So, What’s the Difference Between Shower Oil and Body Wash? Let’s Explore

The body care section is booming with fancy products that promise softer, smoother skin starting in the shower. However, whether you consider yourself a connoisseur or a beginner, there are a few basics you should know to help you build a solid body care routine. Of them? Understanding the difference between body wash and shower oil so you can pick the best option for your skin. To help better understand the differences, we spoke to a board-certified dermatologist and two chemists to discuss the benefits of both body products.

What Is Shower Oil?

According to Christal Alert, a cosmetic chemist and founder of Tonal Cosmetics, shower oil is an oil-based cleanser that turns milky when it comes into contact with water. "Most formulas usually contain oils and emollients," she says. "Like plant oils, esters, and triglycerides with a small amount of surfactants."

Think of this from a science perspective: Krupa Koestline, a cosmetic chemist, biotech expert, and the founder of KKT Labs, says, "Like dissolves like." She adds, "Because oils bind to oils, they dissolve sunscreen, sebum, and pollution more gently. When water hits the formula, it emulsifies into a milky texture and rinses clean without stripping the skin."

What Is a Body Wash?

On the flip side, a body wash is a water-based cleanser formulated with surfactants. According to Alert, body washes are typically designed to foam. "Surfactants form micelles: tiny spheres that trap dirt and oil and rinse away quickly," she says. "Most modern body washes use a blend of surfactants to balance the lather, making them non-irritating."

Koestline says that hybrid formulas marketed as "oil cleansers" are structured like body washes, but with added oils. "These formulas rely primarily on surfactants for cleansing, not oils. If it foams like a body wash, it's functionally a body wash—even if the label says oil," she explains.

When to Use Each One

Whether you use a body oil or a body wash comes down to personal preference, but Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, says there are specific instances where both shine. "A shower oil can be a good fit for dry skin, particularly in a cold or dry climate," she says. "But there are also very gentle, moisturizing body washes that can be a good fit for dry skin."

Dr. King says that body washes are particularly great for normal, combination, or oily skin types. "These are good if you want a more thorough cleanse," she says.

For sensitive, dry, and normal skin types, Dr. King says to look for a moisturizing formulation that contains humectants like glycerin to hydrate the skin, emollients like jojoba oil or ceramides to support the skin barrier, and occlusives like petrolatum or bees wax to lock in moisture," Dr. King says. "For oily and acne-prone skin, look for a gentle formulation that contains benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid."

Dr. King also recommends avoiding harsh detergents like SLS, which can potentially strip the skin of natural oils. "If you have dry or sensitive skin, avoid other potentially irritating and drying ingredients like hydroxy acids, retinoids, clay, or alcohol," she says. "If you have oily or acne-prone skin, avoid potentially comedogenic ingredients like coconut oil."

How to Apply Each One

Applying body wash versus body oil is pretty straightforward; however, with the latter, you want to be careful (since it can get slippery!). For body wash, our experts say to apply to the hands, a washcloth, or a loofah for lather, then cleanse the desired areas. For shower oil, Dr King says to apply it to the hands or directly to damp skin, then massage until it turns milky. "Rinse thoroughly and pat dry to preserve the moisturizing oil layer," she says.

The Final Takeaway

While your body-care routine ultimately comes down to your personal preference, you can keep these basics in mind to pick the right option for you. Look for formulas with hydrating, moisturizing ingredients that best suit your skin type.

If you're unsure of where to start, our experts also shared their favorites. Dr. King co-signs the Beekman 1802 Lilac Dream Goat Milk Hand & Body Wash, which has glycerin, goat milk, jojoba seed oil, and shea butter to hydrate the skin. "Honey and aloe add additional soothing properties, and there are no harsh detergents that strip the skin's moisture.

Alert likes the L'Occitane shower oil. "This is a true oil-based cleanser with a high percentage of plant oils (grape seed, sweet almond, sunflower)," she explains. "When you rinse, it turns milky and leaves a light film on the skin. This is intentional. You're left with a light, moisturized finish that doesn't feel sticky or heavy. If you deal with dryness, this makes a noticeable difference right out of the shower."