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

TL;DR

Our top pick for the best body wash for dry skin is the Buttah Skin Egyptian Coco Shea Body Wash. It's formulated with cocoa and shea butter that leave your skin feeling extra soft and smooth. If you're on a budget, the NIVEA Pampering Body Wash in Vanilla & Sweet Cream is a great choice, thanks to its nourishing and soothing ingredients.

Addressing and treating dry, itchy skin can take some trial and error, but investing in a body wash for dry skin is a good place to start. These cleansers are designed to not only give dry skin the extra hydration it needs but also repair the skin barrier to help it retain moisture. Body washes like this can revitalize the skin, eliminate the itching that makes everything worse, and maybe even reduce the amount of body lotion you use.

We tested more than 50 body washes once daily over six weeks to find the best options for dry skin. Our testers evaluated the different formulas, consistencies, and overall results. We also relied on insights from dermatologists Dr. Hadley King, MD, and Dr. Joshua Zeichner, MD to help us curate the ultimate list of body washes for dry skin.

Our Top Picks

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Best Dermatologist Recommended:

CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash at Amazon$12

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What We Like

  • Thick and really soothes dry, itchy skin

  • Smells amazing

  • Made with nourishing ingredients

What to Consider

  • Small amount for the price

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.

Amandeep, age 35-44 with normal to dry skin

“I no longer have to use moisturizer after every bath because [this body wash] already smoothens my skin.”

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.

Cathie, age 58 with dry skin

“My skin felt significantly more hydrated after using this body wash … [it] left my skin smooth and nourished and repaired all dry patches completely.”

What We Like

  • Thick and creamy consistency

  • Skin feels noticeably more hydrated after use

  • Gravity bottle

What to Consider

  • No noticeable glow (as advertised)

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.

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Abby, age 25-34 with normal to dry skin

“I mostly noticed the change in my skin sensitivity throughout the day. My skin didn’t feel irritated or itchy after showering and it lasted throughout the day.”

What We Like

  • Deeply moisturizing

  • Lovely scent

  • Reduces itchiness

What to Consider

  • Nothing

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.

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Chrissy, age 45-54 with dry skin

“This body wash made my skin feel hydrated and nourished … I saw improvement in my hydration level in my skin over the testing period. My skin is less itchy and redness has improved a great deal.”

What We Like

  • Leaves skin feeling soft

  • Doesn’t build up over time

  • Doesn’t clog pores or cause irritation

What to Consider

  • Not very sudsy

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.

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Michele, age 55+ with dry skin

“I definitely didn’t notice any drying of my skin with this product. The areas I cleansed felt noticeably smooth right after the shower. It was a natural softness—nothing that felt like a film or residue, it was a very pleasant feeling.”

What We Like

  • Soft milky texture

  • Large size

  • Easy-to-use pump bottle

What to Consider

  • Nothing

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.

Lauren, age 25-34 with dry skin

“With continued, consistent [use of this body wash], I noticed my skin to be a bit more hydrated than normal and I needed to reapply lotion less … Overall, my skin just felt better, less itchy and flaky.”

What We Like

  • Luxurious scent and feel

  • Includes moisturizing oils

  • Skin feels refreshed after use

What to Consider

  • Scent might be a bit strong for the fragrance-sensitive

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.

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MK, age 25-34 with combination skin

“I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a luxurious feeling body wash and has dry, but otherwise normal skin and enjoys a fragrant body wash.”

What We Like

  • Calms irritated skin with chamomile and colloidal oatmeal

  • Gentle formula

  • Nourishing with calendula

What to Consider

  • Runny texture

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.

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Courtney, age 25-34 with dry, flaky skin

“As a formula geared at those with conditions like eczema, I think its strength lies in how gentle and non-irritating it is (the fact that it’s unscented helped that, too). It’s one of the gentlest body washes I’ve used.”

What We Like

  • Light formula

  • Fragrance-free

  • Moisturizing enough to forgo lotion

What to Consider

  • Need to use a lot of product to feel clean

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.

