BEAUTY TRIED & TESTED:

Never underestimate the power of a body wash. Some cleanse, others moisturise and there are those that keep you smelling great all day. Our team put 11 to the test.

We try out fragrant shower gels

1 NIVEA SUNSHINE LOVE SHOWER GEL, R36,99

You can catch a whiff of the soft summery scent of this shower gel for hours after use, without it being overwhelming. It has a thick, velvety texture, and you don’t need to use much to feel squeaky clean. The key ingredient is soothing aloe vera, so the gel didn’t irritate my hypersensitive skin. It lathers better on a sponge than a washcloth, which can absorb a lot of the product. This one is going straight onto my summer must-haves list. – Ashleigh

2 SOTHYS CRÈME DOUCHE – CHERRY BLOSSOM AND LOTUS ESCAPE, R325

This pretty, pearly body wash will leave your skin feeling silky and nourished. This may sound weird, but I forced my friends and colleagues to sniff my arm a few times – the blossom and lotus scent lingers all day. The magic here is in the luxurious lather, which works best on a loofah. I’m already saving up for my next bottle! – Christina

3 TREEMENDUS TEA TREE BODYWASH, R60

This body wash is basically nature in a bottle – it has a lingering fresh scent and is organic, with rose geranium leaf extracts and peppermint essential oils. Just a few drops of this on your loofah and you’ve got foam for days. It’s very gentle and soothing, and left my skin feeling silky soft and nourished. If, like me, you have sensitive and dry skin, then this is perfect for you. It’s also really affordable. I’ll definitely be using this for a long time to come. – Sima

4 LUSH ROSE JAM SHOWER GEL, R205

The fragrance of this product will stay with you for most of the day – it smells a bit like Turkish delight. The gel is made with a vanilla pod infusion, goji berry juice and argan oil, and will leave your skin soft and hydrated. As with all Lush products, this one is cruelty-free, vegetarian and handmade with fresh ingredients. Luckily, a little also goes a long way when you’re using a shower scrunchie, but I’ll happily buy another bottle once I’ve got through this one. – Charis 5 HEALING EARTH LEMON VERBENA & ARGAN OIL SHOWER GEL, R132,30

I’ve never really been a fan of shower gels; the fragrance tends to be either sickly sweet or too piney – in other words, unnatural. Happily, this one is made with luxurious botanical oils, with a dash of lemon verbena (to revitalise tired skin) and peppermint. It has a refreshing sweet citrus scent: think lemon curd, only fresher. This gel completely wakes you up and brightens your day, and the bottle is gorgeous too – sandblasted glass with white lettering. I’m going to recycle it as a handwash dispenser. – Sameena

6 THE BODY SHOP SPA OF THE WORLD™ ADRIATIC PEONY BODY WASH, R135

I’m in love with this body wash! The smell of peony on my skin is pure bliss and makes me feel relaxed after a long day. The product leaves your skin feeling soft and supple, and it has a lovely refreshing scent. And the creamy texture nourishes well – you don’t have to moisturise afterwards. – Washiefa

7 EARTHSAP BODY WASH – TEA TREE & PEPPERMINT, R79

I’m not big on tea tree, but I am big on products that steer clear of nasties like synthetic fragrances, artificial preservatives and petrochemicals, which is why I like this body wash. This product doesn’t lather, but it does produce a lovely foam that leaves my skin feeling cleansed, invigorated and hydrated after each shower. The tea tree scent is subtle while the fragrance is refreshing. I love it – and so does my husband! – Maya

8 THERAVINE MERLOT BATH AND SHOWER GEL, R245

The scent wasn’t what I was expecting – it has a bit of an antiseptic whiff to it, which I didn’t mind in the shower

at the gym! There are no exfoliating beads or sandy bits, which is great; it’s just a smooth gel with a lovely velvety texture. It is also very mild, so my sensitive skin doesn’t react. – Caryn

9 EUCERIN UREA REPAIR REPLENISHING BODY WASH, R189,99

My teen daughter suffers from really bad eczema, so when I discovered this body wash I was keen for her to try it. She used it for about four days, and the difference was noticeable almost immediately: her skin looked smoother and was more moisturised. I love that it calms irritation and itching, is gentle and has none of the ingredients that usually dry out her skin. A winner! – Liezel

10 PALMER’S COCOA BUTTER NOURISHING FOAMING BODY WASH, R83,95

I usually love Palmer’s Cocoa Butter products – I use the body lotions and cream and I love them. My skin feels hydrated after using this body wash, which is sulphate-free, parabenfree and contains no phytates. Plus 90 percent of the ingredients are naturally sourced. But it doesn’t really lather and I have to use quite a bit before I feel that it has cleansed my skin. – Crystal

11 SHOWER TO SHOWER FRESH POWDER SHOWER CRÈME, R39,99

For me, bath products are a little escape from the everyday. I love using this shower crème: the formula is smooth and silky, it lathers nicely and I find the ‘baby powder’ smell gorgeously fresh, clean and soothing. Plus it’s a great budget-friendly pick. – Tasneem