Between kids going back to school and cold and flu season approaching, you might be washing your hands more than usual right now! In today’s post, we’ll chat about common ingredients to avoid in conventional hand washes, popular brands to skip, and the best tried-and-true non-toxic brands that work amazingly.
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Hand Soap Ingredients to Avoid 🤚
When you’re shopping for hand soap, look out for these common culprits on an ingredient label!
❌ Synthetic Fragrances: The term “fragrance” has no FDA regulation and can be a combination of over 3,000+ different chemicals that imitate a smell or contain endocrine-disrupting phthalates. Fragrance is associated with allergies, neurotoxic symptoms (headaches, dizziness), and hormone disruption.
❌ Benzisothiazolinone (BIT), Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT), and Methylisothiazolinone (MIT): Preservatives that are sensitizers and linked with skin irritation, allergies, and lung irritation. Some are even banned in other countries!
❌ Benzalkonium Chloride: Used to prevent bacterial growth, but can contribute to antibiotic resistance, be contaminated with carcinogens like 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, and cause topical irritation. Watch out for “antibacterial” or “antimicrobial” soaps in general.
❌ Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): Surfactants that cause foamy suds in products but may be contaminated with carcinogens like 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide. They have also been shown to inflame and irritate the skin barrier.
❌ Dyes: Not necessary in hand soap, in my opinion!
⚠️ Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine: I prefer to avoid these surfactants in hand soap specifically because they are associated with allergic reactions and dermatitis. They are not necessarily “dealbreaker” ingredients safety-wise, but I would look out for them if you have sensitive skin.
Wanna learn more about reading ingredient labels and what to avoid? Download this Ingredient Index! It has a glossary of 60+ ingredients to watch out for in your cosmetics, cleaning, and personal care products.
Common Greenwashed Hand Soap Brands to Avoid
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, nor is my goal to shame you or make you feel bad if you DO use these brands (I’ve used some of them in the past myself). But I wanted to call out some popular brands that are known for greenwashing (or “cleanwashing”) and make you aware of their misleading marketing claims. Many people purchase these brands and *think* they are natural or non-toxic when in reality they use unsafe ingredients in their formulas.
- Ecos (contains fragrance, phenoxyethanol)
- Everspring (contains fragrance; the Free & Clear version is okay though!)
- J.R. Watkins (fragrance, phenoxyethanol)
- Method (dyes, fragrance, SLS)
- Mrs. Meyer’s (fragrance)
- Raw Sugar (fragrance, quaternary ammonium compounds)
- Seventh Generation (contains fragrance; the Free & Clear version is okay)
⚠️ HEADS UP ⚠️
Even when brands are unscented, fragrance-free, plant-based, or have a “Free & Clear” option, you still need to read the FULL ingredient label to see what else is in it! The terms don’t automatically mean that the product is actually gentle or safe.
The Best Natural & Low Tox Liquid Hand Soap Brands 🫧
Note: Most natural brands don’t use anti-caking agents in their soaps, so don’t be surprised if you experience some occasional clogging around the pump. You can use a toothpick or a straw cleaner to degunkify if needed! It also helps to wipe away excess soap from the nozzle after each use.
Aleavia Citrus & Sea Kelp Prebiotic Hand Wash Gel
$6-13 • Vegan & Cruelty-Free
Aleavia forgoes the intense surfactants, so this doesn’t have much of a lather, but that’s intentional! It’s a microbiome-friendly formula that’s packed with probiotics and keeps skin balanced and intact. But don’t worry—it has sort of a slick sensation, and your hands still feel clean after using it. The orangey lemongrass smell is pleasant and not overpowering. It comes in a small travel size, too!
They usually offer a limited-edition Balsam Winter hand soap around the holidays as well.
Use code ORGANICALLYBECCA for a discount 🏷️
Branch Basics Hand Soap Gel
$45-55 • Refillable • Vegan & Cruelty-Free • EWG Verified • MADESAFE Certified • Non-GMO
Branch Basics soap comes in a nice glass bottle, and then you can purchase refill pouches that make two bottles’ worth (~$27.50 per bottle, roughly 200 washes). It feels slippery once you add water and has a mild lather. It’s mostly unscented and has no added fragrances, but there is a touch of chamomile. The ingredients are all plant and mineral-based and very gentle!
You can also use Branch Basics’ concentrate to create a foaming soap, which is more economical, but I prefer the gel because it feels more luxurious and emollient.
Use code ORGANICALLYBECCA for a discount 🏷️
Also available here on Amazon.
Related post: “12+ Refillable Clean Beauty & Sustainable Skincare Brands (Without the Toxins!)”
Kosmatology Organic Foaming Hand Soap (⭐️ Becca’s Favorite!)
