The Honest Company Shampoo + Body Wash, Orange Vanilla

Approximately 243 million households in America use body wash each year. If you, too, prefer body wash over bar soap, you may want to take a look at the ingredients found on your bottle’s product label. Many of them contain harsh chemicals that aren’t beneficial to the body. Instead, consider switching to an organic body wash that contains only natural ingredients that nourish your skin.

As you shop, you’ll want to keep the following information in mind:

Double-check that the body wash is free from harsh ingredients, as some products that claim to be organic aren’t actually 100% organic. The ingredients you’ll want to avoid include perfumes, synthetic dyes, drying alcohols and parabens. You may also want to look for a cruelty-free label. This lets you know the body wash was not tested on animals.

Determine who you are buying the organic body wash for. Some are formulated for women, while others are designed for men. Then there are body washes like the Puracy Natural Body Wash, Citrus and Sea Salt, which is recommended for everyone, including parents, children and even the family dog.

Consider your skin type when selecting the perfect body wash. Some are made for individuals with dry skin, while others cater to those with oily skin. The BOTANIC HEARTH Body Wash, Tea Tree has added ingredients for treating skin that is often plagued with acne, eczema, jock itch or yeast infections.

Consider choosing a body wash that has multiple uses. The Everyone 3-in-1 Body Soap, Coconut and Lemon is not only a body wash, but also a shampoo. It can also be used to create a relaxing bubble bath that will leave you feeling pampered after a long day at work.

Examine the label for natural ingredients that are known to cleanse the skin and leave it healthy and moisturized afterward. The Avalon Organics Nourishing Body Wash, Lavender has vitamins and essential oils that do just that. It even has aloe, which is great for the skin. Another important ingredient to look for is coconut. Coconut not only has a host of health benefits, but it smells divine as well.

Review the bottle’s size and scent last. You may want to start off with a small bottle of the organic body wash to determine whether or not you like it. Once you know it meets your needs, it’s helpful to have a larger size available so you don’t have to replace the bottle as often. Choosing a pleasant scent is equally as important. You don’t want to walk around all day smelling like lavender if you hate the smell of lavender.

• Check for any company guarantees. Some offer a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee. That way if you are unhappy with the body wash for any reason, you can return it for a full refund.
• Look for any special certifications, so you know the product has been tested by a third party and has been found to meet the third party’s rigorous standards. For example, an NSF/ANSI certification lets you know that the product is guaranteed to contain 70% organic content or more based on its weight.
• Never ingest an organic body wash, even though it contains all-natural ingredients. You’ll also want to avoid getting the soap in your eyes while showering.
• It’s important that you test a drop of the soap on your skin before you use it all over your body. This is the best way to determine if you are allergic to any of the body wash’s ingredients.
• Store the body wash out of the reach of children and pets. Some ingredients may be harmful if swallowed.
• Always check with your doctor before you begin using an organic body wash if you are pregnant, suffer from any health conditions or are taking any prescription medications. Some natural ingredients may be harmful in unique situations. For example, oregano oil may cause cramps and is not recommended for use by pregnant women.
• When you use the body wash, keep the water temperature warm. Hot water dries out the skin. Since water also dries out the skin, it’s also ideal to shorten your time in the shower.
• Even though body washes are designed to be more moisturizing than bar soap, you’ll still want to use a moisturizing lotion on your skin after you shower.
• Most of the organic body washes on the market are comparable in price, but when you check the cost, you’ll need to consider the number of ounces in the bottle, as well as how many bottles are in the set. Although at first glance the Puracy Natural Body Wash, Citrus and Sea Salt has a higher price tag than the Avalon Organics Nourishing Body Wash, Lavender, it actually costs less. This is because the Puracy is sold as a two-pack and contains fewer ounces than the Avalon bottle. The same is true of the Everyone 3-in-1 Body Soap, Coconut and Lemon and the BOTANIC HEARTH Body Wash, Tea Tree. The Everyone body wash ends up costing less when you take into account the number of ounces and the number of bottles in the set.