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The vagina is a wondrous place. It bleeds for days, gives birth to children, and even has a self-cleaning mechanism—meaning that you should never wash it, lest you get rid of the good bacteria. But what happens when you’re having some trouble, like an intense itch or a mild yeast infection? You’d probably benefit from an intimate wash that’s designed for the vulva. Before we get into those picks, though, experts say it’s crucial to make the distinction between the vagina and the vulva.
The main difference is that the vagina is internal and the vulva is external. For this reason, the vulva is generally okay to clean with soap and intimate washes. However, no soap or intimate wash should ever go into your vagina. “The vagina, the inside, does not need to be vigorously washed with anything other than its own mechanisms,” says Alyssa Dweck, M.D., a New York-based gynecologist. “The vulva, on the other hand, is more external and, in most cases, has hair and glands around the area that can secrete perspiration.” If you’re worried about odor, infections, or irritation, we have an intimate wash for you.
We consulted two gynecologists—Dr. Dweck and Wendy Goodall McDonald, M.D.—to learn what to look for (and avoid!) in your intimate wash. We also gathered their 12 best recommendations for vulva washes.
Keep reading to glean their insights.
Best Feminine Washes, According to OBGYNS, at a Glance
Best Overall: Dove Beauty Bar, Sensitive Skin
Best for Sensitive Skin: Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash
Best Gentle: The Honey Pot Sensitive Feminine Wash
Best on Amazon: Good Clean Love Balance Moisturizing Wash
Best Budget: Vagisil Unscented Daily Intimate Wash
Best Budget, Runner Up: Vanicream Gentle Body Wash
Best pH Balancing: Love Wellness pH Balancing Cleanser
Best for Yeast Infections: Monistat Maintain Feminine Cleanser
Best for Itchy, Dry Skin: Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash
Best Wipes: Summer’s Eve Fragrance-Free Cleansing Cloths
Best Organic: Aleva Naturals Foaming Intimate Wash
Best Foaming: Rael Gentle Foaming Feminine Wash
What to Look for in Soap for Your Vulva, According to OBGYN
Dr. Dweck says that “an intimate wash is more about what it does not contain than what it does.” At the end of the day, warm water and very mild soap should do the trick in terms of cleaning intimate areas. However, even if you’re only getting mild soap, there are some things you still want to look out for.
According to Dr. Goodall McDonald, who’s an obstetrician and gynecologist at Women’s Health Consulting in Chicago, you should look for specific verbiage when shopping for intimate washes. “Terms like ‘mild’ or ‘sensitive skin’ are reasonable go-tos,” says the expert, adding that you should also look for intimate washes that are clinically tested or doctor-recommended. “This often carries some degree of clinical validation for skin intimate areas,” says Dr. Goodall McDonald.
When it comes to ingredients that shouldn’t be in your intimate washes, though, the answer is a bit more clear cut.
What to Avoid in Soap for Your Vulva
Especially if you have sensitive skin, there are a handful of ingredients that experts say you should avoid in your intimate wash. Most notably, you should avoid fragrances, parabens, and phthalates.
Fragrance
When you’re looking at a bottle of intimate wash, it’s crucial to avoid any type of fragrance. Many fragrances are alcohol-based, which could potentially dry out your skin. This is especially true if you have any skin conditions. “If I see a young woman in my practice who seems to have eczema or is sensitive to lots of different things and she can’t figure out what’s causing a rash or sensitivity, I’m probably going to steer her away from anything that contains perfumes or fragrance,” says Dr. Dweck.
Parabens and Phtlatelets
According to Dr. Dweck, your intimate wash should definitely not contain parabens or phtlatelets because they might cause irritation or sensitivity. “Even worse, these ingredients might disrupt the endocrine processes and interfere with chemical reactions that have to do with our hormones,” says Dr. Dweck. This is a potential issue for everyone, but it’s particularly problematic for folks “who are already dealing with hormone issues, like those who have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS),” Dr. Dweck adds.
Best Overall
Dove Beauty Bar, Sensitive Skin
$30
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Because your vagina and vulva don’t need a soap designed for intimate areas, Dr. Goodall McDonald and Dr. Dweck recommend sticking with a classic. “Dove Sensitive Bar is my everyday go-to. I even travel with it,” says Dr. Goodall McDonald. We love that it’s non-irritating, cleansing, simple, and good for all types of skin.
Key ingredients: Sodium lauroyl isethionate, stearic acid, lauric acid
Fragrance? No
Pros:
- Affordable
- Hypoallergenic
- Good for all skin types
Cons:
- Might be too gentle for deep cleansing
Best for Sensitive Skin
Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash
$8
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Another pick that Dr. Dweck can get behind is the Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash. According to the OBGYN, this is one of the best products for people who are sensitive. As the name indicates, the wash is extremely gentle. The formula is paraben-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and free of synthetic fragrances.
Key ingredients: Aloe vera, glycerin, vitamin B5
Fragrance? No
Pros:
- Affordable
- Hypoallergenic
- Great for dry, normal, and sensitive skin
Cons:
- Might not work well on oily skin
Best Gentle
The Honey Pot Sensitive Feminine Wash
$10
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In addition to it being a gentle formula, there’s a lot to love about The Honey Pot Sensitive Feminine Wash. For instance, it’s gynecologist-approved, pH balanced, and great for reducing odor. It also foams up so you can get that squeaky clean feeling without stripping your intimate area of the bacteria and oils it needs.