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Lu, age 25-34 with dry, flaky skin

“Besides being an effective body wash that does not dry out my skin, I like that the product feels light and does its job without unnecessary scent.”

What We Like

  • Super hydrating

  • Thick texture

  • Effective cleanser

What to Consider

  • Small amount for the cost

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.

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Garrett, age 35-44 with sensitive, dry skin

“I saw some serious hydration on my forehead and top of the head. I have some really dry patches on my head [which were] becoming a problem, but I’ve noticed some big improvements [since using this body wash].”

What We Like

  • Great lather

  • Light texture

  • Quick results

What to Consider

  • Not great for body odor

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.

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Rachel, age 25-34 with dry skin

“I liked the texture of this [body wash]; it was milky and smooth and it foamed great (I personally love a foam). A little went a long way and I experienced results very quickly!”

What to Look for When Buying Body Washes for Dry Skin

A good body wash for skin on the drier side will cleanse away the day while providing an array of hydrating benefits. To determine which body wash is right for your dry skin, consider the following factors.

  • Emollients: If you have dry skin, Dr. King, recommends a body wash rich in emollients, which support and boost your skin’s natural barrier. Examples of emollient-rich ingredients include plant butters and oils, lipids, and fatty acids.
  • Occlusives: In addition to hydrating emollients, King says to look for occlusive ingredients that help lock moisture into the skin. Ingredients like shea butter, castor oil, and squalane fall into this category, other non-plant-based ones include petrolatum, silicones, and beeswax.
  • Avoid Harsh Detergents: Dr. Zeichner says to avoid using any harsh detergents (sulfates) or soaps that may strip the skin of its natural oils. “Overly scrubbing or using harsh soaps can disrupt the outer skin layer, making dryness even worse,” he says. “Look for gentle, non-soap cleansers that provide hydrating benefits alongside its cleansing effects.”

How We Tested Body Washes for Dry Skin

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Below are the features our editors and contributors evaluated over six weeks to determine our top picks.

  • Consistency: Body washes come in various textures, so it’s important (and possible!) to find one you like. We evaluated the consistency of each wash, noting if it felt runny, thick, gel-like, foamy, milky, or creamy, as well as if it contained any textured beads or balls for added exfoliation. We also noticed how well each body wash lathered and the amount of product needed to get the job done. Lastly, we noted any irregularities in packaging or pump that prevented the wash from dispensing as it should.
  • Hydration: Adequate hydration is key when caring for dry skin, especially when showering. As such, we tracked which body washes left our skin feeling hydrated and nourished and which felt moisturizing enough for daily use. We also took note of any increased hydration levels in our skin throughout the testing period.
  • Cleansing Ability: While a body wash’s smell and feel are important, they mean little if the product doesn’t adequately cleanse your skin. We paid attention to which body washes fully removed body odor without leaving behind any film or residue, docking points if a wash left our skin feeling tight or stripped of its natural oils.
  • Effectiveness: The overall effect of a good body wash can eliminate dullness and dryness, leaving smooth, supple skin in its wake. We evaluated which washes left our skin feeling refreshed post-shower and any other added benefits. While the appeal of a wash’s scent is largely up to the individual, we also noted which ones we loved and how long they stuck around.

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.

Why Trust Byrdie

Ashley Ziegler is a lifestyle commerce writer specializing in beauty and fashion. She also tests products and services so she can stand behind her recommendations. She’s a regular body-washer (surprise) and has tried several picks on this list. Ashley has written for several Dotdash Meredith brands over the years including Byrdie, InStyle, Verywell Health, and HEALTH.com. She's also a mom of two and occasionally covers family-related content.

  • Dr. Hadley King, MD is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic and medical dermatology. She's a clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell Univerity.
  • Dr. Joshua Zeichner, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital's Department of Dermatology.
The 11 Absolute Best Body Washes for Dry Skin (We Tested Over 50) (2024)
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