The 11 Best Moisturizing Body Washes to Nourish and Protect Your Dry Skin

Dry skin is uncomfortable and can cause a range of symptoms such as itchiness, redness, flaking, and pain. A good moisturizing body wash is the first line of defense for anyone looking to maintain comfortable, healthy skin, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. On the flip side, he adds, using the wrong product can compound the problem.

We interviewed dermatologists and researched dozens of body washes from many brands to find the best products for dry skin. We prioritized body washes that include both humectant and skin barrier ingredients. A dermatologist on our Medical Expert Board also reviewed this article for medical and scientific accuracy regarding what to look for in a moisturizing body wash and which ingredients to avoid.

What To Look For When Selecting a Body Wash

• Ingredients to look for: When selecting a body wash, Dr. Zeichner suggests looking for cleansers that contain moisturizing ingredients to protect the skin barrier. Tiffany Libby, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, adds that a good moisturizing body wash combines humectants and barrier repair ingredients. Humectant ingredients to look for include lactic acid, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, colloidal oatmeal, glycerin, urea, and aloe vera. Skin barrier ingredients include shea butter, ceramides, manuka honey, and botanical oils like jojoba, olive, coconut, and avocado.  
• Ingredients to avoid: Many traditional foaming ingredients we associate with feeling clean are the most drying. These include sulfates like sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate, which are foaming agents and common skin irritants. Dr. Libby recommends staying away from heavy fragrances and opting for sulfate-free cleansers, especially if you have sensitive skin.
• Application: Claire Wolinsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, says that how often and where you apply a body wash make a significant difference in its effectiveness. Be sure to address areas that tend to collect sweat, such as the underarms and skin creases. She also notes that you don’t need to use a lot of body wash, especially if you have dry skin.

Our Recommendations

• Best Overall: CeraVe Hyrdrating Body Wash
• Best Budget: Olay Total Moisture Body Wash
• Best Natural: Mustela Organic Cleansing Gel
• Best Scented: Dr. Bronner Pure Castile Liquid Soap
• Best Fragrance-Free: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Wash AP+ Moisturizing Body & Face
• Best Soap-Free: Vanicream Gentle Body Wash
• Best for Sensitive Skin: Eucerin Advanced Body and Face Cleanser
• Best for Eczema: The Honest Company Eczema Soothing Therapy Body Wash
• Best for Psoriasis: CeraVe Psoriasis Cleanser
• Best for Itchy Skin: Eucerin Skin Calming Body Wash
• Best with Men’s Scent: Harry’s Cleansing Body Wash

Best Overall: CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash

Available at Amazon, Walmart

Why We Like It

CeraVe is a tried and true dermatologist-designed brand that delivers effective skin care across the board. CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash should tick many boxes for people with dry skin, even those keratosis pilaris, often nicknamed “chicken skin.” 

This wash features a range of humectants and skin barrier protectants for a two-pronged moisturizing strategy. According to Dr. Wolinsky, one of its active ingredients, urea, helps break down the top layer of skin cells. This makes it an effective exfoliant that’s also hydrating for your skin.

It’s Worth Noting

• This formula is a gentle foaming wash, so it might not be your favorite cleanser if you prefer a thick lather.

Product Details

• Skin type: Normal to dry skin 
• Key moisturizing ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, urea, soybean oil, ceramides 
• Scent: Fragrance-free 
• Size: 10 fluid ounces

Best Budget: Olay Total Moisture Body Wash

Available at Walmart

Why We Like It

For generations, Olay has proven that you can buy effective skin care products for under $10. Olay Total Moisture Body Wash uses the humble cocoa bean to deliver some serious moisturizing power at an affordable price.

The body wash also contains Olay’s vitamin B3 complex. Vitamin B3 is also known as niacinamide, a popular skincare ingredient that helps with various skincare concerns, from skin irritation to aging. It can also improve the skin’s protective barrier by encouraging the production of ceramides, which help to bond skin cells.

It’s Worth Noting

• This cleanser contains sodium trideceth sulfate, which is considered to be a safe cleansing agent but may be irritating for sensitive skin.

Product Details

• Skin type: Combination skin 
• Key moisturizing ingredients: Cocoa butter, vitamin B3 complex (niacinamide) 
• Fragrance: Creamy cocoa scent 
• Size: 17.9 fluid ounces

Best Natural: Mustela Organic Cleansing Gel

Available at Amazon, Bedbathandbeyond, Mustelausa

Why We Like It

Dr. Libby recommends Mustela Organic Cleansing Gel to her patients who prefer a natural option. “This is a gentle, sulfate-free body wash that nourishes skin with aloe and cleanses it without stripping natural oils,” she says.

