The 8 Best AHA Body Washes Reviews & Guide 2024

What is the best exfoliating body wash? The answer depends on what you hope to achieve with it. For example, the best AHA body washes will sweep away dead, dry skin. It’s perfect for treating bumpy skin like keratosis pilaris and body acne. That’s because AHA is a body exfoliant that dissolves the bonds between dead skin cells to peel away the dryness and leave the skin fresh and renewed.

Here are our favorite exfoliating body washes:

What is an AHA body wash?

In case you’re wondering, AHA stands for alpha-hydroxy acids. These include glycolic acid made from sugarcane, lactic acid made from milk, and malic and citric acids made from fruit (1). Therefore, an AHA body wash is like bath soap with extra benefits.

What can an AHA body wash do for you?

If you have strawberry legs, ingrown hair, and bumpy skin, an AHA body wash can get rid of the redness and rough texture. For best results, leave the lather on the skin for a minute or two before rinsing. Since the formula does the exfoliating, there’s no need to scrub hard.

Alpha-hydroxy acids are used by dermatologists to do chemical peels to remove scars and hyperpigmentation like age spots and melasma. Obviously, an AHA body wash isn’t as concentrated so many are mild enough to use every day.

Are there any side effects to using an AHA body wash?

If you have sensitive skin, test the product on a small area first and wait a day. If your skin has an adverse reaction, it may itch, turn red, or develop a rash. It may not be the AHA, however. To avoid problems, choose a fragrance-free formula with as few harsh ingredients as possible.

Some people find that a glycolic acid body wash can be drying if they don’t use moisturizer afterward. It may also make the skin more sensitive to sunburn, and that’s why wearing sunscreen is also a good idea.

How long will it take to see results from an AHA body wash?

You might notice that your skin is smoother after the first time you use an AHA shower gel. On the other hand, you might need to use it three or four times to clear up KP. We recommend sticking with your new body wash for a couple of weeks and using it every other day or every two days to maintain smooth skin. Are you ready to get started? Then check out the best body wash reviews below.

Best AHA Body Washes in 2024

First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA

We love this glycolic acid body wash for keratosis pilaris because it’s gentle and effective. It’s free from irritating chemicals and designed for sensitive skin, but potent enough to erase the most stubborn KP. Say goodbye to that chicken skin!

This exfoliating bath soap doesn’t just have glycolic acid. It also contains lactic acid, a milder and more hydrating exfoliator. Plus, it has pumice buffing beads that are not nearly as aggressive as they sound. They turn it into a gentle body scrub.

At the same time, nourishing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, green tea, and licorice root soothe the skin. Users say that they noticed a positive difference within two or three days of washing with it.

The formula contains no artificial fragrance or dyes, sulfates, parabens, petrolatum, formaldehyde, drying alcohols, or animal ingredients. It’s dermatologist-tested to be safe for sensitive skin.

Pros:

• Features a blend of glycolic and lactic acids with pumice buffing beads
• Mild yet effective body scrub made for sensitive skin
• Soothes with colloidal oatmeal green tea and licorice root
• Free from artificial fragrances, colors, sulfates, parabens, petrolatum, formaldehyde, and animal ingredients

Cons:

• None

Mario Badescu A.H.A. Botanical Body Soap

Most body washes have either glycolic or lactic acid, but this AHA body wash for KP does not. It’s chosen the all-natural route with fruit extracts. It uses the acids from papaya and grapefruit to dissolve dead cells. Ingredients like oat protein and ginseng help rejuvenate the skin, too.

The citrus-scented formula is potentially milder than other options and can be used daily. Still, it can be drying if you don’t use lotion after bathing. The upside is that it’s excellent for getting rid of body acne.

Pros:

• Clears up body acne and KP
• Uses citrus fruit extracts to exfoliate dead skin
• Rejuvenates with ginseng and oat protein

Cons:

• Not sulfate-free

Alpha Skin Care Moisturizing Body Wash

A glycolic body wash has anti-aging benefits because it stimulates skin renewal. It removes dull skin and motivates collagen production. This formula is pH-balanced to prevent dryness and irritation. There are also moisturizers like aloe vera, pea protein, and vitamin E.

Reviewers say it helps with keratosis pilaris or strawberry skin as well as acne. It works even better if you follow up with the matching body lotion.

Pros:

• Anti-aging body wash with glycolic acid
• pH-balanced and enriched with glycolic acid, pea protein, aloe, and vitamin E
• Clean scent

Cons:

• Has an artificial color, fragrance, and sulfates, but it leaves the skin smelling fresh

Touch Keratosis Pilaris & Acne Exfoliating Body Wash

What is the best AHA BHA cleanser? We prefer this one with 15% glycolic acid and 2% salicylic acid. Beta-hydroxy acids like salicylic acid exfoliate the skin like AHAs, but they also dissolve the oil that clogs pores. If you have body acne that isn’t responding to other products, try this one.

