The best body wash depends on your skin more than the brand, so this page sorts nine body washes and shower gels by what each listing says: soap free, fragrance free, moisturising, multipack or low cost. Our top pick is the Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil, which holds 4.6 stars from 38,103 ratings, more than the other eight picks combined.
Claims such as soap free or suitable for eczema are the listings' own words, not medical advice. Each section below gives the listing facts, who the wash suits and the honest catch.
Best overall body wash for dry skin: Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil
Best overall body wash for dry skin: the Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil, because the listing says it gently cleanses while nourishing and hydrating for 24 hours, and it is soap free.
The listing describes a 1 L ultra nourishing shower oil that relieves tightness and irritation and, it says, reconstructs the skin's barrier. It is listed as suitable for dry, very dry to irritated sensitive skin, and as soap free, paraben free, alcohol free and free of SLS and SLES, with a hypoallergenic fragrance. It holds 4.6 stars from 38,103 ratings, the most of any wash on this page.
It suits dry or tight feeling skin, and the listing also names very dry to irritated sensitive skin. The honest catch: the listing calls it a shower oil and does not describe its lather.
Best soap free body wash for dry, sensitive skin: Bioderma Atoderm Gel Douche
Best soap free body wash for dry, sensitive skin: the Bioderma Atoderm Gel Douche, because the listing words it as soap free and says it hydrates and strengthens the skin barrier.
The listing describes a 1 L gentle cleansing body wash that promotes water retention in the skin and increases the skin's tolerance threshold. It lists a hypoallergenic fragrance and says it suits normal to dry sensitive skin. It holds 4.7 stars from 9,582 ratings, the third highest count here.
It suits someone who likes the Atoderm approach but wants a gel wash instead of an oil. The honest catch: it is from the same brand as the top pick, and the listing names normal to dry sensitive skin only, so it does not speak to oily skin.
Best fragrance free wash for sensitive skin: QV Gentle Wash
Best fragrance free wash for sensitive skin: the QV Gentle Wash, because the listing says it is free from colour, fragrance and lanolin and suitable for use with dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.
The listing describes a 1 kg soap free body cleanser for sensitive and very dry skin. It says the wash is recommended for drier skin because it contains a higher concentration of moisturiser than QV Wash, does not strip away natural oils like soap can, and is a pH balanced, low irritant formulation free from colour, fragrance, propylene glycol and lanolin. It holds 4.8 stars from 272 ratings.
It suits very dry or sensitive skin where you want no fragrance and no colour. The honest catch: only 272 ratings so far, far fewer than the Bioderma washes, and it costs well above the budget picks on this page.
Best oatmeal wash for dry, irritated skin: DermaVeen Extra Hydration Wash
Best oatmeal wash for dry, irritated skin: the DermaVeen Extra Hydration Wash, because the listing says it is soap free, pH 5.5, hypoallergenic and made with natural colloidal oatmeal.
The listing describes a 1 L wash with natural colloidal oatmeal to gently cleanse and help soothe dry skin and irritation. The title adds dermatologically tested and non drying, and the bullets say it is free of lanolin, parabens, artificial dyes and fragrances and suitable for all over body and face use. It holds 4.8 stars from 348 ratings.
It suits dry, irritated skin and anyone who wants one unscented wash for body and face. The honest catch: it has no fragrance, so it adds no scent to the shower, and only 348 ratings so far.
Best moisturising everyday body wash: Dove Triple Moisturising Body Wash
Best moisturising everyday body wash: the Dove Triple Moisturising Body Wash, because the listing states a rich lather that does not dry out skin and 0 percent sulfate SLES.
This listing is a pack of two 1 L bottles. It describes naturally derived gentle cleansers, a plant based moisturiser and one quarter moisturising cream, and says the wash helps skin keep its natural moisture rather than stripping it away. It holds 4.7 stars from 1,329 ratings.
It suits a household that wants two bottles of a moisturising wash. The honest catch: the listing says its information is per pack only, and it is a purchase of two 1 L bottles.
Best botanical body wash: Sukin Botanical Body Wash Signature
Best botanical body wash: the Sukin Botanical Body Wash Signature, because the listing calls it cleansing, gentle and refreshing and it holds 4.7 stars from 2,008 ratings.
The listing is a 1 L bottle of Sukin's Signature Botanical Body Wash, and its only description is three words: cleansing, gentle, refreshing. It holds 4.7 stars from 2,008 ratings, the fourth highest count here.
It suits someone who wants a botanical named wash without a long list of claims. The honest catch: the listing words are very short, so check the ingredients on the bottle if you want detail.
Best multipack: Palmolive Naturals Anti Stress Body Wash
Best multipack: the Palmolive Naturals Anti Stress Body Wash, because it puts three 1 L bottles of a dermatologically tested, pH balanced wash free of parabens and soap in one pack.
The listing says it is made with 100 percent natural ylang ylang and iris extracts, is free from parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, silicones and soap, and comes in a recyclable bottle. It describes a relaxing scent, a blend of lavender, patchouli and ylang ylang essential oils. It holds 4.8 stars from 1,369 ratings.
It suits a household that gets through a lot of body wash and likes a scented one. The honest catch: it is scented with lavender, patchouli and ylang ylang, so it is not for anyone wanting fragrance free.
Best everyday shower gel for men: NIVEA MEN Active Clean Shower Gel
Best everyday shower gel for men: the NIVEA MEN Active Clean Shower Gel, because the listing says it cleanses gently but deeply with naturally derived active charcoal and works for body, face and hair.
The listing describes a 500 ml 3 in 1 shower gel that is pH skin neutral, with skin compatibility described as dermatologically approved. It holds 4.8 stars from 10,718 ratings, the second highest count here.
