The Best Shower Gels For Dry Skin

If you have very sensitive, dry skin, Vanicream should be your go-to brand. All of the brand’s products, including their gentle body wash, are made without common irritants and harsh drying ingredients such as sulfates. This fragrance-free body wash is approved by the National Eczema Association, so if you have such a skin condition, you know you can use it safely.

Relevant review: “Excellent skin care product for eczema and extremely dry skin. A dime size or less lathers into a thick, rich and creamy gentle nonfragrance cleansing experience. Rinses away well without leftover residue to make skin itch or be irritated.”

• Also available on Vitacost, $16

A calming lavender scent makes this body wash a particularly nice choice for people who usually shower before bed. This is a proper shower gel, but it’s made with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera juice and quinoa protein, so it shouldn’t leave your skin feeling dry. It’s also fragrance-free, sulfate-free, and certified natural by NSF.

Relevant review: “This is definitely a favorite of the household. It’s a repeat order item. Great natural lavender aroma, lathers nicely, and isn’t drying to the skin.”

• Also available on Vitacost, $10

If you prefer fragrance-free skin care products, this vegan and cruelty-free shower gel is a great daily body wash to keep in your shower. It's super gentle, and it contains no sulfates or added fragrance, so even people with the most dry, sensitive skin should be able to use it safely. It’s super hydrating, thanks to ingredients like coconut, neem, olive, and kukui oils, and it’s also full of nutrient- and antioxidant-rich seaweed extract and blue green algae.

Relevant review: “I have very sensitive skin and I have truly never found a product that hasn't left my skin feeling itchy, dry and/or broken out. Well, that was until I found this wonderful product. My skin always felt so dry after a shower, that I would immediately have to put lotion on. With this product, I don't even feel like I need lotion. My skin feels so soft after my shower. I've had problems with eczema and other skin issues and other body washes and soaps have made it worse, but this product has helped to clear my skin. So I am very happy with this product.”

If you have keratosis pilaris or skin that’s bumpy, dry, and rough, this is the body wash you want. CeraVe’s best-selling SA Body Wash is made with salicylic acid to unclog congested pores and promote smoother skin, but because it’s balanced out by strengthening ceramides and soothing niacinamide, it won’t exacerbate dryness.

Relevant review: “after a few uses i can already see a huge difference! my back/chest acne is already beginning to subside and my skin is much less dry.”

• Also available on Ulta Beauty, $10 for 17 ounces

Bliss has made such a winner of a shower gel here. Just like the shower gel they use at their day spas, this one has a refreshing, citrusy scent, contains moisturizing ingredients like aloe leaf and glycerin, and contains no sulfates. As with all Bliss products, it's cruelty-free and adorably packaged; Plus, despite costing a bit more than the average body wash, you are getting a ton of product.

Keep in mind that this body wash does contain fragrance, which people with sensitive skin, or conditions like eczema, might find irritating. If you know your skin does fine with fragrance, however, this is a great, invigorating option to consider.

Relevant review: “My skin is very dry and usually after a wash I am rushing for my coconut oil to stop that drying out itchy feeling I normally get but I with Bliss body wash its light and doesn’t strip my skin of its natural oils. I am using less coconut oil on my skin and my skin is glowing!”

• Also available on Walmart, $9 and Vitacost, $9

This budget-friendly shower gel is loaded with tea tree oil, an ingredient that's popular for its antifungal and antibacterial properties, and which helps promote smoother, less congested skin. To balance out the tea tree, the formula contains moisturizing ingredients like vitamin E, pro-vitamin B5, aloe vera, and safflower seed oil, plus skin-soothing allantoin.

Despite their affordable price points, Jason is a clean, eco-friendly brand known for their high-quality, plant-based products. This body wash is no exception, being biodegradable, cruelty-free, vegan, and free of common chemical irritants, including sulfates.

Relevant review: “This is a good body wash. It did not leave my skin dry nor strip it of anything good. Rather, my skin feels soft, moisturized, and breakout free. It lathers and soaps up well, and the scent is nice. Lasts me a long time. Thanks.”

If you love the smell of sweet almonds, pick up this shower gel from The Honest Company. The sulfate-free formula is enriched with jojoba and almond oils to keep your skin moisturized and soft, and it can be used as shampoo, too.

Relevant review: “I love this product!!! I have super sensitive skin and it will dry, flake,crack and itch. [...] I bought this and even after the first use I stopped itching. It has been a few weeks now and !y skin is soft and health. I can shower daily again without any dryness or cracking, and itching is gone. I started using it as a shampoo as well, my normally frizzy hair is soft an manageable right out of the shower”

If you have very dry skin, you might want to consider switching to a shower oil. This one, from Bioderma's Atoderm line, will leave skin smooth and soft instead of dry and itchy, and the brand even says it'll keep your skin moisturized for up to 24 hours post-wash. Packaged in an enormous, 1-liter bottle, the soap-free formula is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, so it won't clog your pores, while ingredients like glycerin, tocopherol, and the brand's own blend of plant biolipids provide soothing and moisturizing benefits. Despite being an oil, it's lightweight, silky, and has a non-greasy feel.

Relevant review: “Honestly, the product smells and feels great. [...] My skin has been the driest ever this winter. After only one night, my skin already feels so much softer and more moisturized. I can imagine that a few weeks in to using this will make a huge difference! Definitely for you if you are dealing with itchy, flaky, dry winter skin.”

• Also available on Walmart, $7

This body wash from Aveeno comes at a very budget-friendly price, and the sulfate-free formula is ideal for dry skin. It’s made with mostly naturally-derived ingredients, like soothing oat and camellia, as well as prebiotics to support strong, healthy skin.

Relevant review: “I like the fresh scent and the way it makes my skin not so dry”

• Also available on Vitacost, $16

Whether you’re dealing with eczema or just generally dry, itchy skin, this is a great body wash to keep in your shower. It’s absolutely loaded with hydrating ingredients (including aloe, shea and cocoa seed butters, coconut oil, and oat protein) that will help keep your skin moisturized, which can in turn help relieve itching and other symptoms associated with dryness. You can use the fragrance-free, hypoallergenic cleanser on your face, too.

Relevant review: “I have very dry skin, so it works great for me. I LOVE it. Have already purchased 4 or 5 bottles.”

For seriously dry skin, try this dermatologist-favorite CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash. This is a soap-free, fragrance-free, sulfate-free formula, and it includes those essential barrier-repairing ceramides to keep your skin strong, as well as hyaluronic acid, which works by pulling water to the skin's surface to help it retain moisture. This body wash also boasts the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, so even if you have delicate, irritation-prone skin, it'll likely be a good match for you.

Relevant review: “This is an awesome product! I have somewhat sensitive skin that was getting very dry in the winter weather. It’s not completely unscented but it’s very light and pleasant smelling. I have struggled with little bumps on my upper arms my whole life and they are practically gone after using this for a week. My skin feels smoother, more moisturized, and cleaner. Buy this!”

And last but not least, if you prefer to use bar soaps in the shower, consider stocking up on this three-pack of soap from Southern Natural. It’s made with deeply nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, and goat’s milk. It’s scented with soothing lavender essential oil, too, so it smells amazing.

Relevant review: “I ordered this soap because I have very dry skin. My skin is even more dry in the winter months. This soap leaves me feeling moisturized and the fragrance is amazing. I was worried the lavender aroma might be too strong, but it is just right. I leave the shower feeling smooth and smelling lightly scented with lavender. I would gift this soap, and I will be ordering again.”