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The winter blues are real (shorter days, colder temps), so we like to maximize our time spent indoors by indulging in more self-care. The best brightening body washes, for example, help us bring back our glow, even on the dreariest January day. Anyone who feels their skin looks lackluster, dry, and dull will benefit from using a brightening body wash, but exfoliating, resurfacing formulas are particularly useful for people with rough, bumpy skin; dry elbows, knees, and hands; razor bumps or acne marks, says Alicia Zalka, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in western Connecticut.
Our Top Brightening Body Washes
- Best Gel Overall: Iota Brightening Body Wash, $23
- Best Oil Overall: Dove Beauty Serum + Radiance Oil Body Wash, $13
- Best Bar Overall: Kitsch Kojic Acid Brightening Body Wash Bar, $12
- Best for Body Acne: CeraVe SA Body Wash for Rough and Bumpy Skin, $14
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does brightening body wash work?
- What are the best body wash ingredients to address hyperpigmentation?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Now, we know what you’re thinking: Don’t these brightening formulas just go straight down the shower drain? Technically, yes, they do, but that doesn’t mean they don’t leave a lasting nourishing and exfoliating impact. It’s all about using gentle, thoughtfully formulated cleansers made with the right ingredients instead of harsh soaps or alkaline body wash; Dr. Zalka compares it to doing the laundry. “You use gentle detergent for some fabrics and bleach for others,” she says. “These get washed down the drain, but while they are in contact with the clothing fabric, they have their effect.”
Sound like you? It might be time to swap your shower gel for the best brightening body washes, which we’ve rounded up below.
Best Gel Overall: Iota Brightening Body Wash
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Iota
Brightening Body Wash
Nordstrom
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Ulta Beauty
Why it's worth it: With a sleek, minimalist bottle that wouldn’t look out of place at a fancy boutique hotel and a sparklingly cheerful, but still elevated mandarin orange fragrance, Iota’s Brightening Body Wash turns a daily chore into an entire experience. The combination of citrus fragrance and airy, fluffy bubbles lifts your spirits, and the blend of brightening ingredients, including powerhouse vitamin C, smooths and evens skin. The winter blahs don’t stand a chance.
Tester feedback from senior news editor James Manso
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“I've always been skeptical of active ingredients in cleansers and body washes because, after all, how well does an ingredient work when you wash it off right away? But in the case of Iota's Brightening Body Wash, I frankly don't care. The experience of this product is so lovely, from its rich gel texture to the perfect lather. Sure, the callouts are impressive: it has niacinamide, vitamin C from pineapple and yuzu, and pre- and postbiotics; but the bergamot the brand sources from Calabria, Italy is what does it for me; I find the fresh, citrusy zing of the scent utterly irresistible.” —James Manso, senior news editor
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Key ingredients: vitamin C, niacinamide
Fragrance-free: no
Scents available: Mandarin Rind + Cedar Atlas, Oiishi Berry (limited-edition)
Best Oil Overall: Dove Beauty Serum + Radiance Oil Body Wash
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Dove
Beauty Serum + Radiance Oil Body Wash
Amazon
Why it's worth it: Allure contributor Kara McGrath isn’t the only one who loves this nourishing, silky oil wash; multiple editors crowned this formula with a 2026 Best of Beauty Award for Best Oil Body Wash. The glow factor comes from a whopping 50% glycerin, which deeply nourishes thirsty skin and intensely softens without feeling sticky, greasy, or heavy—perfect for everyday use or prepping for a big night out when you want your limbs to really shine. And yes, that silky, supple radiance sticks around long after you hang up your bath towel.
Tester feedback from contributor Kara McGrath
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“I find that some oil-based cleansers do the nourishing oil part well but can fall a bit short when it comes to fully cleansing my skin. This $13 option from Dove hits all its marks: It offers the silky smooth, moisturizing effect I want from an oil, but rinses off just as completely as a more traditional body wash. My skin truly does glow after I step out of the shower, even before I apply any body lotion.” —Kara McGrath, contributor
Tester feedback from senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor
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"Dove Serum+ Radiance Oil Body Wash starts as a lightweight oil and turns into a milky foam that cleanses and leaves my skin noticeably softer. It helps with glide as I shave, has a warm scent that lingers long after I’m done showering, and makes the experience of showering that much more indulgent. Bonus: Despite being so emollient, it still easily washes clean off my shower floor, never leaving it slick and greasy." —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
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Key ingredients: glycerin, monoi oil, jojoba oil
Fragrance-free: no
Scent notes: monoi flower
Best Bar Overall: Kitsch Kojic Acid Brightening Body Wash Bar
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Kitsch
Kojic Acid Brightening Body Wash Bar
Amazon
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Why it's worth it: Today’s bar soaps have the range! They can do it all, including brightening things up where your bod is concerned. Kitsch’s face and body bar is formulated with kojic acid and turmeric, a clever combo that works in tandem to help fade hyperpigmentation and banish uneven tone. Don’t worry about missing the foamy lather from your favorite shower gel, either; the Kojic Acid Brightening Body Wash Bar provides all the suds and bubbles you want as it cleanses, with hyaluronic acid and shea butter helping to leave skin feeling soft and supple. It’s also a great option for anyone who wants to reduce their plastic usage. (The paper packaging the soap bar comes in is recyclable.)
