In a world full of body washes, finding one that works best for your skin type is essential. “Those who [have] sensitive skin need to find a suitable body wash that does not over-dry their skin and does not cause irritation,” says Dr. William Huang, a board-certified dermatologist.
I spoke to dermatologists about what to look for when shopping for a body wash for sensitive skin and rounded up their favorite body washes for your consideration.
How I picked the best sensitive skin body washes
Generally, most body washes will have a label on the bottle indicating that it’s safe for sensitive skin. However, when determining which options won’t irritate, our experts recommend considering the following factors:
- Ingredients: Look for ingredients that either maintain or repair your natural skin barrier and keep your skin hydrated by drawing moisture back into your skin, according to experts. These ingredients include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, shea butter, soybean oil and avocado oil, according to Huang.
- Consistency: If you have sensitive skin, consider using a thick and creamy body wash. Although it may not provide the suds you usually see, this type of consistency will typically have hydrating ingredients that help replenish natural moisture lost throughout the day. It also helps the skin feel softer during and after showering, says Huang.
- Limited irritants: It’s best to avoid common irritants to bypass flare-ups. Some of these include fragrances, dyes, parabens and sulfates, which are all known allergens and sensitizers, says Huang. Also, consider a noncomedogenic body wash, which means it’s less likely to clog your pores or cause breakouts.
- Soap-free: Since many soaps tend to be drying, consider a body wash that’s labeled “soap-free,” which means it doesn’t contain many of the drying ingredients that normal soaps have. These body washes still cleanse the skin but do so without stripping it of natural oils and tend to be more gentle and mild on the skin, according to our experts.
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Best sensitive skin body washes of 2026
To help cleanse and avoid potential irritation, I rounded up dermatologist-approved body washes that are gentle and hydrating on sensitive skin.
Best overall
This mild body wash comes recommended by Huang for those with sensitive skin, contact dermatitis and eczema. The soap-free product has ingredients like glycerin, a common humectant that draws moisture into the skin. This wash is also free of common irritants, including dyes, parabens and sulfates, according to the brand.
Editor's pick
This body oil from L’Occitane transforms from a rich oil to a milky lather when wet, making it easier to spread across your skin. It’s one of our favorite shower oils because of its versatility — not only does it cleanse, but it hydrates the skin using almond oil and can be used as a shaving base as well, according to the brand. NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio says it makes her skin feel soft and silky, and that the oil’s subtle, sweet almond scent “lasts for hours post-shower.”
Best shower oil
As someone with dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin, I use this body wash, which my dermatologist recommended, daily because it leaves my skin feeling clean and moisturized without causing any irritation or flare-ups. Designed for very dry to irritated, sensitive skin, the cleansing oil has ingredients including glycerin and niacinamide, which has soothing properties and can help even tone and texture, according to the brand. A few pumps of this oil creates a silky lather, which makes the product last so much longer, in my experience. If you don’t want a big bottle, this cleansing oil is also available in a smaller size and a travel-sized version.
Best 2-in-1 body wash
Consider using this body wash, which is also gentle enough for the face, if you have very dry and sensitive skin. This wash has hydrating shea butter, glycerin and niacinamide, as well as selenium-based spring water to decrease inflammation, according to Dr. Mona Gohara, a board-certified dermatologist. Work the product in your hands until the creamy consistency forms into a foam before massaging it to your face and body, according to the brand.
Best soothing body wash
Best anti-inflammatory body wash
One of the standout ingredients in this body wash is oat, which is great for anyone in the sensitive to normal skin range because it’s a natural moisturizer and cleanser with anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties, says Huang. This wash also has aloe, glycerin and pro-vitamin B5 to moisturize dry skin, according to Aveeno.
Best for all ages
Although dermatologists typically advise against using shampoo as a body wash, this two-in-one product has gentle ingredients that are great for both your body and your hair. Suitable for all ages, including babies, this sensitive skin body wash uses aloe leaf juice and chamomile extract (both of which have hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties) and glycerin for hydration, according to the brand. If you have sensitive and eczema-prone skin, consider using the Soothing Therapy Eczema Body Wash, which helps control my skin during intense flare-ups using ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and prebiotics.
Best creamy body wash
This creamy body wash comes recommended by Gohara because it’s free from most common irritants, including sulfates, parabens, aluminum and silicones. Instead, it has glycerin for moisture, milk thistle oil to cleanse and combat dryness, niacinamide to support the skin barrier and thermal spring water to help soothe the skin, according to the brand. You can purchase it in its standard size or the large size, which comes with a pump.
Best scented body wash
If you prefer a rich, creamy lather, consider this NBC Select staff favorite, lightly scented body wash from Dove. It has glycerin to retain moisture and soybean oil to leave your skin feeling soft even after stepping out of the shower, according to the brand. “It’s the only body wash I use because it’s so gentle on my easily irritated skin,” says NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio. “The scent is also great yet subtle.”
Best for acne-prone, sensitive skin
Although it’s suitable for all skin types, this body wash is formulated specifically to cleanse and balance eczema, acne-prone and sensitive skin, according to the brand. Reviewers say it helps prevent breakouts, doesn’t strip the skin of oil (which creates a dry and tight feeling) and doesn’t leave behind a residue. The formula is free of preservatives, sulfates and other common irritants and instead includes glycerin to condition, bisabolol to soothe and hemisqualane to cleanse the skin, according to Seen.
