The 10 Best Natural Hand Soaps
This wiki has been updated 23 times since it was first published in May of 2020. If you'd like to avoid slathering your hands with toxic chemicals and artificial fragrances multiple times a day, then consider something from our collection of natural hand soaps. These carefully selected cleansers are made using ingredients that are kind to skin and the environment, with biodegradable, plant-based, and hypoallergenic formulas to suit myriad tastes and sensibilities. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Everyone Lavender and Coconut
2. Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Honeysuckle
3. Seventh Generation Mandarin Orange & Grapefruit
Editor's Notes
July 27, 2020:
Just like with body washes and toothpastes, the term "natural" has become a sort of catch-all for any bath and body item that doesn't contain known irritants and toxins, but that doesn't always mean it's safe. For this list, our goal was to source options that went the extra mile in eschewing harmful toxins, dyes, fragrances, colors, and preservatives, with plant-based formulas that are kind to the environment, cruelty-free, and devoid of subpar components.
We closely scrutinized ingredients lists and consulted the Environmental Working Group, as well as sought out companies that practice sustainable methods when it comes to their other offerings, too. This all being said, there are still ingredients in some formulas that can irritate you, natural or not, so be sure to vet them yourself before purchase. There are also some scary-sounding ingredients that are just the technical terms for plant-derived cleansers and foaming agents, but when in doubt, always double-check.
After ensuring these options were up to par in the aforementioned areas, we wanted to source a variety of pleasing scents and choices that lather and clean well. If you love strong, minty scents, Majestic Pure Wash, First Botany Therapeutic Gentle, and Better Life Citrus Mint are solid, while citrus lovers will appreciate Seventh Generation Mandarin Orange & Grapefruit and Aunt Fannie's Microcosmic. The latter, in addition to Muse Apothecary Hand Ritual and Tom's of Maine Prebiotic, claim to be pH balanced and promote a healthy microbiome. That basically means they shouldn't dry your hands out if you use them often. If your main concern is getting something moisturizing, Live Clean Moisturizing is an especially good choice.
Special Honors
Soapply for Credo Using a 300-year-old recipe with a limited ingredient list, Soapply is made for all skin types and contains organic, food-grade oils, including coconut, olive, and jojoba. As an added plus, the company donates proceeds from every purchase to schools in Tigray, Ethiopia to fund water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives. credobeauty.com
Coffee Mint Soap This selection from Osmia Organics is a scrubby bar soap made with almost 100% certified organic ingredients, including spearmint, sea salt, shea butter, and ground coffee. You can keep it in the kitchen for strictly washing hands, or you can use it in the shower as it's safe for the body and feet, although it is not recommended for the face. osmiaorganics.com
4. First Botany Therapeutic Gentle
5. Live Clean Moisturizing
6. Better Life Citrus Mint
7. Aunt Fannie's Microcosmic
8. Majestic Pure Wash
9. Muse Apothecary Hand Ritual
10. Tom's of Maine Prebiotic
Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.