Key ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, grapefruit extract, lavender
Fragrance? No
Pros:
- Non-irritating
- Plant-derived
- Free of sulfates and parabens
Cons:
- Foam might be too much for some folks
Best on Amazon
Good Clean Love Balance Moisturizing Wash
$11$128% off
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We picked Good Clean Love Balance Moisturizing Wash as the best pick on Amazon because it’s made with natural ingredients, helps balance pH, and is good for sensitive skin. Additionally, the brand says this intimate wash is formulated with its bio-match technology—which is designed to “mimic your body’s natural chemistry.” Dr. Goodall McDonald has tried this herself and likes it (though she still prefers Dove Beauty Bar).
Key ingredients: Aloe vera, lavender, calendula
Fragrance? No
Pros:
- Reduces odor
- Relieves dryness
- Calms irritation
Cons:
- May cause irritation for really sensitive people
Best Budget
Vagisil Unscented Daily Intimate Wash
$6
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You’ll find Vagisil in drugstores across America. You might be familiar with the pink or purple bottles of this brand. We’re pitching this intimate wash because it’s unscented and free of fragrances, dyes, parabens, and phthalates. As if all that wasn’t good enough, this formula is also tested by gynecologists—and it’s just under $6.
Key ingredients: Sodium laureth sulfate, lauryl glucoside, cocamidopropyl betaine, glycerin
Fragrance? No
Pros:
- pH-balanced
- Hypoallergenic
- Cruelty-free
Cons:
- Online shoppers reported leakage
Best Budget, Runner Up
Vanicream Gentle Body Wash
$11$128% off
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While you can’t get more bang for your buck than the $6 Vagisil from above, we also love the $12 Vanicream Gentle Body Wash. Right on the bottle, you’ll see that the body wash is free of dyes, fragrance, lanolin, parabens, and formaldehyde releasers. It’s also free of sulfates, betaine, and gluten. I’ve used this a handful of times and love the lather and clean feeling this leaves you with.
Key ingredients: Glycerin, coco-glucoside, propanediol
Fragrance? No
Pros:
- Unscented
- Hypoallergenic
- Dermatologist-tested
Cons:
- May cause irritation for really sensitive people
Best pH Balancing
Love Wellness pH Balancing Cleanser
$13$1513% off
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More than 3,500 ratings have given Love Wellness pH-Balancing Cleanser an average of 4.4 stars on Amazon. In addition to helping keep your pH levels where they need to be, this wash is non-irritating and fragrance-free. Other things you won’t find on the ingredients list? Parabens and sulfates. No wonder people love it!
Key ingredients: Aloe vera, Calendula
Fragrance? No
Pros:
- Unscented
- Hypoallergenic
- Dermatologist-tested
Cons:
- May cause irritation for really sensitive people
Best for Yeast Infections
Monistat Maintain Feminine Cleanser
$5$729% off
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Yeast infections are inconvenient, itchy, painful, and sometimes downright embarrassing. If you’re prone to the condition, we recommend adding Monistat Maintain Feminine Cleanser to your cart sooner than later. The formula contains boric acid, which does away with odor as well as discharge—all while keeping your pH levels balanced.
Key ingredients: Boric acid, lactic acid, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium chloride
Fragrance? No
Pros:
- Cool and soothing
- Safe for daily use
- Gynecologist-tested
Cons:
- Online shoppers reported leakage
Best for Itchy, Dry Skin
Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash
$13$1828% off
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Dr. Goodall McDonald recommends Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash for itchy, dry skin—adding that even her young daughter is a fan of this wash. After looking at the ingredients list (and the price point), we can definitely see why. This pick is formulated without dyes, fragrances, sulfates, or parabens. Plus, it contains triple oat to help keep the area moisturized.
Key ingredients: Glycerin, sodium laureth sulfate, oat flour, oat extract, oat oil
Fragrance? No
Pros:
- Moisturizing
- Provides itch relief
- Good for sensitive skin
Cons:
- Might not work well on oily skin
Best Wipes
Summer’s Eve Fragrance-Free Cleansing Cloths
$4
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When I think of a classic intimate wash, my mind goes straight to Summer’s Eve. Personally, I’m not a big fan of the wash because I find that it irritates my skin. That said, I do like the Summer’s Eve Fragrance-Free Cleansing Cloths—which have 32 cloths in a pack. These wipes are accepted by the National Eczema Association because they’re formulated with gentle micellar water that won’t dry out or irritate your skin.
Key ingredients: Water, glycerin, polysorbate 20, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate
Fragrance? No
Pros:
- Portable
- Convenient
- Gynecologist-tested
Cons:
- Not the most sustainable option
Best Organic
Aleva Naturals Foaming Intimate Wash
$8$1020% off
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We made sure that every intimate wash on this list was safe enough for your most delicate areas. That said, we’re also aware that some people don’t want to put anything non-organic into or onto their body. If that’s you, the Aleva Naturals Foaming Intimate Wash is a perfect match. It’s got organic aloe vera, organic tea tree oil, and natural witch hazel. These all help to clean and moisturize intimate areas.
Key ingredients: Organic aloe vera, organic tea tree oil, and natural witch hazel
Fragrance? No
Pros:
- Hypoallergenic
- Organic ingredients
- Dermatologist- and gynecologist-tested
Cons:
- Some folks report that this doesn’t clean thoroughly
Best Foaming
Rael Gentle Foaming Feminine Wash
$18$2010% off
Buy Now
There are other intimate washes on this list that foam up, but we picked Rael as the best one because it’s pH balanced, dermatologist-tested, non-irritating, and free of parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances, dyes, alcohols, and animal-derived ingredients. This wash is great for all skin types, even if you skew sensitive.
Key ingredients: Coconut, star anise, sugarcane
Fragrance? No
Pros:
- 98.22% natural-origin ingredients
- Dermatologist-tested
- Hypoallergenic
Cons:
- Some users reported skin irritation
