You could always use an acne-safe face wash for the body, but there’s a problem with that. Washes meant for the face do not lather that much and do not clean the sweat and dirt and oil on the body thoroughly.
For the first 2-3 days you feel good thinking you’re using a mild face wash for the body, but then you start to notice that a face wash isn’t cleaning the body well. That is why you need a separate product for your body, something that lathers more and cleanses more deeply than a face wash.
Just like for the face, body washes for acne prone body must be non-comedogenic. That is, free of ingredients that clog pores and cause pimples.
Instead of using a medicated body wash all over the body that can dry out even non-acne-prone areas like crazy, it is better to use a neutral (that is, non-comedogenic but non-medicated) body wash. Then apply a leave-on body acne treatment only on the acne prone areas of the body.
The following body washes can be used by ladies and gentlemen who struggle with pimples on the neck, back or anywhere else on the body. For more options, see reviews of body wash and soap bar products.
Neutrogena Rainbath Refreshing Shower Gel
All the ingredients pass the Skingredients comedogenic check. It doesn’t have any anti-acne medication as such and is a neutral body wash that won’t clog pores.
It is a huge bottle and comes at Rs. 349 for 250 ml. It is available at flipkart.
Ingredients:
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Fragrance, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, DMDM Hydantoin, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1
Pears Pure and Gentle Shower Gel
Pears Shower Gel has fewer ingredients than their face washes which are mostly comedogenic. It is a simple, budget choice. Current price: Rs. 145 for 250 ml.
Ingredients:
Sodium laureth sulphate, lauryl glucoside, glycerin, perfume, citric acid, sodium benzoate, sodium chloride, allantoin, benzophenone-3, CI 19140, CI 17200
Pears Pure and Gentle Hand Wash
Yes, you heard it right. It is a hand wash. And it is non-comedogenic. So it won’t clog pores. Of where? Hands of course. Ever heard of hand acne?
I don’t know what the logic was behind creating a non-comedogenic hand wash, but now we have it. If only companies would put so much thought into making their face washes non-comedogenic! * facepalm *
I still need to run to the store to be sure that I have the right ingredient list, but whatever I can tell sitting inside the World Domination Headquarters of Acne Mantra, shows it is non-comedogenic.
There’s no reason not to use it as body wash, although I must say it is loaded with many perfuming ingredients, which is undesirable in a skincare product. If possible, choose Pears Body Wash over this. Current price: Rs. 100 for 237 ml.
ingredients:
Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Coumarin, Limonene, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Allantoin, Benzophenone-3, CI 17200, CI 19140
Pears Oil Clear Hand Wash
Yes, another non-comedogenic hand wash that doubles up as body wash. Or, if your face is an oil mine, as face wash. I don’t need to tell you where to get these Pears products. Current price: Rs. 100 for 237 ml.
Sebamed Liquid Face & Body Wash
This is a pH balanced, mild face and body wash that cleans thoroughly. It can very drying if used on the face. It has no parabens.
This one is different from Sebamed Olive Face and Body Wash which isn’t non-comedogenic, so be sure to select the right one. It is available online. Current price: Rs. 550 for 200 ml.
Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Chloride, Laureth-2, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Glycol Distearate, Fragrance (Parfum), Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Pyridoxine HCI (Vitamin B6), Glycine, Magnesium Aspartate, Alanine, Lysine, Leucine, Biotin (Vitamin H), Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Sodium Citrate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sorbitan Laurate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Yellow 10 (CI 47005), Blue 1 (CI 42090)
Ducray Keracnyl Foaming Gel
The packaging says Keracnyl foaming Gel can be used on the body as well as the face. I believe it, because it lathers well and cleans thoroughly.
Keracnyl Foaming Gel is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. It has a sharp smell (did they say hypoallergenic?) which you can feel arise as soon as you get some of the gel out. If you’ve tried it and found it too harsh for your face, use it up as a body wash. Current price: Rs. 390 for 100 ml.
Ingredients:
water, sodium laureth sulphate, cocamidopropyl betaine, decyl glucoside, glycolic acid, glycerine, sodium hydroxide, ceteareth-60, myristylglycol, acid blue 3 (ci42051), disodium EDTA, parfum, serenoa serrulata fruit extract, zinc salicylate
Cosmedic SALI-QT Active Body Wash
This body wash has Sali-Q complex with 2% Salicylic Acid, Triclosan 0.1% as active ingredients. It is one of the medicated body washes to try. It is not entirely non-comedogenic (PEG-150 distearate is comedogenic), but may work well because of the de-clogging action of salicylic acid.
Current price: Rs. 249 for 100 ml.
Ingredients:
water, sodium laureth sulphate, cocomidopropyl betaine, glycerin, disodium cocoamphodiacetate, salicylic acid, PEG-150 distearate, triclosan, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, perfum
Vedic Line Lime Shower Gel
Vedic Line has a body wash that herbal fans may like. It is non-comedogenic and without parabens.
Current price: Rs. 110 for 120 ml.
Ingredients
water, sodium laureth sulphate, lime peel oils, lactic acid, sodium chloride, CI 19140, CI 40290
Body Washes and soaps worth trying
These are some more options that may work for you.
- Aroma Magic Citrus Shower Gel
- Brevoxyl Body Wash
- Fiama Di Wills Men’s Shower Gel (not women’s)
- Acnelak soap bar
- Sebamed Cleansing Bar
- Sastid soap bar
