When you have sensitive skin, you know it can be a struggle to find the right products that work for you. You need the right skincare and makeup products that won’t leave your skin itchy, irritated, or broken out. When you find something that works, you’ll stick to that routine pretty strictly because you don’t want to mess with a good thing.
My skin can be sensitive, so I can relate to all of this. I’ve broken out after getting my makeup professionally done before. (To be honest, I felt bad for the makeup artist who spent so much time on my face.) And without fail, there are certain times of the year (dead of winter to be exact) when my skin feels especially cranky. Surprisingly, the one thing I’ve had the most trouble with is finding bodycare products that don’t make me break out or cause irritation. I vividly remember trying out a new bodywash when I was 12, only to break out in hives. Yikes!
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That incident was over 20 years ago, and from that, I learned that you have to read the ingredients list very closely when shopping for a new bodywash or any skincare product, really. I find that the simpler the list the better. I try to avoid too many chemicals. I know synthetic fragrances aren’t my friends, and because I have dry skin, too, I normally opt for products that are hydrating and moisturizing.
If you can relate to any of this, I’ve highlighted some of my favorite bodywashes below that work for sensitive skin, plus some other highly rated ones.
If you have sensitive skin, you know that Aveeno is a trusted brand. Its products are always gentle and hypoallergenic. This daily bodywash gently cleanses the skin while also soothing any dryness or itchiness.
Vanicream is another brand I rely on to treat my sensitive skin. I use the brand’s moisturizing skin cream almost every day because of its simple formula. Vanicream’s bodywash is soap- and oil-free and doesn’t contain dyes, fragrance, lanolin, parabens, or formaldehyde.
If you’re looking for something that is ultra moisturizing, you’ll like La Roche-Posay’s gentle bodywash. It contains nourishing ingredients like shea butter, prebiotic thermal water, and niacinamide.
Nécessaire makes some of our favorite bodycare products. So many editors are obsessed with the body lotion. This gel-oil cleanser is enriched with vitamins A, B3, C, and E, plus omegas 6 and 9 and antioxidants to really support your skin’s health. The oils included in the formula are marula, cacay, and meadowfoam, which can leave your skin feeling so soft.
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Free of soap, sulfates, and parabens, this bodywash is perfect for dry skin. It contains ceramides to help restore the skin’s barrier, and the gently foaming formula won’t strip the skin.
A gel-like formula can feel so nice on red, itchy, and irritated skin. This gel bodywash is specifically formulated for dry and sensitive skin, and it’s gentle enough for everyday use.
Dove’s bodywash is made with natural cleansers and skin-natural ingredients, so it won’t disrupt your skin’s microbiome. The formula will leave your skin moisturized, soft, and, of course, clean.
You can use this hypoallergenic wash on both your body and hair. It’s good for all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone skin. Antioxidants and citric acid in the product work to treat rashes and soothe the skin.
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Another gel formula, Avène’s cleanser can be used for the body and face. It will gently remove dirt and oil without stripping the skin or disrupting pH levels. It also contains thermal spring water and zinc to soothe the skin.
This product says it’s “made for all,” and it’s true—it’s gentle enough for the whole family to use. It’s made with 95% naturally derived ingredients, is biodegradable, and contains aloe vera and soap tree extract to leave your skin refreshed.
Weleda already makes ultra-nourishing creams, lotions, and balms, so of course, its bodywash is another highly recommended product. It works to calm and soften skin while protecting the skin barrier.
Cult-favorite skincare brand Drunk Elephant also makes a stellar body cleanser that works well for sensitive skin types. It’s made with passionfruit oil to moisturize and soothe, an amino acid blend to support the skin, and a mild surfactant blend to cleanse without drying out the skin.
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While it’s specially formulated for babies, this bodywash works for the whole family, too. The formula doesn’t contain phthalates, parabens, dyes, synthetic fragrances, formaldehyde donors, or SLES. It won’t dry out your skin, either.
If you have dry, sensitive, and eczema-prone skin, you’re going to want to try this bodywash. Coconut cleansers work to gently lift dirt and debris, and aloe vera juice and jojoba, sunflower, and apricot kernel oils target redness and irritation.
This cruelty-free bodywash is made with ingredients like essential oils, aloe vera gel, and flaxseed oil to nourish, cleanse, and refresh the skin. The delicate formula works well on sensitive skin.
Cetaphil’s cleanser is formulated especially for sensitive skin, working to soothe any irritation. Nourishing ingredients include aloe vera, vitamin B5, and marigold flower extract.
Next up, 3 Common Mistakes That Cause Hyperpigmentation and the Creams to Fix It