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Partner Content JANUARY 9, 2023

25 Best Antibacterial Body Washes of 2023

Get the most deeply disinfecting and refreshing shower possible

25 Best Antibacterial Body Washes of 2023

Sponsored Content Provided by Machines Agency

Many body washes on the market can give a good clean, but they aren’t truly fighting all of the bacteria that collects on your skin throughout the day. For those struggling with keeping body odor in check, using a body wash that doesn’t effectively fight odor-causing bacteria can be a major problem. In order to help you get the most deeply disinfecting and refreshing shower possible, we’ve created a guide to the absolute best antibacterial body washes of 2023.

1. Blu Atlas Body Wash

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Blu Atlas.png

First up on our list is this all-natural option from premium skincare company Blu Atlas. The Blu Atlas Body Wash has a highly effective, dermatologist-tested, sulfate-free formula that kills bacteria and whisks away dirt and debris while nourishing and strengthening the skin.

Two of the key ingredients you’ll find in this vegan and all-natural body wash are green tea and aloe barbadensis leaf extracts. Green tea extract is antimicrobial, and also has potent anti-inflammatory properties. It powerfully kills bacteria, fungus, viruses, and other microorganisms while calming the skin and minimizing redness.

This natural extract is also packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients that nourish and protect the skin. Aloe barbadensis leaf juice is antibacterial, and like green tea, it also has anti-inflammatory properties. It soothes the skin, and works as a natural moisturizer.

In addition to these bacteria-fighting ingredients, this paraben-free and phthalate-free body wash contain sugar cane extract, which gently exfoliates for smooth and bright skin. While these ingredients get to work, a blend of gentle yet effective surfactants whisks away unwanted debris present on the skin.

2. Dr. Lift Antibacterial Body Wash

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Dr. Lift.png

This potent cleansing formula from Dr. Lift works to kill 99.99% of germs present on the skin while a variety of botanical extracts hydrate and refresh. The Dr. Lift Antibacterial Body Wash is vegan and cruelty-free, and made without parabens or phthalates.

This body wash contains a low concentration of benzalkonium chloride, a super-powerful antiseptic ingredient that is largely responsible for the product’s antibacterial properties. Additionally, it features lavender flower extract, which has antibacterial and antiseptic properties. This extract also has anti-inflammatory benefits, and works to soothe the skin while killing germs.

In addition to these two ingredients, the Antibacterial Body Wash has a blend of other potent ingredients that ensure the skin is left feeling comfortable and moisturized. Glycerin locks moisture into the skin, while cucumber seed extract nourishes and supports the skin’s barrier. A wide variety of other plant-based ingredients work to soothe and refresh, including calendula flower extract, hops extract, and apple fruit extract.

3. 100% Pure Eucalyptus Shower Gel

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100% Pure.png

Another excellent natural body wash that has powerful antibacterial properties is the Eucalyptus Shower Gel from 100% Pure. This fully natural and organic formula contains a blend of botanicals that rehydrate and soothe the skin while killing bacteria and washing away oil, dirt, and impurities.

This foaming gel is formulated with eucalyptus essential oil which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It’s a particularly excellent ingredient for fighting and calming breakouts, making this a great choice for those battling body acne. This body wash also contains a variety of other natural ingredients that contain antimicrobial properties, including rosemary leaf, oregano leaf, green tea, thyme leaf, and honey.

While these botanicals fight bacteria and other microorganisms, other ingredients support a healthy and moisturized complexion. Honey works to soothe, while rose hydrosol tones the skin and tightens the pores. The formula also features red algae, which brightens the complexion while providing extra moisturization benefits.

4. First Botany Tea Tree Foot and Body Wash

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First Botany.png

The Tea Tree Foot and Body Wash from First Botany is packed with natural ingredients that defend the skin against fungi and bacteria while cleansing and hydrating. It’s made to be suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

As you can guess by the name, the star ingredient in this body wash is 100% pure tea tree essential oil. This oil has antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory effects, and it effectively kills harmful and odor-causing microorganisms on the skin while soothing irritation. Peppermint oil—which has antiseptic and antibacterial properties—works alongside tea tree oil to stop bacteria in its tracks. These oils are also responsible for the light and refreshing herbal scent.

This First Botany body wash is also formulated with nutrient-rich, plant-derived ingredients that support overall skin health. This includes antioxidant-rich cranberry and pomegranate seed oils, as well as deeply moisturizing jojoba, coconut, and olive oils.

