We Found the Drugstore Body Washes That Will Leave You With the Best-Smelling Skin

Body wash is an essential skincare product — and lathering up with the right one can seriously upgrade your daily self-care routine. But buying an effective, high-quality body wash doesn't have to break the bank. Even if you're dealing with issues like dry, acne-prone or sensitive skin, there are plenty of excellent under-$20 body washes out there that rival luxury formulas — and you can find them at your local Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Target or Rite Aid.

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, our scientists and chemists are constantly testing the latest skincare innovations to help you achieve soft, beautiful skin, from body lotions to anti-aging serums to eye creams. To find the best body washes, we run a series of tests both in the Lab and with consumer testers. First, we use state-of-the-art skin imaging tools to measure skin hydration levels. Then, we send the body washes home with real consumer testers to get feedback on ease of application, lather, scent and, of course, the feel and appearance of skin after use. In our most recent test, we spent over 90 hours on in-Lab testing and parsed through 520 consumer surveys to find the best body washes on the market. Check out our picks below, a mix of GH Beauty Lab test winners, GH Seal Stars and editor favorites.

A quick look at our top picks:

So don't settle for any old soap: Instead, stock up on one of these top-rated drugstore body washes that smell good all day long while keeping you under budget (our expert-vetted picks start at just $5!).