Best Body Washes For Men

When it comes to maintaining basic hygiene, body washes are an absolute essential for all men. Though the application is the same for all of them - that is, create a lather and apply all over the body - what you need to pay attention to are the ingredients. In this article, we’ve selected the best body washes for men and unpacked their key ingredients to ensure you’re using the right one matched to your needs.

Best Body Wash for Acne: MenScience Daily Body Wash

Unfortunately, breakouts don't just happen on the face. If you're one for tight shirts or regularly working up a sweat at the gym, breakouts on the body become more common. 

The MenScience Daily Body Wash is designed to keep your pores smooth and refreshed. Utilising the powerhouse combination of Glycolic Acid (AHA) and Salicylic Acid (BHA), these work unison to provide a thorough clean to the body. AHAs exfoliating the surface of the skin, dissolving dead skin buildup that can potentially create more pimples. On the other hand, BHA is oil-soluble, meaning it can cut through excess grime and penetrate deep into the epidermis, clearing out any gunk or dirt that's clogging the pores.

To keep the acids in the balance, MenScience has added Glycerin and Aloe Vera Extract to the mix. Glycerin is one of the most common humectants used in skincare, renowned for its hydrating abilities as it absorbs moisture from its surroundings, bringing it back into the skin. Whereas, Aloe Vera Extract is touted for its soothing properties, containing Vitamins A and B which promote cell renewal and regulate oil production respectively.

To top it off, Tea Tree Oil is included. With its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities, this natural ingredient helps to reduce redness and swelling of any current breakouts you might have.

Best Scented Body Wash: Patrick's BW1

Since showering is something we all do every day, most men treat it as a chore or as something to cross off their to-do list. But it doesn't have to be like that - make it luxurious with Patrick's BW1, which features an energetic scent of bergamot, amber and cognac as it washes away dirt, sweat and pollutants without stripping moisture. Overall, it reminds us of a beautiful fruity Scotch.

This body wash is packed with multi-vitamins, anti-inflammatories and antioxidants to help the skin. Vitamin A is present in the form of Retinyl Palmitate. This vitamin speeds up the cell renewal process, ensuring dead skin is removed and replaced with the newer, healthier layers of skin underneath. Meanwhile, Vitamin C is present in the form of Ascorbic Acid. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that not only firms skin but even brightens it, making it ideal for men with any pigmentation or uneven skin tone.

What's interesting to note though is the unique ingredient Dragocalm. Containing natural antioxidant compounds derived from oats - that is, flavonoids and polyphenols - Dragocalm soothes the skin as it is an anti-irritant. The anti-histaminic properties relieve skin from itchiness, redness and wheals. In order to keep skin hydrated, Ceramide III is included. Think of ceramides as the bricks to your skin, which protects and reinforces the skin’s natural lipid barrier to prevent any moisture loss.

If you're looking for gentle exfoliation too, this body wash contains a variety of gentle acids, namely Lactic Acid and Malic Acid, plus more common ones like Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid. All of these work together to remove dead skin and dirt inside the pores. If you’re worried about over-exfoliating, fret not - these are at the end of the ingredients list meaning they are less concentrated.

Best Natural Body Wash: Lucky Tiger Peppermint Shampoo and Body Wash

Free from parabens, phthalates and sulfates, the Lucky Tiger Peppermint Shampoo and Body Wash is a natural option if your skin has a tendency to react to certain ingredients. This body wash contains  minimal ingredients for less chance of irritation. Scented with Peppermint Oil, it wakes up the skin and provides a subtle cooling sensation when applied. Pure Peppermint Oil is particularly effective for treating irritation, itchiness, and flaky scalps.

The Lucky Tiger Peppermint Shampoo and Body Wash makes use of Castile Soap, which is highly moisturising as it combines the properties of Olive, Palm, Coconut and Castor oils. With these in mind, this body wash is an excellent choice for all skin types due to its gentle ingredients, but especially beneficial for dry skin types.

Best Multi-Tasking Body Wash: Jack Black All-Over Wash

Sometimes, we just want a product that can do it all - especially if we're pressed for time. Jack Black's All-Over Wash acts as a 3-in-1 hair, face, and body wash, achieving this by employing mild cleansers that are each pH balanced. This means that it won't over-cleanse or harm your skin’s natural protective barrier. Free of parabens, sulphates, colourants, alcohol and gluten, this multi-tasking product is ideal for sensitive skin too.

The Jack Black All-Over Wash helps to retain your skin's natural moisture balance with Panthenol and Jojoba Oil. Panthenol, also known as Pro-Vitamin B5, is a humectant that attracts moisture, softening and smoothing the skin and hair.

On the other hand, Jojoba Oil contains water-binding properties that help maintain moisture that's already present in the skin and hair. Its chemical composition is similar to that of sebum (the natural oil our skin produces), and when applied directly helps to regulate oil production by tricking the body into thinking there is enough sebum on the surface.