The best body cleansers for hydrated, healthy limbs

Traditional body washes and soaps are more often than not packed full of cleansing agents that, although great at washing away dirt and impurities, tend to strip skin of it’s natural oils leaving limbs feeling dry and sometimes even tight and uncomfortable.

We’ve collated the very best of the new age body cleansers that boast gentle, nourishing formulas that help to hydrate skin, while still keeping your body squeaky clean.

SEPHORA COLLECTION LAGOON Bubble Bath And Shower Gel

Formulated with hydrating and moisturising blue algae extract, this refreshing and gentle body wash also doubles as bubble bath – a no brainer to add to your self-care lineup.

$15 at SEPHORA

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser

Ahh we stan a budget-friendly queen. This super gentle cleanser from CeraVe utilises their tried and true ceramide-rich formula as well as hyaluronic acid for lasting hydration that doesn’t strip skin or clog pores. Plus, this little guy’s sensitive-skin friendly!

$10.39 at Chemist Warehouse

Avene XeraCalm A.D Cleansing Oil

If you love cleansing oils for your face, you’ll love this offering from Avene: a super silky cleansing oil that repels water, halting its drying effects on skin, and can be lathered up on limbs in the shower for an all over cleanse or added to the bath for a nourishing bathing experience.

$35.99 at Adore Beauty

Drunk Elephant Kamili™ Cream Body Cleanser 

Combining a potent cocktail of marula oil, sacha inchi seed oil and passionfruit oil, a pH of 5 and an ultra-mild blend of gentle cleansing agents that are rich in fatty acids, Drunk Elephant has kind of nailed it in terms of formulating a cleanser that’s gentle on skin.

$30 at MECCA

Andalou 1000 Roses Soothing Shower Gel

A skin-conditioning combo of rosehip oil, argan oil, coconut water, and aloe vera, this wash is your one-stop shop for hydration and freshness. It's devoted to uplifting and strengthening your precious moisture barrier, and it happens to be as soothing as it is hydrating. As for that rose aroma? Unbeatable.

$15 at Andalou

Mario Badescu AHA Botanical Body Soap

If your skin is prone to pesky ingrown hairs, this AHA body soap is a real winner. Formulated with papaya and grapefruit extracts that help to break down and slough away dead skin cells for ultra smooth skin, while antioxidant-rich ginseng extract work to revitalise and oat proteins soothe sensitive and irritated skin.

$12 at MECCA

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil

We can’t talk about hydrating body cleansers without mentioning this guy, truly a classic in it’s own right and with packaging so chic it’ll elevate any shower lineup. Infused with a nourishing blend of almond oil and skin-replenishing lipids, this shower oil leaves skin feeling so unbelievably soft it should be a crime.

$39 at L'Occitane

Dr Roebuck's Straya Soothing Hand & Body Wash

Formulated with aloe vera, white tea and bitter orange oil, this wash is a treat for the senses as well as the skin. Providing a deep anti-bacterial clean while still gifting the skin extra moisture (and blessedly not stripping natural oils), it's a shower shelf must-have in our book.

$38 at Dr Roebuck's

QV Baby Gentle Wash

If you’re dealing with eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis, then you know how frustrating it can be when a body wash irritates your skin. QV Baby Gentle Wash is formulated to rehydrate and soothe sensitive skin and can be used to cleanse both the hair and body if you so wish. 

$10.99 at Chemist Warehouse

etch&ethos Hydrating Body Wash – Botanical Bloom

Not only does this hydrating body wash smell incredible but it's doing its bit for the environment too. The bottle is made from 50 per cent recycled milk bottles, helping to repurpose plastic and lighten our landfill load. Keep your shower short while you're at it and you're basically a sustainability hero.

$16.50 at etchandethos.com

Up to elevate your pampering shower session even more? These body scrubs won’t make a mess in your shower.

Main image credit: @rainymilo