The good news for owners of a vagina is that it is so well designed that it even cleans itself, and while the NHS recommends you shouldn’t use perfumed soaps on its inner workings, using a gentle or natural, unscented pH care feminine (or intimate) wash designed for external use can be a great way of keeping yourself feeling fresh with no side effects.
To help you find a hygienic wash that will help you stay clean without causing irritation, we’ve researched the best feminine wash products for dealing with odour, as well as some great intimate washes for restoring your pH balance. The best feminine washes for menopause have also been covered, so make sure you read on to find out more as we explore options from online sites in the UK such as Amazon, Boots, and ASDA.
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of feminine wash available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() Lactacyd | 2 ![]() Femfresh | 3 ![]() Anthyllis | 4 ![]() YES | 5 ![]() Vagisan | 6 ![]() Vagisil | 7 ![]() Australian Bodycare | 8 ![]() Faith in Nature | 9 ![]() Megs Menopause | 10 ![]() Sirona |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Feminine Wash | Everyday Care Daily Intimate Wash | Delicate Intimate Wash | Cleanse Rose Unfragranced Intimate Wash | Intimate Wash Lotion | ProHydrate Intimate Wash | Intim Wash | Feminine Wash | Blossom Lave Intimate Foaming Wash | Refreshing Intimate Wash |
Features | Infused With Lactic Acid and Milk Extract to Keep You Balanced and Healthy | A Hypoallergenic Formula That Contains Soothing Aloe and Offers Great Value for Money | A Delicate Formula Featuring Calendula and Blueberry for Their Anti-inflammatory and Soothing Properties | A Certified Natural and Organic Intimate Wash With a Foam Pump to Create a Soft Lather | An Intimate Wash That Helps Prevent Yeast Infections Whilst Keeping You Clean and Fresh | Safe for Sensitive Skin and Features the Wonder-Ingredient Hyaluronic Acid for Hydration | A Daily-Use Wash Containing Tea Tree Oil to Help Reduce the Effects of Shaving | Hypoallergenic Formula With a Natural Fragrance for Everyday Use Featuring Moisturising Aloe Vera | A Feminine Wash Containing a Mild Antiseptic to Help Deal With the Effects of the Menopause | Natural Formula Made From 100% Natural Veg Sources and Free From Preservatives, Parabens, and Sulphates |
Price | £4.99 | £2.00 | £7.89 | £9.00 | £11.27 | £5.50 | £9.99 | £4.40 | £8.00 | £13.99 |
pH Balanced | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Ingredients | Lactic acid, milk extract | Lactic acid, aloe vera | Lactic acid, calendula | Calendula, aloe vera, rose | Lactic acid, camomile | Lactic acid, shea butter for moisture | Lactic acid, Australian tea tree oil | Aloe vera | Marshmallow and rose to soothe skin | Olive oil, Tasmanian pepper fruit leaf extract to reduce redness and irritation |
Unscented | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Free From Colourants | - | - | Yes | - | - | Yes | - | - | - | Yes |
Dermatologically Tested | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Volume | 200 ml | 250 ml | 300 ml | 150 ml | 200 ml | 250 ml | 200 ml | 200 ml | 150 ml | 200 ml |
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Your skin's pH is slightly acidic at around 5.5, whereas the pH of your vagina is moderately acidic (more acidic than your skin) at around 3.5. This is why normal body washes aren’t really suitable for intimate cleansing, as they aren’t acidic enough to match your natural balance. So, the first important thing to look for in an intimate wash is that it is pH balanced for your intimate areas to avoid any possible irritation.
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Intimate washes that contain artificial colourants or strong perfumes can also cause irritation to your vaginal area. These kinds of chemicals are not necessary to the effectiveness of the wash and should be avoided so that you don’t inadvertently cause yourself any issues.
Just like with other skincare products, even the most organically-minded washes can contain naturally-occurring fragrances, which certainly are preferable and do make the wash more pleasant to use. However, if you are particularly prone to irritation or sensitivities, you still may want to proceed with caution.
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Skincare products such as feminine washes are sometimes labelled as “dermatologically tested”, but what does this actually mean? Essentially, it shows that a dermatologist has looked into how the skin reacts to the product and its ingredients.
Although results vary between individuals, choosing a wash that’s been labelled as dermatologically tested will mean that it is much less likely to cause any skin irritation. So, even if it's your first time trying this kind of product and you're not normally super sensitive, this is always a good label to look for.
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This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£4.99
pH Balanced | Yes |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Lactic acid, milk extract |
Unscented | No |
Free From Colourants | - |
Dermatologically Tested | Yes |
Volume | 200 ml |
£2.00
pH Balanced | Yes |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Lactic acid, aloe vera |
Unscented | No |
Free From Colourants | - |
Dermatologically Tested | Yes |
Volume | 250 ml |
£7.89
pH Balanced | Yes |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Lactic acid, calendula |
Unscented | No |
Free From Colourants | Yes |
Dermatologically Tested | Yes |
Volume | 300 ml |
£9.00
pH Balanced | Yes |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Calendula, aloe vera, rose |
Unscented | Yes |
Free From Colourants | - |
Dermatologically Tested | - |
Volume | 150 ml |
£11.27
pH Balanced | Yes |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Lactic acid, camomile |
Unscented | No |
Free From Colourants | - |
Dermatologically Tested | - |
Volume | 200 ml |
£5.50
pH Balanced | Yes |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Lactic acid, shea butter for moisture |
Unscented | No |
Free From Colourants | Yes |
Dermatologically Tested | - |
Volume | 250 ml |
£9.99
pH Balanced | Yes |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Lactic acid, Australian tea tree oil |
Unscented | Yes |
Free From Colourants | - |
Dermatologically Tested | Yes |
Volume | 200 ml |
£4.40
pH Balanced | Yes |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Aloe vera |
Unscented | Yes |
Free From Colourants | - |
Dermatologically Tested | Yes |
Volume | 200 ml |
£8.00
pH Balanced | Yes |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Marshmallow and rose to soothe skin |
Unscented | No |
Free From Colourants | - |
Dermatologically Tested | Yes |
Volume | 150 ml |
£13.99
pH Balanced | Yes |
---|---|
Key Ingredients | Olive oil, Tasmanian pepper fruit leaf extract to reduce redness and irritation |
Unscented | No |
Free From Colourants | Yes |
Dermatologically Tested | Yes |
Volume | 200 ml |
Women are encouraged to gently wash the area around the vagina, not inside it, daily with mild, unscented soaps. Washing more than once a day during a woman's period can be beneficial.
Intimate washes and other types of vaginal cleansers were associated with a 3.5-fold increased risk of bacterial infection and a 2.5-fold increased risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Certain feminine washes, such as a gentle, unscented one that will not disrupt the natural acidic pH balance of the sensitive area have been known to help with yeast infections.
Written and researched by Catherine Torrance
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