Rise Body Wash
Energizing Drugstore Pick
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +Strong energizing citrus-peppermint scent
- +Rich generous lather from sulfate-betaine base
- +Great value at under $8 for 16 oz
- +Wide drugstore availability at Target, Walmart, Amazon
- +Cruelty-free and vegan
- +Distinctive athletic-brand identity in a generic category
- −Sulfate base can be stripping for dry skin
- −Fragrance and essential oils may irritate sensitive users
- −Matcha and arnica are brand story more than skin benefit
- −Not suitable for eczema or compromised skin barriers
- −No cumulative skin treatment benefit — it's just a cleanser
The full review.
Art of Sport has a unique origin in drugstore body care. When the company launched in 2018, Kobe Bryant was a founding partner. The brand’s pitch was that elite athletes deserve better than generic drugstore body washes and deodorants, but these products should stay at mass retail prices rather than $30 prestige prices. This history gives Art of Sport a distinct identity on the Target shelf, and the Rise Body Wash is the brand’s most recognizable morning-routine product.
Rise is the citrus variant in the body wash lineup. The scent drives the product experience. Squeeze out a palmful of clear gel, add water, and it foams into a bright citrus-peppermint lather that smells like a wake-up shower. Grapefruit and orange peel oils form the top note, peppermint oil adds a cooling sensation, and eucalyptus adds a sharp herbal edge. For people who want a shower that feels like an event, the sensory experience is the product. It does what it promises.
The formulation uses a standard drugstore body wash architecture. Sodium laureth sulfate is the primary surfactant, which creates generous lather and a clean rinse, but it can strip dry or barrier-compromised skin. Cocamidopropyl betaine softens the sulfate. Glycerin, panthenol, and aloe juice provide humectant support, and tocopheryl acetate adds vitamin E for antioxidant claims. The matcha green tea extract and arnica are the brand’s signature botanicals for the athletic recovery story—matcha for antioxidants and arnica for post-workout soreness. Both are at concentrations and contact times too brief to deliver measurable skin benefits in a wash-off format, but they support the brand narrative.
Art of Sport was interesting at launch because Kobe Bryant lent cultural credibility to the brand, and the positioning filled a gap in the drugstore athletic category. The matcha-and-arnica story is charming. However, this is a body wash, not a recovery treatment. It does not reduce muscle soreness or accelerate workout recovery physiologically. It is a well-scented, well-lathering, affordable daily cleanser with a consistent brand identity. It delivers on its pitch: “a better-than-average drugstore body wash with a genuinely energizing scent.”
The formula’s limitations are predictable. Dry skin will find it stripping without a follow-up lotion. Sensitive and reactive skin may find the fragrance and essential oil content irritating—peppermint, citrus oils, and arnica are common sensitizers, even at low concentrations in a wash-off product. Users with eczema or a compromised skin barrier should use cream-based, fragrance-free body washes instead. Fungal-acne-prone users should note the oil content is not ideal for their condition. This is a normal-to-oily skin wash for people who enjoy fragranced personal care.
The value is strong. At around $7.99 for 16 ounces, the price matches mass-market drugstore body washes while offering a more distinctive sensory experience and ingredient story than most competitors. A bottle lasts most users four to six weeks with daily use, making the per-shower cost reasonable. For users who want to upgrade their morning sensory experience without prestige-brand prices, this is a legitimate choice.
Art of Sport is an emerging brand. It has existed since 2018 and lacks decades of independent validation. Its formulation sophistication matches drugstore pricing rather than clinical-tier scrutiny. The brand did not reinvent body care, but it built a coherent identity in a category that usually lacks one. It delivers a pleasant wash at an affordable price. It earns its spot as a replacement for a standard drugstore body wash.
If you want a treatment-grade body wash, do not pick this. Try a sulfate-free cream wash with ceramides or glycolic acid for therapeutic results. If you want a good shower and a bright morning scent at drugstore pricing, Art of Sport Rise is a considered option.
Ingredient analysis.
Full INCI list · pH 5.5
Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Fragrance (Parfum), Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis (Matcha) Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
Body washes are functional cleansers, and the evidence base for this category is primarily surfactant chemistry and tolerance rather than active ingredient research. Sodium laureth sulfate is a well-characterized anionic surfactant with a long history of use in personal care; it produces rich lather and effective oil and debris removal but can disrupt barrier lipids with repeated daily exposure, especially on dry or sensitized skin. Pairing SLES with cocamidopropyl betaine, as this formula does, softens the surfactant profile and reduces irritation potential, though it does not eliminate it. Glycerin and panthenol add modest humectant and soothing support during wash time. The botanical actives — matcha, arnica, eucalyptus, peppermint — have their own evidence bases in leave-on contexts, but in a wash-off product with typical contact times of 30 to 90 seconds, meaningful cutaneous deposition of polyphenols or arnica constituents is minimal. Published research on rinse-off antioxidant delivery is limited; most topical antioxidant studies use leave-on serums or creams. The fragrance and essential oil load is relatively high for a body wash, and while wash-off exposure limits cumulative sensitization risk, individuals with known fragrance or Asteraceae-family (composite) plant allergies should still exercise caution. The pH of the finished product is approximately 5.5, which is within the skin-friendly range for a surfactant-based wash and helps reduce the disruptive impact of the SLES surfactant.