Any safe product for baby hair and skin is a great option for adults, too. Aloe vera is the key humectant in this cleanser, drawing moisture into the skin while olive oil locks it in. It’s also made from 97.5 percent natural ingredients and sold in biodegradable packaging.

It’s Worth Noting

• It can be difficult to pump the product out of the bottle.

Product Details

• Skin type: Sensitive, dry, and normal skin 
• Key moisturizing ingredients: Olive oil, aloe vera, glycerin 
• Scent: Fragrance-free 
• Size: 13.52 fluid ounces

Best Scented: Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap

Available at Amazon, Walmart

Why We Like It

Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap is a classic for a reason. It’s a versatile, concentrated formula featuring five different organic oils, which means a little goes a long way.

Dr. Bronner’s features tocopherol or vitamin E, a popular skincare ingredient and antioxidant that may slow skin aging and protect the skin barrier. Choose your scented adventure with a range of fragrance extracts like peppermint, lavender, and almond, or opt for an unscented version if you prefer.

It’s Worth Noting

• The soap also contains coconut oil, hemp seed oil, and jojoba oil, so diluting it properly is key to making sure you aren’t left with a greasy residue.

Product Details

• Skin type: Normal to dry skin 
• Key moisturizing ingredients: Coconut oil, hemp seed oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E
• Scent: A range of scents from lavender to peppermint 
• Size: 32 fluid ounces

Best Fragrance-Free: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Wash AP+ Moisturizing Body & Face

Available at Amazon, Ulta, Laroche-posay

Why We Like It

While we’ve included quite a few fragrance-free options on this list, we particularly love La Roche-Posay’s Lipikar Wash for a non-irritating formula that provides ample moisture. This face and body cleanser uses thermal water and is gentle enough for people with chemotherapy to use (as long as their doctor gives them the green light).

Thermal spring water is known to be anti-inflammatory, soothing, and protective of the skin’s microbiome with prebiotic and probiotic properties. It’s also rich in selenium, an anti-inflammatory mineral that protects the skin from UV damage and keeps it firmer for longer.

It’s Worth Noting

• It comes out a big thick and can be difficult to pump out of the bottle.

Product Details

• Skin type: Dry to extra dry skin, sensitive skin, eczema-prone
• Key moisturizing ingredients: Shea butter, glycerin, thermal spring water 
• Scent: Fragrance-free
• Size: 13.52 fluid ounces

Best Soap-Free: Vanicream Gentle Body Wash

Available at Amazon, Walgreens

Why We Like It

Is it possible to wash your body without soap? Absolutely. In fact, Dr. Libby says soap can actually contribute to dryness, since its pH levels can strip your skin of its natural oils. Vanicream Gentle Body Wash is a creamy, pH-balanced formula that’s designed to match your skin for a moisture-filled clean, no soap required.

We love that this cleanser is formulated to give you a safe wash in soft or hard water. It’s also safe for the most sensitive skin and is fragrance-free.

It’s Worth Noting

• Although this product is free of added fragrance, it has a slight scent that some might find unpleasant.

Product Details

• Skin type: Sensitive skin 
• Key moisturizing ingredients: Glycerin, panthenol 
• Scent: Fragrance-free
• Size: 12 fluid ounces

Best for Sensitive Skin: Eucerin Advanced Body and Face Cleanser

Available at Amazon, Target, Walmart

Why We Like It

Sensitive skin can cause a variety of uncomfortable skin symptoms such as stinging, burning, and redness (with or without swelling), as well as rashes or hives. Dr. Libby listed Eucerin Advanced Body and Face Cleanser as one of her favorite moisturizing body washes for sensitive skin since it’s gentle and fragrance- and soap-free.

We love that this cleanser is gentle enough to multi-task as a facial cleanser as well as a body wash. It’s also widely available in drugstores and affordable.

It’s Worth Noting

• Some people may prefer a wash that includes more moisturizers.

Product Details

• Skin type: Sensitive skin 
• Key moisturizing ingredients: Hydrogenated castor oil
• Scent: Fragrance-free 
• Size: 16.9 fluid ounces

Best for Eczema: The Honest Company Eczema Soothing Therapy Body Wash

Available at Amazon, Walmart, Target

Why We Like It

The Honest Company Eczema Soothing Therapy Body Wash features ingredients proven to soothe and treat inflamed skin. Colloidal oatmeal, in particular, is an important ingredient hailed for its anti-inflammatory benefits.

