Oh no—another beauty buzzword to file away. When you first hear about the best serum body wash formulas, it’s fair to wonder: What on earth is that, and isn’t it just…body wash? Not exactly. Across the beauty world, a skin-care-first approach has taken over—from skin-care-makeup hybrids to active-rich body care. Serum body washes follow the same philosophy, delivering concentrated ingredients in body cleanser form designed to actively treat concerns, whether that’s targeting discoloration and breakouts or boosting hydration with botanical humectants.
Board-certified nurse practitioner Vanessa Coppola, DNP, FNP-BC, MSCP, explains things plainly: “Traditional body washes focus primarily on cleansing, often aggressively, using surfactants that strip oils and disrupt the barrier. A serum body wash, by contrast, is designed to cleanse while actively treating the skin,” Coppola tells Vogue. “These formulas typically contain higher concentrations of bioavailable actives like humectants, lipids, barrier-repair ingredients, and sometimes mild exfoliants, suspended in a gentler cleansing base.” Think of serum body washes as skin care that happens in the shower, not just hygiene.
Vogue’s Favorite Serum Body Washes
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In This Story
- What is a serum body wash?
- Benefits of a Serum Body Wash
- Can serum body washes make an efficacious difference?
- How We Tested
- Meet the Experts
Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, choosing a body wash starts to mirror how we select facial serums and cleansers—intentionally, based on our skin’s needs, and with just as much care given to what happens in the shower as what happens at the vanity. “As people become more comfortable with their facial skin-care routines, it’s common for them to explore how they can best take care of their body’s skin,” double-board certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp tells Vogue. “The popularity of skin-care products targeted to the body speaks to this recent increased interest.” Body care’s grab-anything attitude is suddenly guided by measured decision-making.
Below, over half a dozen of the best serum body washes to consider, with experts weighing in on their top picks. You’re one purchase away from lathering on some major skin-care benefits, no matter your skin type.
Best with Collagen Peptides: Olay Super Serum Body Wash
- Why We Love It: Olay’s body wash arguably helped coin the term “serum body wash.” It boasts a silky, gel-like texture and an impressive lineup of active ingredients, including niacinamide and vitamin C for brightening, and BHAs for exfoliation; nourishing collagen peptides and vitamin E provide hydration. All of this comes at an affordable price point—just $13, far less than an overpriced smoothie you could arguably make at home.
- Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, collagen peptide, vitamin C, vitamin E, and BHA, AHA
- Fragrance: Yes (coconut, vanilla, and soft wood)
- Size: 18.5 fl oz
- More To Know: Dermatologist-tested, free of parabens, phthalates, and silicones.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Gentle and dermatologist-tested | Some find the fragrance to be a bit strong |
| Hydrating and brightening formula |
Best for Textured Skin: Naturium The Smoother Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Wash
- Why We Love It: “Naturium’s wash is a great choice for exfoliation because it is formulated with a blend of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), including glycolic, lactic, and tartaric acids that it sloughs off dead skin cells,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Azadeh Shirazi previously told Vogue. It’s a formula that’s cosigned by double board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp, who notes that regular use can reveal smother and brighter skin overtime, including reducing keratosis pilaris. That said, because this is an exfoliating body wash, it’s best to use this pick two to three times per week, rather than for every wash.
- Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, glycerin
- Size: 8.4 fl oz
- Fragrance: No
- More To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free, and paraben-free
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Brightens, exfoliates, and smooths skin texture | May be strong for dry skin or hyper-sensitive skin |
| Clean formula |
Best for Dry Skin: Cyklar Sensorial Body Wash
- Why We Love It: Cyklar’s products have quickly become a fan-favorite around the Vogue office for body care (including the brand’s body lotion). The brand’s moisturizing body wash boasts a spa-like array of aromas, all while being packed with potent hydrating ingredients. “This product is formulated with natural ingredients and emphasizes a balance of cleansing and hydration, making it great for maintaining skin integrity without over-drying,” double board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ali Shahbaz, MD, previously told Vogue.
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, sodium PCA, multi-oil complex
- Fragrance: Many scents, though there is a fragrance-free option (santal/vanilla/bergamot/neroli/crescent)
- Size: 490 mL
- More To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, sustainable packaging
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ideal for dry skin types | A slightly pricier pick |
| 91% top-allergen free | |
| A variety of fragrance options—including fragrance-free |
Best Drugstore: Dove Hydration Boost Serum Body Wash
- Why We Love It: Another super-affordable pick comes from Dove. As the product name implies, it’s formulated with a moisture-focused trio that works in tandem to keep skin soft and supple. Hyaluronic acid helps retain water, keeping skin feeling plump, while squalane reinforces the skin barrier to lock in hydration and prevent moisture loss. Glycerin rounds out the formula by attracting water to the skin’s surface, ensuring lasting hydration that feels lightweight rather than greasy.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, glycerin, soybean oil
- Fragrance: Yes (floral scent)
- Size: 18.5 fl oz
- More To Know: Dermatologist-tested, PETA certified, vegan, paraben and sulfate-free
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Dermatologist-tested and cruelty-free formula | Some find the scent a bit strong |
| Contains 6% hyaluronic acid and squalane for deep hydration |
Best Calming: Nécessaire The Body Wash
- Why We Love It: Nécessaire’s shower gel is formulated with calming oils and gentle, naturally-derived exfoliants that cleanse without leaving skin feeling tight or dry. The crisp eucalyptus aroma adds a perk, providing a refreshing, spa-like effect that can feel especially soothing during allergy season. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, also notes that the formula is skin-barrier-supporting and blends niacinamide, vitamins, and fatty acids to help keep skin balanced and healthy.
