Best Natural Body Washes for Every Skin Type That Are Gentle and Moisturizing
Best Natural Body Washes For Sensitive Skin 2021
Let’s dig up dirt on what makes natural liquid soap the clear living choice. When you choose to use natural, organic soap, whether it is a bar or a liquid, you want products that get made with plant-based ingredients, are gentle on the skin, and are kind to the planet.
Soaps and Body cleanses that are predominately sold, contain Parabens, sulfates and phthalates. The chemical additives can disrupt hormones and strip the skin of its natural oil and much worse. This creates pH imbalance, dry skin, and premature aging. Not only do they harm our skin, but often the synthetic ingredients do not break down and end up in our oceans, killing many forms of sea life.
Of course, there’s a massive selection of products out there for pretty much every skin type, so, how to choose the best natural body wash for your skin? I’m here to help you pick the best organic body washes & shower gel for an all-natural cleanse. I choose them based on ethical business practices, gentle, non-toxic ingredients, and product efficacy.
Before I dive into products that can be effective whatever you have dry, oily or sensitive skin, it’s important to know which toxins you should try to avoid to keep scary out of your shower.
Let’s answer this question first.
Puracy Natural Body Wash
Sulfate-Free Bath and Shower Gel Made in the USA
Attitude 2 in 1 Natural Shampoo and Body Wash
Certified Organic product, best for Dry, Irritated Skin
Nurture My Body Fragrance Free Organic Body Wash
Best for sensitive skin
Alaffia – Everyday Shea Body Wash
Great sulfate-free body wash!
Nubian Heritage Body Wash
Black Seed Body Wash Best Exotic and Exciting Fragrance Combinations
SheaMoisture African Black Soap Body Wash
Certified Organic product, best for Dry, Irritated Skin
Earth Mama Morning Wellness Body Wash
paraben or sulfate free formula for especially for pregnancy
ArtNaturals Tea Tree Body and Foot Wash
Antifungal Soap for Eczema, Nail Fungus, Athletes Foot, Ringworm, Jock Itch and Odors
How To Tell If Your Body Wash Is Really Organic Or Natural?
The best natural body washes are products that you can trust. But how do you know your personal, body wash is what it says it is?
Unscrupulous brands will use words like organic and natural, when in fact the body wash in question will contain ingredients far from natural or organic. I’ve certain safeguards that assist us, as consumers. Companies that label their products with full transparency will carry logos that further verify the authenticity of the wash.
Besides checking out trustworthy sites like: ewg.org and safecosmetics.org
You can also look for the one or more of the following logos:
USDA approved – but be aware that USDA certification has different levels of verification so check out this PDF file to see the details
SafeMade seal
Leaping Bunny logos
Non-GMO project verified
For a product not made in the USA, you can just google “Organically certified logos” and check out the various logos for European and Canadian products too. So bear in mind just because it says “herbal” or “natural” or “made with” does not mean it is 100% safe.
What is The Difference Between Organic Natural Soaps and Commercial Brands?
I must also ask, do you know what the difference is between a natural liquid body wash, natural soap bars and regular, commercially produced soaps?
Well first off, soap is made by using oils and/or fats and lye. Lye is either sodium or potassium hydroxide. For liquid soaps, potassium hydroxide is preferred. And for those of you getting anxious to let me assure you, potassium hydroxide disappears during the process (called saponification), so the end product does not contain this chemical. And the soap is still considered natural. Also, ALL soaps contain lye, natural or commercial.
Second, soaps contain glycerin and this is where I separate the good from the bad. In the way, soap is made. Natural hard soaps will be cured over time, and leave you with a high glycerin content, which will lock moisture into your skin.
Commercial soaps get cured using salt. This reduces the glycerin content, speeds up the curing process and is why commercial soaps, long-term, dry out your skin and strip the natural oils.
Third, liquid soaps don’t need curing, because they are liquid. Natural body washes, whether liquid or soap bars, give more than they take.
Organic body washes will moisturize, nourish, replenish and hydrate, as well as clean.
Which Organic Ingredients for Your Natural Skin Care Ritual?
Body washes that contain perfumes, synthetic chemicals and non-biodegradable ingredients strip the skin of it’s natural oils. This leads to dry skin and premature aging, even in people with oily skin.
