What Is Natural Body Wash and Should You Make the Switch?

By Ashley Ess in Natural Products

Shopping for the right body wash can be a challenge. The bath and body section has become overcrowded, making the otherwise-simple task of selecting a bath product seem far more complicated. Choosing among the shelf-loads of different formulas, scents, and brands can spur consumer overwhelm.

However, there's one more thing to consider, which may actually make the process more cut-and-dry. As interest in natural personal care products grows, so does the number of natural body washes on the market. By choosing a natural body wash, you can cut out a lot of the distractions in choosing a product and focus on what's good for you and your body. Here's what you should know about natural body wash, and how it differs from traditional formulas.

Woman in bathroom

What Is Natural Body Wash?

Not all body washes are the same. Some of the more familiar, traditional formulas contain artificial substances, such as synthetic fragrances and other components.

Natural body washes are formulated from—you guessed it—nature. The Earth provides an abundance of ingredients that can effectively clean your skin, and products made from these can make you feel great about what you're putting on your body. For instance, instead of using synthetic fragrances, natural body washes may add essential oils from plants to achieve their scent. You'll still get that luxurious bathing experience, but without the artificial additives.

Benefits of Natural Body Wash

If you're looking to avoid certain ingredients or want more control over what goes on your body, switching to a natural body wash might be just what you're looking for. Since natural body washes are composed of naturally derived ingredients, you'll have a better understanding of what you are actually exposing your skin to.

If you're concerned about using products with certain substances, such as sulfates, parabens, or artificial preservatives, a natural product could ease your worries. Also, just because natural body wash doesn't have artificial ingredients or preservatives does not mean that it doesn't last as long as a traditional product. In fact, some natural body washes include naturally derived preservative alternatives that prevent the growth of microbes, such sodium gluconate, which is made from sugars in corn or beets.

The Tom's of Maine Natural Body Wash in Creamy Coconut formula features virgin coconut oil and contains no sulfate-based surfactants, parabens, or artificial fragrances, preservatives, or foaming agents. Because ingredients can vary from brand to brand—even with natural products—you may want to read up on the company's ingredient standards online and look closely at the label of a product to see if the ingredients are what you're looking for.

Natural body wash may also offer additional benefits that align with your values. Some varieties feature recyclable packaging and packaging made from post-consumer materials, and many are often cruelty-free and vegan, which means that they haven't been tested on animals or use animal products. You can also check the product label or company website to see if they explain their testing standards or other values they stand by.

Women filling bathtub

Making the Switch

Are you ready to try a natural body wash for the first time? Finding a natural shower product may be easier than you think. With the increasing number of people interested in living more naturally and knowing where their products come from, more companies are moving toward using naturally derived ingredients, which equates to more mainstream stores stocking their shelves with natural personal care products.

Once you decide to switch to natural body wash, start by closely reading all ingredients and label claims. Rule of thumb: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is—especially when there are unusual ingredients listed that don't state where they are derived from. Natural product companies tend to be more transparent about how they produce their formulas or source components, so you may feel more comfortable buying from companies who go out of their way to tell you about their processes and ingredients.

As with all brands, differences in formulas are the norm. Don't be discouraged if your first choice isn't working the way you may have hoped—simply try another variety. On the other hand, you might fall in love with the first one you try and wonder how you stayed with conventional brands for so long. Either way, consciously choosing a body wash can really go a long way to helping you make more intentional decisions about what brands you choose and what you put on your body.

Show us your favorite natural body washes by tagging @toms_of_maine on Instagram!

Image Sources: Pexels | Unsplash | Unsplash

The views and opinions expressed in any guest post featured on our site are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of Tom's of Maine.

Why It's Good

Next time you're shopping for a body wash, consider trying out a natural formula. With more options than ever, it's a breeze choosing one with effective, naturally derived ingredients that you can feel confident using.