11 Best French Body Washes
It’s always nice to escape on an international getaway, but it’s not always a luxury that’s easily achieved.
However, that doesn’t mean we can’t daydream about those vacations in our downtime and find small ways to bring those far-off places closer to us in our daily lives.
Sometimes our daily shower routine is the only moment we can find ourselves alone with those thoughts — and what better way to escape than with body washes that match our internal destination?
French skincare and beauty products consist of some of the leading products in the industry.
Known for embracing natural beauty, that same French standard of elegance extends to body care.
There is a long and rich history of soap making — renowned in various regions of France — that imbues their body care products, making them good for your skin while also celebrating the regions and ingredients that make them so special.
What should you look for in your new French body wash?
In any body care product, you want something that is going to soothe your skin and not deplete it of any natural moisture. You want ingredients that are naturally good for your skin, while also providing you with a sense of deep cleanliness.
Whether you prefer the added benefit of a fragrance in your wash or not, having a product that is easily functional and makes your shower routine all the more relaxing is key.
Below, you will find a list of some of the best French body washes that incorporate all these factors to make your next shower the escape you deserve.
What To Look For In A Body Wash
Below is a list of factors to consider when looking for your next body wash.
Ingredients
The integrity of ingredients is important in the majority of French body washes.
As the skin is the largest organ on our body, what we put on it should be an important factor in all of our body products.
Especially a cleanser that we plan to use daily, being mindful of what the ingredients are and where they come from can determine what products you keep in rotation.
The brands and products in the list below take their ingredient lists seriously, and you will see a lot of naturally derived or sustainably sourced star ingredients.
Keeping in French tradition, the use of essential oils, relaxing floral fragrances, and locally sourced plants delivers a range of skin benefits to hydrate, soothe, and comfort the skin while achieving a feeling of being freshly clean.
Fragrance
Depending on your own preferences, fragrance in any skin or body care products is a personal choice.
However, subtle fragrances can offer soothing aromatherapy properties that allow you to relax both the body and mind.
The body washes below have a mix of scented and non-scented formulas.
However, the ones that do include scent use naturally derived essences, such as essential oils, to impart their fragrance.
The included fragrances are quintessential French scents, focusing mostly on lavender, rose, and vanilla.
If your skin is particularly sensitive or you are prone to severe dryness, a fragrance-free body wash would most likely be the best option for you.
Functionality
How a product dispenses its contents is important in any cosmetic item, but especially in body wash.
No one wants to be relaxing in the shower and then be halted by a product that is hard to open or release.
Being aware of how a product dispenses will save time and frustration when you are trying to escape to the French countryside by way of your shower daydreams.
If you are looking for a liquid wash, check to see if the product is packaged with a pump or a pop-open top.
Pump tops generally provide more control when dispensing a liquid product, especially an oil.
Pop-open tops work well to squeeze out any remaining product once it’s nearing its end.
Formula
With your unique skin needs, the formula you choose will be important to the comfort and overall feel of your skin once you step out of the shower.
If you have severely dry skin that can be prone to itchiness or irritation, a cleansing body oil will be gentle and soothing for your skin.
If your skin tends to remain in the normal category, with no intense dryness or irritation, a foaming milk or gel cleanser will serve to protect your skin’s natural hydration.
Normal skin types can treat themselves to a cleansing body oil too, as a luxurious in-shower treat.
Keep in mind that sometimes body oils can leave a residue on the shower floor once they are washed off, so be careful stepping in and out.
Make sure the body oil is washed away thoroughly after it’s used.
