At first glance, choosing between the best shower gels may seem like a pretty straightforward process. As long as it smells nice and lathers nicely, right? Well, think again. Just as you wouldn’t treat your face with a one-size-fits-all solution, you’d do well to consider specific formulas that tailor to your skin type and help with a multitude of various skin concerns.
Dry skin, for one, deserves a creamy formula that moisturises with rich, hydrating and soothing ingredients, whereas someone with back acne or oily skin might opt for a gel-like body wash with purifying properties such as BHA (beta hydroxy acids).
That’s not to say your body care routine has to be expensive. There are hundreds of options out there at varying price points, from budget to premium. Some shower products encourage a better night’s sleep, whilst some relax muscles and invigorate. Whatever you prefer, we’ve scoured the beauty sphere’s shelves to find the very best formulas for your perusal – all tried and tested by our team of experts.
Skip to FAQs: Which shower gel is right for my skin type? | Which shower gel fragrance should you go for? | How we tested | Our full reviews.
Which shower gel is right for my skin type?
When it comes to dry skin, you want to look for hydrating and nourishing skincare ingredients that you’d typically see in a good body cream or body lotion, like glycerin, shea butter, ceramides, aloe vera or coconut oil.
If you have eczema, sensitive skin or even breakout-prone skin, consider something gentle that’s free of parabens or sulphates. Antioxidants and other ingredients like niacinamide can help too by helping to rebuild your skin’s natural protective barrier and balancing your natural oils. You might also look for fruit enzymes, salicylic acid, glycolic acid or lactic acid if you want an exfoliating formula that sloughs away dead skin cells.
Which shower gel fragrance should you go for?
Whilst some with super sensitive skin might look for unscented or fragrance-free formulas, others may use the shower as an excuse to escape, and fragrance helps you to do just that. Whether you prefer sweet, gourmand scents or something a little more energising, shower gels can transform your shower cubicle or bath into a place of pure relaxation and comfort.
There’s no right or wrong answer here – simply choose whichever scent calls out to you. A good rule of thumb is to look for shower gel scents that are similar to your perfume go-tos. Alternatively, you could opt for scents that affect your mood. Think: mint to invigorate and kickstart your morning or calming lavender to get you ready for bed.
How we tested shower gels:
The GLAMOUR team has collectively reviewed hundreds of shower gels from a variety of brands. When it comes to testing, we keep in mind various skin types and conditions, assessing each formula on things like efficacy, value for money, scent, feel, ingredients and packaging. In the rare instance where we can’t personally test something, we make sure to consult our little black book of experts and dermatologists, as well as consumer reviews, to bring you a truthful and informed review nonetheless. Read more about how we test here.
For more shoppable beauty content from Glamour UK Commerce Contributor Humeara Mohamed, follow her on Instagram @humeara.