This Eco-Friendly Body Wash Smells Straight Out of a Magical Forest

Get a truly green clean, just in time for Earth Day.

This Eco-Friendly Body Wash Smells Straight Out of a Magical Forest

One silver lining of a year spent largely at home? More me time. The idea of skin care as self care has been top of mind for a while, but the pandemic triggered an urgent need to turn inward—and many of us headed straight to our bathrooms for therapy.

Among the towering pile of skin care samples that crowded my Brooklyn apartment, Bathing Culture's Mind and Body Wash immediately rose to the top. Of course, I'm not suggesting that slathering yourself in all-natural body wash is a substitute for talking to a mental health professional, but during a time when keeping up with the tumultuous news cycle felt like a full-time job, I found peace of mind through beauty rituals. Much like endless sub-par matches on Hinge, there are so many body washes to choose from, and it's easy to consistently rotate formulas, never landing on the perfect lather, fragrance, or package design you're willing to settle down with. But you know what they say: When you know, you know—and one sudsy shower proved Bathing Culture was a keeper in my book.

When childhood friends and Bathing Culture co-founders Spencer Arnold and Tim Hollinger struggled to get clean after muddy adventures in the Northern California wilderness, the duo decided to concoct a soap blend that did the ritual of bathing justice. After testing thousands of batches, they finally arrived at the holy grail formula: a biodegradable mixture that deserves a permanent spot in your shower. Bathing Culture's Mind and Body Wash is certified organic, made of skin superheroes like aloe, shea, and coconut oils—and thanks to a gorgeous woodsy scent inspired by the Redwood National Forest, it's truly in a league of its own.

Aside from the borderline-magical aromatic journey the soap takes you on, its velvety, hydrating feel sets the product apart from the rest. With just nine ingredients (all of which I'm able to pronounce), I don't have to wonder what's in my bottle. And you can't ignore the packaging—the retro-minimalist branding is a huge selling point in itself. But if you needed another reason to give this product a try, Earth Month is prime time to rethink your beauty regimen's environmental impact. For this Bathing Culture body wash review, I looked into the brand's sustainability efforts, which will take you and your top shelf a step in the right direction.

The company says it serves people and the planet first, putting its products' impact on the earth and your skin at the top of the priority list. Bathing Culture uses plastic bottles made from 100% pre-existing recycled materials, but it also offers a glass option. (Which you may want to snag since you can order a jumbo refill container to cut down on re-ups, or visit one of their refill stations across the nation when you run out.) With every five gallons of soap made, the brand plants one native plant or tree, so the impact will go far beyond your bathtub. As for what's in the bottle? The formulas are all-natural, made only from plants and minerals—without toxins, dyes, sulfates, parabens, or synthetic fragrances.

If the promise of a truly green shower has you convinced, you may want to hit the checkout button sooner rather than later, because the Mind and Body Wash One Gallon Refill and the Mind and Body Wash Home Refill Kits are 20% off during Earth Month (in celebration of the brand's 4th birthday). If you're worried about having too much on your hands (though, once you try it out, I doubt that'll be the case), you can use the soap as laundry detergent, a mild pesticide for houseplants, or even to wash your fruits and vegetables—yep, it's that clean. In all, you'll be simplifying your life while cutting down on clutter in your beauty arsenal.

Bathing Culture Mind and Body Wash Refillable Glass

$35Bathing CultureBuy Now

Considering I feel like I'm nestled up in the mountains in a fragrant outdoor shower every time I use this soap, it's no surprise they call it Mind and Body Wash. Aside from finding time for rejuvenating beauty rituals, investing in mindfully-made products helps me feel better about my consumption—all while smelling downright delectable in the process.