The body has natural oils which protect our skin by forming a barrier between harsh environmental pollutants and these oils also lock in moisture, which keeps our skin naturally hydrated.
Natural liquid soaps will add to the cleansing process with essential oils, and other lovely ingredients that all benefit and cleanse the skin gently.
Fats like coconut oil, shea butter and other natural humectants help natural soaps to lather as well as lock in moisture.
So as you can see, natural soap, whether liquid or bar, is always the better choice for your skin.
Can Natural Products Cause Allergic Reactions?
Yes, even natural plant extracts can have adverse reactions in certain individuals, and at times be unsafe for pregnant or breastfeeding moms. But this is easily rectified by changing to another body wash free from the botanicals you may be sensitive to.
Natural body washes are often free from fragrance altogether, this makes them suitable for the most sensitive skin types.
The correct body wash choice for you will be based on what skin type you have. But you should also consider the following criteria.
Things you should consider when buying a Body Wash?
Ingredients: An excellent natural body wash will not be tested on animals, contain no harsh synthetic ingredients, like parabens, triclosan, sulfates and perfumes.
Instead, they will be made from ethically sourced, most often organic, and always gentle-on-the-skin ingredients.
Efficacy: A natural body wash should leave the skin feeling soft and supple. It must have some lathering effect and spread easily.
There is no point in using a product just because it is “natural”. It must still do the job! And a natural fragrance, that does not overpower the senses or clash with deodorant is also important.
So having the choice of a fragrance-free or botanically scented soap is also a factor.
Packaging is also important in today’s world, so where possible you want to choose products that come in containers that are either BPA free and recyclable. Even better if made from recycled plastic!
But again, we need to educate ourselves on the safest plastics to use.
Transparency: A trustworthy brand will always list their ingredients and be able to back up their claims with verified symbols.
It is not enough for them to just claim their product is non-GMO, or organic or cruelty-free etc.
8 of the best organic all natural body Washes
Because it can take hours sifting through the thousands of brands and types of body washes available online, I have made it easier for you. I spent hours doing it!
Below you will find a fully comprehensive breakdown of 8 of the best organic liquid body washes. Free from harsh chemicals and artificial, synthetic fragrances and ingredients. And suited to your specific skin type. I’ve found at least one product for everyone. So whether you have dry, oily or sensitive skin, there should be a body wash suited to your specific needs.
So without further ado, find the best natural body washes, ahead.
Puracy Natural Body Wash – Sea Salt And Citrus Best Non-Toxic Body Wash. Made in the USA
Puracy is an ethically sound company that gives back. Based in Austin, Texas and run by the founders, who believe in creating eco-friendly household and beauty products that are non-toxic and affordable. A percentage of their profits go to various charities, and the unique labels are original hand-drawn artworks by local artists.
What I love about this product
- Made in the USA: Less than 1% of the ingredients are sourced beyond US borders – the Himalayan salt, the lavender oil, the lime oil and the vanilla.
- EWG varified
- Gluten free
- Developed by doctors, hypoallergenic, non-toxic and never tested on animals which makes it vegan.
- Biodegradable
- PETA and Leaping Bunny certified
- Non-residual, so it washes off beautifully
- Derived from plant-based ingredients (suitable for vegans)
- 99.95% natural, safe for pets and children
Puracy Natural Body Wash is designed to wash away impurities, hydrate, balance and purify. It is so gentle you can wash your whole body and face with it. The Himalayan sea salt exfoliates, and the citrus rejuvenates.
What’s In It:
- It has a coconut base for a luxury foam.
- Sea salt – to purify
- Clinical grade moisturizers
- Natural emollients and essential oils
- Natural preservatives
Puracy Body Wash Is Free From Sulfates, Parabens, Triclosan, Formaldehyde, Salicylates, Phosphates, MEA, DEA and TEA, Petroleum-based products, Animal by-products, Perfumes, dyes and caustics.
Type and Size:
- Hand pump, liquid hand or body wash, suited for men and women
- 2 Pack with each container holding 16fl.oz/473ml, Comes in a nice, compostable cardboard box.
