Having extra dry skin can be frustrating. It may feel tight, flaky, itchy, and rough. Choosing the right body wash is important to help provide much-needed moisture without further drying out the skin.
What Causes Extra Dry Skin?
There are a few key causes of extra dry skin:
- Genetics – some people are just prone to having drier skin types
- Environment/Climate – cold, dry air outdoors and indoors from heaters can dry out skin
- Hot Showers – long, very hot showers wash away the skin’s protective oils
- Harsh Soaps – many conventional soaps strip away natural oils
- Skin Conditions – some medical conditions like eczema, psoriasis, etc. cause dry, flaky skin
- Medications – certain prescription medicines have drying out skin as a side effect
- Age – skin naturally loses moisture as it ages
Understanding what factors are causing your extra dry skin can help you find solutions to treat it.
Choosing the Best Body Wash for Extra Dry Skin
With extra dry skin, it’s best to use gentle, hydrating cleansers that won’t strip away natural moisture. Here are some features to look for in body washes to combat very dry skin:
- Hydrating Oils & Butters: Ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, and avocado oil can help nourish and moisturize skin while washing.
- Skin-Identical Ingredients: Ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids found naturally in skin help reinforce the moisture barrier.
- Humectants: Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and sorbitol attract and bind moisture to the skin.
- Soothing Extracts: Aloe vera, chamomile, oatmeal, almond extract, and other botanicals help calm and comfort very dry, irritated skin.
- Fragrance-Free: Fragrances, whether natural or synthetic, can sometimes irritate sensitive skin. Fragrance-free is best for very dry and easily irritated skin types.
It’s also best to avoid products with harsh surfactants like sodium laureth sulfate that can remove too much natural oil and lipids from dry skin.
Ranking the Best Dove Body Washes for Extra Dry Skin
Here is a ranking of the top 5 Dove body washes that can provide intense moisturization for the driest skin types:
Rank | Product | Key Features |
---|---|---|
#1 | Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash | – NutriumMoistureTM technology with plant-derived lipid complex mimics skin’s natural lipids |
#2 | Dove Hydrating Body Wash | – Mild cleansers |
#3 | Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash | – Hypoallergenic, fragrance-free formula |
#4 | Dove Dry Oil Moisture Body Wash with Macadamia Oil | – Macadamia oil helps nourish skin |
#5 | Dove Cream Oil Intensive Body Wash | – Shea butter and nourishing cream for very dry skin |
#1 Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash
Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash deserves the top spot as the best Dove product for extremely dry, tight skin. This body wash contains Dove’s special NutriumMoistureTM technology with a plant-derived lipid complex that mimics your skin’s natural lipids to deliver deep hydration and help strengthen your skin barrier over time. The formula is very creamy and moisturizing but still rinses clean without any greasy residue.
Some of the stand-out ingredients include:
- Sunflower Seed Oil: High in vitamin E and linoleic acid to help soften and smooth skin.
- Glycerin: A humectant that draws moisture into the skin and helps skin retain hydration.
- Stearic Acid: Helps skin maintain proper moisture balance and gives the formula a rich, creamy lather.
This Dove body wash is dermatologist-recommended for dry skin. It’s sulfate-free, gentle on sensitive skin, and has a light, pleasant scent. Many reviewers with severely dry, flaky, itchy skin say this Dove body wash provided relief and allowed their skin to feel soft and moisturized. It’s a great daily cleanser for combating the tightest, roughest dry skin.
#2 Dove Hydrating Body Wash
For a basic, fragrance-free body wash that gets the job done, Dove Hydrating Body Wash is a great affordable option for dry skin. This contains mild cleansers to gently cleanse without over-stripping. With glycerin as a key ingredient, it provides light hydration while washing.
Some other notable ingredients include:
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine: Coconut-derived surfactant that lathers up nicely but is more gentle than harsh sulfates.
- Sodium Chloride: Helps skin retain water and moisture.
