Argan You Happy About The New Dove Dry Oil Moisture Body Wash? Here’s Why You Should Be!
It’s April in New York City, and it feels like we’ve all been forced aboard a climatic roller coaster, with temperatures rising to the 70s one day only to plummet to the 30s the next. How to dress in a weather-appropriate manner has become increasingly puzzling, and even our skin seems to have this question mark hovering it in a cartoon strip-worthy bubble (‘Is a dense body butter in order or a more lightweight lotion?’ it asks). The good news: the right body wash can quell some of that skin-centered confusion. For several weeks, I’ve been using the new Dove Dry Oil Moisture Body Wash ($6.99 at food and drug retailers nationwide) and have been astounded by how nourished and soft my skin feels after each shower. All Dove body washes and beauty bars are designed to hydrate skin — each Beauty Bar proudly touts that it contains a 1/4 moisturizing cream, while most body washes contain the brand’s signature NutriumMoisture technology — but this line was formulated to address the concerns of women with parched skin. To that end, both the Dove Dry Oil Moisture Body Wash and Dove Dry Oil Beauty Bar ($3.79 for a 2-pack at food and drug retailers) contain Moroccan argan oil.
What’s so special about argan oil, you ask? Well, they don’t call if liquid gold for nothing! This natural oil has a remarkably high fatty acid and vitamin E content, making it a potent moisturizer and skin conditioner, plus it tends to give skin a luminosity boost (liquid gold does, it seem, produce golden goddesses!). It’s commonly dubbed a “dry oil” since it’s readily absorbed by the skin, so that it doesn’t linger atop the uppermost layers and leave you feeling greasy and uncomfortable. But there’s another quality argan oil possesses that makes it special: it’s a sealant, which means it not only moisturizes, but it coats the skin, creating a protective barrier so as to prevent further moisture loss.
The Dove Dry Oil Moisture Body Wash, then, cleanses the skin with sodium lauroyl glycinate (a very gentle alternative to SLS or sodium lauyel sulfate) as well as a number of other surfactants that reduce cleansing-induced skin damage, irritation, and protein and moisture loss. When the Dove Body Wash with NutriumMoisture was introduced in 2009, dermatologists and chemists marveled at how the combination of ingredients presented a much milder alternative to the moisture-stripping and often irritating detergents of yore and, moreover, how it went beyond this goal and strove to replenish lipids naturally found in the skin. The surfactant system Dove devised, and which it still employs, included sodium cocoyl isethionate presaturated with stearic acid, a fatty acid naturally found in the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of skin). The stearic acid replenishes the fatty acids naturally lost during the cleansing routine to minimize moisture and protein loss and leave skin soft, smooth, and supple. The NutriumMoisture technology, meanwhile, infused skin with soybean oil, sunflower seed oil, and glycerin, which penetrate the skin providing greater hydration and which also help to restore the skin’s barrier function, again fortifying that outermost layer of skin.
So what makes this particular body wash even more hydrating than prior Dove body washes utilizing NutriumMoisture technology? Well, for starters, the usage of sodium lauroyl glycinate is game-changing since this is, in fact, a remarkably delicate cleanser that effectively removes dirt and grime without being too harsh or drying. But, moreover, the argan oil beads in the formula complement the NutriumMoisture technology, further nourishing and hydrating the skin while also sealing in all those moisturizing oils and fatty acids.
Every time I’ve used this body wash, I’ve marveled at how comfortable my skin feels after I towel-dry — even before I apply any lotion or body oil. There’s no tightness, itchiness, or flakiness. In fact, I’ve gone without body lotion a few times and my skin still felt smooth and moisturized (though I don’t advise anyone to skimp on the lotion!). The point is simply that it exceeded my expectations in terms of soothing and hydrating my confused and often dry skin.
As for the scent, it has a creamy earthiness to it, but it’s also really subtle so that, once you rinse and dry off, you won’t have this overwhelming body wash aroma clinging to your skin and battling your favorite perfume for attention. Since I enjoy wearing perfume, I emphasize finding a body wash that creates a pleasant olfactory experience in the shower but which is designed so that this aroma dissipates shortly thereafter. And, in that regard, the Dove Dry Oil Moisture Body Wash also excels.
If dry skin is one of your gripes, you’ll definitely want to check out this body wash. And, if you prefer a solid bar cleanser, try the Beauty Bar, which is sulfate-free and contains no harsh detergents (remember: it’s not a soap — it’s a beauty bar!).
