The 12 Best Shower Gels of 2022

Born in 1976 in Provence, L'Occitane established its brand image by targeting the market of relatively low-cost hand creams when other major brands were focusing on facial skincare and body care products. As a scented personal care brand, L'Occitane offers a wide range of products that are mainly developed and manufactured in the Manosque production site in Provence with natural ingredients from other places, making it the best choice for those who’re looking for naturally scented personal care products.

L'Occitane comes in 20 product lines, of which the body care line accounts for one-third of all products. This product line is divided into many popular collections such as Shea Butter, Cherry Blossom, Verbena, Almond, and Rose, as well as the collection for men. Shower gels, body lotions, soaps, and hand creams are all available in these collections.

L'Occitane shower gel is packaged in an elegant container, ideal for personal use or gift giving. The shower gel transforms into a rich and smooth foam with excellent cleansing power, non-irritation, and easy cleansing. Unfortunately, without long-lasting scent, the shower gel also does not contain L'Occitane essential oil and quality moisturizing ingredients, so people with dry skin should apply body lotion afterwards. The Almond Shower Scrub transforms, when in contact with water, into a lavish foam to remove impurities and dead cells with tiny exfoliating beads. This scrub leaves skin feeling smooth with a fresh fragrance.

L'Occitane shower gels feature floral fragrance, of which the Cherry Blossom and Verbena are the two most popular offerings, suitable for both men and women. However, as daily consumables, L'Occitane products are not very cost effective.

Jo Malone London is a renowned British brand owned by Estée Lauder Companies. Featuring simplicity and purity, its fragrance is favored by a bunch of celebrities as well as consumers. With a plain package, its products exudes a classic British charm. In addition to perfumes, Jo Malone London also offers a variety of other products.

With fragrance brands going viral, not only their perfumes, but also shampoos and body washes featuring the same scents are also well received. Jo Malone London's bath and shower products come in a wide range of scents such as citrus, fruity, light floral, floral, spicy, and woody, which are not inferior to its perfume collections. 

Like its perfumes, infused with not overly sweet but just natural and fresh scents, Jo Malone’s body wash is also named after the ingredients, include those signature fragrances such as Wood Sage & Sea Salt, English Pear & Freesia, Lime Basil & Mandarin, and Wild Bluebell. Although Lux and OLAY also have launched the salon-grade fragrance body wash collections, these imitations cannot be compared to Jo Malone’s offerings in terms of quality.

Jo Malone’s bath and shower products are made with soap base and amphoteric surfactants to be effective at cleansing your skin. The shower gel transforms into a silky lather, and leaves skin feeling hydrated after rising thanks to Vitamin B5 and Butylene glycol as moisturizer.

As daily consumables, Jo Malone’s shower gels have higher price points. But even so, the products are awfully attractive to customers who like to wear perfumes thanks to the superior quality. Plus, the exquisite gift box is also very suitable for gift giving.

Founded in Australia in 1985, Jurlique is an organic skincare brand like L'Occitane. It’s known for the products made with organic ingredients from its own farm. Jurlique Rose collection is the iconic line of the brand. Jurlique products were used by athletes during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. In 2011, it was acquired by Pola Orbis Holdings from Japan.

Jurlique is acclaimed as one of the most pure skincare brands on earth. Even its body wash products are all brimming with botanical extracts, such as Macadamia Seed Oil to lock in moisture, burdock root and rosemary leaf extract with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, as well as soothing and anti-allergic chamomile. Thanks to these ingredients, Jurlique body washes can maintain the skin's own hydrating ability. Without drying out the skin but leaving your skin feeling nourished after washing, Jurlique body washes are suitable for using all year round.

Jurlique comes in two collections, Moisture Plus Rare Rose and Calendula Redness Rescue. The pure rose scent is the most iconic fragrance of the Jurlique Moisture Plus Rare Rose, which is completely different from the harsh chemicals. The Calendula Redness Rescue collection includes three fresh and gentle shower gels such as Calming Lavender, Refreshing Citrus, and Restoring Lemon Geranium & Clary Sage.

