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The 7 Best Feminine Washes Recommended by Gynecologists

OB-GYNs weigh in on what keeps things fresh.

By
Melanie Rud
person on black background wearing black clothing posing for the camera
Melanie Rud
Melanie Rud is a Chicago-based writer with 10 years of experience covering beauty. She covers all things skincare for Byrdie, from ingredients to acne advice.
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and
Esme Benjamin
Esme Benjamin
Esme Benjamin
Esme Benjamin is a freelance writer, editor, and podcaster based in Brooklyn, New York.
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Updated on May 03, 2024 10:54AM
Fact checked by
Sabrina Crews
Sabrina Crews
Fact checked by Sabrina Crews
Sabrina Crews is a copy editor and fact checker. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Minnesota.
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A collage of the best feminine washes on a gray background

Byrdie / Brian Kopinski

Sometimes, you need to freshen up down there—it’s natural and nothing a feminine wash can’t handle. Feminine washes clean the vulva—the external area of the vagina—and are good at removing debris and sweat, such as any vaginal discharge around the labia minora, clitoral hood, or in pubic hair, says Dr. Tamika Cross, an OB-GYN in Houston.

While meant for your nether regions, feminine washes are not, we repeat, not meant for use inside the vagina. “The vagina is a self-cleaning organ, meaning that by the discharge and different types of organisms—yeast and bacteria—the vagina keeps itself clean,” explains Dr. Heather Irobunda, an OB-GYN in New York City. Douching—AKA cleansing inside your vagina—can lead to irritation and infection, she cautions. Experts warn against excessively using a feminine wash because it can disrupt the natural bacteria in the area, potentially increasing the risk of yeast and bacterial infections. If you plan to use a feminine wash, ensure it’s fragrance-free and ideally has a minimal ingredient list to avoid the potential for irritation, says Dr. Cross.

To find the best feminine washes, we conducted hours of research on the highest-rated products—evaluating their ingredients and how safe they are for the vaginal area. With expert recommendations from board-certified gynecologists and after considering dozens of formulas, we chose these top picks.

Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
SweetSpot Labs Microbiome Balancing Full Body Cleanser at Amazon $18
Jump to Review
Best Budget:
SALE
Rael Natural Foaming Feminine Wash at Amazon $19 $15
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Best Gentle:
The Honey Pot Company Sensitive Foaming Wash at Amazon $15
Jump to Review
Best Moisturizing:
Good Clean Love Balance Moisturizing Wash at Amazon $12
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Best Wipes:
Lola Cleansing Wipes Pouch at Mylola.com
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Best for Microbiome:
Cora ​​The Happy Biome Wash at Target $9
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Best Multitasking:
Luna Daily The Everywhere Wash at Amazon $10
Jump to Review

Best Overall

SweetSpot Labs Microbiome Balancing Full Body Cleanser

SweetSpot Labs Microbiome Balancing Full Body Cleanser
PHOTO: Amazon
$18 at Amazon $20 $14 at Ulta View on Sweetspotlabs.com
What We Like

  • Can be used all over the body

  • Fragrance-free formula

  • pH balanced

What to Consider

  • Reviewers note it doesn't lather well

Key Ingredients: Antimicrobial peptides, green tea seed, leaf extract | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty Free: Yes

Both Dr. Cross and Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a Chicago-based OB/GYN and the Chief Medical Officer of Verywell Health, recommend this option, a formula that checks all of the boxes. It’s fragrance-free and 99% naturally derived, a boon for Dr. Cross, while Dr. Shepherd lauds all of the brand’s offerings for being pH balanced. The product also contains prebiotics and peptides to support healthy levels of bacteria and yeast on the skin (helpful if you suffer from yeast infections). The addition of green tea extracts and bentonite clay (known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits) helps gently cleanse the skin and remove odor and blemish-causing impurities.

Who It’s For

This expert-approved formula is super gentle yet effective enough to be used all over the body. A great one-stop-shop.

