What’s the best body wash for black skin? 12 top choices!
Are you trying to find the best body wash for black skin? Many of us black folks have wrestled with finding the best body wash to provide deep cleansing without drying out our delicate melanin-rich skin.
Luckily, there are plenty of great products on the market specifically designed to address the unique needs of black people!
In this blog post, I’ll be exploring some of the top-rated body washes on the market today so you can choose one that works right for your skin type – leaving it clean and refreshed!
11+ Best body washes for dark skin
Best exfoliating body wash for black skin
Buttah Skin Egyptian CocoShea Body Wash
[This is a black-owned business]
This body wash is specifically designed for black skin, made with natural ingredients and fragrances to nourish and moisturize your skin. It’s rich in antioxidants like coconut oil, Marshmallow Root Extract, and shea butter and has a unique scent of creamy coco-butter, and luscious vanilla. This body wash is said to hydrate your skin for up to 72 hours.
Best body wash for dry skin
Luna Daily The Hydrating Everywhere pH Balanced Wash – With Prebiotics, Vitamins C + E, Omegas 3 & 6:
Luna Daily The Hydrating Everywhere pH Balanced Wash is specifically designed to provide an intensely hydrating experience that helps to nourish your skin from head to toe. It contains prebiotics, vitamins C and E, as well as omegas 3 and 6, which help to repair moisture loss and restore balance for a more even skin tone. This gentle body wash also helps to protect your skin from environmental stressors while providing a healthy, balanced glow.
Best body wash for oily skin
Naturium The Brightener Vitamin C Body Wash
This body wash from Naturium is specially designed to help brighten your skin. It contains a refreshing blend of Vitamin C and other natural ingredients to help nourish, moisturize, and tighten your skin without making your skin oily (which makes it great for those who already have oily skin!). Its non-irritating formula is gentle enough for daily use and sensitive skin, allowing you to show off your glowing skin confidently.
Best body wash for combination skin
Nécessaire The Body Wash
Nécessaire’s The Body Wash is a great choice for those with dark skin. It contains niacinamide, which helps to reduce hyperpigmentation, as well as vitamin B5 to improve skin tone and plant-based surfactants that help to cleanse without stripping moisture. This body wash also contains natural oils such as cacay and meadowfoam oil to help replenish skin’s lipid barrier and make your skin super soft.
Best body wash for sensitive skin
Urban Hydration Mango Lime Body Wash
[This is a black-owned brand]
Urban Hydration’s Mango Lime Body Wash is a refreshing and revitalizing wash ideal for those with dark skin. It not only contains powerful mango seed butter antioxidants to leave your skin feeling smooth and hydrated but also utilizes a blend of natural fruit oils to provide the nourishment that dark skin needs, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C. The best part? This vegan body wash is formulated with clean ingredients that are safe and effective for the entire family!
Best body wash for acne-prone skin
This body wash is ideal for skin prone to breakouts and acne because it contains salicylic acid, which exfoliates and helps to reduce the appearance of blemishes. It also has antioxidant-rich green tea extract, which helps reduces inflammation caused by dark spots, clogged pores and hyperpigmentation.
Best body wash for aging skin
This body wash from TreeActiv offers amazing anti-aging benefits for dark skin. It contains natural exfoliating jojoba and bamboo to help remove any dead skin cells and reveal a brighter complexion. It is also formulated with moisturizing Aloe to provide intense hydration, improve skin tone and texture, and reduce signs of aging. This body wash helps to reveal your skin’s natural radiance while also protecting it from further damage.
Shop: body wash
Best body wash for black men
[This is a black-owned brand]
Bevel Body Wash is a great option for black men looking for a body wash specifically created for them. This body wash contains natural moisturizers like jojoba, bamboo, and aloe vera to keep your skin soft, supple, and radiant. It’s designed to have you feeling moisturized and renewed after each and every shower.
More of a soap-guy? Check out my article on the best soaps for black men!
Best body wash for hyperpigmentation
This Brazilian-inspired body wash from Sol de Janeiro is designed to keep dark skin looking radiant and healthy. The formula contains a combination of Fruit AHAs to refresh the look of skin, lactic Acid to support cell turnover for smooth skin, and Salicylic Acid to unclog pores and keep your skin clear. Additionally, it’s great for those who suffer from hyper-pigmentation, as this formula is designed to even out skin tone, promote a healthier complexion, and reduce dark spots.
Best natural body wash
[This is a black-owned brand]
Looking for a natural wash made from feel-good and clean ingredients? Look no further than Alaffia Shea Body Wash. Not only does it provide deep cleaning for dark skin, but it also helps keep your complexion looking and feeling healthy. This plant-based body wash contains ingredients like shea butter, tropical passion fruit, neem, and coconut oil to deliver nourishment while protecting your skin.
Shop: body wash
Best exfoliating body wash for glowing skin
This gentle 2-in-1 gentle exfoliating body wash is an excellent choice for those with dark skin. The hinoki oil, a native Japanese cypress, is rich in antioxidants and helps to lock in moisture and protect skin from environmental damage. This body wash has a gentle and relaxing scent to help clear the mind while cleansing and exfoliating your skin for a full awakening shower experience.
Best body wash for eczema
This body wash is perfect for people with dark skin and eczema. It contains natural oils such as jojoba, sunflower, and apricot kernel that will help keep your skin hydrated and nourished. The foaming action helps to remove dirt and oil without drying out the skin or irritating it. It is gentle enough for even sensitive skin types, and dermatologist recommended for those who struggle with eczema.
