Why Should You Use Body Wash? 

Cleansing the face and body are the first steps in any effective skin care routine. When you cleanse, you are allowing the skin's natural repair process to take place. Body wash is my favorite way to cleanse the body. Like soap, the purpose of body wash is to rid your skin of environmental pollutants and impurities, dirt, excess oil, odor, sweat, and makeup.  

If you do not wash properly, you can destroy the natural oils that act as a protective barrier for our skin. 

This can lead to many issues that speed up the aging process, including: 

• Collagen Breakdown  
• Cell Damage  
• Redness   
• Irritation/Acne  
• Dehydration  
• Skin Cancer 

Unlike soap, body washes tend to be more gentle and more hydrating for the skin because of their chemistry. Most skin cleansing products are made up of two parts: a lipophilic part, which is fat-soluble, and a hydrophilic part, which is water-soluble. Dirt itself is lipophilic, which means that it won't dissolve in water. Only something with a fatty product will dissolve the dirt and lift it off your skin. Enter the surfactant. 

Surfactants are a combination of lipophilic and hydrophilic ingredients. A surfactant cleanses your skin because the lipophilic part dissolves the dirt on your skin while the hydrophilic part washes it away. Body washes typically contain mineral oil or petroleum derivatives as their lipophilic part and water as the hydrophilic part.  

Body washes are also more travel friendly than soaps. 

Can anyone use body wash? 

There are body washes for any skin condition. But below are some tips depending on your skin's condition. 

If you have dry skin, use a mild cleanser, which will often have the words "cream" or "oil" in the name. Try to look for body washes that contain glycolic or lactic acid, since these ingredients are moisturizing. 

If you have acneic skin, you will want to reach for body washes that contain chemical exfoliants, such as alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids. 

People with sensitive skin should avoid body washes that have fragrances or a lot of preservatives since sensitive skin may react negatively to those ingredients. 

How should you use body wash? 

While in the shower or bath, apply a quarter size amount to your washcloth, massage glove or directly on your hands, and apply all over the body. Rinse well. 

Hot water and large quantities of water can dry out your skin, so to stay soft and smooth, use lukewarm to warm water and try to keep your showers or baths short. 

You can use body wash every time you shower or bathe. 

Some of our favorite body washes include:  

Necessaire The Body Wash

Three luxe oils - Marula, Cacay, and Meadowfoam- help to nourish and soften skin. Mild plant-derived surfactants gently cleanse without stripping or leaving residue. 

Available in Fragrance-Free, and three pure essential oil scents: Bergamot, Sandalwood, and Eucalyptus. Non-irritating. Non-sensitizing 

Maison Louis Marie Body and Hand Wash

Formulated using natural ingredients derived from plants that include a special blend of banana extract and coconut and sunflower oils that help moisturize and clean. The formulas are also supplemented with Ginko Biloba, Aloe, Marigold flower, and Oat extracts that aid to moisturize and repair your skin, all while leaving you beautifully scented. 

Costa Brazil Nutrient-Rich Hand and Body Wash

 A luxurious gel that removes impurities and nourishes the skin. Featuring vitamin-dense Jungle Complex of Kaya, Cacay, and Breu, as well as hydrating Squalane for skin that's soft and smooth.  

Malin and Goetz Hand + Body Wash

A foaming cleansing gel infused with bergamot and amino acids to hydrate and purify. 

Synthesized with bergamot, amino acid-based cleansing agents, and hydrating glycerin, this gentle yet effective formula rinses residue-free without drying or stripping. 

And our favorite accessories to accompany your body wash: 

Joanna Czech The Organic Body Wash Pads

Perfect for product application and body massage in the bath or shower. These pads also act as micro exfoliators, gently helping to shed dead skin cells. 

Biologique Recherche The Body Was

This silicone glove is very easy to manipulate and can be used to remodel the entire body. One side is covered in thick spikes to prepare the skin and encourage the penetration of active ingredients. The other side has fine spikes to loosen and eliminate stubborn accumulated fat.