13 Best Hand Soaps of 2022

A quick look at the best hand soaps of 2022

• Best smelling hand soap: EO French Lavender Hand Soap
• Best splurge hand soap: Williams Sonoma Fleur de Sel Hand Soap
• Best budget hand soap: Mrs. Meyer’s Liquid Hand Soap
• Best clean hand soap: Everyone Lavender Coconut Hand Soap
• Best foaming hand soap: Puracy Natural Foaming Hand Soap
• Best hand soap for sensitive skin: Attitude Hypoallergenic Hand Soap
• Best sustainable hand soap: Cleancult Liquid Hand Soap
• Best unscented hand soap: Seventh Generation Hand Wash
• Best drugstore hand soap: Softsoap Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap
• Best luxury hand soap: NEST Fragrances Grapefruit Liquid Hand Soap
• Best nourishing hand soap: Alaffia EveryDay Shea Foaming Hand Soap
• Best hand soap for giving back: Soapbox Liquid Hand Soap
• Best moisturizing hand soap: Hand in Hand Nourishing Liquid Hand Soap

One of the easiest ways to prevent the spread of germs is to wash your hands.

While it’s particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, handwashing is always the best practice before you eat and after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose… the list goes on.

Which soap is up for the job?

We rounded up the best hand soaps to keep your hands clean and fresh.

How we chose

A good hand soap effectively kills germs without causing irritation or drying out your skin.

For a cleanse that’s both gentle on your skin and tough on germs, we looked for soaps made with moisturizing ingredients like olive oil, aloe vera, and glycerin.

We also checked for high customer ratings and included soaps made with essential oils for a pleasing fragrance every time you scrub up.

Pricing guide

The prices are based on the price per bottle.

$ = under $5
$$ = $5–$10
$$$ = $11–$20

Healthline’s picks of the best hand soaps

Best smelling hand soap

EO French Lavender Hand Soap

• Price: $$
• Pros: contains nutrient-rich botanical extracts, soothing
• Cons: Some reviewers dislike the scent
• Cruelty-free: yes
• Scent: french lavender

Aromatherapy is the name of the game with EO soaps, which are made without parabens, artificial colors or dyes, or synthetic fragrances. Reviewers rave about all six light scents.

This is one of just two soaps on our list formulated without glycerin. Instead, amino acid-derived cleansers and aloe vera combine for a gentle, moisturizing clean.

Best splurge hand soap

Williams Sonoma Fleur de Sel Hand Soap

• Price: $$$
• Pros: biodegradable, scented with premium essential oils
• Cons: pricey
• Cruelty-free: yes
• Scent: Fleur de Sel

This biodegradable formula includes olive oil, aloe vera, and glycerin. Essential oils provide a light floral fragrance that reviewers describe as fresh and calming.

Like all Williams Sonoma hand soaps, it’s made without parabens, ammonia, chlorine, or phthalates.

Best budget hand soap

Mrs. Meyer’s Liquid Hand Soap

• Price: $
• Pros: softening, refillable, good value
• Cons: Some reviewers find the scents to be too strong.
• Cruelty-free: yes
• Scent: lavender

Known for its signature garden-inspired scents, Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap is a cruelty-free option made without parabens, phthalates, or animal-derived ingredients. A blend of essential oils, aloe vera, olive oil, and glycerin soften and clean hands without drying them out.

Some scents are offered in a 33-ounce refill, cutting down on plastic waste. Keep an eye out for limited edition seasonal scents, too.

Best clean hand soap

Everyone Lavender Coconut Hand Soap

• Price: $
• Pros: affordable, no synthetic ingredients, 100 percent recyclable packaging
• Cons: Some reviewers have issues with the pump.
• Cruelty-free: yes
• Scent: coconut

This inexpensive hand soap is verified by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), meaning it’s transparent about its ingredients and avoids ingredients on the EWG’s “unacceptable” list.

The sweet and citrus-y aroma is derived from essential oils. No synthetic ingredients are added.

This is another soap on our list without glycerin. Instead, the coconut-derived cleansers in the formula are balanced with vitamin E for clean, moisturized hands.

Best foaming hand soap

Puracy Natural Foaming Hand Soap

• Price: $$
• Pros: refillable, subtle aroma, eco-friendly
• Cons: Some reviewers find it drying.
• Cruelty-free: yes
• Scent: lavender and vanilla

This eco-friendly foaming hand soap is nontoxic and cruelty-free. It’s made without sulfates, parabens, phosphates, perfumes, and dyes.

Reviewers enjoy its ability to clean while leaving skin feeling smooth and refreshed. It comes in two mild scents.

If you’re not a fan of foaming soap, Puracy also offers traditional gel hand soap. You can purchase 64-ounce refills of either product to minimize plastic waste.

