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Body wash (aka shower gel) is an essential part of many people’s daily routine, but most of us have never stopped to consider what’s in the stuff we’re using to lather up. Conventional body washes often contain a long list of synthetic chemicals and harmful ingredients that can have negative impacts on our skin, our health, and the environment. Natural body washes are a far safer and healthier alternative, as they use non-toxic, often plant-derived ingredients to clean, nourish, and hydrate our skin.
We’ve collected our favorite natural body wash brands to help make shower time cleaner and greener. Read on for our top picks, starting with a quick look at the ingredients that should (and should not) go into your body wash.
Ingredients to Avoid in Body Washes
Here are some ingredients commonly found in conventional body washes that should be avoided, as they may be harmful to our health:
- Parabens – commonly used as preservatives, these chemicals can disrupt our hormonal balance and have been linked to breast cancer.
- Sulfates – harsh detergents that can strip the skin of its natural oils and cause irritation and dryness.
- Synthetic fragrances – often contain phthalates, which are linked to reproductive issues and other health concerns.
- Triclosan – an antibacterial agent that has been linked to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and hormone disruption.
- Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives – can cause skin irritation and have been classified as a known human carcinogen.
What to Look For in Natural Body Wash Ingredient Lists
Here are some healthier, non-toxic ingredients to look for in your natural body wash labels:
- Aloe vera – a soothing and hydrating ingredient that can help calm and nourish the skin.
- Coconut oil – a natural emollient that can help moisturize and soften the skin.
- Jojoba oil – a lightweight oil that can help regulate the skin’s natural oil production and improve skin texture.
- Shea butter – a rich and nourishing ingredient that can help protect and repair dry or damaged skin.
- Essential oils – natural plant extracts that provide a range of benefits, from calming and soothing to energizing and invigorating. Some examples include lavender, peppermint, tea tree, and citrus oils. These are generally seen as safer than synthetic fragrances, as long as you aren’t sensitive to essential oils. When in doubt, you can always choose an unscented body wash instead.
When shopping for a natural body wash, look for products that contain these and other healthy, non-toxic ingredients. These ingredients can help promote healthier skin and support a more sustainable and eco-friendly beauty routine.
It’s also worth switching to a non-toxic shower curtain so you don’t have to worry about off-gassing of unhealthy chemicals while you lather up with natural body wash.
What Are These EWG Ratings All About?
Before hopping into the list of the best natural wash brands, a quick word about EWG ratings. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit organization that has developed a rating system to help consumers identify products that are safer and healthier for them and the environment.
Products that have been “EWG Verified” or have a “low hazard” rating from the EWG are considered to have minimal risk of causing health problems or adverse effects on the environment.
To be EWG Verified, a product must meet rigorous criteria based on ingredient safety, transparency, and labeling accuracy, among other factors. This means that the product has been thoroughly evaluated by the EWG and deemed to be free of harmful chemicals and toxins.
All of the body washes we review below are either EWG Verified or score a very low (read: non-toxic) rating on their 1-10 hazard scale.
11 Best Natural and Organic Body Wash Brands
Here are the best natural and organic body washes for grown-ups. (If you’ve got little ones, check out our favorite organic body wash/shampoos for kids and babies here.)
1. Attitude Sensitive Skin Body Wash ($15)
EWG Verified
Attitude’s non-toxic body wash is designed specifically for sensitive skin and is enriched with oatmeal and chamomile to soothe skin and restore its moisture balance. It is EWG verified and does not contain dyes, SLS, SLES, parabens, formaldehyde, or synthetic fragrances.
This body wash is made from natural ingredients that are hypoallergenic, dermatologically tested, and will not dry out your skin. It’s eco-friendly and vegan, and has been certified as sustainable, biodegradable, and with low aquatic toxicity in the case that it ends up in ground water and makes its way to ponds and lakes.
2. Everyone 3 in 1 Soap ($24 for 2)
EWG Verified
The Everyone 3 in 1 Lavender and Aloe Soap is a “3 in 1” cleanser that can be used as a body wash, shampoo, or even a bubble bath, if that’s your jam. The soap contains calming lavender essential oil and aloe, which soothes the hair, skin, and body. We use this soap in our house, and my child who has more sensitive skin has been totally fine with it. They have a variety of yummy scents, and they also make an unscented version.
Everyone’s 3 in 1 soap is EWG verified, GMO-free, cruelty-free, gluten-free, triclosan-free, and synthetic fragrance-free. The company also has a zero waste mission, with 90% of its waste diverted from landfills in 2019, and the soap’s packaging is made from recycled material that is 100% recyclable.
3. ThinkSport Body Wash ($8)
EWG Verified
ThinkSport, which makes effective non-toxic mineral sunscreens we use throughout the summer in my house, now makes a body wash for men and women with a grapefruit and currant scent that smells really good. It can be worked into a good lather, and it helps soften your skin as well.
This body wash is non-toxic, cruelty free, and it’s safe for both your body and the earth. It’s made in the USA and has no ingredients known to do harm to the environment.
4. Aleavia Lavender Body Cleanse ($25)
EWG Rating: 1/low hazard
The Aleavia Lavender Body Cleanse is a natural body wash that is safe for both adults and babies. The body wash contains organic ingredients that are derived from the earth and ocean. It has healing and purifying properties that can soothe skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and keratosis, and is suitable for all skin types, including acne-prone skin.
