best body wash for dry skin

Choosing the Best Body Wash for Dry Skin

Having regular hot showers and using harsh soaps or ordinary shower gels really harms your skin. If after a hot shower you feel itchy, it might be because you have dry skin. Don’t worry, the answer isn’t to stop washing altogether! There are a number of scientifically proven ingredients that moisturize the skin while you are washing, making for a better feeling when you get out to dry. First, let’s look at some ingredients of moisturizing creams and then have a look at the best body wash for dry skin that you can get online or from your local store.

Ingredients to Beat Dry Skin

It’s a matter of fact, shea butter, aloe vera and oatmeal are known to have excellent moisturizing properties. Therefore, they are essential for treating dry skin. Now, let’s see where they come from and just why you should look for them in any body wash, especially the best body wash for dry skin.

Shea Butter

First, shea butter is a super ingredient found in the nut of the Karite Shea tree that grows in the forests of Africa. Remarkably, the Karite Shea tree nuts have been used for thousands of years by indigenous people for a range of treatments and cures. These include moisturizers for dry skin, as an anti-inflammatory for wounds and strains, and shea butter is known to help reduce the signs of aging on your skin. According to the Livestrong website, “Shea butter has the ability to soothe, hydrate, and balance your skin. It is used as a moisturizer for dry skin and eczema, as a dry scalp treatment, for chapped lips and to help soften cracked dry skin on heels, elbows, and knees.” Unsurprisingly, many modern cosmetics now use shea butter in their products and you should be reassured when you see that it is used in the best body wash for dry skin. Ultimately, it has all the soothing properties known to African elders for millennia.

Aloe Vera

Next, aloe vera has proven moisturizing qualities. It has been used through the ages to help with everything from dry skin to full-blown eczema. Author Britt Brandon told Reader’s Digest, “With powerful phytochemicals that help reduce inflammation, aloe vera has been found to be an effective anti-inflammatory agent.” Thanks to its well-known properties, it really shouldn’t be hard to find aloe vera extract in some of the best body washes for dry skin on the market.

Oatmeal

Lastly, oatmeal has long been used in poultices for skin treatments. This is due to its natural proteins and oils that do the body so good. It is an absolute must in the best body wash for dry skin! The Huffington Post reported earlier this year, “The use of oats in skincare has been documented as far back as 2000 BC, and oatmeal is one of the few natural ingredients to receive recognition from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),”

With spring here, it’s time to start showing some skin and that means it’s time to shed our dry winter skin. Dry skin and hair sometimes feel unavoidable during the winter months because there is less and less moisture in the air, and in many cases, dry compromised skin can mean sensitive skin. While many cosmetic companies make so many claims on their fancy product bottles, do you really know what you are getting? Here is a simple breakdown of what you’ll want to look for and how to choose the best body wash for dry sensitive skin.

Beyond The Label

While shopping for any skincare product, it is absolutely imperative you turn the bottle around and pay attention to what is in what you are purchasing. This is especially true when choosing the best body wash for dry sensitive skin, because if you have a reaction you will have to find out what it is you are reacting to.

Common Ingredients That Can Cause Allergic Reactions:

  • Fragrance: Most cosmetics contain some sort of fragrance. Whether it is a perfume intended to give the product a pleasant scent, or it is added to cover up the smell of the chemicals added, fragrances can cause all sorts of problems for people with sensitive skin. Although you may not be allergic to all fragrances, it might be best to look for products that are specifically made without, labeled fragrance or perfume free.
  • Preservatives: Many skin care products contain preservatives to lengthen shelf life. If you want to find the best body wash for dry sensitive skin, it is best to look for something that is paraben free.
  • Harsh Surfactants: Surfactants are ingredients that make soap lather, they tend to be alkali-based and are not all created equally, Look out for sodium hydroxide, or lye, which can be found in a lot of handmade soaps. This ingredient can be very harsh on sensitive skin, so can sulfates, which is common in products found in stores and salons alike.
  • Essential Oils: When researching any kind of skin care, one is simply barraged by the benefits of essential oils. Essential oils are fantastic for treating all sorts of conditions, unless you are allergic to one of them. In this case it is best to avoid them, because they are often added in very concentrated amounts.