Jurlique's body washes are gentle with good cleansing power. Compared to the rich-lathering Japanese body washes, they foam up without thick lather, so we recommend pairing them with a bath sponge or foaming net. Jurlique's body washes contains preservatives like Paraben, which is commonly used in daily chemical products. Through years of applications and research, Parabens are safe and highly effective in maintaining the stability and anti-bacterial ability of bath and shower products. With a pH value of about 5.5, the weak acid Jurlique body wash has a higher price point than its siblings.

Founded in 1999, Curél is a Japaneses skincare brand owned by Kao. It is dedicated to freeing the skin from dryness and sensitivity. Curél has successfully developed the ceramide functioning ingredient "Cetyl-PG Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide" to improve skin dryness caused by the damaged barrier. It is one of the hero ingredients contained in most Curél's offerings.

With a streamlined product line, Curél only comes in two body wash products. Both of them do not contain ceramide functioning ingredients, but feature gentle cleansing and preventing ceramide loss. However, these body washes cannot stay for a long time on the skin to make the skin absorb sufficient nutrients. Also, for dry sensitive skin, the skin moisture barrier can be protected by preventing excessive cleansing. The body washes can be paired with Curél's ceramide body lotion to enhance the moisturizing and nourishing benefits. These two fragrance-free body washes are weakly acid with a pH value close to that of human skin. Although the formula contains a small amount of preservatives, it is not much irritating to the skin.

The translucent, liquid Intensive Moisture Care Body Wash lathers up with a shower ball. The gentle, refreshing body wash is ideal for dry skin. The Intensive Moisture Care Foaming Body Wash can dispense instant fine foam with every pump and is effective at cleansing. This formula contains moisturizers that will not dry out you skin after washing. Both body washes are great for dry skin or using in the dry fall and winter.

OLAY is a global leading skincare brand with the slogan of "Fearless of Age”, trusted and favored by women around the globe for 60 years. Its offerings feature moisturizing and brightening benefits. OLAY’s hero ingredient is nicotinamide that can repair and improve the skin barrier, provide anti-inflammatory for acne-prone skin, and deliver brightening benefits over a long-term use. OLAY’s serums, masks, and body creams are all formulated with niacinamide.

OLAY Body Wash is highly moisturizing and highly nourishing. The Deep Moisture Body Wash is formulated with a large amount of lock-in-moisture ingredients such lemon oil, mandarin oil, mandarin orange peel oil, and mineral oil to prevent dry skin from peeling. It transforms into a rich, dense foam, but it also contains potentially irritating ingredients. Therefore, the body wash is more suitable for healthy dry skin.

The Body Wash with Vitamin B3 and Vitamin C is brimming with peptide, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to provide firming, brightening, and moisturizing benefits. Plus, this cost-effective collection comes in three notes. However, the body wash actually contains an average concentration of high-purity niacinamide and cannot deliver enormous effect in a short time.

The Blossom body wash features fragrance, which is also formulated with niacinamide. The translucent cream-like body wash transforms into a rich foam and comes in 5 notes, suitable for consumers who prefer natural scents.

Priced similarly to other popular daily chemical brands, OLAY body wash is also a highly cost-effective choice.

Soap&Glory is a skincare and makeup brand of BOOTS. Featuring white and pink colors, Soap&Glory offers safe and natural products including masks, body moisturizers, body firming serums, and scrubs, all of which are well received by women. With a unique British retro style, Soap&Glory has successfully won the hearts of many young women. Focusing on body care, Soap&Glory’s bath and shower products are very popular.

