A good-quality body wash is the crown jewel of the bathroom. Body washes and shower gels today are much more than just soaps. They’re essential skincare products that cleanse our bodies as well as hydrate and protect the skin from environmental stressors.
You may be surprised that body washes are not always vegan. Body washes often include animal-derived fats and emollients such as non-vegan glycerin, stearic acid, honey, or milk enzymes. Luxury body washes can also include animal collagen or hydrolyzed silk.
In addition, many market-leading body washes cannot be considered vegan because the company still tests on animals. These include brands like Dove, Nivea, Aveeno, CeraVe, and Nécessaire. Their body washes are never really vegan because they’re not cruelty-free.
Luckily, in 2024 you are able to find so many amazing vegan body washes that have not been tested on animals. We have assembled a list of our favorite vegan washed on the market right now. Hope you find the right vegan body wash or vegan shower gel to your taste.
Best Vegan Body Washes
These body washes are all vegan and cruelty-free.
- Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser
- Luna Daily The Hydrating Everywhere Wash
- Isle of Paradise Brilliantly Bright Body Wash
- Method Simply Nourish Body Wash
- Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
- Pacifica Lavender Moon Body Wash
- Buttah Skin Egyptian CocoShea Body Wash
- Bliss Lemon & Sage Soapy Suds Body Wash
- Malin + Goetz Rum Hand + Body Wash
1. Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser
Aesop Geranium Leaf is the best vegan body wash. It has such an amazing fresh citrusy scent which makes you feel like you are showering in a luxury hotel. Also, the skin feels so soft and moisturized after this wash. It’s expensive but worth the money.
- What we like: best scent, very hydrating and refreshing wash
- What we don’t like: it’s expensive
Key ingredients: geranium leaf, mandarin rind, bergamot rind | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, Certified B Corporation, made in Australia, refills available | Average rating: 4.7/5 | Price: $49 (16.9 oz)
2. Luna Daily The Hydrating Everywhere Wash
The Hydrating Everywhere Wash is a great vegan body wash for women. Rich in prebiotics, it’s designed to give a gentle and hydrating cleanse for the whole body, including intimate areas. This balancing wash also fights dryness from hormonal changes.
This Hydrating option has a lovely calming scent of chamomile and cotton. If you have sensitive skin, you can also opt for their fragrance-free vegan body wash.
- What we like: gentle for the skin and intimate areas
- What we don’t like: pump application would be more convenient
Key ingredients: thermal water, prebiotic lactic acid, inulin, vitamins C, E, A & F, omegas 3 & 6 | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, soap-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free | Average rating: 4.8/5 | Price: $19 (8.4 oz)
Shop on: Sephora, Official site
3. Isle of Paradise Brilliantly Bright Body Wash
If your skin is dull and needs some revival, try the Isle of Paradise Brilliantly Bright Body Wash. This vegan shower gel brightens the skin beautifully with vitamin C and boosts hydration with niacinamide. It lathers well and has a fantastic tropical summery scent.
- What we like: excellent for reviving and brightening the skin
- What we don’t like: too fragrant for some
Key ingredients: vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, pH-balanced, paraben-free, phthalate-free, SLS-free, SLES-free | Average rating: 4.9/5 | Price: $22 (11.15 oz)
Shop on: Sephora, Official site
4. Method Simply Nourish Body Wash
Method Simply Nourish is our favorite affordable vegan body wash. It’s such a simple vegan body cleanser with the richest and creamiest lather. The wash uses moisturizing rice milk, coconut milk, and shea butter. It’s completely non-drying and has a nice sweet scent.
- What we like: rich lather, affordable
- What we don’t like: sweet scent not for everyone
Key ingredients: coconut milk, rice milk, shea butter | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free | Average rating: 4.8/5 | Price: $7.99 (18 oz)
5. Dr. Bronner’s Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
Dr. Bronner’s offers the best unscented vegan body wash. It’s fragrance-free, non-drying, and ideal for sensitive skin. The vegan soap uses organic and certified fair trade oils such as hemp seed, olive, and coconut oil. It’s free of detergents, foaming agents, and artificial preservatives.
This soap is so gentle you can also use it to clean your face, your hair, your child, and your pet. It’s also great for washing dishes and hardwood floors. While organic, it has amazing value for the price. You’ll only need a few drops of it for a rich lather and one bottle lasts a long time.
In addition to the unscented version, this wash comes in many varieties. Their bestselling Peppermint Soap leaves the cleanest and freshest feel and helps keep sinuses open. If you struggle with body acne or dandruff, we recommend trying their Tea Tree Oil Soap.
- What we like: organic, clean, and safe wash, multitasker
- What we don’t like: it’s not tear-free
Key ingredients: organic hemp seed oil, olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, natural, organic, certified fair trade, non-GMO, EWG-verified, paraben-free, phthalate-free, added fragrance-free, synthetic preservative-free, foaming agent-free, detergent-free, 100% recycled bottle, refills available | Average rating: 4.7/5 | Price: $16.99 (32 oz)
6. Pacifica Lavender Moon Body Wash
Lavender Moon is the most relaxing vegan body wash. It has a lovely lavender scent with some distant notes of rose and chamomile. It makes the showering experience so soothing. The vegan wash also hydrates the skin with hyaluronic acid and coconut water.
- What we like: relaxing lavender scent, hydrating
- What we don’t like: doesn’t have a rich lather
Key ingredients: coconut water, hyaluronic acid, plant extracts | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, SLS-free, mineral oil-free, made in the USA | Average rating: 4.6/5 | Price: $10 (12 oz)
7. Buttah Skin Egyptian CocoShea Body Wash
Black-owned brand Buttah Skin has created the most opulent vegan body wash. Lush and fragrant, the wash makes you feel like an Egyptian goddess. African cocoa and shea butter intensely nourish and moisturize the skin. Meanwhile, marshmallow root brightens the skin.
- What we like: very nourishing and moisturizing
- What we don’t like: fragrance can be too much for some
Key ingredients: cocoa butter, shea butter, marshmallow root, purslane extract | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, black-owned brand | Average rating: 4.3/5 | Price: $29 (10 oz)
8. Bliss Lemon & Sage Soapy Suds Body Wash
Bliss Lemon & Sage is the most refreshing vegan body wash. We love to use it in the summer, the clean citrusy scent really wakes you up. It also foams really well. It’s not the most hydrating wash (we don’t recommend it for very dry skin) but it’s ideal for normal and oily skin.
- What we like: refreshing scent, lathers well
- What we don’t like: not hydrating enough very dry skin
Key ingredients: aloe leaf juice, vegan glycerin, lemon & sage fragrance | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, SLS-free, SLES-free, mineral oil-free | Average rating: 4.5/5 | Price: $11 (17 oz)
9. Malin + Goetz Rum Hand + Body Wash
We also love this luxurious vegan hand and body wash from Malin + Goetz. It has the most alluring dark rum scent that is not overpowering but lingers nicely. The wash cleanses while hydrating and it makes the skin silky soft with amino acids and vegan glycerin.
- What we like: great expensive scent, hydrating
- What we don’t like: some packages are leaky
Key ingredients: amino acids, vegan glycerin, orange & lemon fruit extracts | Features: vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, SLS-free, SLES-free, PEG-free, mineral oil-free, gluten-free | Average rating: 4.5/5 | Price: $26 (8.5 oz)
Article update August 29 (2023): Included Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Pure-Castile Liquid Soap as the best unscented vegan body wash.