It suits a man who wants one gel for body, face and hair. The honest catch: it is made for men, and the product details mark it as discontinued by the manufacturer, so check the listing before you plan to rebuy.
Best value body wash: Johnsons Moisturising Body Wash
Best value body wash: the Johnsons Moisturising Body Wash, because the listing says it is dermatologically tested, 100 percent soap free and hypoallergenic, and it is the cheapest single 1 L bottle here.
The listing describes a 1 L adult body wash with shea butter, jojoba oil and vitamin E that helps relieve skin tightness, revive dull skin, and smooth and soften. It calls the formula mild and gentle. It holds 4.5 stars from 688 ratings.
It suits anyone who wants a soap free wash without paying for a premium bottle. The honest catch: its 4.5 stars is a little lower than every other pick here.
How to choose a body wash
Start with your skin type
Dry, tight or irritated skin is where the Bioderma Atoderm washes, the QV Gentle Wash and the DermaVeen wash aim: their listings talk about dry, very dry or sensitive skin. The Dove and Johnsons listings describe moisturising or mild formulas instead. Match the wash to the skin the listing describes, not to the longest claim list.
What soap free means
Several listings say soap free: both Bioderma washes, QV, DermaVeen, Johnsons and Palmolive. The QV listing explains the idea by saying its wash does not strip away natural oils like soap can. pH balanced is a separate claim: DermaVeen states pH 5.5, and QV and Palmolive say pH balanced.
Fragrance free or scented
QV and DermaVeen are listed as fragrance free, and the Bioderma Atoderm listing says hypoallergenic fragrance. Palmolive is scented with a lavender, patchouli and ylang ylang blend, and the NIVEA MEN listing says it smells and feels sensational. If scent matters either way, this is the quickest filter.
Oil, gel or wash
The listings use different words: the Atoderm Shower Oil is a shower oil, while the NIVEA MEN is a shower gel and the Dove listing calls itself a shower gel. The listings rarely describe lather, so texture is the thing you learn by trying. A shower oil is also a different product from a body oil, which our body oil guide compares.
Bottle size and multipacks
Check the unit before you compare. The Bioderma, Sukin, DermaVeen and Johnsons listings are 1 L, the QV is 1 kg, the NIVEA MEN is 500 ml, the Dove is two 1 L bottles and the Palmolive is three. A multipack suits a household, and a single bottle suits one person.
Budget or premium
The Johnsons and NIVEA MEN are the low cost picks, while the Bioderma and QV washes cost well above them. Choose by the listed skin type, fragrance and pack size. Our body lotion guide compares lotions.
Read the claims, then patch test
Dermatologically tested, hypoallergenic and suitable for eczema are the listings' words, and a label claim is not a guarantee for your skin. As general advice, patch test any new wash on a small area first. None of these listings claims exfoliation, so for that see our body scrub guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best body wash in Australia right now?
For dry skin, the Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil, which has the most ratings of any wash here at 38,103 and 4.6 stars. For a classic everyday gel, the Dove Triple Moisturising pack holds 4.7 stars from 1,329 ratings, and the Palmolive Naturals multipack holds 4.8 from 1,369. The right one depends on your skin type.
Which body wash do dermatologists recommend?
No wash on this page carries a dermatologist recommendation in its listing, so we cannot name a number one. The listings use other words: the Palmolive Naturals, Johnsons and DermaVeen washes say dermatologically tested, and the NIVEA MEN says skin compatibility dermatologically approved. Those are the brands' own claims, not a recommendation.
What is the best body wash for sensitive skin and eczema?
For sensitive skin, the QV Gentle Wash is the pick: the listing says it is fragrance free, free from colour and lanolin, and suitable for use with dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis. The DermaVeen oatmeal wash and the Bioderma Atoderm Gel Douche are the other soap free options the listings aim at sensitive or irritated skin.
What is the best body wash for dry skin?
The Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil is the top pick for dry skin: the listing says it nourishes and hydrates for 24 hours and suits dry, very dry to irritated sensitive skin. For a moisturising everyday gel, the Dove Triple Moisturising pack says its rich lather does not dry out skin. Johnsons adds shea butter.
What is the best soap free body wash?
The Bioderma Atoderm Gel Douche is the pick: the listing words it as soap free and says it hydrates and strengthens the skin barrier. The Atoderm Shower Oil, QV Gentle Wash, DermaVeen oatmeal wash and Johnsons Moisturising wash are also listed as soap free, so the choice comes down to fragrance, texture and bottle size.
Is there a natural or chemical free body wash here?
No listing here says chemical free. The Palmolive Naturals listing says it is made with 100 percent natural ylang ylang and iris extracts and is free from parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, silicones and soap. The Sukin listing calls its wash botanical, and the DermaVeen listing names natural colloidal oatmeal.
What is the best smelling body wash?
Smell is personal, so the listings only describe it. The Palmolive Naturals Anti Stress wash lists a relaxing blend of lavender, patchouli and ylang ylang essential oils, and the NIVEA MEN Active Clean says it smells and feels sensational. QV and DermaVeen are listed as fragrance free, so skip them if scent matters.
Is there a body wash for men, women, body odour or antibacterial use?
The NIVEA MEN Active Clean is the one wash here made for men, and its title mentions lasting freshness. No listing on this page is described for women, for pregnancy, or as antibacterial or antifungal, so choose the others, such as the Dove Triple Moisturising, on skin type and scent.
Is a multipack or a premium body wash better value?
The Palmolive Naturals gives 3 x 1 L in one pack and the Dove Triple Moisturising gives 2 x 1 L, which suits a household. The Johnsons is the cheapest 1 L bottle here, while the Bioderma and QV washes cost well above it. Choose by the listed skin type, fragrance and pack size.