This body wash is free of parabens, sulfates, fragrances, and SLS, and it is not tested on animals. It features a unique plant-based prebiotic formula that helps feed the healthy skin microbiome. It is made of organic extra-virgin coconut oil, organic Acadian sea kelp, aloe vera, and Dead-Sea salt.
5. The Honest Company Body Wash and Shampoo ($27 for 2)
EWG Verified
The Honest Company Truly Calming Shampoo & Body Wash is a gentle and nourishing cleanser that is perfect for babies and adults with sensitive skin. The all-natural formula is free of harsh chemicals, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances, and is made with plant-based ingredients like lavender, chamomile, and calendula.
This shampoo and body wash is designed to soothe and calm the skin while leaving it feeling soft and hydrated.
6. Alaffia Everyday Shea Body Wash ($19)
EWG Rating: 1/low hazard
Alaffia’s Everyday Shea Body Wash is a nourishing and gentle cleanser that is perfect for all skin types, including sensitive skin. This body wash is made with natural and ethically traded ingredients like unrefined shea butter and virgin coconut oil, which work together to moisturize and soften the skin.
The formula for this body wash is free of harsh chemicals, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances, and is scented with natural essential oils for a refreshing and invigorating experience. Alaffia’s Everyday Shea Body Wash is vegan, cruelty-free, and supports a fair trade, sustainable supply chain.
7. Inna Organic Shower Gel ($24)
EWG Verified
Inna Organic’s Sweet Orange Shower Gel is a refreshing body wash that is made with natural and organic ingredients like sweet orange essential oil and aloe vera. This shower gel is free of harsh chemicals, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances, making it ideal for use on sensitive skin.
Its scent comes from sweet orange essential oil, rather than from synthetic fragrance. This shower gel is also vegan, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly as its ingredients are safe for the environment if they end up in ground water.
8. Babo Botanicals Eucalyptus Body Wash ($18)
EWG Verified
Babo Botanicals Eucalyptus Remedy Shampoo and Wash is a powerful yet gentle cleanser that is specifically designed to soothe and comfort dry, itchy, and irritated skin. Made with natural and organic ingredients, this shampoo and wash is infused with eucalyptus oil, which has natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, making it perfect for those who suffer from skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
The formula is also enriched with aloe vera and chamomile extract, which are hydrating and soothing ingredients.This body wash is free of sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. It is also vegan, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly, and it can do double duty as a shampoo if you’re also looking for a non-toxic way to clean your hair.
Babo Botanicals makes several of our favorite non-toxic skin-care products, including mineral sunscreen and hand soap, and their body wash is another great plant-based product you can feel good about putting directly on your skin.
9. Be Green Shower Gel ($26)
EWG Verified
Be Green’s Shower Gel is 95% organic and is made from organic essential oils without harsh detergents, sulfates, artificial colors, fragrances, or synthetic preservatives. This body wash comes in unscented, citrus, and lavender options that are suitable for all skin types.
Be Green’s unscented shower gel is EWG Verified and fragrance-free, making it ideal for babies or those with allergies or sensitivities to scent. For more foaming action, they recommend using this body wash with a mesh bath sponge or a pouf.
10. Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap ($20)
EWG Rating: 2/low hazard
Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soaps are made with over 90% organic ingredients and 70% of the ingredients are certified fair trade. They use organic and fair trade palm kernel oil from smallholder farmers in Ecuador to ensure sustainable harvesting techniques. Their liquid soaps do not contain synthetic preservatives, detergents, or foaming agents.
Dr. Bronner’s soaps are three times more concentrated than most liquid soaps and can be used for various purposes like laundry, mopping, and all-purpose cleaning. They also use 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles to reduce waste in packaging.
11. Pipette Relaxing Body Wash ($9)
EWG Verified
Pipette Relaxing Body Wash is a sulfate-free moisturizing body wash designed to gently cleanse the skin without stripping it of its natural oils. It contains 100% plant-derived aromas of bergamot, mandarin orange and geranium flower that are perfect for a relaxing bath.
This body wash is made with 100% sugarcane-derived squalane and extra-pure coconut and oat-derived surfactants for natural hydration. Although Pipette gears its body washes towards pregnant and new moms, we think it’s great for everyone, include for bathing babies and kids.
Pipette’s body wash is rigorously tested and free of synthetic fragrances, hypoallergenic and cruelty-free, and EWG Verified.
Switch to a Natural Body Wash for a Cleaner Lather
Traditional body washes often contain harmful chemicals such as sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and preservatives that can irritate and dry out the skin, disrupt hormones, and even have the potential to be hazardous to our health.
Non-toxic body washes, on the other hand, are made with natural, organic, and plant-based ingredients that are very gentle on the skin and don’t pose a risk to our health or to the groundwater they may eventually enter after washing down our shower drains.
Natural body washes often come in eco-friendly packaging, reducing waste and promoting sustainability. By choosing a non-toxic body wash, you can clean up while also prioritizing both your health and the health of the planet.
While you’re at it, follow up your shower or bath with one of our favorite organic body lotions for smooth and hydrated skin.
