14 Best Men’s Body Washes for Dry Skin

14 Best Men’s Body Washes for Dry Skin

Are you tired of itchy, dry skin? It’s uncomfortable, unattractive, and can actually lead to further health problems. Part of the problem is likely your environment–a dry winter or arid desert summer can strip your skin of moisture faster than anything! But another part goes back to your skin cleanser choices.

That’s right. The soap you use could be the culprit for your extra dry skin. And unfortunately, throwing a little lotion on won’t cut it long term. The thing about skincare is it’s a holistic process.

If you’re experiencing dry skin, start at the beginning of your skincare regimen: your body wash. We’ll discuss how body wash can affect your skin in more detail later, but for now, we wanted to give you a headstart on your search for a better soap. Here are 14 of the best men’s body washes for dry skin.

We researched numerous skincare products, and Blu Atlas is our top contender. We found it to be an excellent product for restoring moisture to the skin without harsh chemicals that can strip the skin of its essential oils.

Key ingredients in this fragrance-free product include green tea extract, aloe leaf, and coco-caprylate. Green tea is an antioxidant-rich product that is hugely beneficial for the skin. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing properties.

The aloe leaf is another antioxidant-rich ingredient that’s exceptional for locking moisture into the skin. It contains vitamins A, C, and E to help your skin absorb moisture and keep it there. In addition, the coco-caprylate is a special gel that softens and soothes skins, securing moisture at the same time.

Most importantly, it’s an all-natural product, so you can achieve heavy-duty hydration without man-made chemicals. Blu Atlas products are all made in the USA, and they’re gentle enough for all skin types.

Get it on their website for $22. And if you subscribe at checkout, you’ll save 20% for a total of $17.60 per bottle. We love a good deal!

2. Native Body Wash

Those seeking all-natural products have come to trust the name Native in skincare products for both men and women. This charcoal body wash for men is particularly popular for helping to rid the skin of impurities while leaving it clean and moisturized.

There are no phthalates or sulfates that strip the skin of its natural oils. Instead, it uses coconut oil to help scrub away dirt and grime while leaving more hydrated skin behind.

Native body wash comes in many different flavors, including lavender & rose, coconut & vanilla, cucumber & mint, and our personal favorite for men, charcoal. These fragrances are both naturally and synthetically derived, so if your skin reacts negatively to scents, this might not be the right choice for you.

You can get Native body wash for $11 on Amazon.

3. Curél Skincare Itch Defense Body Wash

Curél is a trusted name in men’s and women’s skincare, particularly for its hydrating products. This body wash is especially good for those who regularly deal with itchy skin. Itchiness is a common symptom of dry skin, so finding a body wash that specifically targets this symptom leads to better hydration and less discomfort.

Curél’s Itch Defense Body Wash uses jojoba oils, olive oils, and ceramides to naturally maintain your skin. Your epidermis will look healthier and feel so much better due to the added moisture.

This body wash is gentle enough to use on eczema-prone skin. In fact, it bears The National Eczema Foundation’s seal of approval. It’s soap-free, but the ingredients aren’t all-natural. Still, it’s an affordable option at just $8 per bottle on Amazon.

4. Old Spice Gentleman’s Blend

A long-time favorite in the men’s skincare industry, Old Spice offers an excellent product for men with sensitive and dry skin. It’s devoid of dyes and parabens and uses ultra-hydrating ingredients to deliver results.

It uses a blend of wild sage and aloe for a gentle, thorough clean. And it doesn’t need harsh ingredients to do it. Although it is scented, most find it’s gentle enough for their sensitive skin. Still, if you’re sensitive to fragrances in your soap, you might look for a different option. Otherwise, get it on Amazon for $17.

5. Gillette Hydra Aloe Body Wash

If you love Gilette’s shave products, you’ll probably also love this body wash. Not only does it carry a trusted brand name, but it’s also infused with moisturizing ingredients like aloe, designed to keep your skin feeling smooth and supple.

