Body wash offers several advantages over soap. According to dermatologists, body washes are more hygienic than bar soaps. They come in bottles, reducing exposure to air and contaminants, while bar soaps can pick up dirt and bacteria from their environment and contact with skin.
Their liquid formulas often include hydrating ingredients and milder cleansers that maintain your skin's natural moisture barrier, preventing dryness and irritation. Whether you're looking for deep hydration, gentle cleansing, or a luxurious lather, a good body wash can elevate your skincare routine in ways soap simply can't match.
Here’s what you should look out for:
- Body washes that are mild and non-irritating; avoid those with harsh sulfates like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laurate sulfate (SLES), as these can strip your skin of its natural oils and lead to dryness.
- Body washes that include hydrating components such as glycerin, aloe vera, or hyaluronic acid. These ingredients help keep your skin moist and supple. Washes containing natural oils like coconut, jojoba, or olive oil provide extra nourishment without leaving your skin greasy.
- Body washes that contain vitamins, such as E or C, and antioxidants can offer additional protection and nourishment for your skin.
These body washes check our boxes:
Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash
Dove products are well-known for their creative formula and new MicroMoisture Technology, which offers optimal hydration.
Dove Deeply Nourishing Body Wash, priced under ₦10,000, moisturizes and nourishes skin, leaving it renewed, smooth and revitalized. This body wash works well for all skin types and the gentle formula makes them suitable for daily use.
This Dove body wash uses NutriumMoisture technology, a blend of moisturizers and skin-natural nutrients and deeply nourishes the skin's surface layers and helps maintain the moisture barrier during cleansing.
Nivea Creme Soft Care Shower Gel
Nivea Creme Soft Care Shower Gel promises gentle, moisturized, and healthy skin care for all skin types. It is made of natural almond oil with a 99% biodegradable formula and a microbiome balance, making it suitable for all skin types.
Nature's Gentle Touch Ginger Oil Bath & Shower Concentrate
A blend of ginger oil and plant extracts, this shower concentrate is perfect for those looking for an affordable yet effective option. Price: ₦3,000. Where to Buy: Konga.
This bath and shower oil blends Ginger oil and plant extracts, creating a rich lather that left our editor’s skin feeling clean and hydrated.
“I used Nature's Gentle Touch Ginger Oil Bath & Shower Concentrate because I didn’t find my usual body wash at the supermarket,” Pulse Picks’ editor notes. “It was incredibly affordable, priced just under 3,000, and I liked how it smelled.”
The range comes in Essential oils, Ylang ylang, ginger and Thai basil oil which our editor said she put up to her “nose and made a mental note to buy it next time.”
After a month of use, her complexion remained the same, it had no adverse reaction to the other products for skin and body care. She also said she would be open to using it again. “I use their hair products—shampoo, conditioners and hair cream—for my natural hair and have no complaints so it was definitely a safe buy,” she adds.
Palmolive Vanilla Body Butter
Infused with a delightful vanilla fragrance, it’s pH-balanced and free from harsh chemicals like parabens and silicones. Price: ₦7,000. Where to Buy: Supermart.
Palmolive Vanilla Body Butter is a creamy, moisturizing body wash infused with a delightful vanilla fragrance. Its gentle formula is pH-balanced, dermatologist-tested, and free from harsh chemicals like parabens, phthalates, and silicones.
St. Ives Pink Lemon and Mandarin Body Wash
For those with sensitive skin, this exfoliating body wash offers a deep cleanse without being harsh. Price: ₦8,000. Where to Buy: Hermosa Mart NG.
One Pulse Picks reader told me, “As someone with sensitive skin, I’m always cautious about the products I use, but this body wash has become my daily go-to. It gives a deep cleanse without being harsh, and the consistency is perfect for gentle exfoliation. My skin feels incredibly soft and fresh afterwards. The best part? The citrusy, fruity scent.”
This exfoliating body wash, enriched with natural lemon peel and walnut shell powder, purifies and exfoliates for radiant skin using plant-based cleaners and recyclable plastic bottles, and it is dermatologist-tested. It's in stock here.
Good skincare starts in the shower and you can achieve healthy skin without breaking the bank. Whether you prefer the nourishing touch of Dove, the gentle care of Nivea, the refreshing simplicity of Nature’s Gentle Touch, the creamy indulgence of Palmolive, or the exfoliating benefits of St. Ives, there's a perfect option for you.