Preventing Dry Skin

The best way to treat dry skin is to do your best to avoid it in the first place. Once you have the best body wash for dry sensitive skin, it is time to learn best practices for caring for skin that is difficult to keep moisturized.

First, keep hydrated. From the inside out, water plays the ultimate role of keeping our body going. This also includes keeping our skin strong and supple. So be sure to drink at least one and a half liters of water daily, and consider using a humidifier in your home or office.

Second, be attentive to your showering habits. As crazy as it may sound, it is best to try not to shower unless you have to. Over soaping your skin can strip it of its own natural oils, which are vital to keeping skin from drying out. Bathing in water that is too hot can also cause this.

Lastly, be sure to moisturize at least once every day. In particular, it is vital to moisturize after bathing. This is so important because while soap and water work to cleanse your skin, the heat from the shower opens up your pores, making for maximum absorption of your moisturizer.

Our Best Body Washes for Dry, Sensitive Skin 2021

dry skin body wash

Aleavia Enzymatic Body Cleanse

We love the all natural Aleavia Enzymatic Body Cleanse. It is gentle yet thorough when it comes to getting rid of dirt, toxins, and excess oil on the skin’s surface. This body wash uses rich Acadian sea kelp, organic extra virgin coconut oil, and pure Aloe Vera to remove dead skin cells while allowing the skin to breathe. Regular usage reveals soft, supple, and beautiful skin within a short span of time. It is Ph level 7, perfect for the most sensitive skin and can also be used as a shampoo or facial cleanser. It is so gentle it does not even strip skin when used in place of a shaving cream and it helps with eliminating body eczema, keratosis and psoriasis.  As a bonus it is also available in Lavender scent. Perfect for winding down after a long day for a restful nights sleep.

dry skin body wash

Grown Alchemist Hydra+ Body Cleanser

We found this body wash to be exceptionally moisturizing. It left skin feeling clean, nourished and highly moisturized. Perfect to prevent dry skin. Grown Alchemist Hydra+ Body Cleanser: Emerald Cypress, Rosemary, Sandalwood uses no harmful chemicals to achieve soft and smooth skin. We highly recommend this body wash for men as it has a slightly more masculine smell although we do categories it as unisex.

dry skin body wash

Puracy Natural Body Wash

This product is free of most of the chemicals that bother sensitive skin. Not only is it sulfate, fragrance, and paraben free, it is also 100% vegan and gluten free. This coconut-based product is developed by doctors and has clinical grade moisturizing qualities. Wel love the smell and the luxurious foam created. Leaves skin, clean, soft and supple.

dry skin body wash

Alba Botanica Bath & Shower Gel

I doubt you will find another hypoallergenic product that smells so simply lovely! This could certainly be considered the best body wash for dry sensitive skin, it is free of perfumes, dyes, parabens, and a long list of other potential nasties. None of this will be missed when using this luxurious wash.

dry skin body wash

Dove- Sensitive Skin Body Wash

This product could be considered a classic. It is very gentle, but also rich and creamy. It works very well on extremely dry skin and has absolutely no trace of smell whatsoever. Your skin will be so soft, you’ll feel as if you just used a hydrating moisturizing cream.

dry skin body wash

Tree to Tub - pH 5.5 Sensitive Skin Body Wash

This body wash is ideal for those with dry skin and ezcema. Organic Aloe Vera based. This body wash is ph 5.5 which makes it as gentle as a baby product and is therefore suitable for the whole family. We love the later, we love the smell and we love how soft and moisturized our skin felt afterwards.

Summary

Dry skin does not have to ruin your life. With using the correct products you can kick it to the curb! Which of these products will you be trying? 

*Most people with dry skin tend to also suffer from Ingrown hairs. If you have this problem don’t forget to check out our article on Ingrown hair remedies – prevention and cure.

1 thought on “Choosing the Best Body Wash for Dry Skin”

  1. Pingback: Best Shampoos for Dry Scalp Review for 2017 - Skin Deepr

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