It’s important to note that this product contains sulfates and phthalates, so if your skin reacts negatively to those ingredients, choose an all-natural alternative. But if you don’t have sensitive skin, the aloe within the formula should do the trick at restoring moisture and making your skin feel soft and fresh again!

6. Jack Black Clean Cream

Here’s a unique body wash product in cream form instead of gel. The cream formula helps put moisture back into the skin and removes impurities, bacteria, and grime.

There are tons of high-quality ingredients in the formula, each with hydrating capabilities worth exploring. Botanical extracts, essential oils, ginger root, argan oil, aloe, and shea butter are just a few ingredients you’ll recognize on the bottle. If you were to research each component, you’d see what they can do to help restore moisture to the skin.

Users report enjoying the thick lather along with the scent. It’s subtle but noticeable, so most with dry skin won’t have a problem with it.

This Jack Black Clean Cream Body Wash is part of an entire skincare line for men called “EpicMoisture,” and you can follow up your cleanse with lotions, aftershave, and other products to help eliminate dry skin all over your body.

It’s not the most affordable option at $23, but many say it’s worth it.

7. Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash

Aveeno products have helped many suffering from dry skin reclaim health and vitality in their dermis. The Aveeno Skin Relief Body wash is a dermatologist-recommended product that both cleanses thoroughly and helps to lock moisture in for better-looking and feeling skin.

Gentle enough for everyday use, this body wash delivers a deep clean. It does contain sulfates, but as a dermatologist-recommended brand for over 65 years, you can trust that it’ll be gentle on your skin. Plus, it’s fragrance-free, dye-free, soap-free, and allergy-tested.

It uses the power of coconut oils and colloidal oatmeal to pull moisture into your skin’s pores. It strengthens the skin’s protective barrier, improving the appearance and feel of your skin. Get it on Amazon for $7.

8. Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Fragrance-Free Body Wash

Cetaphil has been a top dermatologist-recommended brand for decades, and if you truly suffer from dry skin, this ultra-gentle body wash will help. It’s a soothing, hydrating formula destined to keep your skin fresh and clean without stripping it of moisture.

This formula is excellent for those with both normal and sensitive skin. It contains aloe vera, calendula, vitamin B5, and other key ingredients to lock moisture into your pores. It’s also hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, free of fragrances and parabens, and noncomedogenic.

This product aims to help strengthen and maintain your skin’s moisture barrier so that you feel clean and replenished without drying out your skin. And it’s easy to obtain this product. You can buy a multi-pack on Amazon or get it at any local drug store or supermarket for around $8 a bottle.

9. Blackwood for Men Pure Moisture

Rather than using phthalates and other synthetic ingredients to cleanse your skin, Blackwood for Men’s body wash uses lauric acid and coconut oil rich in emollients. These ingredients cleanse your skin of impurities and grime without stripping it of its essential oils.

Then, it uses glycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and peach leaf to snag moisture and lock it into your pores. These ingredients also work together to repair skin cells and boost the protective barrier around your skin.

Along with fighting off dryness, this body wash also uses amino acids to increase your skin’s collagen production, which helps to fight signs of aging and sun damage. It also contains menthol to cool and soothe skin.

Best of all, it’s cruelty-free and ocean-safe. It’s also free of parabens, phthalates, soy, triclosan, dyes, and GMOs. All this comes in an attractive black pump bottle for $9.89 on Amazon.

10. Eucerin Advanced Cleansing Body and Face Cleanser

Eucerin is another well-known brand in the dermatological community. It’s a more affordable option that often works just fine for those with dry and sensitive skin. It’s commonly recommended for those with eczema and other skin conditions.

Eucerin is a soap-free, fragrance-free body wash that targets your skin’s pH balance. When your skin’s pH balance is off, that’s when most of the sensitivity, dryness, and discomfort occur. Eucerin is also supposed to help preserve your skin’s protective barrier, so you can lock in moisture and prevent further damage.