5. Dove Care & Protect Antibacterial Body Wash

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Dove.png

Dove is well-known for having an excellent selection of body washes, so it’s no surprise that the company has created a specific cleanser that works to fight bacteria. The super affordable Care & Protect Antibacterial Body Wash is able to eliminate 99% of bacteria thanks to the power of the antiseptic ingredient benzalkonium chloride.

While many antibacterial body washes can be drying, this product is also formulated to ensure the skin stays moisturized all day long. It contains Dove’s Moisture Renew Blend which mixes together ingredients that protect against moisture loss and help the skin stay hydrated so that it looks and feels soft and smooth from morning until night.

6. Dr. Hempster Charcoal Detox Body Wash

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Dr Hempster.png

If you’re looking for a deeply detoxifying antibacterial body wash, you’ll want to try this product from Dr. Hempster, a personal care brand that creates formulas powered by hemp and other natural ingredients. This cruelty-free body wash is made without parabens or sulfates, and is a particularly great fit for those with oily skin that are prone to body acne. It’s also ideal for those looking to take a more aggressive yet natural approach to fighting sweat and body odor.

The bacteria-fighting abilities of this body wash come from the lavender and eucalyptus oils, which both have antibacterial properties. This formula also features charcoal powder, which powerfully draws out impurities in the skin to deeply detoxify, as well as magnesium, which controls oiliness and minimizes breakouts.

Of course, this formula also contains hemp oil, which is packed with fatty acids that help with moisturization. Coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba seed oil, and other natural ingredients further ensure the skin stays supple and adequately hydrated after being cleansed.

7. The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Body Wash

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The Body Shop.png

We have another tea-tree-powered recommendation for you: the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Body Wash from The Body Shop. This invigorating formula uses high-performance natural ingredients to deeply cleanse and tackle body acne without causing any irritation or dryness.

Of course, this vegan and cruelty-free body wash feature tea tree oil, which is sourced from the foothills of Mount Kenya. The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic oil fights acne and odor while calming skin irritation for a refreshed, clear, and comfortable complexion.

As the tea tree oil gets to work, antioxidant-packed and anti-inflammatory tamanu oil soothes, nourishes, and moisturizes the skin. Glycerin further works to lock in moisture, while vitamin E strengthens the skin and defends it against environmental aggressors.

8. Derma-Nu Antifungal Therapeutic Soap

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Derma-Nu.png

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Derma-Nu’s Antifungal Therapeutic Soap is formulated with a blend of organic and natural ingredients that target a wide variety of bacteria and fungus related skin issues, including odor, acne, psoriasis, and more. This cruelty-free formula is made without synthetic fragrances, dyes, or parabens, and has a blend of cooling and minty essential oils that invigorate the skin and senses.

Like many of the more natural options on this list, the Antifungal Therapeutic Soap contains a potent concentration of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiseptic tea tree essential oil. It also features a blend of bacteria and fungus-fighting mint and eucalyptus essential oils, which soothe irritated and itchy skin while tackling microorganisms.

Additionally, this Derma-Nu body wash is formulated with ingredients that moisturize and nourish the skin, including jojoba oil, aloe barbadensis leaf, rosehip oil, olive oil, and oat.

9. Vita Vie Antibacterial Body Wash

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Vita Vie.png

The Vita Vie Antibacterial Body Wash partners antiseptics with natural ingredients to kill germs, bacteria, and other microorganisms while nourishing the skin. It’s highly effective, yet expertly crafted so that it doesn’t dry out the skin while cleansing.

Much like many of the other recommendations on this list, this Vita Vie body wash contains a low concentration of benzalkonium chloride, an antiseptic ingredient. It also contains willow bark extract and tea tree oil, both of which have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

As these synthetic and natural ingredients fight bacteria, witch hazel refreshes and tones the skin, while glycerin locks in moisture for softer and more comfortable skin. Oat kernel extract provides additional soothing benefits to fight any irritation.

10. Fieldworks Hose Off Body Wash

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Fieldworks.png

Any person looking to simplify their personal care routine should give this 2-in-1 fully natural body wash and shampoo from Fieldworks a shot. It blends together clays, oils, and plant extracts to thoroughly yet gently cleanse the hair and skin, killing harmful bacteria along the way.

The Hose Off Body Wash contains a unique ingredient that you don’t commonly find in antibacterial body washes: bentonite clay. This antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredient soothes the skin and fights bacteria while drawing out impurities from the pores for some serious detoxification.

In addition to the clay, this Fieldworks body wash contains vetiver essential oil, which has antiseptic properties. It also contributes to the body wash’s natural, masculine scent. Additionally, the formula features shea butter and aloe, which hydrate the skin, as well as nutmeg which soothes.