The Best French Body Washes
Take a trip to France without leaving your shower to enjoy all the benefits French skin and body care has to offer.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bioderman Autoderm Cleansing Face and Body Oil | Dermatologist developed, non-comedogenic, soap- and paraben-free |
| 2. | Bioderma Autoderm Hydrating Shower Gel | Dermatologist developed, protect skin barrier, offers immediate hydration for dry skin |
| 3. | L’Occitane Cleansing and Softening Almond Shower Oil | Signature almond and vanilla scent, oil-to-foam gentle cleanser, silky skin feeling |
| 4. | L’Occitane Shower Gel | Relaxing lavender scent, plant-based formula, foaming gel consistency |
| 5. | La Rosche-Posay Lipkar Wash | Provides 24-hour hydration to face and body, prebiotic thermal water, fragrance-free, gentle |
| 6. | Oribe Côte d’Azur Replenishing Body Wash | Signature Oribe fragrance, no parabens/mineral oils/petrolatum, restorative and moisturizing |
| 7. | Eau Thermale Avène Trixera Nutrition Nutri-Fluid Cleanser | Soothes skin redness/itchiness, prevents moisture loss, fragrance/soap/paraben-free |
| 8. | Le Petit Marseillais Extra Gentle Shower Creme | Soft vanilla scent, easy to rinse lather, pH neutral formula |
| 9. | A La Maison Natural Body Wash | Relaxing lavender scent, premium plant based and natural ingredients, hydrating and soothing |
| 10. | Panier des Sens Rose Shower Gel | Soft rose scent, 96% natural, essential oils and shea oils, light foam |
| 11. | Laboratorie Freesens Ultra-Moisturizing Shower Gel | All-natural ingredients, suitable for sensitive skin, hydrating soap-free formula |
1. Bioderma Autoderm Cleansing Face And Body Oil
This cleansing oil works double duty, as it can be used for both the face and body.
Perfectly formulated for dry to ultra-dry skin, this gentle oil will not strip your skin of its much-needed hydration.
Formulated with vitamin B3 to help restore the skin’s moisture barrier, along with coco and sunflower biolipids to boost hydration.
This oil is designed for deep nourishment and long-lasting comfort.
The cleansing oil deeply penetrates the skin to ensure hydration is locked in for 24 hours.
It’s an ideal product for sensitive skin, carefully formulated with those needs in mind.
If your skin tends to have dry, itchy patches or feels tight and uncomfortable, this cleansing oil provides the intense moisture your skin needs to alleviate discomfort.
The luxurious oil should be applied directly to wet skin, where it works into a soft lather, and once rinsed away, your skin will feel clean, comfortable, and supple.
2. Bioderma Autoderm Hydrating Shower Gel
This daily shower gel works great for normal to dry skin types thanks to its gentle, soap-free formula.
The product has been proven to relieve discomfort from sensitive skin issues, while still providing a fresh, clean feeling.
Along with vitamin B3, as also seen in the cleansing oil, this dermatologist-developed shower gel is formulated with glycerin to attract and protect the skin’s hydration.
Glycerin works as a humectant, meaning it not only locks in the skin’s natural moisture but also attracts moisture molecules from the surroundings to provide extended hydration.
The shower gel works into a gentle, creamy foam when applied to wet skin and is lightly fragranced to create a soothing washing experience.
3. L’Oréal Paris Cleansing And Softening Almond Shower Oil
This luscious shower oil leaves skin feeling silky smooth and comforted by the brand’s signature almond and warm vanilla scent.
The shower oil is ideal for sensitive, dry, or normal skin types and provides immediate nourishment, resulting in a long-lasting, silky skin feel.
The main hero ingredient in this cleansing shower oil is sweet almond oil, which softens the skin and is rich in omega-9 fatty acids — compounds that occur naturally in the skin and help soothe and nourish it.
Grape seed oil is another star ingredient, rich in omega-6 and 9, also helping to soften and smooth the skin.
When applied to wet skin, the oil transforms into a milky lather that gently cleanses, and it can even be used as a shaving oil for a soft, smooth shave.
4. L’Occitane Shower Gel
This plant-based cleanser works wonders for every skin type.
Formulated with lavender essential oils, the gel is not only clarifying, but also soothing and relaxing.
The signature lavender essential oils at the base of this shower gel are sourced from Haute Provence in France.
The flowers are renowned for their delicate scent and their purifying properties.
The essential oils infused within the shower gel provide the perfect respite for dry skin, leaving a soft lavender scent behind.
5. La Roche-Posay Lipikar Wash
This body wash can be used on the face as well, and is gentle enough for babies, children, and adults.
The milky foam offers immediate hydration that lasts for 24 hours.
It is dermatologist and allergy-tested to ensure it is safe for sensitive skin.
La Roche-Posay is a brand recommended by thousands of dermatologists worldwide because it stays at the forefront of evolving skin products and ingredients.
The brand’s signature ingredient is its prebiotic thermal water, sourced from the eponymous region in France.
It is rich in minerals and antioxidants, providing protection and comfort to the skin.