- Also comes in a handy refill pack 64fl.oz
Attitude 2 in 1 Natural Shampoo and Body WashL Best EWG verified the brand
Attitude is not only a company that carries a few EWG approved products, but their entire Super Leaves Range is also EWG verified, as is the rest of their range. Attitude espouses conscious living and so by supporting this brand you are also helping the planet’s people that are trying to do their bit to bring some balance to the state of the earth.
By making products that are not contributing to pollution, Attitude products are safe to use and biodegradable. The 2 in 1 Shampoo and Body Wash for Men, has leaf extracts that strengthen, tone and revitalize hair and skin. This makes it a versatile, convenient product.
Men, you guys can use it when you shower after gym, or when you shower before bed or in the morning, before going to work. It has tones of bergamot, neroli and white cedarwood. The earthy undertones and light citrus notes leave you feeling fresh and energetic from top to toe, literally.
What I Love About This Product
- It is a shampoo and body wash combined
- EWG verified
- Hypoallergenic and Dermatologically tested
- Vegan, Cruelty-Free verified
- Natural, biodegradable ingredients
- UL EcoLogo Certified
- Bottles are made with recycled HDPE #2 plastic
What’s in it?
The leaf extracts used in this natural, chemical-free body wash and shampoo include:
- Nasturtium leaves
- Indian cress
- Moringa seed extracts
- Grapeseed oil
- Ginseng root extracts
Attitude products contain only “worry-free” ingredients.
Free from: Endocrine disruptors, Cancer-causing chemicals, Synthetic ingredients like parabens, sulfates and triclosan
Type and Size:
Sold in 16 fl.oz recycled plastic HDPE #2 bottles. Liquid shampoo and body wash combined.
Nurture My Body Fragrance-Free Organic Body Wash: Best for sensitive skin
Nurture My Body is a Northern Californian based company that believes in a “Farm to Face” approach. Their products are made in small batches, from wildcrafted ingredients, most, if not all of which are harvested from their farm.
The farm follows the permaculture model of farming. This also means the way they harvest and process their ingredients preserves the integrity of the ingredients. And it makes Nurture My Body Fragrance-Free Body Wash one of the purest, cleanest wash on the market.
What I love about this product
- Fragrance-free
- EWG rating of 0
- Natural botanicals bursting with antioxidants
- Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin
- BPA free packaging
- 100% Organic and natural
- Money back guarantee
- Lathers well
- Made in small batches
What’s in it?
- Purified water
- Decyl and Lauryl polyglucose (derived from palm kernel oil, coconut and corn)
- Coconut Oil
- Extracts from seaweed, rose geranium, lavender, comfrey root, strawberry leaf, calendula, oat straw, chamomile, Seabuckthorn and grapefruit.
Free from: SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), Parabens, Petrochemicals and all the other nasties they sneak into beauty products
Nurture My Body Fragrance-Free Body Wash softens and protects your skin and lathers well.
Type and Size:
It comes in 8fl. Oz (240ml) and is packaged in BPA free, UV proof PET plastic bottles, which make it completely recyclable.
Alaffia – Everyday Shea Body Wash: Great sulfate-free option
Alaffia has the most heartwarming backstory I’ve come across in ages. When a young man from Togo met and fell in love with peace corp worker from rural Washington, their shared dream of uplifting the rural community in Togo was borne. Today that reality is a small company with far-reaching effects.
What I love about this product
Their products use the bare minimum of ingredients, and they are all about sustainability and community upliftment. Funds from the business go back into community projects that empower women and children.
As of February 2017, Alaffia, which means peace, health and well being, has helped bring eyeglasses to almost 25 000 people, built 10 schools, provided 32 842 students with school supplies and planted nearly 58 000 trees.
- This liquid body wash is made from only 4 biodegradable ingredients.
- Unscented; which makes it suitable for sensitive skin.
- Combination of shea butter, coconut oil and neem will moisturize and deep cleanse normal to the very dry skin.
- Sustainable, wildcrafted ingredients are used, and they are Fair Trade certified.
- MadeSafe seal of approval.
- No animal testing has been done, so all Alaffia products are vegan.
What’s In It?
