The 5 Best Body Washes for Men
Long gone are the days of a select few companies dishing out a ‘one-size-fits-all’ soap for men with ingredients most college grads would have trouble pronouncing; Whether you’ve suffered from dry skin for far too long or are just looking for a more environmentally-conscious alternative, body soap is a self-care essential far too many men take for granted. Over-the-top fragrances can be comprised of hundreds of harmful (and unnecessary) chemicals, while budget brands with higher acidity, parabens or sulfates can wreak havoc on your body. Below we’ve gathered together our top five brands of male body washes, at various price points, aimed at both rejuvenating irritated skin & leaving a scent a bit more alluring than your 17 year-old nephew’s can spray for PE class.
Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap
Organic Soap's Standard Bearer
If modern consumption habits have trained you to believe that one product equals one use, prepared to have your mind blown by Dr. Bronner. While an exhaustive explanation of its touted 18 separate uses would be overkill, suffice it to say that this versatile product will clean everything from your clothes to your body to your floor, all with ease.
Depending on the fragrance you choose, this olive oil-based cleanser has no more than 12 ingredients, 90% of which are organic while the remaining 10% are eliminated during the rendering process, as explained on both the company’s website and physical product. Short of molding bars of soap yourself, we believe you’d be hard-pressed to find a product with less irritating chemicals at such an impressive price point – especially one that’s produced through truly sustainable practices.
Pros:
- Made in the USA
- Vegan formula ideal for sensitive skin
- Highly concentrated & long-lasting
Cons:
- Avoid eye contact at all costs
- Must dilute with water for various applications
Neutrogena’s Body Clear Body Wash
The Banisher of Breakouts
Neutrogena brings out the big guns with its Body Clear Body Wash, a potent remedy to eliminate pesky body acne for good. What truly places this product above the competition is the all-important salicylic acid, considered the benchmark when treating non-inflammatory acne by killing the underlying bacteria in affected regions.
Combined with a pleasant, but not overwhelming, grapefruit smell and infused Vitamin C, Body Clear straddles the line between medicinal product and consumer essential, and this fact should be taken into consideration. While infused antioxidants & vitamins are put to task in order to prevent dry skin, discretion should be used when applying to areas of the body without problematic body acne to prevent loss of moisture.
Pros:
- Subtle scent noticeable throughout the day
- Competitive price for niche usage
- Maximum Salicylic acid content
Cons:
- Not ideal for acne-free folks
- Long list of non-organic ingredients including dyes
Everyone 3-in-1 Soap
Cleanser for the Common Man
Everyone’s product offering is reminiscent of Dr. Bronner when it comes down to putting the planet first, just with a few extra creature-comfort ingredients typically found in more traditional body cleansers.”s. The addition of vitamin E and B5 is most certainly a benefit in the realm of moisturizing, and the lack of parabens and dyes will certainly help win over your Greenpeace-activist relatives.
While having a base of coconut oil vs. the more traditional olive oil may give the extremely scent-conscious consumer an inadvertent trip to Southeast Asia during their morning shower, Everyone’s 3-in-1 Soap accomplishes everything a traditional soap should while being GMO and cruelty-free. An ideal product for price-conscious men of all ages.
Pros:
- Made in USA
- Ready to use hand-pump
- Can also be used on hair without dilution
Cons:
- Not entirely sulfate-free
- Water-like consistency is difficult to lather
CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash
The Bane of Dry Skin
CeraVe has been a mainstay in the skin maintenance world for years, and its unsurprising that their Hydrating Body Wash is a major contenter in preventing dry skin before needing to resort to their standalone skin moisturizers. Devoid of fragrances and our usual chemical culprits which lead to undesirable skin conditions, CeraVe also contain Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid, (a naturally-occurring lipid in the case of the former & sugar molecule with respect to the latter) components of our skin which lock in moisture but can degrade over time due to exposure and/or poor diet.
Although this product sounds as if it’s intended user has been sitting next to a space heater 16 hours a day all winter, CeraVe’s Hydrating Body Wash is more than applicable to the average consumer concerned about skin appearing not as soft as it once was. If dry weather is infringing upon your body’s right to bear natural moisture, CeraVe will bring your skin right back into line.
Pros:
- Works well for all skin types
- A little goes a (very) long way
- May help relieve eczema & psoriasis
Cons:
- Thick consistency can be hard to wash off completely
- Costs a pretty penny
Anthony Invigorating Rush Hair + Body Wash
Nostril-Bound Nirvana
If you find yourself in a position where you need to impress upon your opposing party an air for the finer things in life, look no further than Anthony. While the brand doesn’t boast about any specific therapeutic properties, it doesn’t need to; Anthony is several steps above mass produced competition in terms of being free of most corrosive chemicals (GMOs, Phthalates) without that being the product’s primary pitch.
Our team of varying opinions can most certainly agree on one fact about the scent: its damn bold. Visualize a cross between Bear Grylls and James Bond if you will. The infused eucalyptus provides you with an electrifying sensation that could wake a grizzly from hibernation, while its final scent, reminiscent of a crisp alpine forest at daybreak, will last throughout a rigorous day and into an even more rigorous night if you catch our drift (Or a nice dinner out if we’re just getting to know each other). Regardless of your situation, Anthony’s will put you in a position to impress with an unforgettable fragrance that has the mileage to outlast competitors.
Pros:
- Can be used on hair and skin
- Allergy-tested & cruelty-free
Cons:
- May be hard to justify the cost
- Similarly-priced competitors have cleaner ingredient profiles
Frequently Asked Questions
What chemicals should I stay away from when looking for a body wash?
Specifically, we want to avoid parabens, phthalates, propylene glycerol and similar compounds in high concentrations. This infamous batch of three are traditionally used as artificial preservatives, increasing the shelf life of our product, but can lead to (in constant doses over significant periods of time) hormone disruption, kidney damage and tissue damage, respectively. Sulfates, too, have been shown to damage the dermis and hair when overused.
How often should I be using my body wash?
While an answer of daily or 2x/day may have seemed obvious years ago, mounting scientific evidence suggests that over-cleaning might be worse for us than the opposite. For a typical office worker with a less-than-rigorous gym schedule, the consensus says you should use body wash every 2 or 3 days in order to preserve your body’s natural defenses against dry skin, which can be worn away by the best body wash. Preserving our skin’s own ecosystem of beneficial bacteria is paramount to our bodies functioning properly, and while a physically demanding job or exercise routine may necessitate daily showering (if not for you than for the sake of everyone around you), application of body wash should be used sparingly and in a localized manner to prevent skin irritation.
Why Trust Us
Since 2001, our experts at TheFashionSpot have been providing millions of people with our take on the latest trends. TheFashionSpot is constantly looking for the hottest styles in clothing and accessories for people of all body types. Our team knows that beauty starts well before the closet, so we are also dedicated to finding the best products for your skin and hair.