11. New York Biology Tea Tree Body Wash

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NewYorkBiology.png

This clinically approved body wash from New York Biology is packed with essential oils and other natural ingredients that inhibit bacteria and treat body odor, eczema, and other skin issues. The star of the body wash is antibacterial tea tree oil, of which there is a 5% concentration—one of the highest amounts you can find on the market.

In addition to tea tree oil, this body wash features eucalyptus and peppermint oils, both of which further work to fight harmful microorganisms on the skin. Additionally, you’ll find a powerful blend of natural ingredients that soothe, moisturize, and support overall skin health, including coconut oil, jojoba oil, and cocoa seed butter. The New York Biology Tea Tree Body Wash is free of sulfates, parabens, and alcohol, and it’s also cruelty-free.

12. Dove Men+Care Body Wash Skin Defense

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Dove Skin Defense.png

The second Dove recommendation on the list is this antibacterial wash that’s specifically formulated for men—although any person of any gender can benefit from adding it to their routine. It has been clinically proven to eliminate 99% of bacteria present on the skin, and also works to strengthen and hydrate as it cleanses. It has a crisp and fresh scent that lingers on the skin long after showering.

Like the other Dove body wash, this product is formulated with benzalkonium chloride, which effectively kills bacteria and other microorganisms. It also uses Dove’s MicroMoisture technology, which ensures the skin is left feeling moisturized, soft, and smooth.

13. Noble Formula 2% Pyrithione Zinc Bar Soap

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Noble Formula.png

For those with sensitive skin dealing with conditions like eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, or psoriasis, this gentle bar soap is a particularly excellent fit. It works to mildly exfoliate and cleanse the skin while battling bacteria, soothing the skin, and fighting itchiness and dryness.

The star ingredient in this bar soap is pyrithione zinc, which has antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. This ingredient is supported by olive oil and emu oil, which moisturize and nourish the skin so that it is left feeling stronger and more comfortable. Oatmeal works to provide incredibly gentle physical exfoliation, getting rid of dead skin cells and debris for smoother and softer skin.

14. Dettol Anti-Bacterial Body Wash 

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Dettol.png

This product from Dettol has long been considered to be one of the best antibacterial body washes, and continues to be a favorite among customers in 2023. This pH-balanced, pine-scented daily wash kills bacteria and refreshes the skin without causing irritation or dryness.

The Dettol Anti-Bacterial Body Wash has a fairly simple ingredients list. It is powered by salicylic acid, sodium hydroxide, and other ingredients that deeply cleanse and protect the skin for optimal health. At the same time, glycerin ensures the skin stays moisturized, while menthol cools and refreshes.

15. Megababe Detoxifying Charcoal Underarm Bar

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Megababe.png

If you’re looking for a product that specifically controls odor-causing bacteria and impurities in your underarms, you’ll want to give this cleansing bar from Megababe a shot. A blend of natural ingredients fights microorganisms on the skin to detoxify and refresh while also exfoliating and moisturizing the pits.

The cruelty-free Megababe Detoxifying Charcoal Underarm Bar features tea tree oil and sodium chloride, which work together to eliminate odor and bacteria. Activated charcoal works alongside these ingredients to provide some deep cleansing action, pulling dirt, oil, and other impurities out of the skin.

Glycolic acid gently exfoliates, getting rid of excess dead skin cells on the surface of the pits, while the antioxidant vitamin C repairs damage. Avocado, sunflower, and olive oils all work together to moisturize and soften the skin.

16. Truremedy Naturals Remedy Soap Tea Tree Oil Body Wash

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Remedy Soap.png

This natural body wash is packed with highly effective oils and plant extracts that fight body odor and kill bacteria while supporting overall skin health. The paraben-free and cruelty-free formula is crafted to tackle a variety of skin issues and conditions, including acne, itchiness, dryness, and athlete’s foot.

Of course, the Remedy Soap Tea Tree Oil Body Wash features tea tree oil, which works alongside eucalyptus and peppermint oils to eliminate bacteria and soothe the skin. These natural oils are also responsible for the body wash’s refreshing scent.

As these oils get to work, a blend of jojoba oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and aloe vera nourish, calm, and moisturize the skin so that it is left feeling comfortable and soft after you shower.

17. American Crew 24-Hour Deodorant Body Wash

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American Crew.png

Calling all men: this body wash from American Crew promises to keep you smelling super fresh and odor-free all day long. The 24-Hour Deodorant Body Wash mixes together highly effective ingredients that tackle bacteria and deeply cleanse so that you step out of the shower feeling your absolute best.