- Aqueous neem extract
- Coconut Oil
- Shea Butter
- Mild plant-based surfactants
This body washes foams well, has deep cleansing properties but does not strip away natural oils. The coconut and shea butter moisturize and rehydrate very dry skin and replenishes. Shea butter has been used for ages in traditional cultures as a superior moisturizer.
Alaffia Liquid Body Wash is Free From Parabens, Sulfates, Perfumes, and all the other ingredients that make beauty products ugly.
Type and Size
- Liquid Hand and Body Wash for men and women
- Comes in hand pump dispenser of 32fl.oz (950ml)
Nubian Heritage Honey and Black Seed Body Wash
Nubian Heritage has to be the top pick for creativity when it comes to labeling their different products. They sound more like delicious meals than soaps!
Labels like Raw Shea and Myrrh, Mango Butter, Patchouli and Burti and, of course, their body wash, Black Seed and Arabian Honey, all sound luxurious and decadent and transport me to exotic destinations.
Nubian Heritage was founded by a mother, a son and his best friend, fresh out of college. From selling handcrafted Shea Butter soaps as far back as 1992, on the streets of Harlem, they have grown into a company that supports ethically sourced shea from Ghana. And in doing so, they are empowering over 700 women in Ghana, where the base ingredient for their products come from. Strictly Fair Trade and with the parent company, Sundial Brands behind them, Nubian Heritage was born.
What I love about this product
This particular body washes, Black Seed and Honey (with apricot oil), is a best seller because it is a rich antioxidant cleanser, with natural enzymes and amino acids that lock in the moisture.
This gives the skin a smoother appearance and feel. So you are getting a cleanser and moisturizing effect from one product.
- Ethically Sourced
- Fair Trade
- Sustainably produced
- No animal testing – vegan
- Made in the USA
What’s in it?
Coconut Oil Soap, Coconut oil, Palm Kernel, Deionized water, Shea Butter, Honey, Apricot Seed oil, Black Seed Oil, Honeysuckle and Japanese honeysuckle flower extracts, essential oils.
Free from: Toxic, harsh and chemical ingredients like parabens, triclosan, sulfates etc.
Type and Size
- Nubian Heritage comes in 13 fl.oz plastic bottles with a tabbed lid, but no pump.
- Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
SheaMoisture African Black Soap Body Wash: best for Dry, Irritated Skin
The story of Shea Moisture starts in 1912. Sophie Tucker was 19, widowed, with 4 children! She started selling Shea Nuts at the market in Bonthe, a village in Sierra Leone. This grandmother’s legacy has now transformed a small family business into a little company that gives back to the community.
They give 10% to women-led businesses. They empower, use fair trade ingredients and still remain a family owned and run the business.
What I love about this product
Their products are tested on family members, NOT animals, making it a vegan product.
- They use fair trade business practices and ingredients
- Certified organic
- Community Commerce approved
- B Corp approved
- Cruelty-Free
- Family owned and operated
- Made in the USA
What’s in it?
All the ingredients are organic and fair trade, which mean they have been sustainably sourced, and fair trade principles get applied in all areas of the production and manufacture.
The full list of ingredients appear on the label, but the main ingredients are: Aloe vera, Cocoa pod ash, Oat Bran, Coconut, Shea butter, Vitamin E, Jojoba
Shea Moisture African Black Soap Body Wash cleanses skin prone to outbreaks just as gently as it does all skin types. It is a naturally balancing soap. The oat extract calms irritation and that red appearance so familiar with acne outbreaks. The aloe brings moisture and shea butter also hydrates, moisturizes and nourishes.
I have gifted an entire Shea Moisture facial cleansing kit, that included a face mask as well as a bar of soap which I prefer to use on my face. With the bar, you first need to wet and lather, but the body wash is great because it is liquid and easier to work into a lather. It is just a personal preference though.
Shea Moisture African Black Soap is free from: Sulfates, Phthalates, Mineral oils, Propylene, Glycol, DEA, Parabens.
Type and Size:
This liquid body wash comes in 13fl. Oz plastic pops up lid containers. Two packs are also available, which is sometimes a good idea because you can gift one to a friend.
6. Earth Mama Morning Wellness Body Wash Best paraben or sulfate free formula for especially for pregnancy
As their name suggests, Earth Mama is all about making products so gentle they are completely safe, and in fact, made especially for pregnant women and their angel cakes!
