I Refuse to Shower Without Having At Least One of These 16 Body Washes On-Hand

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 with the arrival of the summer sun on their skin, but dry skin might make a triumphant return the second it’s exposed to harmful UV rays in-between sunscreen sessions or moisture-stripping salt water and chlorine (depending on where you spend the bulk of your time during the warmest months of the year). When our skin isn’t hydrated, it runs the risk of looking parched and flaky while feeling tight and itchy. The good new 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 body wash. Keep scrolling to learn more about which ingredients to look for while selecting the best body wash for your dry skin, and see our official edit of the best products for the job.

What Are the Best Ingredients for Dry Skin?

While shopping for a body wash that will revive and nourish your skin at it’s most dry 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 body washes 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: a rich 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 body washes this beauty editor would use to combat dry skin? Keep scrolling to discover the 16 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 provide in and out of the shower. Warning: Once you start adding these nourishing body washes to your shower routine, you’ll wonder why you ever bothered taking one without them.

The Best Body Washes 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

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 body washes that have claimed a permanent spot in my shower and body care 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 body washes on the market that can be trusted to transform dry skin into a hydrated, healthy masterpiece.

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