This American Crew body wash features silver citrate, which controls odor by eliminating microorganisms on the skin, as well as vegetable-derived surfactants, which wash away dirt and debris. The formula also contains tea tree and peppermint oils, which soothe the skin and further work to battle bacteria. As these ingredients get to work, glycerin ensures the skin is left feeling soft and moisturized.

18. Lume Acidified Body Wash

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Lume.png

This Lume body wash (which is free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates) is expertly formulated with a low pH level that eliminates odor and bacteria without disrupting the skin’s protective acid mantle. It has even been clinically proven to leave you smelling more than three times better than traditional soap.

The vegan and cruelty-free Lume Acidified Body Wash features sodium chloride, which fights bacteria and odor, as well as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory aloe barbadensis leaf juice. Mandelic acid also provides gentle exfoliation power. Ingredients like glycerin, cucumber fruit extract, and calendula flower extract also ensure the skin is calm and hydrated.

This body wash is available in scents like Pink Peony, Cucumber Melon, and Sandalwood Citrus. For those who want to keep things fragrance-free, there is also an unscented version.

19. Naturasil Premium Sulfur Lavender Soap

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Naturasil.png

Another excellent bar soap option is this product from Naturasil, a natural skin and health company. The Premium Sulfur Lavender Soap is formulated with a super simple list of ingredients that soothe and protect the skin while fighting symptoms of acne, fungal infections, ringworm, and more.

This paraben-free Naturasil bar soap features a 10% concentration of sulfur, which has both antifungal and antibacterial effects. It also contains antibacterial and antiseptic lavender oil, which fights microorganisms while calming irritation. Coconut oil and glycerin work to deeply moisturize the skin so that it doesn’t feel tight, dry, or irritated after cleansing.

20. Level Naturals Tea Tree + Activated Charcoal Bar Soap

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Level Naturals.png

This non-toxic bar soap is formulated to be suitable for all skin types, but the potent blend of natural ingredients is particularly well-suited for those prone to body acne. This nature-powered bar soap treats and prevents acne, soothes the skin, and eliminates microorganisms for improved skin health.

As stated in the name, two of the key ingredients in this vegan and cruelty-free bar soap are tea tree oil and activated charcoal. While tea tree oil fights bacteria and soothes the skin, activated charcoal draws out pore-clogging impurities and detoxifies. The skin is left feeling refreshed and smelling amazing.

In addition to these star ingredients, a variety of other oils and extracts work to support and moisturize the skin. Shea butter—which is anti-inflammatory and packed with fatty acids—calms and locks moisture into the skin. Jojoba seed, safflower, and meadowfoam seed oils further moisturize and nourish.

21. CeraVe SA Body Wash for Rough & Bumpy Skin

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Cerave.png

CeraVe’s super popular exfoliating body wash is an excellent choice for those looking to target roughness while killing harmful microorganisms and deeply cleansing the skin. The SA Body Wash for Rough & Bumpy Skin is non-comedogenic (which means it won’t clog pores), and it is also made without parabens or fragrances.

This CeraVe body wash features salicylic acid, which is a chemical exfoliant. Salicylic acid has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and is incredibly effective at dissolving dead skin cells, debris, and excess sebum to unclog pores and improve texture.

The formula also features ingredients that promote a strong, comfortable, and hydrated complexion. Three essential ceramides restore and support the skin’s barrier so that it can better defend against environmental aggressors, while hyaluronic acid attracts moisture to the skin and locks it in. This body wash also contains CeraVe’s patented MVE Technology, which works to continually deliver moisture to the skin so that it stays hydrated long after showering.

22. Defense Original Shower Gel

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Defense.png

The Defense Original Shower Gel was initially created with wrestlers in mind so they could more effectively prevent skin infections. However, this natural antibacterial body wash is a great option for anyone with an active lifestyle—or anyone simply looking for a plant-powered formula.

This shower gel works into a rich lather that effectively removes grime and sweat from the skin so that you’re left feeling fresh, even after the sweatiest workout. It features tea tree and eucalyptus oils, which both work to fight harmful microorganisms while soothing the skin. Organic aloe vera and vegetable glycerin calm and moisturize the skin, while anti-inflammatory rosemary extract soothes irritation.

The Defense Original Shower Gel is made without sulfates, parabens, or fragrances. This formula is also available in a refreshing and invigorating Peppermint scent.

23. Dial Men UltraClean Eucalyptus Scent Antibacterial Body Wash

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Dial.png

When you think of Dial, you might think of hand soaps—but they produce highly effective and super affordable body washes, as well. This crisp eucalyptus-scented body wash is able to kill 99.99% of bacteria and works to keep you smelling fresh and odor-free as you move throughout your day. It also cleanses the skin without causing any dryness.

