The 8 Best Feminine Washes, According to Gynecologists
Your vulva deserves special attention.
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So, we wash our faces with face wash, bodies with body wash, and hair with shampoo and conditioner, but what about our vulvas? Those deserve dedicated products designed specifically the vulva’s unique needs in mind. Enter: feminine washes. By now, these likely aren’t new to you. They include products like intimate cleansers and wipes (notice we didn’t say douches—do not use those). But before we dive into some of the best feminine washes on the market, it's important to know a few things.
First things first: You should never use cleansing products inside the vagina. These cleansing washes are intended for the vulva, so they should never enter you internally. As ob-gyn Alyssa Dweck, MD, previously told Cosmo, "The inside of the vagina has mechanisms to keep the pH in balance," meaning it effectively keeps itself clean. But, say you just had sex, finished a workout, or are on your period—a feminine wash may be okay as long as you're using it correctly and choosing the right product.
Our Top Picks for the Best Feminine Washes:
Now that you've got a little preview of what's to come—and because your vulva deserves the utmost sensitivity when choosing products—keep scrolling for the entire list and everything you need to know about feminine washes and how to safely use one.
Pros
- Clean, plant-based brand
- Per reviewers, a little goes a long way
Cons
- In general, foaming washes are more drying on your skin
The Honey Pot is my personal favorite feminine wash to use. This bestselling sensitive foaming feminine wash is a cult favorite due to the fact that it's both clean and unscented. It's also made without parabens or sulfates, and it uses a combo of lavender, calendula, and apple cider vinegar to soothe and hydrate skin. There are several others in this line that have scented options, but they’re also very gentle on the body.
Fragrance-free? Yes (*but has fragrant options)Size: 5.5 fl oz
THE REVIEW: According to one review, "The only feminine wash I’ll use. I’ve even tried the other scents, but they caused irritation. I have been using this for years now and won’t use any other product!"
Pros
- Suuuuper mild and gentle (even on intimate areas!)
- Totally scent-free
Cons
- Not as moisturizing as some had hoped
Board-certified gynecologist Andrew Roth, MD, says that the best option, just behind warm water and a washcloth, is a gentle bar of soap. The Dove Beauty Bar for Sensitive Skin is an unscented, hypoallergenic bar soap that is gentlest on even the most reactive of skin types, which means it's a pretty safe bet to use on your external areas—granted, it doesn't go internally, and you're sure to rinse super well. According to Dr. Roth, you should suds it up in your hands and gently wash the vulva area.
Fragrance-free? YesSize: Pack of 8, 14, or 24 bars
THE REVIEW: "After much research, I found that Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented Beauty Bar Soap was a perfect pH for the skin—it has no perfume and is fragrance-free," writes one reviewer. "My lady bits are healed! They are happy, pain-free, and without irritation, burning, or itching."
Pros
- Leaves your skin feeling super hydrated thanks to the glycerin
- Lathers up so nicely
Cons
- A lil pricey for the size
- Doesn't foam up *quite* as well as traditional bubble bath
If you're part of the UTI club, you are very aware that bubble baths are typically out of the equation. Dumping a fragranced concoction—or a glittery, colorful bath bomb—into the tub is a disaster waiting to happen. That is until today, when I introduced you to the Maude Wash No. 0—aka the unscented, irritation-free bubble bath formula.
Fragrance-free? Yes* (*but has fragrant options)
Size: 12 fl oz
THE REVIEW: According to one tester, "I have really sensitive skin, so this body wash is perfect for me! Sometimes other body washes will make my skin feel very scaly, oily, or even mess with my pH down there…Maude did nothing less than perfection. I will be repurchasing!"
Pros
- Aloe vera is very soothing and calming
- Really works to relieve vaginal discomfort, according to reviews
Cons
- Some testers don't love how it hardly lathers
- Should be avoided by those with aloe sensitivities
This calming and soothing wash is a water-based formula that uses fresh botanicals—including lavender, calendula, and super-star ingredient aloe vera—to gently relieve dryness and discomfort. Fun fact: Aloe vera is proven to actually be really effective in the treatment of vulvar lichen planus (i.e., a chronic condition that causes dry patches around the genitals).
