dry skin to begin with.
How Does It Smell?
This body wash smells amazing and is available in three scents: Coconut & Vanilla, Citrus & Sea Salt, and Bergamot & Sandalwood. However, despite being advertised as fragrance-free, it appears to contain added fragrance and citrus essential oils, which can irritate sensitive skin.
Pros
- Vegan, biodegradable, and cruelty-free
- Produces a good lather
- 99%+ natural ingredients
Cons
- Citrus essential oils may irritate the skin
- Contains fragrance
- Not good for people with eczema
10. Best Antibacterial Pick: Botanic Hearth Tea Tree Body Wash
Editor’s Rating:
Overview
The Botanic Hearth Foot and Body Wash is a cruelty-free product made with maximum strength tea tree oil. It works well on most skin types but may be too strong for those who have ultra-sensitive skin. It helps to rid the skin of impurities that cause body odor, athlete’s foot, jock itch, acne, and fungal issues. It’s a great body wash for active men and women.
Does It Lather?
The Botanic Hearth Foot and Body Wash does not contain any harmful foaming agents. This prevents it from creating suds that lather the body. However, this antibacterial body wash doesn’t need to create suds to successfully cleanse the body.
Does It Moisturize the Skin?
Although the Botanic Hearth Foot and Body Wash doesn’t strip the skin of its moisture, it doesn’t go above and beyond to moisturize it. If you have dry skin to begin with, you may want to consider another product, like the Sebamed Face and Body Wash. If you like what the Botanic Hearth Foot and Body Wash has to offer, we recommend following up this body wash with a hypoallergenic moisturizer like Curel Body Lotion.
How Does It Smell?
The Botanic Hearth Foot and Body Wash smells like tea tree oil. This scent is often preferred by men but can be adored by women, too. The smell is very light and not too overpowering.
Pros
- Suitable for men and women
- Cruelty-free and paraben-free
- An antibacterial body wash that combats fungal issues
Cons
- Doesn’t produce a good lather
- Not good for people with ultra-sensitive or dry skin
- The pump dispenser is quite narrow for such a thick body wash
Guide to Buying the Best Hypoallergenic Body Wash
If you have dry and sensitive skin, it’s important to pay close attention to the ingredients found in body washes, even if they are labeled as hypoallergenic. In this guide, we’ll cover the proper way to use body wash while giving you some tips on how to treat dry skin. We’ll also explain the importance of conducting a skin patch test before washing your body with the body wash of your choosing. We’ll wrap things up by answering some of the most frequently asked questions about body wash.
How to Perform Allergy Patch Testing
Before applying a new skincare product, it’s important to conduct an allergy test — particularly if you have ultra-sensitive skin. This is especially crucial if you suffer from severe eczema or psoriasis, as some body washes may cause your skin to flare up.
You can conduct a skin patch test from the comfort of your own home by doing the following.
- Clean the inside of your wrist or elbow with water, leaving your skin slightly wet.
- Apply a small amount of body wash to this area.
- Rub the body wash into your skin, mixing it in with the water.
- Rinse the product off.
- Refrain from taking a shower for the next 24 hours and monitor your skin.
- Pay close attention to this area, keeping an eye out for dryness, redness, flare-ups, or reactions.
- If no reaction is observed, you may proceed to use the body wash on the rest of your body. However, if you notice signs of an allergic reaction, immediately discontinue use.
How to Use Body Wash
Once you have conducted a skin patch test, you can go ahead and use your new body wash in the shower or bathtub. Washing your body is a straightforward process. However, those with sensitive skin may want to approach this process with care.
- Rinse your body in the shower.
- Wet your hands, washcloth, sponge, or loofah with water.
- Apply a dollop of body wash to the cleansing tool of your choice.
- Gently rub your hands, washcloth, sponge, or loofah in a circular motion until suds appear.
- Carefully wash the external parts of your body.
- Rinse your body until it is no longer covered with soap.