This drugstore body wash features antiseptic benzalkonium chloride, which is primarily responsible for the formula’s bacteria-fighting abilities. The Dial UltraClean Eucalyptus Scent Antibacterial Body Wash is free of parabens, sulfates, silicones, and phthalates, and it is dermatologist tested and pH balanced.

24. Natural Riches Tea Tree Oil Body Wash

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Natural Riches.png

The Tea Tree Oil Body Wash from personal care company Natural Riches is packed with some of the absolute best plant-derived ingredients for fighting bacteria and improving overall skin health. This formula is specifically created to soothe dry and itchy skin while cleansing away dirt and debris. It can also defend against a host of conditions and issues, including odor, athlete’s foot, and body acne.

At the center of this formula is tea tree, eucalyptus, oregano, rosemary, and peppermint oils, which work together to fight bacteria and other microorganisms on this skin while calming any irritation and itchiness. These oils also create the body wash’s naturally refreshing scent. Aloe vera provides additional skin-calming and bacteria-fighting benefits, while jojoba, coconut, and olive oils deeply nourish and moisturize the skin.

25. ArtNaturals Tea Tree Body Wash

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Art Naturals.png

Our final recommendation for the best antibacterial body washes of the year is the ArtNaturals Tea Tree Body Wash. In this formula (which is suitable for all skin types), you’ll find a variety of natural ingredients that calm, deodorize, moisturize, and fight bacteria and fungus for healthier and more comfortable skin.

This paraben-free and sulfate-free body wash feature a powerful blend of tea tree, peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, and oregano oils. These oils band together to kill microorganisms, fight odor, and calm the skin. The tea tree and peppermint oils also create an invigorating tingle on the skin that refreshes the senses as you bathe. At the same time, jojoba and olive oils moisturize the skin, while aloe vera, white ginger, and chamomile calm and nourish.

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Studio S OCTOBER 22, 2026

Milan Design + Build Helps San Diegans Remodel With Confidence

The San Diego home remodeling company works on full homes, kitchens, bathrooms, home additions, ADUs, garages, landscapes, and hardscapes.

Milan Design + Build Helps San Diegans Remodel With Confidence
Courtesy of Milan Design

Most homeowners want two things before they commit to a remodel: a realistic sense of cost and a clear picture of what the finished space will look like. Milan Design + Build helps deliver both through its online remodeling estimator and personalized design consultations, supported by a showroom experience and 3D renderings.

“The online estimate gives homeowners a starting number in about a minute, and the showroom and 3D renderings let them see materials and layouts before anything is built,” says David Noriani, CEO of Milan Design + Build. “Keeping design, permits, and construction with one team helps us manage expectations and keep everyone working toward the same vision.”

Courtesy of Milan Design

Modern design is a particular focus for Milan, with an emphasis on clean lines, natural light, functional layouts, and carefully selected materials. The team adapts each design to the homeowner’s lifestyle and the character of the property. Milan Design + Build combines thoughtful design with construction expertise, creating spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.

The online estimator covers kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, full-home remodels, and ADU construction. At Milan’s showroom on Carroll Road, visitors can review real materials, finishes, and design options, meet the design-build team, and discuss project scope, budget, and timing. Consultations can also be held virtually for homeowners who prefer to start remotely.

At Milan Design + Build, one integrated team works on the entire project. Design and construction aren’t divided between separate firms. The process begins with a consultation and feasibility review, followed by design, space planning, and 3D renderings developed from detailed measurements and digital scans. The team also coordinates architectural plans, structural engineering, city approvals, and material selection, with construction overseen by a dedicated project manager.

Homeowners can explore their remodeling options, get an initial estimate, or request a design consultation at MilanBuild.com.

Courtesy of Milan Design

Partner Content
Partner Content NOVEMBER 10, 2026

La Jolla Institute for Immunology Announces $55 Million Fundraising Campaign

The Campaign for La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) will fuel scientific innovation and medical advances

La Jolla Institute for Immunology Announces $55 Million Fundraising Campaign
Courtesy of La Jolla Institute for Immunology

Philanthropists and Scientists Join Forces for a Bold $55 Million Campaign

La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) is going public with a bold bet: a $55 million campaign to propel medical research into a new era. The Campaign for LJI will fuel discovery, empower scientific innovation, and expand the impact of immunology on human health. 