- Fragrance-free? Yes
- Size: 8 fl oz
THE REVIEW: "Such a light, clean, fresh scent," one tester notes. "I am sensitive to fragrances and have very sensitive skin in general, and this doesn't bother me at all. I look forward to using it. Very fresh feeling, and I feel like I smell better all day. It does indeed feel moisturizing as well!"
Pros
- Do a better cleansing than regular TP does
- Non-irritating with a light, pleasant, scent
Cons
- It becomes costly to purchase these for everyday use
- Can be a lil tricky to get out of the package, according to some reviews
Ever use the bathroom and wish you had something a lil' more than TP to clean yourself? Enter: these multi-purpose wipes from Dame. Available in packs of 25, these bbs are infused with anti-inflammatory aloe vera and cucumber extract, and you can simply pop 'em in your bag (or leave a pack in your bathroom!) for on-the-go freshness.
- Fragrance-free? Yes
- Size: 25 wipes
THE REVIEW: "These are great to toss in your purse to quickly freshen up when you are out and about," writes one reviewer. "The scent is very mild and the formula is gentle, so you shouldn't have to worry about irritation. I would purchase these again!"
Pros
- Very clean, transparent brand
- Contains anisic acid, a powerful antifungal
Cons
- Can be a bit drying, since it's a foaming formula
- Some wish it came in a larger container
If you're someone who lives and breathes clean beauty, opt for the Rael Natural Feminine Cleansing Wash, a pH-balanced, paraben-free formula, that is vegan, cruelty-free, and natural. It's made with only eight (!!) ingredients derived from coconut, basil, and sugarcane, and testers say it's a safe bet for even the most sensitive skin. The stand-out ingredient: anisic acid, which works to keep bad bacteria at bay.
- Fragrance-free? Yes
- Size: 5 fl oz
THE REVIEW: "This is a gentle foam cleanser with no scent or perfumes that includes natural ingredients I recognize!" writes one tester. "It feels great to use with every wash."
Pros
- Gentle enough to use every day
- *Actually* fragrance-free
Cons
- There's not a ton of product for the price
- May irritate those who are sensitive to aloe
I've said it before, and I'll say it again for the folks in the back: If you choose to use a feminine wash, the best formulations are the ones made with minimal ingredients. This one by Love Wellness is without parabens, sulfates, or fragrances—i.e., all the potentially icky things you don't want anywhere near your genital area. Instead, it uses anti-inflammatory aloe vera to soothe and calm skin.
- Fragrance-free? Yes
- Size: 5 fl oz
THE REVIEW: As one tester explains, "I was skeptical because I have very high sensitivity, but the cleanser is awesome and I haven’t had any reactions thus far. What I like most is that it doesn’t have a smell and it leaves me feeling clean and dry all day long. Just a little bit goes a long way, so I think the small bottle is worth it."
Pros
- Only contains eight ingredients
- Soothes sensitive vaginal tissues with anti-inflammatory ingredients
Cons
- Not as moisturizing as other options
- Should be avoided by folks who are sensitive to aloe vera
If you choose to use a feminine wash, a product like this one is a better option due to the fact that it has fewer potentially icky ingredients in the formula. With only eight ingredients—including calendula and aloe vera, which both have natural anti-inflammatory properties—this simple and gentle formula is made with your vulva's sensitivity in mind.
Fragrance-free? Yes (*but has fragrant options)Size: 5.1 fl oz
THE REVIEW: As one reviewer notes, "This is a soft feminine cleanser that has no fragrance at all and leaves you feeling nice and clean. I have very sensitive skin and a lot of cleansers irrate me, but this didn’t at all. It has a nice foam lather that is easy to use and easy to rinse off. It didn’t dry my skin out like some do. You only need to use a little bit because it goes a long way."
