The 19 Best Body Washes for Men in 2023, Tested by Grooming Editors and Dermatologists

In our rigorous testing process for our annual Grooming Awards, seven of our testers unanimously voted Nivea's Sensitive 3-in-1 body wash as the best in its class. One tested said, "[It's] a creamy body wash that keeps your skin clean and deeply moisturized. It’s lightly fragranced, so it won’t irritate sensitive skin or compete with your cologne."

Indeed, after using it for two weeks, one tester found that he hardly noticed the scent at all. Our editors with sensitive skin found that Nivea's was the rare body wash that didn't cause breakouts our redness after using it consistently. That's most likely thanks to its star ingredients: almond oil and bamboo extract, which provide added moisture while soothing skin. But even with its gentle formula, we found that Nivea still cleaned our skin effectively. Editors found that it wiped away grime and sunscreen as strongly as most soaps that we tried.

Charcoal isn’t for everyone (especially if you have sensitive skin), but dermatologists we spoke to recommend charcoal-based cleansers if you're looking for a deep clean. Our testers with oily skin loved this one from Art of Sport, which contains aloe vera to keep skin from drying out post-charcoal-assisted clean.

One tester, who's been using this Art of Sport since 2019, swears by this tried-and-true formula. "It has an energizing citrus scent that's great for a morning jolt," he said. However, our testers with sensitive skin noted that the charcoal is too strong for them, and one even reported slight redness after using it. However, if you're the type of guy who gets sweaty or oily easily, especially in hot weather Art of Sport's Charcoal Body Wash will clean your skin quickly.

I first learned about this paradise-in-a-bottle soap when I was testing body washes for our 2022 Men's Health Grooming Awards, and I've been restocking it in my shower caddy ever since. First, it dispenses a pearly, rich gel that just looks super luxurious. Inside is a beautiful blend of starflower oils, meadowfoam, and sweet almond that cleans, hydrates, calms, and leaves your skin with a tropical, fruity aroma that smells like five-star resort, and the scent stays on your skin for hours after you've used it.

For most days I use Oribe's body wash in lieu of a cologne, since it stays on my skin so long after showering. I've received tons of compliments on my "perfume," which is why I've been an Oribe fan ever since. No wonder Barry's Bootcamp stocks Oribe's Côte d'Azur in all of its locker rooms.

Summer is a high season for body acne. The combo of sweat mixing with natural bacteria from dirt that accumulates on your body can lead to clogged pores. That's why now may be a good time to start thinking about body washes for acne-prone skin. Of all the cleansers we've tested, ZitStick is the best in its class in terms of effectiveness, scent, and price point.

"It's unique in that it's chock full of probiotics to help keep your skin’s microbiome healthy while also balancing the amount of blemish-causing bacteria on your skin’s surface," says grooming contributor Cristina Montemayor. "Silkhake contains omegas-3 and tea tree oil to help soothe inflammation and reduce blemishes." One tester who used it for a month noticed that his bacne was less severe.

Read more: Best Body Wash for Acne

As if you couldn’t tell by the name, this scent from Harry’s was inspired by coastal woodlands and comes to life through notes of cypress, sandalwood, and driftwood (with a dash of citrus). It is a fan-favorite out of all the Harry’s body wash scents.

Harry's body washes have been a standby favorite amongst Men's Health editors. One tester noted," the scents of the shoulder gel fade quickly, especially when competing with the strong smells of deodorant and cologne." But even though this body wash isn't all overpowering, it has lasting power. Harry's Redwood Body Wash goes easy on the musk, and go hard on bright and refreshing. One tester received more compliments using this body wash than any other fragrance he's used. "It feels luxurious and feels my skin soft," he said."It feels like a good spa day than a necessary bathing ritual. I don't mind the cycle of lather, rinse, and repeat when the repetition feels fun and indulgent."

Read more: Harry's Body Wash Review

Old Spice has been around now for decades, and for good reason. Our testers love that the cleaning power of this body wash is top-notch,. In our extensive review of Old Spice's Gentleman's Blend, we found that it contains twice the amount of moisturizer as comparable soaps, and left our skin cleansed without feeling tight and over-stripped.“ It’s preventing moisture loss, but also adding more to help the barrier trap hydration even better," said dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD. Plus, it has no irritating parabens or dyes, and our testers with sensitive skin conditions like eczema found that it didn't irritate their skin, which is rare for a lot of drugstore body washes we've tried.

Beyond its cleaning capabilities, Old Spice's Gentlemen's Blend smells amazing, too. Its new lavender formula gives it a fresh scent and our testers found the smell especially relaxing. "The scent is fresh when using it, but doesn't linger on skin, which is ideal for irritation-prone types," said. one tester.