- Once out of the shower, pat your body dry with a towel.
- Apply a hypoallergenic or organic body lotion to seal in added moisture.
How to Treat and Soothe Dry Skin
Having dry skin may seem like an unfixable problem, but you can successfully treat your dry skin patches using the right products and methods. You may also need to switch up your skin care routine across the seasons, as dry skin is most common throughout the winter months. Below are some tips and tricks that can help you keep your skin feeling soft and moisturized.
Turn Down the Heat
There are few things better than super-hot showers, but did you know that they could be causing your skin more harm than good? According to dermatologists, hot showers strip your skin of sebum, which are healthy oils and fats that self-lubricate the skin. A lack of sebum can result in dry skin.
All of the products on our review list should help to ease problematic, dry skin. But if you find that, despite using a hypoallergenic wash, you can’t remedy your struggle with dry skin, check out our specific guide that explores the best body washes for dry skin.
Limit Shower Time
According to dermatologists, it’s best to limit the time you spend in the shower. This is because lengthy water exposure can dry out your skin and even your hair. For this reason, it’s best to limit your time in the shower to no more than 5 to 10 minutes. The dryer your skin is, the shorter you’ll want your showers to be.
Use a Gentle and Fragrance-Free Body Wash
Body washes may contain harmful chemicals that dry out your skin or cause skin irritations. Fragrance, or parfum, is usually the culprit in these cases. To appease dry and itchy skin, look for hypoallergenic body washes that are odorless or fragrance-free.
Remember That Less Is More
When applying body wash to your washcloth, loofah, or sponge, be sure to apply a small amount of product. Even if your body wash is hypoallergenic, it may still contain irritating ingredients. To be as safe as possible, use a conservative amount of body wash to prevent flare-ups.
Be Gentle With Your Skin
When washing your body, be as gentle as can be. Refrain from scrubbing vigorously as this act may irritate your skin even further.
Pat Your Body Dry After Each Shower
Once out of the shower, gently pat your body dry. Be sure to remove all the water from your skin as excess moisture can cause problem areas to flare up.
Say Goodbye to Lotions and Hello to Ointments
If you have dry skin, it’s best to apply moisturizer to it right after you shower. However, steer clear of lotions as they may further irritate your skin. It’s best to moisturize your skin using ointments or creams like jojoba oil and organic shea butter.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you’re still searching for the best hypoallergenic body wash for your needs, check out the following section, where we answer some of the most frequently asked questions.
What Is the Best Body Wash for Sensitive Skin?
Our favorite hypoallergenic body wash for sensitive skin is the Eucerin Body and Face Soap. Eucerin Soap is gentle enough to use on both the face and the body. It soothes dry and itchy skin patches while maintaining your skin’s natural PH levels.
Which Hypoallergenic Body Washes Are Cruelty-Free?
There are tons of cruelty-free hypoallergenic body washes on the market. However, only some of these are vegan. Our favorite cruelty-free and vegan body washes are the Carolina Castile Liquid Soap and the Basd Body Wash.
What Is the Best Hypoallergenic Body Wash for Men?
Most hypoallergenic body washes contain little to no odor, making them suitable for both men and women. The Vanicream Body Wash is completely odorless and gentle enough to use on eczema-prone skin.
If you’re looking for a body wash that has a slight scent to it, however, we highly recommend the Botanic Hearth Foot and Body Wash. This body wash has a light tea tree oil scent and can appease athlete’s foot and jock itch.
What Is the Best Hypoallergenic Body Wash for Kids?
Although they aren’t tear-free, both the Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash and the Carolina Castile Liquid Soap are gentle enough to use on children.
Final Thoughts
When you use a hypoallergenic and chemical-free body wash, you allow your skin to retain its moisture and breathe with ease. If your skin continues to flare up despite having made the switch to a hypoallergenic body wash, you may benefit from visiting a dermatologist to get down to the root of things. We wish you the very best and hope that your skin heals and thrives like never before.