Dermatologist Perspective
Dermatologists generally consider sulfate-based body washes acceptable for daily use in patients with normal to oily skin but often recommend gentler cream-based or sulfate-free washes for patients with eczema, xerosis, or chronically dry skin. Board-certified dermatologists sometimes note that fragrance and essential oils, while enjoyable for most users, are among the most common causes of contact dermatitis in body care products and that patients with sensitive or reactive skin should default to unscented options. For Art of Sport specifically, the athletic positioning and sensory experience are appealing for otherwise healthy skin, but the product is not appropriate for patients with inflammatory skin conditions.
Where it fits in your routine.
Apply a quarter-sized amount to a damp loofah, washcloth, or wet skin. Lather well and work it over the body. Focus on sweaty areas after workouts. Rinse thoroughly; the sulfate surfactant rinses clean and leaves no residue. For dry or winter skin, apply a body lotion or cream while skin is still damp to lock in hydration. Avoid the face, the eye area, and mucous membranes. Do not use daily on eczema-affected or chronically dry patches.
At $7.99 for 16 oz, this body wash offers high drugstore value. The per-use cost is low; one bottle lasts four to six weeks with daily use. The sensory experience beats generic mass-market alternatives. Only one size exists, so per-unit savings only come through retailer promotions. The value is excellent for users who like the brand identity and scent profile. For users seeking sulfate-free cream washes or fragrance-free options, the value is irrelevant because this isn't the right formula. Comparable energizing body washes from prestige brands cost three to four times more without better function. This is how Art of Sport earns its place in the category.
Normal, combination, and oily skin types can use this energizing morning body wash for its citrus-peppermint scent at drugstore pricing. It suits active people who want a brisk sensory shower experience and a more considered option than generic grocery store body washes.
Dry, sensitive, or eczema-prone skin users need a cream-based, fragrance-free body wash. Fragrance-averse users and those with citrus or composite-family allergies should avoid this. This product lacks glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or ceramides for treatment-grade cleansing.
Product details.
Clear gel that lathers into a rich foam
Bright citrus-forward with grapefruit, orange, peppermint, and eucalyptus notes
Plastic bottle with flip-top cap
It squeezes out as a clear gel and foams well with water. The scent is immediate: bright, citrusy, and slightly cooling from the peppermint. It rinses cleanly without leaving a film. Most users feel clean and refreshed; drier skin feels tight within minutes and needs a body lotion afterward.
4-6 weeks with daily full-body shower use
12 months
spring summer
The backstory.
Art of Sport was launched in 2018 by a team including Kobe Bryant as a founding partner, aimed at bringing athlete-grade performance skincare and body care to a drugstore price point. The line originally targeted male athletes but quickly grew into a unisex offering, with Rise as the energizing morning variant of the body wash lineup.
About Art of Sport
Emerging Brand (2–5 years)Art of Sport launched in 2018. Kobe Bryant was an early backer and brand partner. The brand sells performance-focused men's and unisex body care in the drugstore athletic category, using an athlete identity instead of clinical heritage.
Common myths.
Matcha in body wash provides antioxidant protection to your skin.
Wash-off products have too little contact time for polyphenols to deposit meaningfully. Matcha affects the brand story and scent profile more than skin antioxidant delivery.
Essential oils make this more natural and skin-friendly.
Peppermint, citrus, and eucalyptus oils often sensitize and irritate reactive skin. In this wash, they provide sensory effects rather than safety.
FAQ.
Is this body wash good for post-workout showers?
Yes — the citrus and peppermint scent is bright and energizing. The generous lather rinses away sweat and grime effectively. Dry skin users follow with a body lotion afterward.
Does it contain sulfates?
Yes. Sodium laureth sulfate is the primary surfactant and creates a thick lather. This is not the right pick if you prefer sulfate-free formulas.
Is the scent too strong?
The fragrance is intentional and noticeable: bright citrus, peppermint, and eucalyptus. Most users find it pleasant and energizing, but citrus oils or fragrance may overwhelm sensitive users.
Can I use it on my face?
Not recommended. The sulfate surfactant base and essential oil fragrance work for body skin, not the delicate face. Use a proper facial cleanser instead.
Is it safe during pregnancy?
Body washes are generally safe during pregnancy. The essential oil content is mild and washes off, but ask your OB if you worry about citrus or peppermint exposure.
What the community says.
"energizing morning scent"
"good lather"
"affordable at drugstore"
"fragrance too strong for some"
"can be drying"
"scent fades quickly on skin"