Read more: Old Spice Gentleman's Blend Body Wash Review

If you want a low-cost body wash that you can restock over and over again without breaking the bank, then Method's classic body wash i your guy. Our testers found that the Cedar + Cypress soap offered a lot of value for the price point. It contains naturally derived ingredients (sodium lauryl sulfate, citric acid, etc), that provided a thorough clean that we want from an everyday wash.

One tester found that the soap's outdoorsy scent "made me feel like I just came back from a hike, even though all I did was wake up and stumble to the shower." Though other testers note that its Pacific Northwest fragrance was too strong and woodsy for for them, and competed with their colognes. Still, Method's body wash is hard to beat in terms of value.

Read more: Best Dopp Kits for Traveling

Old standby Jack Black has been making fragrance-forward body washes. Take this two-in-one body and hair cleanser, which has a strong cedarmom and cedarwood (read: really woodsy) scent that lasts for hours after hopping out of the shower, our testers noted. That's great if you want a multi-purpose body wash that also functions as your cologne.

"It leaves your skin smelling expensive, but not overpowering," said one tester. "At the same time, it makes you skin feel clean without making it too dry." That's thanks to its sulfate-free formula. Plus, its pump dispenser makes for easy application. And while it's marketed as a shampoo as well, we recommend using a separate hair wash. Some testers said the formula didn't play nice with their mane.

For guys who prefer their cleansers scentless, of if they have sensitive skin, we recommend this fragrance-free formula from upstart grooming brand Native. The formula is simple, containing deep-cleaning ingredients (citrus acid, coconut oil) that lather easily, and deeply cleans without overly drying skin.

Best of all, our editors loved that this unscented version won't compete with the other fragrances they threw on later. One tester noted that it left his skin feeling soft, and smelling clean, and other editors who had sensitive skin conditions (like eczema) reported no allergic reaction with this formula.

Read more: Best Face Washes

If there is such a thing as status body wash, this would be it. Aseop, the purveyor of ubder-luxe hand soaps dispensed at five-star hotels, also makes some premium cleansers for the rest of your body. Take this Coriander Seed wash, which our editors report has a rich, earthy scent, which one editor says, "smells like money."

"Keep this in your shower to impress anyone who might see it," says another tester, "Even if it's just you." Plus while our other fragrance-heavy body washes irritated some of our testers with sensitive skin, this one did not. That's probably since it's sourced from natural ingredients like coriander seed oil, glycerin, and castor oil, so you can feel good about putting it on your body.

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Patricks only continues to grow its loyal following thanks to high quality grooming products that are simple and effective. The BW1 body wash is void of parabens, phthalates, and sulfates and creates a rich foam that soothes the skin. As for the scent, we'd be hard pressed to find anything more pleasant at the moment. It's the perfect amount of sophistication (Bergamot, Cognac and Amber Cologne) without being too overbearing. which means you'll smell amazing only to those who come within close contact.

Read more: Best Face Scrubs

From the brand that brought manscaping into the 21st century, Manscaped's body wash is incredibly effective and easy to use. The bottle is made of metal, so it stays put in your shower instead of sliding everywhere like plastic does. The pump is well-made too, which helps deploy appropriate amounts of wash without over-cleansing (remember what we said earlier!). And as for the scent, you get a nice refined fragrance that subtly stays on the skin for multiple hours after jumping out of the shower. Yeah, this wash is deceptively good.

Read more: Best Body Groomers

If you look for a tingly, fresh feel in your body wash, this cleansing gel contains menthol and eucalyptus to deliver it. The lather is rich and conditioning, but still effective at stripping away excess oil. It’s perfect for after a long run or a day out in the sun.

Read more: Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoos

This gentle cleanser contains 95% natural ingredients aloe vera and other botanicals, which are included to make this body wash suitable for all skin types. You won’t get the tingle you get from some other harsher soaps, but it still delivers a standout clean. Plus, it’s biodegradable.

Read more: Best Kiehl's Products

Body scrubs can be helpful for smoother skin, but too harsh for sensitive skin or daily use. This new body wash is the best of both worlds. It has silica and jojoba beads to gently exfoliate away dead skin cells, charcoal for a deep clean, and argan oil to leave your skin moisturized. And it's all in a smooth formula that won’t upset sensitive skin.

“This body wash contains the same types of ingredients found in traditional moisturizers, including stearic acid,” says Dr. Zeichner. “It also has ultra gentle cleansing ingredients that won’t disrupt the outer skin layer.”

Fragrance free and accepted by the National Eczema Association, this body wash from Odele will work with some of the most sensitive skin types out there. The key ingredient in its formula is oats, which help provide a soothing feel those with dry and itchy skin.

Use this body wash to soothe super dry skin—even eczema. It works because it contains a combination of the specific ceramides that are predominant in the skin and replenishes them to build up your skin barrier, according to Dr. Zeichner.

Affordable and packaged in an easy-to-use pump, Irish Spring's new line of body washes pack a ton of value. We like the Relaxing Scent, as its sandalwood fragrance is rich and calming—without being too over-the-top.