The fan favorite Clean On Me is a creamy shower gel that needs to be rubbed into a thick, lavish lather. The strongly milk-scented shower gel makes you feel like taking a milk bath. The relatively lightweight Clean Girls body wash contains natural vanilla fruit and orchid extracts. With a pale yellow lotion-like texture, the formula transforms into a richer foam and is easier to rinse off than Clean On Me. The Clean Girls body wash features a light botanical scent, suitable for those who do not prefer sweetness. However, this body wash is not effective enough at cleansing for oily skin.

Soap&Glory body wash contains a high concentration of moisturizing ingredients, suitable for using in the dry autumn and winter. However, it is not highly effective at cleansing and removing excess oil, it leaves the skin feeling more silky. Accordingly, it may be a little bit greasy for consumers who prefer a fresh skin feel.

Sebamed was founded by Dr. Heinz Maurer, a dermatologist of the University Clinic Bonn in Germany. Since its inception, Sebamed has pioneered the cleansing products. To solve the problem of eczema sufferers not being able to bathe with soap, Sebamed introduced the world's first soap-free, weak acid cleansing bar. Since then, Sebamed has developed a full line of skin cleansing products with "pH 5.5" technology, which are safe, non-irritating, and clinically tested. Thus, Sebamed gradually becomes a well-known German skincare brand.

Sebamed offers a variety of products for adults, including skincare, shampoo and conditioner, bath and shower products. It comes in 10 collections, such as Daily, Hair Care, F+S, Extreme Dry Skin, and Sun Care, as well as the collections for face care. Sebamed Anti-Dry Derma-Soft Wash Emulsion is ideal for dry skin, which is formulated with amino acids like Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, while adding Panthenol to moisturize skin. The Wash Emulsion protects against lipid erosion, so it is very friendly to dry skin, prone to cracking and peeling.

All of Sebamed’s bath and shower products are made with amphoteric surfactants for gentle cleansing and foaming. Although they’re not instant foaming body washes, these products are suitable for sensitive skin and women during pregnancy thanks to the skin-friendly and non-sticky foam, as well as soft and comfortable skin feel after rinsing. The Liquid Cleanser in the Daily collection is ideal for normal and oily skin. With a pH value of 5.5, this body wash supports the natural barrier function of the skin’s acid mantle. The alkali-free formula is gentle enough for removing makeup.

Safeguard is one of the daily necessities brands of P&G. As a world-renowned personal cleansing and care brand, it has been dedicated to teaching children to develop good hygiene habits. In 1963, Safeguard Deodorant and Anti-bacterial Soap was first launched in the United States, and since then it has been sold in dozens of countries and regions around the world.

Safeguard body wash has always been in an image of "professional anti-bacterial cleansing" in people's minds. With a pH value of 5.5, the body wash contains SLS and Cocamidopropyl Betaine rather than soap-base surfactants to make the formula gentler. However, it can’t lather up nicely, so we recommend pairing it with a shower ball. The downside? It does not contain quality moisturizing ingredients, which leaves the skin drying out after washing, so you need to hydrate your skin later.

Most products under Safeguard are very cost-effective. Clean and neutral, body wash has a simple package, easy to wash. It has an ultra-large package at a reasonable price, suitable for family use. The products are available in multiple fragrances on the official website or other shopping websites, some of which are fresh enough for summer. Some shower gels are added with vitamin E that can moisturize your body. Products with almond essence are suitable for dry skin. There are also other shower gels ideal for acne treatment, skin-soothing, and sensitive skin. Men can choose shower gels with strong cleaning power, oil and sweat removal.

Founded in 1886, Johnson & Johnson is the world's largest and most diversified medical care and consumer healthcare company. Johnson & Johnson's products are sold in 175 countries and regions, covering a wide range of fields. Johnson & Johnson has established more than 230 subsidiaries in 57 countries around the world and owns many well-known brands.

Johnson & Johnson offers skin-friendly, low-irritating products. Johnson’s Baby focuses on safety and gentleness, while Johnson’s Body Care is specifically designed for adult women. The gentle "NO MORE TEARS (tear-free)" formula also features moisturizing and fragrance. Currently, there are a lot of high-quality products in each collection. All body washes can be paired with the body lotions that have the same scents. The strongly sweet-scented Johnson’s body wash is effective at cleansing and moisturizing.