Started in 2001, by Melinda Olsen, Earth Mama grew from Melinda’s passion and knowledge of herbs, and her desire to bring the botanical benefits of herbs to mothers and babies.
What I love about this product
Earth Mama has a set of core beliefs that make the brand stand out.
- Do no harm
- Nature is our pharmacy
- Honor the body’s ingenuity
- Celebrate motherhood
On top of this their products deliver the following:
- Formulated by nurse and herbalist
- Vegan
- Certified by Oregon Tilth (OTOC) Organic
- Non-GMO project verified
- EarthKosher verified
What’s in it?
Water, Oils of coconut, olive fruit, lime, grapefruit peel, ginger root, Shea butter, Potassium hydroxide (which does not exist in the end product), Citric acid, Aloe leaf juice, Extracts of vanilla pod and calendula, Vegetable glycerin.
The ginger settles and the citrus uplifts, which is why it is such a suitable wash for pregnant moms.
Free from: Triclosan, Parabens, Fragrance, Sulfates.
Type and Size:
5.3fl.oz bottles.
ArtNaturals Tea Tree Body and Foot Wash: best Antifungal Soap for Eczema
ArtNaturals promote natural ingredients, affordability and long lasting results. This is a brand that focuses on harnessing the benefits of natural oils and botanical extracts to make their products useful and unique.
ArtNaturals Antifungal Body and Foot Wash is powerful enough to bring soothing relief to painful conditions like athlete’s foot, eczema, ringworm and psoriasis, while at the same time it deodorizes and keeps areas, that are prone to sweating, fresh.
What I love about this product
It has antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic properties. This is because it contains tea tree, eucalyptus and peppermint oils.
- Powerful yet gentle.
- Suitable for adults, teens and children over 3.
- Cruelty-Free
- Non-residual
What’s in it?
The list of ingredients is quite long, as it contains many oils and extracts but the ingredients are all listed on the bottle and although the scientific names are used, don’t be confused, they are all natural.
Antifungal Body and Foot Wash contains coconut and jojoba oil as well as aloe vera, which is why it has a softening and moisturizing effect, as well as being antiseptic and antifungal. The deodorizing aspect is because it contains oils with antibacterial properties.
Free from: Parabens, Cruelty
It works best if used twice daily. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and dry well after use.
Type and Size:
The ArtNaturals Body and Foot Wash comes in 12 fl.oz (354.8ml) bottles.
Wrapping It Up
Choosing to use natural products is a personal choice, but it is also a wiser one. Harsh ingredients not only damage your skin over time but also contribute to the number of ingredients that don’t break down and return to the earth. Anything we use on the outside has the potential to be absorbed into our systems, inadvertently affecting our insides.
Endocrine Disruptors: What are they and why are they potentially harmful?
If you use products or eat foods that contain certain ingredients you can unwittingly disrupt the endocrine system. They can cause hormone imbalances and even cancers.
This is a significant reason why people are changing to natural products. Endocrine disruptors are things like:
- Phthalates
- Triclosan
- Parabens
Recyclable and Reusable
Are natural body washes safe for greywater and septic tank systems?
Yes! This means if you have s greywater system feeding out into your garden you can safely use natural body washes, knowing you are not destroying the fragile ecosystem within your soil.
So it is a good option for anyone living in dry areas or for people with organic gardens.
Many brands are switching to, or already use, bottles from recycled plastic. And you can reuse or recycle these bottles too. Certain plastics are considered unsafe as they leach out into the product and can potentially disrupt our endocrine systems. This presents most commonly as estrogen dominance in men, women and children.
Estrogen Dominance
Symptoms of estrogen dominance include:
- PMS
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Cancer
- Belly Fat
- Thyroid imbalances
As we become better informed, we can make better choices which will impact the lives of our children and their children. It also means we get to make a positive impact on the earth.
I hope these reviewed products have given you a better understanding of what’s out there in the way of natural, convenient, ethically sound body washes.
Look out for more of our healthy body, healthy planet reviews. Please feel free to leave comments and let us know which of these products you tried and how they worked for you.
Live clean, live green. From the outside, in.