$5-32 • Refillable • Vegan & Cruelty-Free • MADESAFE Certified
Kosmatology soaps have been my go-to for years! The brand was started by a pharmacist whose daughter was suffering from eczema—these are gentle enough for sensitive skin and won’t strip away moisture or dry out your hands. They’re packaged in plastic, but you can buy glass bottles, large refill packs, and small travel sizes.
Choose from Lavender Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, Spearmint Rosemary, Lemon, Orange, and unscented (they all smell great). They always come out with festive holiday scents, too!
Use code ORGANICALLYBECCA for a discount 🏷️
Also available here at The Choosy Chick and Amazon.
Related post: “Unscented vs. Fragrance Free vs. Essential Oil Free Skincare: What’s the Difference?”
Natural Sloth Hand Soap Gel
$27-53 • Refillable • Vegan & Cruelty-Free • MADESAFE Certified
Natural Sloth uses organic ingredients and pure essential oils for their soaps. They come in amber glass bottles, and you can purchase refill pouches as needed. They don’t get very foamy, but they have a creamy and emollient sensation that leaves hands feeling fresh.
Choose from Lavender Lemon, Breathe, and Citrus scents!
Use code ORGANICALLYBECCA for a discount 🏷️
Also available here on Amazon.
Plaine Products Hand Wash Gel
$20 • Refillable • Vegan & Cruelty-Free • Non-GMO • Certified B Corp
Plaine Products is a super sustainable company that really walks the walk: the bottles are recyclable aluminum, you reuse your pumps, they have a refill system that covers return shipping, and you can send your empty bottles back to be washed and reused! You can even buy bulk jars by the gallon.
The suds are mild, but it feels slick and thoroughly cleanses. Another thing I really like about this hand wash is that the pump doesn’t clog up at all! Choose from Rosemary Mint Vanilla, Citrus Lavender, Cherry Almond (smells SO good!), and Sweet Orange Patchouli. A bottle lasts forever, too!
FYI, these do contain polysorbate 20, which is a preservative I typically prefer to avoid, but it’s not a total dealbreaker for me since the rest of the ingredients are clean.
Use code ORGANICALLYBECCA for a discount 🏷️
Also available here on Amazon.
💰 Budget Option: Dr. Bronner’s Organic Castile Soap
$8-18 • Refillable • Vegan & Cruelty-Free • EWG Verified • Fair Trade Certified • Non-GMO • Regenerative
Dr. Bronner’s is a staple in any crunchy household because their castile soaps are so versatile! While castile soap can be a little drying on skin, it can be diluted with water (1:3 ratio), and makes a quick foaming hand soap (you’ll need a soap dispenser). The only thing to be mindful of is that once you add more water, the formula’s preservation system is altered, so try to use up the mixture within a month or so.
They have many scent options like Peppermint, Lavender, Citrus, Almond, Eucalyptus, and unscented. You can also buy refill cartons. Alternatively, you can buy their sugar hand soaps! This brand can typically be found at drugstores, natural grocers, Walmart, and Target.
Related post: “The Best Natural & Low Tox Dish Soaps (+ Brands to Avoid)”
✅ More Clean Hand Soap Brands:
Here are some additional soaps that aren’t necessarily faves of mine, but still have #OrganicallyBeccaApproved ingredients!
- Attitude: They have a couple of hand soap options; I suggest sticking to the ones that use essential oils for scent or unscented (some use synthetic fragrance molecules, but they disclose what’s in them)
- Babo Botanicals
- Blueland: Tablets that can be mixed with water; I recommend opting for the fragrance-free because the others use an undisclosed synthetic fragrance blend
- Canary Concentrated Bars
- Earth Mama Organics
- Eczema Honey
- Everyone: I don’t love that they have phenoxyethanol, but the rest of the ingredients are safe
- Koala Eco
- Meliora Tablets
- Molly’s Suds Unscented (the others use undisclosed fragrance)
- Moon Valley Organics
- Primally Pure
- Seventh Generation Free & Clear: An affordable drugstore option! Most products from this brand are not clean, FYI, but this unscented one is low tox
- Truly Free
- Ursa Major
- Zum: Opt for the ones scented only with essential oils; some use a blend with fragrance oils
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There you have it! The good news is that you don’t have to sacrifice clean hands for clean ingredients—there are plenty of safe, effective, and botanical hand soaps out there. By skipping the greenwashed options and choosing truly low tox brands, you’ll keep your skin (and overall health) protected all season long. Thanks for reading, and let me know if you have questions in the comments below 💚
Thank you!👌
Everspring has SLS though??
Hey, I see it in some of their other products like the laundry detergent, but not the hand soap?! They’re still not something I’d choose anyway.