How to choose the best feminine wash
Tbh, feminine washes are not necessary, and as Dr. Roth explained, warm water, a washcloth, and—in some cases—a gentle bar of soap are all you need to keep up your hygiene. But if you're looking to show your vulva a lil extra love, here a few pointers to keep in mind:
Look for formulas specifically made for vulvas
If you opt to use a feminine washes, make sure it has a pH that's optimal for cleansing your intimate parts. FTR: The pH level of your vaginal area should be between 3.8 and 4.2 —aka slightly acidic. "This acidic environment is maintained by lactobacilli, or 'good' bacteria, which keep the vagina protected," ob-gyn Omnia Samra-Latif Estafan, MD, previously told Cosmo. "They create a barrier system that prevents the growth of unhealthy bacteria, and keep yeast at bay." So it makes sense that any wash you use should be balanced to match your vaginal pH!
Check out the ingredients
When it comes to feminine wash, it's not so much about the ingredients to look for as the ones you need to avoid. Sulfates, parabens, and phthalates are all no-gos when it comes to vulva cleansers, as they can potentially irritate that delicate skin down there—and might even alter your vaginal pH. And when that system is out a whack, you can end up with a yeast infection...which is not a good time.
Make sure it's fragrance-free
Speaking of ingredients to avoid! Any feminine wash you choose should be fragrance- and perfume-free, because no, your genitals shouldn't smell like peonies. Even essential oils should be avoided, as they all have different properties and pH levels. "It's understandable that women want to feel as clean as possible in that region," Dr. Estafan noted, "but sometimes, it can create more harm." According to her, the rule with feminine washes is the fewer the ingredients, the better.
Do you need to use a feminine wash?
No, you do not need to wash your vagina as it maintains a healthy pH balance by itself. However, it may be okay to wash your vulva in certain situations when done correctly and with the right, non-irritating product. As a rule of thumb, if you haven't felt the urge to use a wash, it's probably best to forgo one and keep using warm water and a washcloth. "Everyone has to have good hygiene," says Dr. Roth, adding, "I encourage patients to soap up their hands with a bar of gentle soap and wash between the lips and crevices of the vulva while bathing."
Are feminine washes safe?
Unfortunately, there is no straight answer regarding whether or not feminine washes are safe, so let's break it down: There are two distinct categories: washes that clean the vulva (feminine washes) and washes that clean the vagina (douches).
"Douching?! Absolutely do not do," says Dr. Roth. There are significant risks associated with douching, but one, in particular, is that they tend to mask what the real issue is: "Patients will do it because they feel as though they are 'not clean,' but not only are they masking the problem by just trying to 'wash it away,' but they could actually be making it worse because they're disrupting the natural protective mechanisms of the vagina," says Dr. Roth.
There are fewer risks associated with feminine washes, explains Dr. Roth, "but remember, I said low risk, not no risk because if they are formulated with certain chemicals or fragrances, they can actually cause a chemical irritation on the vulva or skin," he says, adding, "there's also probably no benefit of using one."
Meet the experts:
Andrew Roth, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN at Yorktown Health in Chicago, IL, as well as an assistant professor in obstetrics and gynecology at Rush University Medical Center. Alyssa Dweck, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, NY, as well as an assistant professor in obstetrics and gynecology at New York Medical College.Omnia Samra-Latif Estafan, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN at Hamilton Wellness Center in Trenton, NJ.
Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
Christen A. Johnson is the senior lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers health and wellness, home, sports, astrology, food, travel and more for print and digital. She also dabbles in culture writing, and wrote Cosmo's first-ever digital cover story. Before joining the magazine, Christen was a lifestyle features reporter at the Chicago Tribune. Several of her health and style stories made the paper's front page. When Christen isn't digging through antique stores, she's likely drooling over home renos on HGTV, sharing her latest therapy revelation, redoing old workouts from her college basketball days, or trying to perfect her homemade buttermilk biscuit recipe. Follow her on Insta for BTS ~ editor life ~ tingz!
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