According to Dr. Zeichner, eczema leads to microscopic cracks in the skin barrier and an overall loss of hydration, which causes a red, itchy rash. When selecting products to lessen the effects of eczema, one key is to focus on ingredients that draw moisture into the skin and lock it in. This powerhouse cleanser contains glycerin, coconut oil, and vitamin E to do just that.

It’s Worth Noting

• The container is on the small side compared to other products on our list.

Product Details

• Skin concern: Eczema-prone, dry skin, sensitive skin 
• Key moisturizing ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, glycerin, coconut oil, prebiotics, vitamin E, aloe vera, panthenol 
• Scent: Fragrance-free 
• Size: 8 fluid ounces

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Best for Psoriasis: CeraVe Psoriasis Cleanser

Available at Amazon, Walmart

Why We Like It

Psoriasis can be a particularly frustrating skin condition that causes a buildup of skin cells that result in scales and dry, itchy patches. CeraVe Psoriasis Cleanser combines urea and salicylic acid to provide gentle exfoliation and remove skin buildup, while ceramides and niacinamide rebuild the skin barrier and restore healthy moisture levels.

We love the gel consistency of this cleanser, which feels refreshing and nourishing. You can use it on your hands and face as well, and it’s recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation as a safe and effective cleanser for dealing with symptoms.

It’s Worth Noting

• This product is at the higher end of the price scale.

Product Details

• Skin type: Psoriasis-prone 
• Key moisturizing ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, lactic acid, urea
• Scent: Fragrance-free 
• Size: 8 fluid ounces

Best for Itchy Skin: Eucerin Skin Calming Body Wash

Available at Amazon, Walmart

Why We Like It

Itchy skin is often linked to dryness and can occur seasonally, particularly in winter when heating and hot showers can zap moisture from our bodies. Although prescription medication is sometimes required for itchy skin, many people find relief with over-the-counter cleansers like Eucerin Skin Calming Body Wash.

The first two ingredients listed in the Skin Calming Body Wash are oils (specifically, soybean and castor seed oil), which provide the lion’s share of the itch relief. We love that the product is fragrance-free, since itchy skin can sometimes be irritated by added fragrance.

It’s Worth Noting

• The narrow design and thick formula make the bottle difficult to grip.

Product Details

• Skin type: Dry, itchy, or sensitive skin
• Key moisturizing ingredients: Soybean oil, castor seed oil
• Scent: Fragrance-free 
• Size: 16 fluid ounces

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Best with Men’s Scent: Harry’s Cleansing Body Wash

Available at Walmart

Why We Like It

We love the redwood scent of Harry’s Cleansing Body Wash, which is also available in four other unique fragrances to add a touch of luxury to your shower experience at an affordable price. This sulfate- and paraben-free body wash foams up nicely without stripping your skin of moisture.

The main ingredient in this body wash is lauric acid, which is known for its ability to restore the moisture barrier in sensitive and dry skin. We love how rich the lather is, with lots of suds and bubbles to make your skin feel rejuvenated after every use.

It’s Worth Noting

• The added fragrance could be irritating for those with sensitive skin or an existing skin condition.

Product Details

• Skin type: Dry to normal skin
• Key moisturizing ingredients: Lauric acid 
• Fragrance: Redwood, shiso, wildlands, grove
• Size: 16 fluid ounces

How We Selected

To find the best cleansers for dry skin, we spoke to expert dermatologists about the factors that create dry skin and the ingredients that go into a high-quality, moisturizing body wash. We then researched the best on the market and narrowed them down based on dermatologist recommendations, ingredients, fragrance, and price to help you find a moisturizing body wash that will help you feel more comfortable in your skin.

The Experts

Dermatologists we spoke to for this story include:

• Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital
• Claire Wolinsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist who practices out of New York
• Tiffany Libby, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon

Dr. Zeichner says buyers should be careful with product packaging, since some that say “No. 1 dermatologist brand” are often marketing information companies use from their surveys. However, there is a selection of safe and effective brands that dermatologists consistently recommend, including Eucerin, Cetaphil, CeraVe, Vanicream, and some Dove products.

Dr. Libby says moisturizing body washes do work. For added comfort and effectiveness, use a hydrating body lotion or cream to lock moisture into your skin. 

Who We Are

Isabella Ubaldi has 10 years of research and writing experience covering topics that range from the most comfortable high heels to how “femtech” helps to fill the gap in our medical understanding of women’s bodies. Her curiosity about the world feeds her keen interest in helping people reduce the shopping noise and make decisions that may just improve their quality of life or make the everyday a little bit sweeter.