These hand soaps contain unwanted chemicals
Are you washing your hands with a hand soap that contains potentially harmful chemicals for health or the environment? See which problematic substances we found in the test of 50 hand soaps.
Hand soap helps to keep our hands clean. But are you aware of the chemicals you are using to wash your hands?
In our test of 50 hand soaps, 20 are free from a range of unwanted chemicals. More than half contain either allergens or suspected endocrine disruptors. Here, you can see which chemicals might be problematic.
Suspected endocrine disruptors in soaps
Eight hand soaps in the test contain substances that may disrupt the hormone balance in the body.
Three hand soaps contain UV filters that are suspected of being endocrine disruptors. The UV filters in hand soaps are likely added to protect the soap from light, for example, to stabilize the color or fragrance. In the test we found use of Benzophenone-4, Ethylhexyl salicylate, and Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate.
Your hand soap in itself does not pose a problem. However, it can contribute to your overall exposure to endocrine disruptors.
The total amount of unwanted chemicals you are exposed to in your daily life can have negative effects on your health. This is also known as the cocktail effect.
Allergy-causing substances in many hand soaps
You are probably familiar with the fact that many hand soaps smell like flowers or other scents that may be associated with cleanliness and good hygiene.
This is due to fragrance substances or plant extracts added to the hand soap. These substances can cause allergy, whether they are natural or not. The substances receive a moderate rating, the B-rating, in the test, applying to over half of the products—29 soaps in total.
If you want to limit your exposure to allergens, try to limit the number of fragranced products you use in your daily routine.
You may also encounter preservatives that are allergenic. In the test, these substances are found in five hand soaps and receive the lowest rating, C-rating.
Hand soap for children can cause allergy
Hand soaps in bright colors, fun scents, or featuring popular cartoon characters are widely available in stores, making handwashing fun for kids. One soap in the test even plays the well-known song “Let It Go” from Disney’s famous movie Frozen when you press the soap pump.
As a parent, it’s a very good idea to keep an eye on the chemicals these “fun” hand soaps contain. In four hand soaps marketed for children, we found fragrances or other allergy-causing substances.
Children are particularly vulnerable to allergy-causing substances, which is why these substances have no place in children’s products.
Look for fragrance-free care products for children.
How we tested
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We have checked the ingredient list of 50 different hand soaps for problematic chemicals. These are substances that are suspected of being endocrine disruptors, environmentally harmful, allergy-causing, and more.
The substances are listed on several lists of problematic chemicals.
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In our test, we rate products with three ratings, so you can easily understand the content of unwanted chemicals.
These are the A-rating, the best rating, the B-rating, a medium rating, and the C-rating, the lowest rating.
Here’s what we’ve found:
- 20 hand soaps receive the A-rating, meaning they are free from a wide range of unwanted chemicals.
- 16 hand soaps receive the B-rating and contain fragrance or substances that may be harmful for the environment.
- 14 hand soaps receive the C-rating. These contain substances that are, among other things, allergy-causing preservative, suspected endocrine disruptors, or substances that are potentially harmful to the body’s organs.
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Children are particularly vulnerable to fragrance and other allergy-causing substances, so it’s a good idea to use fragrance-free hand soaps for children.
In the test, four hand soaps marketed for children receive the lowest rating, the C-rating, because they contain fragrance and other allergy-causing substances.
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In the test, eight hand soaps contain suspected endocrine disruptors. The substances we have found are:
- Benzyl salicylate: This is a fragrance and suspected endocrine disruptor. It can also cause allergies. (5 soaps)
- Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate: This is a UV filter, suspected endocrine disruptor and may be problematic for the environment. (2 soaps)
- Ethylhexyl salicylate: This is a UV filter and suspected endocrine disruptor. (2 soaps)
- Benzophenone-4: This is a UV filter and suspected endocrine disruptor. (1 soap)
In the test, we also found other problematic chemicals that can harm the body’s organs or affect our ability to have children. These are found in a single hand soap. They are:
- Diethanolamine, which can harm the body’s organs (1 soap).
All of these substances receive the C-rating.
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In the test, 29 hand soaps contains allergens. These are either fragrance, plant extracts, or preservatives that can trigger allergies. Here's how they are distributed:
- Allergy-causing preservatives in five hand soaps (receive C-rating)
- Fragrance/perfumesubstances that may cause allergy in 29 hand soaps (receive B-rating)
- Plant extracts, that may cause allergy, in six hand soaps (receive B-rating)
Among the allergy-causing preservatives, we have found:
- Methylisothiazolinone/Methylchloroisothiazolinone (Kathon), which are allergy-causing preservatives. They can also be problematic for the environment. (3 soaps)
- DMDM Hydantoin, which is an allergy-causing preservative. (1 soap)
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In the test, there are environmentally harmful substances in 23 hand soaps. Many of these substances also have other problematic properties, such as being suspected endocrine disruptors or allergens. These include:
- Limonene, which, in addition to being a fragrance that can cause allergies, can also be problematic for the environment. Found in 14 soaps.
- EDTA / Tetrasodium EDTA, which can be problematic for the environment. Found in 11 soaps.
- Methylisothiazolinone/Methylchloroisothiazolinone (Kathon). These are allergy-causing preservatives. They can also be problematic for the environment. Found in 3 soaps.
- Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate. This is a UV filter, suspected endocrine disruptor and can be problematic for the environment. Found in 2 soaps.