Best Budget

Rael Natural Foaming Feminine Wash

Rael Natural Foaming Feminine Wash
PHOTO: Amazon
$19 $15 at Amazon View on Getrael.com View on Jcpenney.com
What We Like

  • Plant-based ingredients

  • Doesn’t dry you out

  • Certified natural and organic

What to Consider

  • Small bottle

Key Ingredients: Coco-betaine, p-Anisic acid | Size: 5 oz | Cruelty Free: Yes

If you only trust something that's completely natural for your vulva, this is a great pick from Rael. Not only does it have a COSMOS natural certification (guaranteed organic) with 98% naturally derived ingredients, but it's also completely plant-based. It only has eight ingredients—including Coco-Betaine (derived from coconut oil) to create lavish bubbles and p-Anisic acid (derived from star anise) to gently remove bacteria—and is free of fragrance and other synthetic agents. Many reviewers noted a fresh and clean feeling after using the product and loved that it didn't dry them out or cause irritation.

Who It’s For

If you’re on a budget but still want the cleanest, gentlest product, this is a winning option.

Best Gentle

The Honey Pot Company Sensitive Foaming Wash

The Honey Pot Company Sensitive Foaming Wash
PHOTO: Amazon
$15 at Amazon $10 at Target View on Thehoneypot.co
What We Like

  • pH balanced

  • Foams nicely

  • Easy to dispense

What to Consider

  • Reviewers say sometimes the bottle's pump jams

Key Ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, lavender water, and grapefruit seed extract | Size: 5.51 oz | Cruelty Free: Yes

This extra-gentle formula from The Honey Pot Co. is a rich and luxurious foam, dispensed via an easy pump applicator. Dermatologist and gynecologist-approved, it employs cleansing lactic acid to remove dead skin cells and apple cider vinegar to maintain the ideal vaginal pH range of 3.5-4.5. In addition, the inclusion of lavender water and calendula soothe and moisturize, leaving skin soft and hydrated. The only thing we don’t love about it is sometimes the dispenser bump gets stuck. 

Who It’s For

Sensitive skin types (or anyone who feels inclined to seek out an ultra-gentle formula for down there) will appreciate this foaming formula that’s free from irritating or harsh ingredients.

Best Moisturizing

Good Clean Love Balance Moisturizing Wash

Good Clean Love Balance Moisturizing Wash
PHOTO: Amazon
$12 $11 at Amazon $11 at Walmart View on Smallflower.com
What We Like

  • Very hydrating

  • Gynecologist-recommended formula

  • pH balancing 

What to Consider

  • Contains glycerin; which is important to avoid if prone to yeast infections

Key Ingredients: Aloe, calendula, lavender | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty Free: Yes

If you’re prone to dry skin all over, including your vulva, the last thing you want is a feminine wash that’s going to strip out more moisture. Enter this water-based formula made with a coconut-derived cleanser (cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine) and hydrating organic aloe. Use it daily to relieve odor as well as dryness and discomfort. 

Who It’s For

If your skin tends to be dry, this hydrating product provides gentle moisturization that lasts. The product does contain glycerin (which can elevate blood sugar levels) though so if you’re prone to yeast infections, you’d best steer clear.

Best Wipes

Lola Cleansing Wipes Pouch

Lola Cleansing Wipes Packets
PHOTO: My Lola
View on Mylola.com View on Onestopperiod.store
What We Like

  • Portable and practical 

  • Natural formula

  • pH balanced to support vaginal health

What to Consider

  • Not flushable

Key Ingredients: Water, gluconic acid | Size: 32 wipes per pouch | Cruelty Free: Yes

Dr. Shepherd is a fan of feminine wipes, noting that they can help decrease sweat in the external vaginal area (ideal for post-workouts when there’s no time to shower). She likes these, an all-natural option made of a bamboo viscose material with lactic acid for exfoliation and hydration and honeysuckle extract for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. The only negative we’ve found is they’re not flushable like some wet wipes. 

Who It’s For

We love these wipes as a handy option between showers or any time you’re on the go and want to freshen up.

Best for Microbiome

Cora ​​The Happy Biome Wash

Cora ​​The Happy Biome Wash
PHOTO: Target
$9 at Target View on Cora.life
What We Like

  • Designed for sensitive skin

  • Packed with powerful postbiotics

  • Provides gentle hydration

What to Consider

  • Naturally derived scent isn't for everyone

Key Ingredients: Postbiotics, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and sunflower seed oil | Size: 5.07 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

TBH, most body washes can be too harsh to use on your most sensitive spots, but not this one. Cora’s The Happy Biome Wash is free from artificial fragrances, parabens (artificial preservatives), sulfates (detergents that can be irritating to skin), or phthalates (solvents that some prefer to avoid). The gentle formula is packed with postbiotics, which help slow down bacterial growth, including lactobacillus, a bacteria naturally found in the vulva and vagina, to encourage a healthy pH and maintain microbiome balance. 

