Quick answer: Our top pick is the 100% PURE Honey Almond Shower Gel. It is sulfate-free, cleans with gentle coconut oil surfactants instead of harsh detergents, and adds aloe, rose hydrosol, red algae and green tea to help skin hold on to moisture. Every shower gel in our line shares that same skin-friendly base, so the real choice is which scent you love.
A quick note before we start: this is a guide to our own body washes at 100% PURE, not a roundup of other brands. We make every product below, and we want to help you pick the right one for dry skin.
Dry skin often feels worse after a shower than before it. That tight, itchy feeling usually comes from a cleanser that strips away the natural oils your skin needs. The good news is that switching to a gentler body wash is one of the easiest changes you can make. Here is what to look for and how our shower gels fit.
What to look for in a body wash for dry skin
1. Sulfate-free cleansers
Strong detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate make lots of foam, but they can also pull too much oil from your skin. If your skin feels squeaky or tight after rinsing, a sulfate-free wash is a good place to start.
2. Gentle, plant-based surfactants
A surfactant is the part of a cleanser that lifts away dirt and oil. Milder ones, like those made from coconut oil, clean well while being kinder to your skin's protective barrier.
3. Hydrating ingredients in the base
Look for water-loving ingredients such as aloe and floral waters near the top of the list. They help your skin feel comfortable instead of dried out after you rinse.
4. Ingredients that help lock in moisture
A good wash for dry skin does more than avoid harm. Ingredients like red algae and green tea help skin hold on to the moisture it has, so it feels softer when you step out of the shower.
5. A scent you will actually enjoy
You will use your body wash every day, so pick a scent you look forward to. If your skin is very sensitive to fragrance, patch test any new product first.
6. A good follow-up moisturizer
No body wash can fix dry skin by itself. Pairing a gentle wash with a rich body cream right after your shower makes the biggest difference.
Our picks: the best 100% PURE body washes for dry skin
All of our shower gels below share the same gentle formula: sulfate-free, made with coconut oil surfactants, with aloe and rose hydrosol to rehydrate and red algae and green tea to help lock in moisture. What changes is the scent, so we have matched each one to the kind of person who tends to love it.
Honey Almond Shower Gel
Best for: anyone who wants a cozy, comforting scent for dry winter skin. This is our top pick.
Key ingredients: aloe, rose hydrosol, red algae and green tea in a sulfate-free base with gentle coconut oil surfactants. It is scented like sweet, honey-glazed almonds and lathers into a rich foam that lifts away dirt, oil and impurities.
Coconut Shower Gel
Best for: people who love a sweet, tropical scent and want a gentle daily wash for the whole family.
Key ingredients: the same aloe, rose hydrosol, red algae and green tea blend, free of harsh detergents and made with coconut oil surfactants to help maintain your skin's delicate lipid barrier. It smells of sweet, tropical coconut.
French Lavender Shower Gel
Best for: evening showers and anyone who wants a calm, clean scent before bed.
Key ingredients: aloe and rose hydrosol to rehydrate thirsty skin, with red algae and green tea to help lock in moisture. It is infused with the scent of clean, calming lavender.
Shop French Lavender Shower Gel
Blood Orange Shower Gel
Best for: morning showers when you want something bright and cheerful.
Key ingredients: our sulfate-free, coconut-based formula with aloe, rose hydrosol, red algae and green tea. The scent is sweet and citrusy blood orange.
Mangosteen Shower Gel
Best for: fruit-scent fans who want something a little different from citrus.
Key ingredients: the same gentle base that cleans without harsh detergents, plus aloe, rose hydrosol, red algae and green tea. It smells of juicy, tropical mangosteen fruit.
How to use a body wash for dry skin
- Use warm water, not hot. Hot water can leave dry skin feeling even tighter.
- Squeeze a small amount onto your hands, a soft cloth or a pouf and work it into a lather.
- Massage over damp skin, then rinse well.
- Keep showers short and pat skin dry with a towel instead of rubbing.
- Within a few minutes, while skin is still a little damp, smooth on a body cream such as our Honey Almond Nourishing Body Cream to seal in moisture.
FAQ
Is body wash or bar soap better for dry skin?
Either can work if the formula is gentle. Many traditional bar soaps are made with harsher cleansers that leave dry skin feeling tight. A sulfate-free body wash with mild, plant-based surfactants and hydrating ingredients like aloe is often more comfortable. Whatever you choose, follow it with a moisturizer to keep skin soft.
What does sulfate-free mean, and why does it matter for dry skin?
Sulfate-free means the wash does not use sulfate detergents such as sodium lauryl sulfate. These cleansers foam well but can strip away natural oils, which dry skin is already short on. Our shower gels use gentle coconut oil surfactants instead, which clean well while helping maintain the skin's delicate lipid barrier.
Which 100% PURE shower gel is best for dry skin?
All of our shower gels share the same sulfate-free base with aloe, rose hydrosol, red algae and green tea, so each one is a good fit for dry skin. Our top pick is Honey Almond for its cozy scent, but the best choice is simply the scent you enjoy most and will reach for every day.
How often should I use body wash if my skin is dry?
Most people do well with one short shower a day. If your skin is very dry, you can focus the wash on the areas that need it most, like underarms and feet, and simply rinse the rest. Use warm water, pat dry, and apply a rich body cream right after to lock in moisture.
Written by Ric Kostick, CEO of 100% PURE.
- Tags: Body Care, Body Wash, Buying Guide, Dry Skin, Shower Gel
We carefully hand-select products based on strict purity standards, and only recommend products we feel meet this criteria. 100% PURE™ may earn a small commission for products purchased through affiliate links.
The information in this article is for educational use, and not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should not be used as such.