- Key Ingredients: Plant surfactants, plain oils, niacinamide, glycerin, ceramides
- Fragrance: Yes, naturally-derived (eucalyptus)
- Size: 3.4 fl oz, 8.4 fl oz, 16.9 fl oz
- More To Know: Free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and silicones
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Clean, plant-derived formula | While this is overall considered hypoallergenic, those with niacinamide allergies best avoid |
| Skin-barrier supporting ingredients |
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Some By Mi BY 30 Days Miracle Acne Clear Body Cleanser
- Why We Love It: Bye-bye bacne! K-beauty devotees may want to consider adding a Korean body wash to their routine. Much like treating facial breakouts with targeted active ingredients, Some By Mi’s best-selling body wash takes a similar approach to body acne. “Formulated with alpha-hydroxy, beta-hydroxy, and poly-hydroxy acids, this acne body cleanser helps remove excess sebum and gently exfoliate dead skin cells to clear away impurities,” explains Dr. Camp. It’s especially useful not only in warmer months, but also in winter, when heavy layers and commuting can lead to sweat buildup and friction-triggered breakouts.
- Key Ingredients: Glycerine, centella asiatica, tea tree leaf water, peppermint oil, palmitic acid, stearic acid, loachic acid, myristic acid, salicylic acid
- Fragrance: No
- Size: 14.10 oz
- More To Know: Free from sulfates, parabens, and harsh alcohols
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| AHA, BHA, and PHA effectively helps to clear body acne | Some find the formula to be a bit drying |
| Contains tea tree and centella asiatica for soothing |
Best Clean Beauty: Osea Undaria Algae Body Wash
- Why We Love It: Osea’s hydrating body wash relies on a clean, naturally-derived formula to gently cleanse: “Undaria seaweed is featured in this body wash to offer antioxidant protection from damaging free radicals,” says Dr. Camp. “It’s also made with a plant-based surfactant blend, aloe, glycerin and jojoba oil to cleanse without stripping skin for soft, hydrated and revitalized skin.” Plus, it’s a pH-balanced to ensure your skin barrier is never disrupted.
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, seawead extract, grapefruit peel oil, jojoba seed oil, aloe leaf juice, coconut oil, avocado oil, tocopherol
- Fragrance: Yes, naturally derived
- Size: 8 fl oz
- More To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free, and free from silicones, sulfates, and parabens
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hydrating, gentle, and naturally-derived formula | A pricier pick |
| pH-balanced |
Everything You Need to Know
What is a serum body wash?
According to Dr. Camp, a serum body wash is defined by a formula with a higher concentration of active ingredients (like you’d find in skin-care products), beyond just typical cleansing surfactants. “Serum body washes contain ingredients that more than simply wash and clean skin,” he says. “They’re formulated with concentrated
ingredients to address concerns like hydration, skin tone, firmness, acne, and texture.” In short, these picks go a step further than your standard bar soap.
Benefits of a Serum Body Wash
“Just as a facial serum helps improve the absorption and penetration of active ingredients, serum body washes may improve the delivery of active ingredients to skin on the arms, legs, and torso,” says Dr. Camp.
Coppola agrees, adding that highly concentrated ingredients offer both immediate and cumulative benefits, including “improved hydration, reduced inflammation, smoother texture, and better barrier resilience.” Coppola notes this is particularly helpful patients
experiencing dryness, sensitivity, or itch related to estrogen decline.
Can serum body washes make an efficacious difference?
Coppola notes that while serum body washes can help target specific skin concerns, consistency, and what you apply after the shower, matters for for visible results. “Because body washes are rinse-off products, daily use is key. Regular exposure to high-quality actives can still meaningfully support skin health, especially when followed by post-shower occlusion, such as a body serum or cream,” she explains. Put simply, serum body washes act as an effective first step, helping to reduce irritation, improve overall comfort, and prime the skin so leave-on products can work even better.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists and nurse practitioners, to estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to serum body washes, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, and the skin care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who sees patients in New York City and Long Island.
- Vanessa Coppola, DNP, FNP-BC, MSCP, is a Yale-trained aesthetics and menopause expert specializing in skin health during hormonal change and medically guided weight loss. She is the founder of Bare Aesthetic and Bare Soul Wellness and a national educator in integrative aesthetic medicine.
- Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist in Manhattan and Plainview, New York at MDCS Dermatology.
- Dr. Ali Shahbaz, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology based in Austin, Texas.