Tester feedback from contributor Kara Nesvig
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“I love shower gel, but there’s something about bar soap that feels so classic to me; my husband, son, and I all use bar soap on the regular. I’ve added this mustard-yellow bar into the rotation to help fade marks left behind from my keratosis pilaris, random body breakouts, and sun spots. The soap is generously sized and lathers up just as well as any liquid formula. Plus, I love the color! It looks great in my ‘60s-tile shower, and the glowing skin isn’t to be ignored, either.” —Kara Nesvig, contributor
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Key ingredients: kojic acid, turmeric, hyaluronic acid, shea butter
Fragrance-free: no
Scent notes: sugared yuzu, pear
Other exfoliating formulas: Shea Butter Exfoliating Body Wash, Glycolic Acid Resurfacing Face and Body Wash, and Charcoal Detoxifying Solid Body Wash
Best for Bumpy Skin: Naturium The Smoother Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Wash
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Naturium
The Smoother Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Wash
Amazon
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Why it's worth it: Naturium has only been on the market for a few short years, but in that time, it’s become a truly beloved body-care brand for its high-quality formulas at budget-friendly prices. Naturium’s smoothing exfoliating body wash is formulated with a group of AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids)—including 5% glycolic acid, which has smaller molecules than its AHA peers that penetrate more deeply into the skin—to exfoliate dead, dry skin cells and bumpy, rough texture like keratosis pilaris without stripping or stressing skin. “I like this option for dull skin and uneven texture, particularly on the arms and legs,” says Jenna Queller, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Florida. “It can be especially helpful for rough, bumpy skin, although persistent dark spots typically require additional treatment.” Add The Smoother Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Wash to your weekly everything shower and bask in your newfound glow.
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Key ingredients: 5% glycolic acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, tartaric acid
Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Body Acne: CeraVe SA Body Wash for Rough and Bumpy Skin
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CeraVe
SA Body Wash for Rough and Bumpy Skin
Amazon
Dermstore
Why it's worth it: Body acne happens to the best of us, but the evidence of those chest and back breakouts doesn’t have to stick around forever. CeraVe’s SA Body Wash for Rough and Bumpy Skin is formulated with one of the biggest acne fighters, salicylic acid, to decongest pores, exfoliate dead skin cells, and help prevent future breakouts, leaving your complexion looking and feeling clearer, smoother, and brighter over time. “Salicylic acid helps exfoliate dead skin cells and improve the appearance of rough, bumpy texture,” explains Dr. Queller. And while you may think such powerful ingredients will put your skin through the wringer as they banish bacne and buttne, worry not: Nourishing, hydrating ceramides keep stressed, breakout-prone skin calm and balanced. Dr. Zalka says she’s recommended this body wash “innumerable times,” especially for patients with post-acne pigmentation. “The salicylic acid ingredient targets acne while the ceramides help maintain the skin barrier.”
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Key ingredients: salicylic acid, ceramides
Fragrance-free: yes
Best Scents: Nécessaire The Body Wash in Hinoki
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Nécessaire
The Body Wash in Hinoki
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Why it's worth it: AHAs, BHAs, PHA—the gang’s all here in this dreamily scented Nécessaire The Body Wash in Hinoki, which blends the exfoliating acids with glycerin and niacinamide to make skin feel extra soft and smooth without throwing your pH out of balance. Though the formula sounds clinical, the experience is anything but. The woody scent, a blend of cedar, vetiver, citrus, and basil, is an herbal-inspired wake-up call, turning your morning shower or evening wind-down routine into a sensorial treat. (There’s a reason commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann calls herself a “certified Hinoki Head™” below.)
