12 Best Body Washes for Men 2024

What Else to Consider

Hydration: One of the most important things a body was can have is hydration ingredients since many cleansers tend to strip the natural oils from your body in the cleansing process. Moisturizing ingredients such as natural oils like coconut oil and ingredients like glycerin that draw moisture from the air into your skin (called humectants) can help replenish moisture that’s lost in the cleansing process. They also help to avoid that dry, tight feeling that can come from traditional cleansers. On the ingredients list, make sure moisturizing ingredients like oils or glycerin are high up on the list—they higher they are, the more there is in the formula.

Fragrance (or Not): How a body wash smells obviously plays a big part in the experience of using it—and is, of course, a personal choice. Whether you like lots of fragrance or not, where the fragrance comes from should play a factor in how you choose a body wash. Many washes will list “fragrance” on the ingredients list, which can mean that the added fragrance is chemical-based. Others may list essential oils or other ingredients that give the formula its scent. Neither of these is inherently better than the other, but if you’re sensitive to fragrance, it’s worth noting that both could possibly irritate your skin depending on how concentrated they are. If you have very sensitive skin, you may want to choose unscented or lightly scented versions.

Acne Control: Guys tend to have oilier skin, both on their faces and bodies, which is why men tend to develop body acne more easily than women. There’s also the sweat component, which can clog pores and cause breakouts, so if you exercise or sweat a lot, choosing a body wash with acne fighting ingredients can help minimize the potential for breakouts. Look for ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, witch hazel (as natural astringent) or other hydroxy acids. Using a body wash with these types of ingredients after a workout or a few times a week can help to not only heal existing breakouts but control potential ones. Keep in mind that these ingredients can also be drying to your skin, so look for formulas that combine them with moisturizing ingredients or be prepared to use a non-comedogenic lotion after your shower.

Soothing: It can be difficult to clean dry skin or skin that’s prone to irritation with traditional cleansers (remember what we said about them stripping natural oils), but many body washes are specifically designed for dry skin. Look for lightly or non-foaming cleansers or creamy cleansers that contain a high amount of oils and ingredients like ceramides, peptides or oatmeal to help soothe irritation prone skin but also fortify the skin barrier to help increase skin’s natural protective ability and hold water inside better.