It has a low 3.5 pH to allow the acids to work at maximum strength. Moreover, the acidic pH and sulfate-free formula protect against dryness. The addition of aloe, Centella asiatica, and hyaluronic acid ensures that the skin stays smooth, calm, and hydrated after washing.

The formula is made in the USA and has no parabens or phthalates, although it’s not unscented. Furthermore, the manufacturer offers a satisfaction guarantee.

Pros:

• Blends glycolic with salicylic acid to fix KP and body acne
• Moisturizing formula with anti-inflammatory ingredients like cica
• American-made body wash with a satisfaction guarantee

Cons:

• Has an artificial fragrance, which is a potential allergen

Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash

Here’s a body wash that doesn’t beat around the bush. It has only the essentials to sweep away grime and dead skin, like 8.8% glycolic acid. There’s no space wasted on fluffy extras like botanicals or fragrances.

It uses PFAV technology that verifies the amount of bioavailable glycolic acid in the formula. The 8.8 rating ensures that it provides a “significant increase in cellular turnover”.

Users say it’s drying if used daily, so please remember to apply moisturizer.

Pros:

• PFAV technology ensures 8.8% bioavailable glycolic acid
• Cleanses grime and dead skin to reduce and remove KP and acne
• No artificial fragrance

Cons:

• Has a formaldehyde releaser called imidazolidinyl urea used as a preservative

SOME BY MI AHA.BHA.PHA 30Days Miracle Acne Clear Body Cleanser

The downside of exfoliating body washes is that they can leave the skin dry. However, this one has a balanced formula and a unique approach to keep the skin calm and hydrated.

It’s a popular K-beauty body wash with no sulfates, perfumes, parabens, dyes, or animal ingredients. Instead, it combines the best exfoliating acids to purify pores and leave the skin refreshed and renewed. Some of these include salicylic acid, mandelic acid, and lactobiomic acid. They work inside a lather of micro bubbles that lifts up debris and impurities.

Meanwhile, eucalyptus works behind the scenes to slow down excess oil production. Then, there is a healing proprietary blend of tea tree, mugwort, and Centella asiatica to eliminate acne at the source.

Pros:

• Korean body wash with a moisturizing formula and triple exfoliating power
• Has salicylic, mandelic, and lactobiomic acids to exfoliate the skin and cleanse pores
• Reduces excess oil and treats acne at the source with eucalyptus, tea tree, and Centella asiatica
• No artificial fragrances, parabens, colors, sulfates, or animal ingredients

Cons:

• None

Lume Acidified Body Wash

Don’t just exfoliate, deodorize! This body wash will make you smell better than regular soap, and the effects last throughout the day. It uses mandelic acid, an AHA derived from bitter almonds. The low 3.5 pH acidic formula strengthens the skin’s barrier against the bacteria that cause odor and acne.

Choose between unscented, cucumber melon, and pink peony versions. All of them are sulfate-free and contain no artificial colors or parabens.

Pros:

• Exfoliates and strengthens the skin’s acid mantle
• Reduces body odor more than regular soap can
• Uses mandelic acid derived from almonds
• Sulfate-free with no parabens or dyes
• Available in unscented, cucumber melon, and pink peony versions

Cons:

• Some reviewers were disappointed with how the body wash smells in the bottle

KIMTRUE Shower Gel

If you’ve had trouble with exfoliating body washes leaving your skin dehydrated, try this one. It makes a rich lather that rinses clean, leaving the skin soft and smooth.

It’s ideal for body acne, KP, and more. That’s because it exfoliates and unclogs pores with 4% fruit acid plus salicylic acid. The combination dissolves dead skin and body oil to clear up acne and chicken skin.

The cleansers are very mild – no sulfates, only amino acids and coconut derivatives. They won’t strip all the sebum or damage the skin’s protective barrier. Then vitamin B5, bisabolol, and B-glucan prevent irritation and redness.

Pros:

• Leaves the skin smooth and soft, not dehydrated
• Thick lather with mild cleansers, no sulfates
• Uses 4% fruit acid with salicylic acid to treat acne and KP
• Prevents irritation with soothing ingredients

Cons:

• Has an artificial fragrance, but it’s the last ingredient on the label

Conclusion

The solution for strawberry legs, pimples, and ingrown hairs might be as simple as an AHA body wash. An exfoliating cleanser clears away dead cells to make the skin soft and smooth. There’s no scrubbing needed – just let the lather work for a minute before rinsing.

We hope our reviews helped you find the right body wash for your needs today. If so, we’d love to hear about your experience with it. Please leave us a comment below.

Source:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6017965/ Tang, S. C., & Yang, J. H. (2018). Dual Effects of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids on the Skin. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 23(4), 863. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23040863