This product is made for dry and sensitive skin and is non-comedogenic without lingering residue. You can also use it on both your face and body. Best of all, it’ll only cost you $8.69 for a large bottle on Amazon.

11. CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash

Those with extremely dry skin love CeraVe skincare products. They’re specifically formulated for those who suffer from dryness, eczema, protein buildup, and more. This hydrating body wash is particularly good for returning moisture to your skin.

It’s sulfate and soap-free, so you won’t have to worry about irritation on your sensitive skin. It’s also paraben-free, non-comedogenic, allergy-tested, and approved by the National Eczema Association.

This ultra-moisturizing body wash is loaded with ceramides that restore moisture and elasticity to your skin. It contains three essential ceramides found naturally in your skin to boost the skin’s protective barrier. There’s also hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which trap hydration in the skin.

You can follow up your wash with CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for extra hydration. Ideally, you’d apply the lotion within three minutes of taking a warm shower because that’s when your skin cells are more receptive to receiving moisture.

12. Old Spice Body Wash Dry Skin Defense

If you’re looking for extra hydration, but you’re not ready to give up your signature post-shower scent just yet, try Old Spice Dry Skin Defense Body Wash. Although it does contain sulfates and a few other non-natural ingredients, it does contain petrolatum, a humectant that captures moisture.

The makers of this body wash say that within five days of using it, you should see a noticeable improvement in dry skin. That being said, given the fragrance and some of the ingredients like sulfates, it won’t be the right product for everyone. But if you’re a tried and true Old Spice fan, it might be worth a try!

13. Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash

Those who have dry skin but also suffer from acne need a truly powerful and unique product to handle your skincare needs. You need a product that will dry out the oils causing the acne on your body, but you don’t want that product to take it too far.

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash could be the best product for you. It uses a gentle dose of salicylic acid to attack the excessive sebum production on your body that causes acne. Then, it doubles back with a gentle moisturizing formula, including glycerin, to boost your skin’s barrier.

As the number 1 dermatologist-recommended acne brand, Neutrogena is a great brand to trust for your dry skincare plus acne needs.

14. Marlowe No. 103 Body Wash for Men

If you’re all about relying on essential oils and natural ingredients to meet your skincare needs, try Marlowe No. 103 Body Wash for men. It’s cruelty-free and made in the USA, so you can use it guilt-free.

On the surface, this is a great product. It comes in a handy pump-dispensing bottle ideal for your shower. It also smells great, with agarwood and sandalwood combining for a fresh, masculine scent. Because these ingredients are naturally-derived, you’re less likely to have a problem with the fragrance, but keep in mind that it’s scented when trying it.

As you dive deeper into the formula, it’s clear that there are no harsh ingredients. It’s free of chemicals, parabens, and other junk that can make your dry skin worse. Instead, it relies on green tea extract, passionflower fruit, deep-sea algae, and willow bark extract. Each is a well-known moisturizing product that will help to boost your skin’s protective barrier and prevent future problems.

Why You Need Body Wash Made for Dry Skin

Now that we’ve shared with you our favorite skin-moisturizing body washes for men, it might be helpful to understand what we look for. There’s a reason those with dry skin need a body wash formulated for treating that purpose.

The average body wash–particularly the $1 specials at the supermarket–can be extremely harsh and drying for your skin. Your skin produces essential oils that keep your skin supple, elastic, and hydrated. Of course, if you don’t wash these oils off your skin regularly, you’ll develop an overabundance of oil buildup that will clog pores and cause more problems.

On the flip side, using a harsh cleanser will strip your skin of essential oils, leaving them defenseless against a dry environment. You’ll develop itchy, rough skin that’s simply uncomfortable.

The solution is finding a body wash that can cleanse your skin without taking out the good oils. Thus, hydrating body washes were born, and they’ve helped men everywhere reclaim their healthy skin.