- Citric Acid: Acid from citrus fruits that helps balance skin’s pH.
This budget-friendly body wash is fragrance-free, dye-free, and pH-balanced for sensitive skin. While not as intensely moisturizing as Dove’s Deep Moisture wash, it’s a simple, affordable option that cleans well without stripping away all oils or irritating sensitive, flaky skin.
#3 Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash
As the name implies, Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash is a great pick if you have very dry sensitive skin prone to irritation. This hypoallergenic formula is free of dyes, fragrances, and parabens to avoid any sensitizing ingredients. It has a creamy, nourishing texture thanks to shea butter and gentle cleansers.
Key gentling ingredients include:
- Glycerin: Boosts hydration and water retention in the skin.
- Lauryl Glucoside: Plant-based mild cleansing agent derived from coconut and corn.
- Cocamidopropyl hydroxy sultaine: Gentle cleanser derived from coconut oil.
This is one of the most sensitive skin-friendly body washes from Dove. The ultra-mild formula gently cleanses without leaving behind any greasy residue. It’s soap-free and pH balanced. Many reviewers with eczema and severely dry, easily irritated skin are able to use this without flaring up their condition. It soothes as it lightly hydrates.
#4 Dove Dry Oil Moisture Body Wash with Macadamia Oil
For nourishing dry skin as it cleanses, Dove Dry Oil Moisture Body Wash with Macadamia Oil is a great option. The macadamia oil helps mimic skin’s natural oil production to replenish moisture. This helps skin look smoother and feel softer.
Key ingredients include:
- Macadamia Oil: A light, non-greasy moisturizing oil that absorbs well into skin.
- Glycerin: Binds moisture to the skin and hydrates.
- Lauric Acid: Coconut-derived fatty acid that has antimicrobial and skin-conditioning properties.
This body wash lathers into a creamy, moisturizing foam that leaves skin feeling soft without any oily residue. It has a light, pleasant scent. Reviewers say this wash is great for dry, mature skin, helping improve texture and moisture levels. It’s a nice option if you want an oil-infused wash that still rinses clean.
#5 Dove Cream Oil Intensive Body Wash
Rounding out the list is Dove Cream Oil Intensive Body Wash, which uses a blend of nourishing oils and ultra-rich cream to drench the driest skin in moisture. The star ingredient is skin-loving shea butter, a plant lipid that helps restore suppleness.
Other key ingredients include:
- Shea Butter: Softens, smooths, and moisturizes skin.
- Sunflower Seed Oil: Rich in vitamin E to hydrate and protect skin.
- Glycerin: Binds moisture to the skin.
This body wash turns into a rich, creamy lather that leaves skin feeling soft and moisturized from head to toe. The shea butter provides lasting nourishment without feeling heavy or greasy. It’s dermatologist recommended for dry and sensitive skin. Use it daily to combat tight, flaky skin and restore comfort.
Tips for Managing Extremely Dry Skin
While using a moisturizing body wash is key, there are some other tips that can help improve stubborn dry skin:
- Limit hot showers – aim for lukewarm water instead.
- Apply body lotion within 3 minutes of showering for better moisture absorption.
- Use gentle, fragrance-free skin care products.
- Invest in a humidifier if indoor air is very dry.
- Eat foods rich in healthy fats like avocados, nuts, olive oil.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated from within.
- Exfoliate occasionally – no more than 1-2 times a week.
- Avoid harsh ingredients like sulfates, alcohol, fragrances.
- Apply an extra layer of thicker cream or ointment on any severely dry patches.
- See a dermatologist if over-the-counter methods aren’t helping.
Conclusion
For intensely moisturizing relief, Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash is the best option for very dry, flaky skin. Its NutriumMoistureTM technology reinforces the skin barrier while depositing hydration. Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash is the top pick for those with easily irritated dry skin since it’s free of fragrances and harsh ingredients. Whichever Dove body wash you choose, be sure to also incorporate gentle skin care habits and hydration from within to combat very dry skin.