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Redness, itchiness, flakiness, tightness, rashes… All of these are very common and unpleasant symptoms of sensitive skin.
Sensitive skin can be very frustrating considering you never know when the next flare-up will be and what will trigger it. To try to prevent this from happening, you need to choose your skincare products wisely.
But what are the best options and how to pick one?
To help you with this struggle and consider cleansing the skin a crucial step in every skincare routine, we have compiled the best 20 body washes specially formulated for sensitive skin.
What are the best body washes for sensitive skin?
1. La Roche Posay Lipikar Shower Gel
The combination of Shea Butter and Niacinamide makes La Roche Posay Lipikar Shower Gel ideal for cleansing sensitive and dry skin. These two powerful key ingredients hydrate, repair, prevent dehydration, and soothe the skin.
Thanks to its high tolerance and gentle formula, Lipikar Shower Gel can be used on the body, scalp, and intimate areas by the whole family.
2. La Roche Posay Lipikar Syndet Ap+ Lipid-replenishing Wash Cream
Another product from La Roche Posay that simultaneously cleanses, nourishes, and soothes the skin.
It is one of the top-rated body washes for sensitive skin and atopic skin prone to eczema thanks to its key ingredients:
- Aqua Posae Filiformis (exclusive patented ingredient) helps combat the factors responsible for dry skin and prevent new outbreaks of severe dryness.
- Shea butter restores the skin’s hydrolipidic film.
- Niacinamide has anti-inflammatory properties, soothes, helps relieve itching, and restores the skin’s lipid barrier.
Lipikar Syndet Wash Cream, due to its high tolerance and fragrance-free formula, is suitable for the face, body, and scalp (it can be used for a baby’s cradle cap).
It is also a great option for the whole family since it can be used by anyone.
TIP: Top sunscreens for dry skin.
3. Avène Xeracalm Nutrition Cleansing Gel
Avène Xeracalm Nutrition Cleansing Gel gently cleans, nourishes, and soothes skin while leaving a delicate scent. This product is specially formulated for dry and sensitive skin.
Made with Milk Thistle Oil, it promotes ceramide synthesis to strengthen the skin barrier locking in moisture and preventing skin dryness.
This biodegradable, soap-free formula is made with 99% of natural origin active ingredients, making it suitable for the whole family.
It’s also a versatile body wash for sensitive skin since it can be used on your body, face, and intimate areas. This is also an excellent body wash for black skin.
4. Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Ultra-rich Foaming Gel
Dry, irritated, itchy, and/or atopic skin? Have you ever tried the Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Ultra-Rich Foaming Gel?
This body wash is one of the best body washes for sensitive skin because it gently cleanses, nourishes, and soothes the skin while preventing it from drying out.
To provide this effective action, it has a powerful formula that combines purifying agents, vitamin PP, and a patented complex.
- the purifying agents and vitamin PP control the proliferation of microorganisms that aggravate skin’s dryness.
- the patented complex strengthens the skin’s natural barrier and soothing active agents that help relieve any discomfort, itchiness, or irritation.
This Bioderma foaming gel is a high tolerance, soap-free, paraben-free, and unscented product that can be used on your face and body and by the whole family – except premature babies.
5. Uriage Cleansing Oil
The combination of a gentle soap-free cleansing base, emollient agents, glycerin, and thermal water, makes Uriage Cleansing Oil a great body wash for sensitive skin since it cleans, nourishes, and soothes.
This Uriage product strengthens the natural skin barrier while moisturizing and keeping the skin clean.
Thanks to its gel oil texture and subtle scent, it leaves your skin feeling silky smooth, and protected. And, you can be sure that it does not leave your skin oily.
6. Bioderma Atoderm Ultra-nourishing Shower Cream
Bioderma Atoderm Shower Cream is delicately scented and has a creamy texture.
This hypoallergenic and soap-free body wash cleanses, nourishes, and soothes the normal to dry sensitive skin.
A daily hygiene care that intensely moisturizes the skin while in the shower, while smoothing and protecting against discomfort.
From its ingredients, there are two patented complexes (Skin Protect™ and D.A.F) that stand out. These two ingredients increase the hydration levels and strengthen and protect the skin.
Atoderm Shower Cream also contains antibacterial agents that control the proliferation of microorganisms that aggravate skin’s dryness.
It is ideal for the whole family (except premature babies) and can be used on your face and body.
Discover a selection of top-rated sunscreens SPF 100 suitable for sensitive skin.
7. Caudalie Thé Des Vignes Shower Gel
Do you love scented body washes, but your skin doesn’t? Then, you need to give a try this shower gel, a top Caudalie product.
Made with the iconic fragrance created in 2011 by Mathilde Thomas, founder of Caudalie, with the help of the perfumer Jacques Cavallier, this body wash leaves the skin cleansed, smooth, and delicately perfumed.
This shower gel is suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive skin since it has an ultra-gentle cleansing base and is a soap-free, sulfate-free, and paraben-free formula. Its formula respects the skin’s physiological pH.