Benefits of body wash
Now that I’ve covered the best body washes for african american skin, let’s discuss the benefits of using a body wash:
Clean:
Body wash helps to leave your skin feeling clean and refreshed. It removes dirt, oils, and bacteria that can build up over time, leaving you feeling fresh all day long.
Moisturizing:
Many body washes also contain moisturizers, which help to keep your skin hydrated and soft. This is especially important for those with dark skin, as it can be more prone to dryness.
Skin Protection:
Body wash helps to protect your skin from environmental aggressors like pollution, dirt, and bacteria. It forms a protective barrier against the elements, which can help keep your skin looking healthy and vibrant.
Relaxing:
Some body washes include fragrances and essential oils like lavender, rosemary, and jasmine. This can help to relax your body, mind, and spirit, giving you an even deeper feeling of cleanliness. A body wash with a relaxing fragrance is also great to add to your self-care pampering routine!
Easy to apply and use:
Body wash is incredibly easy to use. You can simply apply it directly on your skin or with a loofah, sponge, washcloth, or even your hand! Unlike soap, which can slip out of your hand and can be hard to use when it’s down its last slither, body wash is easy to grip and use.
Exfoliating:
Some body washes include beads and scrubs, which can help to exfoliate your skin gently. This helps to remove any dead skin cells and unclog pores, leaving you with a smooth and healthy looking skin.
How to use body wash
1. Start by wetting your body with warm or cold water.
2. Pump a moderate amount of body wash into your hands (about the size of a quarter).
3. Gently massage the body wash over your skin in circular motions, working from your neck down to your toes.
4. Rinse all of the body wash off with warm or cold water.
5. Pat yourself dry with a towel afterward, and your skin should feel refreshed and revitalized!
For an extra-luxurious shower experience, you can also use a tool (such as a loofah or bath sponge) to lather up body wash before applying it to your skin.
After cleansing with a body wash, you’ll want to pat yourself dry and follow up with a lotion, body cream, or body oil to nourish your skin!
What to use with body wash
Here are a few tools you can use in combination with your body wash:
Frequently asked questions: Best body wash for black skin
Body wash vs. soap? What’s the difference?
While body wash and soap are both designed to clean your skin and kill bacteria, there are a few differences when it comes to body wash and soap. Here are a few:
Ingredients:
Body wash is usually made from synthetic ingredients and often includes moisturizing agents like glycerin, aloe vera, and vitamin E that are more gentle on the skin. In comparison, soap tends to be a combination of fats or oils and an alkali, such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.
Formulation:
Body wash comes in liquid form and is dispensed from a bottle, while soap typically comes in bar form and is solid.
Hygiene:
Bar soap can accumulate bacteria if not kept in a dry place, while liquid body wash is less likely to harbor bacteria.
Sustainability:
Many body wash brands are packaged in plastic bottles, which can be harmful to the environment, while bar soap is typically sold without packaging or in recyclable paper or cardboard.
pH Levels:
Bar soap usually has a higher pH level than body wash, which can strip natural oils from the skin and cause dryness or itchiness in some people.
Cost:
Soap tends to be more affordable and less pricey than body wash.
Here are just a few differences between body wash and soap. You can choose one, or you can use a combination of both. It’s really up to you, your preferences, and what your skin likes the best.
Is Dove good for black skin?
Dove is a popular brand of body wash that many people use, including those with dark skin. Dove soap is created with moisturizers and other ingredients designed to nourish your skin. It also contains mild cleansers that are suitable for all skin types, including dark skin.
What soap can a dark skin person use?
Let me start off by saying that skin is skin, and body wash was created for one thing; to cleanse skin. Therefore any soap or body wash designed to cleanse skin can technically be used by a dark skin person. That said, there are some body washes and soaps out there that provide additional benefits for dark skin.
These body washes, and soaps can be formulated with ingredients that work to help protect and nourish the skin, reduce acne or scarring, or provide additional levels of moisture.
A great soap that black people can use is African black soap. This soap is made of raw ingredients like plantain skins, palm leaves, cocoa pod powder, and shea butter. However, because of the cleansing effects of African black soap, it can be drying, so it’s best to use a moisturizer or lotion afterward.
Another excellent soap for dark skin is goat’s milk soap. This type of soap helps to restore skin’s natural pH balance and contains vitamins, minerals, and proteins that help hydrate the skin. It also helps to reduce inflammation and irritation.
Purchase: Goat’s milk soap
Finally, for those who want a luxurious experience, there is always the option of using activated charcoal soap. Activated charcoal helps to deeply cleanse the skin and remove toxins, dirt, and bacteria. It also helps to restore the skin’s pH balance and reduce discoloration.
Does African black soap make your skin lighter?
African black soap is usually made from raw ingredients such as plantain skins, palm leaves, cocoa pod powder, and shea butter. With that said, No, African black soap should make your skin lighter as it does not contain any skin-lighting ingredients such as hydroquinone.
Conclusion:
Today, I’ve shared some of the best body washes for black skin, as well as how to properly use wash body and the differences between body wash and soap.
Everyone’s body chemistry is different, so it’s important to experiment with different body washes until you find the one that works best for you.
Do you have a favorite body wash? Let me know down below in the comments; I would love to know!
In my next article, I’m sharing the best lotions for black skin.