What to Look for in Men’s Body Washes for Dry Skin

As you shop for the best men’s body washes for dry skin, there are several things to look for. As we compiled our list of the 14 best body washes for men in this category, here’s what we wanted to see:

Words Like Hydrating and Moisturizing

If you don’t want to read the ingredients or look up reviews before finding a good men’s body wash, just look for keywords on the bottle. If it says “moisturizing” or “hydrating” or another synonym of those words, it’s formulated for your dry skin. That doesn’t mean it’s the best body wash for that purpose, but it’s a good place for you to start.

You can also watch for words like “eczema-prone,” “rough and bumpy” skin, etc. These words indicate that these products were made with the driest skin in mind. While you might not have eczema or rough and bumpy skin, you know body washes with these monikers will be ultra-hydrating.

Hydrating Ingredients

While ingredient lists can sometimes be daunting, we highly recommend you read them while researching the best products. Here are some ingredients you want to see among the ingredients list of a good men’s body wash:

Glycerin: This humectant naturally attracts water, so it helps to lock moisture naturally into your skin. It’s one of the most commonly used hydrators on the market.

Petrolatum: As you might have guessed, this is the main ingredient in petroleum jelly (Vaseline), which extends your skin’s protective barrier to lock moisture in. If you have dehydrated skin, dermatologists will tell you to use a moisturizer and then use a petroleum jelly like Vaseline or Aquaphor to lock moisture into your skin. It’s not a great product for those with oily skin, but it’s highly effective for dry skin.

Ceramides: Your skin contains a natural protective barrier that focuses on keeping your skin hydrated, among other things. When you use products with ceramides, they help to seal shut the barrier so moisture goes in and can’t get out.

Lactic Acid: You’ll often find lactic acid in skincare products as an exfoliant, but it’s also a humectant. While they’re scrubbing gunk, dead skin cells, and excess oils from your skin, they’re leaving a hydrating wake behind them.

Fatty Alcohols: Products containing strictly rubbing alcohol can be extremely drying for your skin, but fatty alcohols are another story. These include cetyl and stearyl alcohol, which are also in your skin’s protective barrier, so adding these products to your skincare regimen increases that protective, moisturizing layer.

Hyaluronic Acid: You might recognize the name of this popular ingredient, which is another humectant that can help to restore and rejuvenate dry and even wrinkly skin. It can hold weight up to 1,000 times its own, so you know you’re locking moisture into your pores.

Squalane: This is the new kid on the block that seems to do wonders for improving oil production in your skin cells. Squalane occurs naturally in your skin’s sebaceous glands, and using a body wash with this product can maintain the healthy production of this light oil to help your skin maintain moisture.

Fragrance-Free

Fragrances, particularly artificial fragrances, are a natural enemy to those with dry skin. Most artificial fragrances use alcohols, chemicals, and ingredients that can cause those with already sensitive skin to have further reactions. They might contribute to rashes and redness, eczema or dry patch flare-ups, acne, and other skin conditions.

Even fragrances that are naturally derived can have adverse effects on those with sensitive skin. The skin might not be receptive to the plant from which the fragrance was derived, and you could see an adverse reaction as a result.

Most people who react to fragrances in skincare products manifest with dry skin rather than a more severe skin condition. So while it’s usually more complicated, your dry skin might be a simple reaction to the fragrances in your cleansers and moisturizers.

A Reasonable Price Point

Price is often a good indicator of a product’s quality. If you want better hydration, you’ll need to spend more than $1 per bottle for it. On the other hand, you don’t want to overpay for your skincare. Some brand names can cost upwards of $50 per bottle!

There’s really no need to spend that exorbitant price. Rather, look for skincare that runs somewhere between $7-$25 per bottle. Recognize that cost is often a factor in the quality of cleanser you get, but there’s usually no need to spend more than $30 per bottle to get it!

All in all, these criteria have helped us narrow down our search. Make your own list of what’s important to you in your skincare, and use that to help you choose the right product for you.