The Institute quietly kicked things off in 2023, guided by its Board, campaign volunteers, and early believers. Nearly 80% of the $55 million goal is already in hand. Now LJI is opening the doors and inviting the whole community to carry their visions across the finish line and back discoveries that change how LJI researchers understand, treat, and prevent disease. 

And there’s a bonus. To mark the public launch, LJI Board member and Campaign Honorary Chair Anthony R. Carr is offering a special matching gift so new donors can double their impact. Full details are here. 

The Promise of Immunology

Immunology has already rewritten human history. Advances in immune science helped wipe out smallpox, pushed polio to the brink of elimination, and revolutionized how we prevent and treat infectious disease. Today, immune-based therapies are opening doors for patients with cancer, autoimmune disorders, and other serious illnesses once considered untreatable. 

For nearly four decades, LJI scientists have stood on the front lines, driven by one insight: the immune system shapes disease in virtually every organ in the body. By decoding how the immune system works and how to harness it to prevent and treat disease, LJI researchers are chasing the Institute’s ultimate mission: Life Without Disease®. 

To make that mission real, the Institute pairs world-class scientists with cutting-edge technology, speeding up breakthroughs and turning discoveries into transformative new therapies that ease suffering worldwide. 

The Campaign for LJI supercharges that momentum, uniting the vision of the Institute’s scientists with a community that believes in research. Focused on advancing LJI’s most promising areas of study, the campaign aims to help build a future free from the burden of disease, a goal that demands bold ideas, lasting partnerships, and generous philanthropic support.

The Campaign for LJI will advance research across three critical pillars: 

1. President’s Priority Fund. Flexible, unrestricted dollars let big ideas move now, not later. Scientists can launch high-risk, high-reward projects, bring experts together across disciplines, build transformative technologies, and train tomorrow’s scientific leaders. 

2. Center for Sex-Based Differences in the Immune System. Male and female immune systems don’t respond the same way, and LJI researchers are tracing the fundamental differences down to individual cells and molecular pathways. The Campaign will speed up this pioneering work, revealing hidden drivers of disease and paving the way for more precise, biologically informed therapies for autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, cancer, and beyond. 

3. Center for Vaccine Innovation. Immunologists, bioengineers, and vaccine experts are teaming up to design the next generation of vaccines and immune-based therapies. With donor support, LJI scientists can engineer longer-lasting and more personalized vaccines, pinpoint the cellular mechanisms driving protective immunity, and refine delivery methods to prevent autoimmune disease and treat cancer. 

A Lasting Impact

As the campaign enters its public phase, LJI welcomes new partners and supporters to join this landmark initiative. Community support is essential to accelerating scientific discovery, and there are many meaningful ways to help shape the future of immunology. Donors may direct their gifts to any campaign priority or other area of interest. As a comprehensive campaign, all gifts to LJI count toward the campaign goal, regardless of designation. Join the campaign, and multiply your impact with our limited-time matching opportunity. 

To explore the campaign, visit imagine.lji.org.

Partner Content
Partner Content NOVEMBER 9, 2026

Paving the Way for New Knee Treatments

Scripps orthopedic surgeons are investigating stem cells as an alternative to joint replacement

Paving the Way for New Knee Treatments
Courtesy of Scripps Health

Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education at Scripps Clinic recently received a $12.7 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to investigate whether they can transform stem cells into tissue that can repair some types of knee injuries. Currently, if a patient has lost most, if not all, of the cartilage in their knee, then their doctor will recommend a total joint replacement. Joint replacement is safe and effective, but patients who’ve only lost part of their cartilage often don’t qualify. A stem cell-based treatment would provide these patients an option that doesn’t involve donor tissue. Click here for more on the preclinical trial process. 

For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.

Partner Content
Partner Content NOVEMBER 9, 2026

Healing by Design

Artwork throughout the Lusardi Tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas promotes hope and healing

Healing by Design
Courtesy of Scripps Health

The recently opened Lusardi Tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas is a state-of-the-art addition to the hospital staffed by dedicated team members who’ve helped make Scripps one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems. Complementary to that medical excellence, the Lusardi Tower also represents the latest expansion of the Scripps Arts for Healing Program. The philanthropic initiative strategically places nature- and community-based artwork throughout the hospital to support health and well-being. Both Scripps Encinitas and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla have healing arts programs as part of new building projects and growth on the campuses. Click here to read more about the Healing Arts Program and how residents from a nearby retirement community showed their support. 

For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.