Along with the prebiotic thermal water, this shower wash is also formulated with shea butter, glycerin, and niacinamide — all skin care hero ingredients!
Shea butter works to nourish the skin, glycerin helps attract additional moisture, and niacinamide retains hydration and soothes the skin.
6. Oribe Côte d’Azur Replenishing Body Wash
Known for their luxurious hair products, Oribe also offers a range of body care items designed to cleanse and comfort the skin while wrapping you up in the signature Côte d’Azur fragrance, transporting you back to the French Riviera.
The foaming lather of this wash is not too harsh and won’t leave skin feeling depleted of moisture.
Some of the star ingredients in this body wash are rice oil, soybean oil, and a blend of sweet almond, meadowfoam, and starflower oils.
Rice oil is a natural antioxidant, protecting the skin against harmful environmental aggressors, while soybean oil is rich in vitamins B, E, and K to improve the skin’s appearance immediately and over time.
The blend of sweet almond, meadowfoam, and starflower oils helps to rejuvenate the skin and boost hydration.
If you’ve tried and loved Oribe’s hair products, chances are you’ll fall in love with this body wash too!
7. Eau Thermale Avène Trixera Nutrition Nutri-Fluid Cleanser
Originating from the eponymous town in the South of France, the unique Thermal Water found in Avène products is known to soothe sensitive skin issues — from redness to eczema to psoriasis.
This cleanser is a gentle foaming wash that can be used on both the face and body.
The gel cleanser is created with the brand’s signature thermal spring water that works wonders on irritated skin.
It is also formulated with ceramides and glycerin to restore the skin’s lipid barrier, which often gets depleted due to loss of moisture.
The fragrance-free cleanser is dermatologist and allergy-tested, and is safe for even the most sensitive skin types.
8. Le Petit Marseillais Extra Gentle Shower Crème
This brand has been a French staple for decades and has grown and expanded in the body care scene.
Sourcing many of their ingredients from Provence, France, they strive to create good-natured products for your skin and body care routine.
The gentle shower wash is suitable for all skin types and leaves skin feeling ultra-soft.
In an endeavor to treat your senses to a French escape, the warm vanilla scent is rich and comforting.
To capture that soothing vanilla scent, the vanilla bean pods are harvested by hand and left to be sundried to reach their peak fragrance, before being infused into the shower wash.
The wash is pH-neutral for skin, and the brand strives to use sustainable ingredients while remaining committed to biodiversity.
9. A La Maison Natural Body Wash
Also hailing from Provence comes this natural, vegetable- and plant-based body wash.
Taking after the traditional French method of triple milling their soap, the entire range of body care products keeps the history of artisanal French soap-making alive.
This shower wash in particular is infused with a quintessential French lavender and aloe scent to calm and relax the body and mind.
Through the triple milling process, the natural vegetable oils are transformed into hydrating, glycerin-rich oils that provide immediate moisture to the skin.
The natural body wash is infused with olive oil and argan oil to give you a feeling of clean, soft, and supple skin.
10. Panier Des Sens Rose Shower Gel
Developed in 2001 in Provence, France, this brand strives to provide natural ingredients, vegan formulas, and recyclable packaging.
The brand draws on the history of French soap-making and the country’s wide array of natural resources to bring consumers well-crafted, authentic products.
The rose-scented shower gel creates a light, creamy foam wash made with rose essential oils to provide a romantic, relaxing fragrance, while taking advantage of the oils’ known properties of regenerating the skin’s appearance.
The shower gel is further enriched with shea and olive oils to provide immediate hydration to the skin, and is derived from 96% natural origins.
11. Laboratoire Freesens Ultra Moisturizing Shower Gel
Founded in 2007 by French pharmacists, this brand consists of a wide range of body care products.
This cleanser is suitable for face, hand, and body wash.
It is an all-natural soap-free formula that gently, yet thoroughly, cleanses the skin and is perfect for daily use.
Aloe vera is the main ingredient in this shower gel, known for its many skin care benefits and healing properties.
It is also enriched with coconut oil, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to make sure skin feels calm and moisturized.
Conclusion
French body washes truly keep the health and wellness of the skin at the forefront, while also engaging the other senses to deliver an escape on a French vacation.
The creation of good-for-you skin products, as well as the overall commitment to using sustainable ingredients, shows the dedication and determination to keep the tradition of French soap-making alive and available for consumers worldwide.
