UrbanUpdate

The irony of many soaps and body washes is that, in cleansing your skin, they leave it dried out. You get to feel clean, but as parched as the Sahara. Assuming this isn’t the result of your too-hot or too-long showers, which can also sap your skin, it is a sign you need to make some changes in your shower caddy.

Now, even the best moisturizing body wash doesn’t necessarily negate the need for a post-shower application of body lotion, which we’d encourage for everyone, especially before bed. But swapping in one of our best moisturizing body-wash picks—or a similar bar soap—will go a long way toward keeping your skin hydrated.

Here are six moisturizing body washes we love:

Moroccanoil shower gel$30

Sephora

Argan oil is the superhero ingredient in Moroccanoil's lineup of skin-care products, including this ultra-nourishing body wash. It permeates the skin to tone and build an even texture, as well as pump it full of vitamin E, antioxidants, and fatty acids. A glycerin base supports firmness and hydration, so you step out of the shower feeling fully rejuvenated—and looking it, too.

L'Occitane shower oil$25

Sephora

Oil-based cleansers don't get enough love. Contrary to logic, they do not make your skin any more oily. Instead, when they include nourishing, lipid-rich ingredients like shea oil (as is the case in L'Occitane's shower oil), they pull grease and grime away while delivering nutrients and hydration to your dermis. Plus, your shower and body smell like a L'Occitane shop. What's not to love?

The Body Shop body wash$8

Amazon

One takeaway from this roundup should be that argan oil is an extremely effective moisturizer. The Body Shop knows this well and gave this wash a hefty dose of the ingredient. It builds a luxurious lather, but it doesn't leave your skin dried and itchy like other sudsy cleansers.

Murdock London body wash$64

Nordstrom

This sulfate-free gel wakes up your skin with black tea, and the extra-large bottle will last you half the year or more. Its spicy, woody scent only adds to its excellence.

Davines Oi body wash$25

Amazon

Davines’ body wash is loaded with antioxidant-rich roucou oil. It has a creamy consistency—kind of like a top-notch hand soap that leaves your hands feeling soft and cleansed. It helps restore your skin to its healthiest state after a day's worth of environmental damage and UV rays.

Necessaire sandalwood body wash$25

Nordstrom

This antioxidant-rich formula combines oils of marula, meadowfoam, and cacay nut oil for a luxurious lather. Of Necessaire’s three scent options, we like the sandalwood best—it smells as refreshing as a hike through the mountains. And here are three hydrating bar soaps that will soften and nourish skin while they cleanse:

Claus Porto “Voga” bar soap$27

Amazon

Claus Porto’s thrice-milled soaps come in many sizes and scents, but we like "Voga" in the large 12.4-oz. size. It’ll last you months in the shower, or a year on your sink ledge. It’s a vegetable–shea butter blend with light floral notes, and makes for a terrific gift since its packaging is as beautiful as the bar itself. (The trick is persuading yourself or your giftee to actually unwrap it.)

Compagnie de Provence lavender bar soap (3 pack)$9

Walmart

The French region of Provence is famous for lavender fields and high-quality soap. Compagnie de Provence combines almond, grapeseed, and olive oil with lavender fragrance in their bars—they smell terrific and soften the skin.

Hudson Made hand soap$18

Amazon

Hudson packs a lineup of skin-softening and nourishing oils into this brick: olive, coconut, jojoba, hemp, tobacco, patchouli, cedar leaf, cedarwood. There's also a little exfoliating pumice. It's the kind of soap you want to use on your skin, regardless of how gritty you get during the day. (It’s great on your feet, too.)

Adam Hurly has been covering men's grooming since 2013 (and for GQ since 2016). He is also a travel writer. In Fall 2024, Adam is launching Blue Print by Adam Hurly, a men's grooming platform. Adam resides in Lisbon (previously Berlin, NYC, and San Francisco). He is a Sioux Falls, SD, native... Read moreWriterInstagramRelated Stories for GQBathroom and Shower