Natural body wash, exfoliating body wash, moisturising body wash, antibacterial, soothing... if you’re standing in the body wash aisle feeling confused, you’re probably not alone.

There’s a lot of choice and confusing claims, even within natural body washes.

So, what do you need to know before shopping for a body wash? Here’s a helpful guide.

1. Know your skin type

Perhaps the most important factor to consider (apart from the smell you like!) is the effect your body wash will have on your skin. You want to emerge from your shower feeling refreshed and nourished, not itchy or irritated.

If you have skin that’s easily upset (i.e. reacts to some skin care) there are ingredients to watch out for in your body washes, too. Sodium laurel sulphate (SLES), Sodium Lauryl sulphate (SLS), Synthetic fragrances, and harsh exfoliants are top of that “don’t” list.

Choose a gentle and natural body wash formula - like Bosisto’s Australian Natives range – that is Dermatologist certified and doesn’t contain any nasties.

Dry skin has it’s own special needs; pick a body wash that specifically states it’s ‘Moisturising’, ‘Nourishing’ or ‘Softening’. These formulas can have higher levels of moisturising ingredients. (This one is one of our favourites)

Oily skin? Antibacterial formulas can be helpful but be careful they’re not too drying. You might be better off with a gel rather than a milky formula: look for descriptors such as ‘Rejuvenating’, ‘Revitalising’ and ‘Invigorating’, like this natural body wash.

2. Know what’s not in it

Sensitive skin isn’t the only reason you might want to scrutinise the list of ingredients in your body wash. Health, eco-friendliness, and sustainability factor in, too.

A natural body wash should list all its ingredients on the label, and if you’re looking to go natural, some of the ingredients it should leave out include:

X SLS & SLES
X Animal derivatives
X Palm oil
X Triethanolamine
X Propylene Glycol
X Artificial colours & fragrances
X Mineral oils
X Parabens
X Triclosan
X EDTA
X PEG’s
X Soap

3. Know your scent preference

This one’s very individual, so it can be trial and error! Figure out first if you gravitate towards fruity scents, floral scents, coconut-based scents, citrus scents, or warm, earthy scents. This should give you a good starting point.

Body washes with natural essential oils are a great way to enjoy a beautiful scent, without putting artificial fragrances on your skin.

Bosisto’s range also harnesses the power of Australian native botanical extracts – for their skin-loving benefits, but also their unique aromas. Combined with essential oils, these create distinctive aroma profiles.

Some of our most popular fragrance combinations include Banskia, Nerolina & Lavender, Waratah Flower, Mint & Mandarin, Kakadu Plum & Lemon Myrtle and Finger Lime & Coconut.

4. Know what’s important to you.

If you’re a conscious consumer, you may have bigger priorities than your body wash just smelling nice.

Here's just a few things you might consider:

Country of origin – Is your body wash Australian made & owned?

Ingredients – Does the company try and source its ingredients locally (where possible), sustainably and ethically?

Cruelty free – Does the brand test on animals, and is the product vegan friendly?

Recyclability - Is the packaging recyclable? Is the brand working towards more ecofriendly, sustainable packaging solutions?

One way to check this is to ask if their parent company is a signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant (APC). This not-for-profit organization holds companies accountable to eco-friendly standards against which they are regularly reviewed.

Our Bosisto’s Australian Natives range ticks all these boxes, which helps make this often-confusing choice in the body wash aisle a whole lot easier!

SHOP BOSISTO’S AUSTRALIAN NATIVES BODY WASH

Reference: https://www.everydayhealth.com/pictures/skin-care-ingredients-allergic-reactions/