Important to note that Thé Des Vignes Shower Gel is a vegan body wash made of 97% natural ingredients with 100% recyclable packaging, created from recycled glass and plastic.
8. Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Pain Soothing Cleansing Bar
The Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Pain is one of the best body bar washes for sensitive skin. It’s also suitable for dry and atopic skin.
Made with gentle cleansing agents, this cleansing bar purifies the skin while respecting its balance and avoiding drying it out.
Atoderm Intensive pain is perfect for dry skin thanks to its combination of Glycerin and Shea Butter, two powerful hydrating and nourishing ingredients.
It is also enriched with Zinc, which controls the proliferation of microorganisms that aggravate skin’s dryness.
With a smooth texture, excellent skin tolerance, and fragrance-free, this soothing cleansing bar is suitable for the whole family (except premature babies) and it can be used on your face and body.
9. Cerave Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser
Developed with dermatologists the Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser, a good Cerave skincare product, combines 3 essential ceramides, squalene oil, and triglycerides. This formula cleanses, soothes, and nourishes the skin without disrupting the skin barrier or drying it out.
This Cerave oil cleanser eliminates dirt and impurities while fortifying the natural skin barrier.
When applied to wet skin, the cream-oil texture turns into foam and gives the skin immediate comfort and hydration.
Free from fragrance, soap, and parabens, this cleanser is ideal for normal to dry, sensitive, and atopic-prone skin. It can be used on the face and body by the whole family (1+ month) and it’s one of the best body washes for hard water.
10. SVR Sebiaclear Cleansing Gel
Having oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin at the same time can be very challenging when it comes to finding a product that won’t irritate your skin further but, at the same time, help control blemishes. We have found one for you!
SVR Sebiaclear Cleansing Gel gently purifies the skin by removing impurities and excess oil without drying it out.
This cleansing gel works for sensitive skin because it has a minimalist formula with just 10 ingredients and is made with a gentle soap-free cleansing base that cleans the skin while respecting its balance and natural barrier.
It is lightly fragranced with a 100% allergen-free perfume.
Sebiaclear Cleansing Gel has gluconolactone and salicylic acid as active ingredients. These two unclog pores, mattify the skin, and reduce imperfections.
This SVR gel is one of the greatest body washes on the market due to its action and efficacy.
TIP: If you are undergoing an acne treatment that makes your skin dehydrated, you should opt for SVR Sebiaclear Cleansing Cream.
This soap-free, sulfate-free, and fragrance-free cleanser cleans, hydrates, and soothes the skin. The combination of Glycerin and Niacinamide hydrates and helps relieve the skin-pulling sensation, while simultaneously reinforcing the skin barrier. It also contains Zinc which purifies the skin, regulating sebum.
11. Cerave Foaming Cleanser
Because not all sensitive skin is dry, Cerave Foaming Cleanser is the best body wash cleanser for sensitive skin for those who have normal, combination, or oily skin.
The Cerave Foaming Cleanser has a powerful formula that combines ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid allowing this cleanser to remove impurities and excess oil without compromising the natural protective skin barrier and without drying out the skin.
Light and fresh texture, Cerave Foaming Cleanser is free from fragrances, sulfates, soap, and parabens, making it suitable for sensitive and acne prone skin. It can be used on both face and body.
Related article: The best body wash for acne prone skin.
12. SVR Topialyse Cleansing Gel
The gentle cleansing gel from SVR, as its name suggests, gently cleanses and protects the sensitive skin of the whole family (from birth).
The cleansing gel balances skin flora and its formula has a neutral pH, which means that it respects the natural skin barrier.
Its ultra-gentle, soap-free cleansing base removes impurities without causing any irritation, and the vegetable glycerin and omegas in the formula hydrate, soothe and maintain the skin’s natural barrier.
This body wash is biodegradable and made with only 10 ingredients, 89% natural origin, making it suitable for the body, face, intimate area, and scalp.
13. Dove Pure & Sensitive Soap
Unscented and hypoallergenic, Dove Pure & Sensitive Soap is a great body wash for sensitive skin.
Gentle enough to be used on your face and body, it moisturizes and protects the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Made with delicate cleansing agents and ¼ of moisturizing cream, this soap effectively cleans your skin without drying it leaving the skin feeling cleaner, smoother, and softer.
14. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash
After using the Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash your skin will feel clean, refreshed, and hydrated.
The Aveeno body wash has a creamy texture and an efficient formula that combines several key ingredients, namely prebiotic colloidal oatmeal, to keep your skin moisturized, balanced, smooth, and protected.
Free from soap and dyes, this body wash prevents skin dryness protecting it for up to 24 hours. At the same time, it restores the skin’s natural pH and moisture barrier, preventing the skin from drying out.
Lightly scented, this non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic gentle formula is recommended for dry, atopic, and sensitive skin.
15. Jowaé Revitalizing Moisturizing Shower Gel
A well known Korean skincare product, Jowaé Revitalizing Moisturizing Shower Gel gently cleanses the skin while respecting its natural barrier and preventing irritation.
