When looking for a body wash when you have sensitive skin, make sure to choose a product that is soap-free—true soaps have an alkaline pH and can disrupt the skin barrier, leading to irritation,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. “Fragrances often make using your product more enjoyable, but [you should avoid them, too, as they] can be associated with skin allergies in people who are sensitive.” All the dermatologists we spoke to recommended avoiding any kind of soap- or sulfate-based surfactant, since these are usually too harsh for people with sensitive skin. Coconut- or plant-based cleansers are usually milder.

Maybe you’ve never thought of using an oil-based cleanser as a body wash for your sensitive skin, but these products can give you an extra dose of much-needed barrier lipids while effectively removing irritating dirt, grime, and pollutants from your skin. The Bioderma Atoderm Cleansing Oil is a fan-favorite in the oil-based cleanser department, and though it’s more expensive than other options, it might be worth it for your dry, irritated, sensitive skin. Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate an ingredient which helps to clean or remove dirt and oil and can create foam when used with water.What we really love about this wash is that it also contains niacinamide, a common ingredient in facial moisturizers, helping it pull double-duty as a body and face cleanser. Niacinamide is a topical form of the vitamin B3, which may reduce inflammation in people with acne and protect your skin against sun damage (though those results have been seen more with oral B3, not topical). You need two at least two components in a body wash for sensitive skin: a gentle cleanser, or surfactant, and some kind of moisturizing ingredient.

Butyloctanol helps to make your skin feel soft and smooth with smart biotic effect / support skin microbiome. Poloxamer 124 an ingredient which helps to clean or remove dirt and oil, which can create foam when used with water. Similar to how ceramides increase the lipids naturally found in your skin barrier, the Atoderm Cleansing oil also promotes the strength and health of your skin barrier, infusing it with coconut and sunflower esters to make it feel silky and smooth, not parched and rough. It’s also soap-free, non-comedogenic, and safe for the whole family to use. What it does: form a breathable seal over the surface of the skin to keep hydration in and environmental aggressors out

Best Dermatologist Recommended Skin Care Products for Your Body and Scalp

Cocamidopropyl Betaine An ingredient which helps to clean or remove dirt and oil and can create foam when used with water. What exactly won’t you find in this body wash? Fragrances, dyes, parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde releasers, and more. It’s an unscented, soap-free cleanser that uses mild surfactants to remove dirt and glycerin to draw more water to the skin, leaving it soft and smooth. It’s a lightweight cream, so it lathers without stripping and drying out the skin; combined with its affordable price point and the fact that it can be used for kids and babies, too, Vanicream is an all-around reliable cleanser for sensitive skin. Normally, you have to keep your face wash and your body wash separate when you have sensitive skin, but if you’re interested in taking a minimalist, all-in-one approach to your skin care, the La Roche-Posay Lipikar Wash might be what you need. It’s sulfate-free and non-comedogenic, so it won’t cleanse too harshly or clog your pores. It has both glycerin and shea butter to hydrate your skin, and it's made with La Roche-Posay’s patented Prebiotic Thermal Water, which can give your skin an extra boost of antioxidants. Prebiotics can also support your skin's natural microbiome.

I’m using your Spray sunscreen and I love it. It is easy to apply and stays on. Even when I’m fishing and in exposure that includes reflection of UV off water I don’t get burned. I keep some in my boat to reapply when I’m fishing. Carl Many of the products on this list are designed to prevent irritation during body cleansing, but not all of them can provide the skin healing benefits of the Aveeno Restorative Skin Therapy wash when your skin is already damaged, irritated, or inflamed. With the usual “good skin” ingredients like glycerin and coconut-based cleansers—and none of the “bad skin” ingredients like sulfates, parabens, or dyes—this body wash stands up to its competitors and even offers a little more.But Dr. Friedler says that many of the common brands with sensitive skin-specific products are dermatology-focused—in other words, they’re designed to be gentle enough for nearly everyone to use. This includes Eucerin, CeraVe, Aveeno, Dove, and Aquaphor, just to name a few (and, if you’ll notice, many of those brands made our list!). sodium benzoate Helps maintain the shelf-life of the product, protecting it from bacteria, yeasts and molds. As far as moisturizing ingredients go, Dr. Zeichner says you should look for a combination of the three types of moisturizers: humectants, emollients, and occlusives. He breaks down what each one does, and how you might see them pop up in your skincare products.