Johnson’s Body Care body washes generally create a light, airy lather with low irritation. In addition, the body wash formula is packed with shea butter, jojoba oil, vitamin E and other moisturizing ingredients to hydrate your skin. However, because the body wash contains quite a few soap-free surfactants and lipid ingredients, it takes more time to wash away, and sometimes it will give you the illusion of not being clean after rinsing.

Johnson & Johnson offers a variety of body washes for different skin types and seasons. The body washes are not overpriced and are easy to buy, making them a cost-effective choice.

Dove started with the launch of the Beauty Bar in 1957 in the US. After more than half a century, there is no denying that Dove has become the predecessor of the personal care industry. Whether the soaps or body washes, Dove has always been dominating the market in terms of sales. As one of the most valuable brands of Unilever, Dove is dedicated to manufacturing gentle and moisturizing products for dry skin. 

Dove has a wide range of body washes, which are divided into three collections: Deep Moisture, Purely Pampering, and Go Fresh, depending on their moisturizing ability and freshness. The fruity Go Fresh is suitable for oily skin or using in summer time; the strongly-scented Purely Pampering leaves the skin feeling moisturized, ideal for using in cold and dry winter; and the Deep Moisture is suitable for using all year round. If you often wear sunscreen, Dove Micellar Water body wash would be a good choice that is effective in removing your sunscreen. However, the gentle body wash does not foam up nicely, so we recommend pairing it with a bath sponge.   

Most Dove body washes contains SLES, amino acids and betaine surfactants to leave the skin feeling slightly smooth without drying out or tightening. The body wash transforms into a rich, thick foam, easy to rinse. With a neutral pH value, the body wash is not gentle enough to protect the skin’s acidic mantle, so it is not recommended for long-term use. The formula is more suitable for oily and neutral healthy skin, while people with dry or sensitive skin should apply body lotion timely after rinsing.

Dettol is the world's leading brand of professional disinfectant and antiseptic, and it is also the pick of the British Royal Family. Supported by a professional microbiology research team, Dettol has launched a host of innovative professional disinfectant and antiseptic. At present, as a global best-selling antiseptic brand, Dettol is selling its products in 124 countries and regions around the world.

Dettol offers not only disinfectant liquid, but also body wash products. Its body washes contains antibacterial ingredients such as Chloroxylenol (PCMX) that is clinically confirmed to be potentially harmful to human body. Although PCMX is not included on the banned-ingredients list issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some indicators still need to be considered. Thus, if you have sensitive skin or you’re pregnant now, we do not recommend using this body wash.

Dettol body wash is gentle and refreshing with a pH-balanced formula that is easy to lather and rinse off. In addition, it contains salicylic acid, an ingredient often found in acne skincare products, which penetrates into the pores to remove dirt while providing anti-inflammatory benefits. Thus, the body wash is ideal for people with acne on their back or limbs.

Because of the addition of antibacterial ingredients,Dettol body wash has a distinctive smell that may be not favored by most people. Therefore, we recommend you smell it before buying. Overall, Dettol body wash is a very affordable and cost-effective pick.

As one of P&G's most popular brands, founded in 1938, Old Spice is a well-known brand of male grooming products in the United States. The body wash market had been dominated by female products until Old Spice was born. It quickly took the lead on the market of body wash for men in terms of sales since its launch.

Old Spice High Endurance 3-in-1 Hair + Body Wash is formulated with surfactants complex such as SLS. The body wash lathers up nicely and instantly, effective at removing excess oil. The bottle can be opened with one hand, which is convenient for men to take a quick shower. With a viscous texture, the body wash features clean crisp scents, and leaves you smelling great after stepping out of the shower. The body wash is a perfect partner for business trips, travel or sports.