As usual in the brand, this product has a natural but powerul formula that combine several key ingredients lumiphenols, bamboo water, and vegetable glycerin.
Due to its effective results, this is one of the best moisturizing body wash shower gels for sensitive skin because it revitalizes, moisturizes, and soothes the skin.
It’s a great option for the whole family since it’s a great option for all skin types.
This shower gel is made of 95% natural origin ingredients and is vegan!
16. Instituto Español Avena Shower Gel
A good, affordable, and safe option as a body wash for dry sensitive skin is the Instituto Español Avena Shower Gel.
This vegan shower gel, rich in oats, gently cleans and moisturizes the skin.
It helps improve skin elasticity while respecting the skin’s barrier.
17. D’aveia Ps Cleansing Emulsion
D’Aveia PS Cleansing Emulsion is formulated with colloidal oatmeal that eliminates dirt by absorption and adsorption.
D’Aveia PS Cleansing Emulsion it’s a good body wash because it soothes irritation and itchiness, and hydrates the skin at the same time.
It also restores the skin’s physiological balance and strengthens the skin’s natural defenses.
Thanks to its physical cleaning mechanism that prevents skin irritation since it isn’t aggressive, this body wash is recommended for atopic-prone, sensitive, and fragile skin.
This cleansing body washe is suitable for the daily hygiene of adults and the elderly.
18. Eucerin Ph5 Shower Oil
Eucerin pH5 Shower Oil turns into a lovely soft scented foam when in contact with water that gently cleans the skin without disrupting its balance.
Its powerful natural oils nourish the skin, and give it a silky touch, while protecting it from dehydration.
Ideal for dry and sensitive skin, Eucerin Shower Oil strengthens the skin’s natural defenses, making it more resistant to external aggressions.
It is also a great option if your skin is irritated due to allergies.
19. Isdin Avena Protective Bath Gel Sensitive Skin
Rich in colloidal oatmeal, ISDIN Avena Protective Bath Gel cleans, nourishes, soothes, and protects the skin.
Its soothing power helps relieve the itchiness that is common on dry, sensitive, or irritated skin.
Soap-free and with a neutral pH, this body wash is suitable for the whole family.
20. Apivita Caring Lavender Gentle Shower Gel
Curated for gently cleansing sensitive skin without drying it out, Apivita Caring Lavender Shower Gel moisturizes, soothes, and protects the skin.
This Apivita product is made with 97% natural origin ingredients and hypoallergenic, the formula’s key ingredients that make it great for sensitive skin are:
- Lavender and Calendula extracts: These have soothing, relaxing, and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Greek thyme honey, olive oil, almond oil, and panthenol: They strengthen the skin’s hydrolipidic film and nourish the skin.
- Lauryl Olivate: It soothes, reduces itching, and improves skin’s elasticity.
In the end, you have one of the top-rated body washes for sensitive skin that also promotes relaxation.
How to choose the best body wash for sensitive skin?
With so many options, how are you supposed to choose just one? Well, you need to consider some aspects.
- Consider your skin type: Besides being sensitive, is your body skin on the drier side? Is it acne-prone? Or do you occasionally have eczema? This is a crucial aspect when it comes to making a choice.
- Why do you have sensitive skin: Your sensitive skin can have many causes, some harder to control than others. This skin condition can result from hormonal changes, allergies, dehydration, weather changes or you can simply be born with it. Because many causes we can’t easily control, others we can try to avoid.
For example, there are some ingredients in skincare products that the skin tends to react more like fragrances, soaps, parabens… So, if you have very reactive and sensitive skin stick to simpler and cleaner formulas. - Product texture: In the list of products, you will find a few different formulas. From creams to gels to oils, it will come down to personal preference. Keep in mind that gel body washes tend to be more refreshing and the oil ones more hydrating.
Remember to always do a patch test before using a new product.
Usually, the best spot to do this is on the inside of your elbow. If it causes any reaction (like redness, itchiness, or a rash), you should not continue using it.
And since we are talking about body washes, a couple more tips! Try to take shorter showers, lower your water temperature, and always pat dry.
These little changes will help protect the skin’s natural barrier and, therefore, prevent skin irritation.
If your skin condition isn’t getting better or it is even getting worse, talk to your pharmacist or your doctor.
FAQ
The top body washes for sensitive skin are Avène Xeracalm Nutrition Cleansing Gel, Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Ultra-Rich Foaming Gel, and La Roche Posay Lipikar Shower Gel.
The best body lotions for sensitive skin recommended by dermatologists are Cerave Moisturizing Cream and La Roche Posay Lipikar Fluid.
Conclusion
Sensitive skin can be very uncomfortable and unpredictable, and finding the right body wash for yours can prove to be a challenge.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all-all” when it comes to skincare, and it might take a few tries before landing on the perfect product.
We hope that the information we provide about the products and how to choose the best one for you will help you take control of your sensitive skin!
And, don’t forget: A new skincare product may take some weeks to work. But. if your skin condition isn’t getting better or it is even getting worse, visit your doctor.