Tester feedback from commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann
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“I’m a certified Hinoki Head™. As evidenced by my well-loved bottle, I adore it, but I'd still be hoarding these body washes even if they hadn't added my favorite woody, slightly spicy fragrance to it. It forms a nice, medium lather, and the trio of exfoliating acids—AHA, BHA, and PHA—smooth out rough patches of skin—has definitely made a difference in the KP on my upper arms. I am not an early riser at all, but having my morning shower smell like a lush, tree-lined spa makes waking up with my alarm a little easier.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce market editor
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Key ingredients: lactic acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide
Fragrance-free: no
Scents available: Hinoki, Santal, Olibanum, Eucalyptus (and Fragrance-Free)
Best Physical Scrub: Goop Microderm Instant Glow Body Polish
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Goop
Microderm Instant Glow Body Polish
Amazon
Nordstrom
Dermstore
Why it's worth it: There are two types of exfoliants: chemical exfoliants, like AHAs, and physical exfoliants, like scrubs. The latter gives you that “instant refresh” feeling, like you’ve exfoliated away all the dullness and emerged from the shower newly reborn with glowing skin. The rough, even painful chunky exfoliants are a thing of the past today; Goop’s body polish uses quartz powder to smooth rough spots without feeling like you’re scraping sandpaper across your limbs—Dr. Zalka refers to it as “just the right amount of grit”—while hibiscus flower aids in chemical exfoliation. Rounding out the formula is kakadu plum seed oil, rich in vitamin C, to brighten overall tone. Even if you don’t live in a Montecito paradise like Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow, the scrub’s fresh green scent will make you feel like you’re gallivanting through her garden.
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Key ingredients: quartz powder, kakadu plum seed oil, hibiscus flower acid
Fragrance-free: no
Scent notes: juniper, fir needle, vetiver, and oakmoss
Best Scented: Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Bright Body Wash
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Sol de Janeiro
Bom Dia Bright Body Wash
Amazon
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Why it's worth it: When you think about body care and fragrance line Sol de Janeiro, you probably think of the beloved Bum Bum Cream and body sprays. But you shouldn’t ignore the Bom Dia Bright Body Wash, which comes in a coral bottle to invite a bit of Brazil to your bathroom. Inside is a clarifying, exfoliating combo of fruit AHAs (papaya, mango, banana, oh my) and salicylic acid to send those dead skin cells down the drain and get your body ready for a beach vacation or night out dancing in your little black dress. And since this is a Sol de Janeiro product, we’ve gotta talk about the fragrance: The Cheirosa 40 scent is a luxurious medley of juicy plum, sensuous jasmine, and creamy orchid, vanilla, and musk. It smells so good, you won’t want to get out of the shower.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee
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“I'm already a fan of Sol de Janeiro's body lotion for how much it's helped with my rough, KP-prone arms and dry legs, so I was excited to try the body wash. Even without sulfates, it works up a surprisingly rich, creamy lather, and I like using it with a loofah for a little extra physical exfoliation on top of the chemical exfoliation in the formula. I've noticed my arms feel smoother after using it, and the bumps around my hair follicles seem less noticeable, too. My skin is sensitive, reactive, and allergy-prone, but surprisingly, fragrance doesn't usually bother it, so scented body products are one area where I can have a little fun. And I love the bright, fruity scent of this one (it's a nice pick-me-up in the mornings!).”—Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
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Key ingredients: AHAs, vegan lactic acid, salicylic acid
Fragrance-free: no
Scent notes: Cheirosa 40 (plum, jasmine, orchid, vanilla, musk)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does brightening body wash work?
Yes, brightening body wash is effective, says Dr. Zalka. They “help dislodge and slough off the topmost layer of skin cells,” to reveal skin that feels smoother, with a more reflective surface, “giving the appearance and feel of a more polished skin surface,” she adds. As always, don’t forget to apply your favorite body lotion post-exfoliation to replenish any lost moisture and keep skin feeling comfortable.
What are the best body wash ingredients to address hyperpigmentation?
If you’re dealing with post-acne scars, sun spots, or a lingering mark from an eczema flare, a brightening body wash can help fade some of that discoloration and brighten skin. Look for AHAs like glycolic or lactic acid to gently exfoliate, speed cell turnover, and fade dark spots, Dr. Zalka says. Beta hydroxy acids, like salicylic acid, help exfoliate by targeting pores. Niacinamide can also be helpful, she notes, as it reduces inflammation. Radiant glow, straight ahead!
Meet the experts
- Alicia Zalka, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in western Connecticut and associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University
- Jenna Queller, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Boca Raton, Florida
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best brightening body washes, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists and cosmetic chemists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