Who It’s For

If you suffer from bacterial or yeast infections, this postbiotic-packed wash will help bring your vaginal microbiome back into balance. It does have a natural that isn’t for everyone though.

Best Multitasking

Luna Daily The Everywhere Wash

Luna Daily The Everywhere Wash
PHOTO: Sephora
$10 at Amazon $19 at Sephora View on Luna-daily.com
What We Like

  • Great for head-to-toe cleansing 

  • Vegan and cruelty-free

  • Microbiome and pH balancing

What to Consider

  • Some reviewers didn’t like the scent

Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, inulin, vitamins C, E, and F | Size: 8.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The clue is in the name of Luna Daily’s The Everywhere Wash. This gentle, cruelty-free formula was designed for full-body use (the brand's tagline says it best: head, vulva, knees, and toes). Prebiotics lactic acid and inulin, plus a plethora of vitamins, work to support the skin’s natural microbiome, while soothing aloe vera, chamomile extract, and coconut oil add a dose of gentle hydration. Some users didn’t love the smell, but that’s sometimes the effect of a clean product. 

Who It’s For

This is a multitasking product that people who want to minimize their shower time will appreciate. Why have a separate feminine wash when you can have one gentle formula that works for the whole body?

What to Look for in a Feminine Wash

  • pH Balanced: The vagina and vulva have a natural pH of between 3.8 and five, and a good feminine wash will help maintain that range. “Using products that have the wrong pH, especially in your vaginal area, can lead to yeast infections and/or irritation,” says Dr. Shepherd.
  • Fragrance-Free: Both doctors we spoke with cite this as the most important criterion, given that fragrance is one of the most common irritants.
  • Minimal Ingredients: As we mentioned above, our experts stress that the fewer ingredients a feminine wash has, the better. Since your vagina already maintains itself and has a delicate pH balance, if you’re going to clean your vagina, you want to introduce as few new agents as possible (and it’s best if they’re all natural).
FAQ
  • What do feminine washes do?

    Once more, they should only be used on the external vulvar area, never inside the vagina; caution both doctors we spoke with. They can, however, be a good way for women who are on the go, busy moms, or those who exercise frequently to help minimize sweat and a general feeling of discomfort, says Dr. Shepherd. 

  • How often should you use a feminine wash?

    So long as you choose a gentle formula that’s free of potential irritants such as sulfates, dyes, and fragrance, you can use one daily, says Dr. Cross.

  • Are feminine washes safe?

    Again, theoretically yes, as long as the above criteria are met and it’s never actually used inside the vagina, says Dr. Shepherd.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. While she doesn’t use feminine washes, she does occasionally reach for feminine wipes after a workout or to freshen up on the go.

Byrdie contributor Esme Benjamin checked and updated this article in November 2023 to ensure every detail was correct and each product deserves its place on Byrdie’s list of the best feminine washes.

Team Byrdie met with experts to inform this story:

  • Dr. Jessica Shepherd, an OB/GYN at the University of Illinois at Chicago and chief medical officer of Verywell Health
  • Dr. Heather Irobunda, an OB-GYN in New York City
  • Dr. Tamika Cross, an OB-GYN in Houston

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any feminine washes from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at [email protected] and we will evaluate the product ASAP.

Updated by Shannon Stubbs
Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

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  2. Klimaszewska E, Wieczorek D, Lewicki S, et al. Effect of New Surfactants on Biological Properties of Liquid Soaps. Molecules. 2022;27(17):5425. Published 2022 Aug 25. doi:10.3390/molecules27175425

  3. Koniecki D, Wang R, Moody RP, Zhu J. Phthalates in cosmetic and personal care products: concentrations and possible dermal exposure. Environ Res. 2011;111(3):329-336. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2011.01.013

  4. Thorakkattu, Priyamvada et al. “Postbiotics: Current Trends in Food and Pharmaceutical Industry.” Foods (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 11,19 3094. 5 Oct. 2022, doi:10.3390/foods11193094

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