Partner Content
Partner Content NOVEMBER 4, 2026

A Guide to South Park

From century-old Craftsman homes to vegan fantasy bars, dive bars, and a tiki room built for exactly two people, this is one of San Diego’s great little neighborhoods

You may not realize it, but Balboa Park is bigger than Central Park (in fact, 1.5 times larger). Pressed right up against its southeastern edge is a little architecture farm built on old trolley bones, where houses look like someone was collecting architectural styles and local businesses are still run by people who seem personally invested in keeping this place interesting.

This is South Park. 

To understand why it feels the way it does today—less like one commercial strip and more like a handful of tiny villages—you have to go back to the trolley.

How the Trolley Built South Park

The land that became the original South Park Addition (the subdivision’s original name) was surveyed in 1870 and officially filed in 1890, but the neighborhood really started becoming a neighborhood in the early 1900s. The Bartlett Estate Company began developing and marketing the tract in earnest around 1906, pairing lots and new homes with something extremely useful if you lived outside Downtown in the horse-and-buggy era: an electric streetcar.

On May 1, 1906, the South Park and East Side Railway made its first trip. Developers didn’t just build near transportation; they helped pay for the transportation, then used it to sell the dream. Downtown had industry, noise, and congestion. Out here were palms, sidewalks, utilities, room to breathe and a four-cent ride back to the city.

It worked. Homes began filling in around the streetcar route, and little commercial clusters grew around the places where people got on and off. That transportation pattern is still written into South Park’s geography. Some of the neighborhood’s odd street geometry is also due in part to the trolley—the old line cut across parcels instead of politely obeying the grid, leaving behind pieces of land that later businesses learned to build around. Places like Station Tavern sit on the former easement and station site of San Diego’s No. 2 trolley line.

Then San Diego went big for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in neighboring Balboa Park. The exposition transformed much of the park and helped push the city through another burst of building and growth. South Park was right there to absorb some of that momentum.

And the people building houses here had taste.

Walk the residential streets now and it can feel like somebody planted an architectural sample garden: Craftsman, Prairie, Mission Revival, Tudor Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival. Creedence Clearwater Revival. All the revivals. The neighborhood includes work by Irving Gill, one of the defining architects of early modern California; Gill-designed Prairie homes still stand along Granada Avenue.

The city formally designated the South Park Historic District in 2017, recognizing roughly 400 properties and a period of significance stretching from 1906 through 1949. In other words, a lot of what makes the place feel old is actually old.

South Park Today

While the trolley eventually disappeared, the basic idea behind it didn’t. South Park is still a neighborhood organized around little pockets of human activity: a couple blocks where you can buy a record, drink a beer, find a 60-year-old lamp, eat a vegan burger beneath gothic beasts, browse a bookstore, and walk home past a century-old Craftsman.

The 30th-and-Fern area may be the clearest example. Several surviving buildings there date to South Park’s early development, including the old Fire Station No. 9, Rose Grocery building, and Burlingame Garage. What began as infrastructure for a young streetcar suburb became the neighborhood’s commercial heart.

That history is also partly why buying a house here can be competitive. There isn’t some endless supply of vacant land waiting around the corner for another subdivision. Much of the neighborhood filled in generations ago, and the architecture itself is part of the appeal.

San Diego Mag’s been documenting the city for 78 years. And we’ve been looking for a partner who loved the city enough to help us tell its stories. Redfin is that partner. They’re helping us tell the story of some of the city’s most unique neighborhoods. They launched Redfin Early Access this year to get their people in first and to see certain coming-soon and exclusive listings on Redfin before they appear on other major real-estate sites.

First up: South Park.

Here are some of the people and places worth knowing here:

Whistle Stop Bar

Big Kitchen Cafe

Start with Judy “the Beauty” Forman, because it’s difficult to explain South Park without her. The former social worker bought Big Kitchen in 1980 and turned a neighborhood breakfast joint into a gathering place for artists, musicians, activists, politicians, eccentrics, and pretty much anyone who needed somewhere to belong. As Judy puts it, “I built this for people who others passed over.”

One of those people was a young single mom named Whoopi Goldberg, who worked as a dishwasher here before the Whoopi Goldberg part of her career happened. Today Big Kitchen still serves breakfast and lunch Thursday through Monday.

3003 Grape Street

Whistle Stop Bar

Whistle Stop reopened in 2001, right as South Park’s little independent-business ecosystem was finding a new generation. Owner Sam Chammas—also connected to Live Wire and, later, Station Tavern—helped turn it into the kind of neighborhood bar where the calendar can jump from a DJ night to live bands to some strange communal event nobody at a normal sports bar would propose.

The room still has that laid-back, slightly sweaty house-party quality. Check what’s happening before you go, because Whistle Stop changes personality depending on the night: sometimes neighborhood beer, sometimes everyone dancing beneath the disco ball like work tomorrow was canceled.