Best for skin barrier health
This body wash has prebiotics, oats and more in its formula to gently cleanse the skin while also relieving it of discomfort, including itchiness, dryness, inflammation and more, according to the brand. Reviewers love how gentle and hydrating it is and say it resolves their issues (dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema) instead of triggering them.
Best for anti-itch body wash
Reviewers say this body wash is excellent for those with sensitive, dry, itchy skin because after each cleanse, they notice that their skin feels soothed and discomfort is significantly reduced. Its formula includes ceramides, vitamin E, panthenol and oats, which all work together to help revive and nourish the skin, according to the brand.
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How to shop for sensitive skin body wash
When deciding which body wash is best for your sensitive skin, dermatologists recommend looking for ingredients that add moisture, cleanse and keep irritation at bay. Below, our experts share a few tips to keep in mind when shopping for a sensitive skin body wash.
Ingredients
Since cleansing your skin can remove natural oils, which dries out your skin, you’ll want to find ingredients that will moisturize and protect your skin barrier, according to our experts. Some ingredients to look for include soybean and avocado oil, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and shea butter, says Huang.
One of the best ingredients that your body wash can have is glycerin, according to our experts. “It’s a natural humectant, so it pulls moisture into your skin to help prevent it from drying out,” says Gohara. “If you have sensitive skin that is also prone to dryness and irritation, glycerin can help combat that dry, stripped feeling our skin can feel from soaps.”
Consistency
Body washes can vary in consistency, including creams, gels, foams and cleansing oils. You’ll often come across foaming body washes, but experts warn that these can be irritating since they typically have strong surfactants, which are chemicals like sulfates that help cleanse the skin while stripping and drying it. If you have sensitive skin, choose a body wash with a thick and creamy consistency, which means it generally relies on oils for hydration without harsh disruptors.
Limited irritants
Because sensitive skin is highly reactive, it’s best to stay away from factors that may trigger an unwanted reaction. One of the most common causes of irritation is fragrance, so consider a fragrance-free body wash when possible, according to our experts. Other types of irritants you’ll want to be cautious of include sulfates, dyes, parabens, sulfates and formaldehyde releasers.
Soap- and detergent-free
You may notice some body washes have a “soap-free” label on their packaging. Soap-free body washes have a pH level that is closer to the natural pH of the skin, says Gohara. “Soap-free cleansers are arguably more effective at cleansing because they keep the barrier intact and limit skin compromise while optimizing moisture,” says Gohara.
Some body washes will also have a “detergent-free” label. This means that it does not contain harsh surfactants that can strip the skin of natural oils, according to Gohara. Instead, they have emulsifying ingredients that break up excess dirt and oil to clean the skin, says Huang.
Noncomedogenic
Another common label you might see on your body wash says the product is “noncomedogenic,” which means it won’t clog pores or cause unwanted breakouts. This is important to consider if you have sensitive skin and are prone to acne or folliculitis (a bacterial infection of the hair follicles), according to Huang.
Frequently asked questions
There are a few reasons why someone might have sensitive skin. Some causes can include acne, rosacea, eczema, genetics, environmental factors or self-inflicted barriers, such as introducing harsh products into your skin care routine, according to Gohara.
If you believe you have sensitive skin, our experts recommend consulting with your dermatologist to determine your exact skin type and its underlying causes.
Overusing certain active ingredients like retinol or cleansing your skin with harsh soaps can cause your sensitive skin to get irritated, dry and flaky, says Gohara. Instead, use products for your specific skin type and consider gentle ingredients, and noncomedogenic and soap-free formulas. Our experts also recommend working with your dermatologist to find a suitable treatment plan.
To protect your skin, there are a few things to keep in mind before stepping into the shower. “In general, it is not about how frequently you wash your body but how you wash your body,” says Huang. Caring for your sensitive skin continues even after your shower — primarily, it’s important to reintroduce moisture that may have been lost while washing your body, according to experts.
- Short showers. Although you don’t have to limit how often you shower, you do want to limit how much time you spend taking one. You’ll want to limit your showers to roughly five minutes; otherwise, you can start to reduce the natural oils in your skin, which ultimately breaks down the skin barrier, says Huang.
- Temperature. A hot shower can also make you lose some of the natural oils in your skin. It can also worsen skin conditions like eczema, and may cause you to feel an itching sensation, according to our experts. Rinse your body with warm or cold water instead, which won’t dry out your body the same way hot water would, says Huang.
- Avoid harsh bath products. Certain bath tools like loofahs, sponges or washcloths are not always necessary when bathing. Instead, consider applying your body wash with your hands because they aren’t as likely to irritate your skin, says Huang.
After showering, pat your skin semi-dry and avoid any harsh rubbing. Next, while your skin is still damp and you have the humid environment of the bathroom, you’ll want to apply your preferred lotion or cream, says Huang. By lathering your skin in a moisturizer within minutes of exiting the shower, you can lock in ambient humidity and moisture, according to Gohara.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. William Huang is a board-certified dermatologist and professor at Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology. His expertise includes complex medical dermatology, including autoimmune and autoinflammatory skin conditions.
- Dr. Mona Gohara is a board-certified dermatologist with the Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut and an associate clinical professor at Yale University. Her areas of expertise include medical and surgical dermatology as well as skin of color.
Why trust NBC Select?
Bianca Alvarez is a former associate reporter who covered skin care, hair care and gift guides. Some of her pieces include the best neck creams, leave-in conditioners and eye creams. For this article, she interviewed dermatologists and researched highly rated body washes for sensitive skin that met their guidance.
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