2236 Fern Street

Station Tavern

Station Tavern may be the most literal example of old South Park becoming new South Park. It opened in 2009 on land once crossed diagonally by the No. 2 trolley line, and architect Lloyd Russell incorporated that history into the design rather than pretending the weirdly shaped lot wasn’t weirdly shaped. The project won the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s Grand Orchid Award the same year it opened.

Sam Chammas built the place as an open-air burger-and-beer spot with big communal tables, a backyard, room for kids, and room for dogs. It still works exactly that way: get a burger, get the tots, let everybody spread out, stay awhile.

2204 Fern Street

Kindred + Throne Room

Kindred arrived in late 2015 looking nothing like the beige-and-leafy vegan restaurant stereotype. The place went full gothic fever dream—heavy music, wild cocktails, decadent plant-based food—and eventually collected national vegan accolades plus local Restaurant of the Year and design honors.

And in 2026, it got even weirder. Hidden behind a chain-mail passage inside Kindred is Throne Room, a medieval-fantasy cocktail chamber whose mythology grew out of a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired map the Kindred team created for a 2017 Coachella pop-up. The 90-minute experience has scroll menus, plant-based mezze, cocktails and zero interest in pretending restaurants need to behave normally.

1503 30th Street

Bad Madge & Co.

Vinyl Junkies Record Shack

Vinyl Junkies has good music-scene DNA. Founder Eric Howarth previously ran indie label Hi-Speed Soul, whose roster included acts like Nada Surf and Swervedriver, then teamed with Casbah owner Tim Mays after the pair had spent years putting on Vinyl Junkies record swaps.

They opened the South Park brick-and-mortar shop in 2017, and it remains a buy-sell-trade temple for people who understand that owning music on a physical object is irrational in exactly the right way. Go flip through the new arrivals. Leave holding something you had absolutely no intention of buying.

2235 Fern Street

Bad Madge & Co.

Bad Madge is what happens when “vintage store” doesn’t quite explain the situation. Owner Tanya McAnear and her team fill the shop with furniture, clothing, barware, records, art, jewelry, collectibles, and various objects that seem like they may know things about their previous owners. The shop opened in 2011 and has made reuse and upcycling part of its identity ever since. Go in without looking for anything specific—specificity will only slow you down.

2205 Fern Street

Thread + Seed

Across the neighborhood’s vintage-and-vinyl universe sits Thread + Seed, a local boutique built around clothing, denim, gifts, and personal styling. Its South Park shop has an especially deep denim program—petite, tall, wide-leg, straight, flare—and the store also offers one-on-one styling built around color and body type. In other words, this is where you go after deciding the jeans currently on your body have betrayed you. South Park understands that sometimes personal renewal begins with pants.

2220 Fern Street

The Book Catapult

Seth Marko started The Book Catapult as a book blog in 2006. In 2017, he and his wife, Jennifer Powell, turned it into an actual bookstore in South Park, specializing loosely in fiction, local interest, and children’s books while maintaining the more important bookseller skill: putting something into your hands that you didn’t know you needed.

There are staff picks, author events, signed books, and the dangerous possibility of walking in for one title and emerging with four. Because no one ever died thinking, “I shoulda read less.”

3010-B Juniper Street

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Tastemakers Fall 2026: Valle

Chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and craft mixers - meet our 2026 Tastemakers, the minds behind the magic.

Tastemakers Fall 2026: Valle
E-SDM—Valle-2026—Tastemakers_WEB

Roberto Alcocer, Chef

Chef Roberto Alcocer showcases all that Mexican cuisine and culture has to offer at Oceanside’s Valle. The Michelin-guide recommended restaurant takes inspiration and techniques from all over Mexico—with a heavy Baja influence—and blends them with local San Diego ingredients to create original and delectable contemporary Mexican cuisine. The seasonal tasting menu allows Chef Alcocer to experiment with the freshest available ingredients, creating dishes that defy guests’ expectations, while the wine list features more than 100 labels from Mexican artisans. Even the restaurant’s walls are a celebration of Mexican culture, all decorated with work from artists of Baja.

“My favorite part of being a chef of Valle is being able to showcase the Mexico that I know to everyone who visits,” Chef Alococer says. “Not only through the food, but with the design, culture, and welcoming service.”  

Try This!

Lobster Taco: Flour sourdough tortilla with lobster shell bisque and local red spiny lobster

Valle

222 North Pacific Street, Oceanside, California 92054
866-723-8906  | valleoceanside.com

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