Best hand soap for sensitive skin

Attitude Hypoallergenic Hand Soap

• Price: $$
• Pros: softening, no synthetic ingredients, vegan
• Cons: Some reviewers had issues with the bottle leaking
• Cruelty-free: yes
• Scent: orange

Attitude hand soaps are EWG-verified and certified cruelty-free by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Biodegradable and hypoallergenic, this soap uses plant and mineral-based ingredients, including moringa seed extract, to cleanse and moisturize.

Best sustainable hand soap

Cleancult Liquid Hand Soap

• Price: $$$
• Pros: paper-based packaging, recyclable, no harsh chemicals
• Cons: irritating for some
• Cruelty-free: yes
• Scent: lavender and citrus

With just nine ingredients, including nourishing vitamin E, this coconut-based formula smells like lavender and citrus thanks to the natural essential oil blend.

While some people with sensitive skin may find essential oils irritating, some reviewers say it works well for sensitive skin. Reviewers also say it doesn’t dry out skin.

Check out the 16-ounce refill, which comes in paper-based milk cartons.

Best unscented hand soap

Seventh Generation Hand Wash

• Price: $$
• Pros: gentle, recycled bottles, cleansing
• Cons: Some reviewers claim that it’s not unscented.
• Cruelty-free: yes
• Scent: unscented

This unscented formula is as straightforward as it gets. Made without dyes and fragrance, it’s a gentle, plant-based option well suited for those with sensitive skin or allergies. Reviewers report that it’s both nonirritating and effective.

This soap is a USDA Certified Biobased product, which means it’s made of at least 97 percent plant-based or renewable ingredients.

Best drugstore hand soap

Softsoap Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap

• Price: $
• Pros: affordable, refillable
• Cons: drying for some, not cruelty-free
• Cruelty-free: no
• Scent: aloe vera

Softsoap is a classic in many households and can be found at almost every drug store. It gently cleans the skin with a scent of a plant. You can purchase a refill of 50 liters, which will make it easier to shop at the store.

It is tested by the dermatologists and is free of all the harmful chemicals.

Best luxury hand soap

NEST Fragrances Grapefruit Liquid Hand Soap

• Price: $$$
• Pros: wonderful scent, moisturizing, lathers well
• Cons: pricey
• Cruelty-free: yes
• Scent: grapefruit

You might never switch back to ordinary hand soap with the notes of pink pomelo, grapefruit, and lilies of the valley.

This hand wash is vegan, and infused with natural plant extracts and anti-oxidants.

Best nourishing hand soap

Alaffia EveryDay Shea Foaming Hand Soap

• Price: $$
• Pros: gentle, unscented options
• Cons: Some reviewers have issues with the pump.
• Cruelty-free: yes
• Scent: vanilla mint

The shea butter, virgin coconut oil, and neem leaf in each bottle is to cleanse and soothe dry hands.

What is a bonus? This soap is free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicones, mineral oil, artificial color or synthetic fragrance. It is a great option for users with sensitive skin.

Best hand soap for giving back

Soapbox Liquid Hand Soap

• Price: $$
• Pros: leaves hands feeling soft, hydrating, charitable
• Cons: Some reviewers have issues with the pump.
• Cruelty-free: yes
• Scent: Meyer lemon and tea leaves

This soap is great for dry hands. The hydrating formula is vegan, cruelty-free, and free of harsh chemicals.

Every bar of soap purchased by Soapbox will be donated to someone in need.

Best moisturizing hand soap

Hand in Hand Nourishing Liquid Hand Soap

• Price: $
• Pros: hydrating, great value
• Cons: The aluminum bottle may dent.
• Cruelty-free: yes
• Scent: lavender, pink peony, ylang ylang, sweetgrass

Make sure your hands are smooth after washing with organic shea butter and coconut oil. The smooth lather, clean formula, and affordable price tag make this hand soap our favorite.

The ingredients are sustainable and ethicallysourced.

A comparison of the best hand soaps

How to choose

To choose the best hand soap, look out for a soap without Parabens, SLS, and SLES. If you have sensitive skin, avoid fragrances.

Formulas made of natural ingredients may be less drying than synthetic ones. Look for hydrating ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and shea butter.

Is antibacterial soap better?

Antibacterial soaps have ingredients that are intended to be used in a soap. That sounds great, but the antibacterial ingredients can be problematic.

For years, triclosan was the active ingredient in antibacterial soaps. In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned triclosan, pointing to a lack of evidence about safety and effectiveness.

The banned substances were replaced with benzalkonium chloride. The jury is still out on whether this ingredient is safe for daily use.

The EWG cites strong evidence that benzalkonium chloride is an irritant to the skin, and immune and respiratory systems.

In addition to concerns over their long-term health effects, research suggests that these ingredients may actually be creating antibacterial-resistant microbes.

To date, the FDA says there’s no evidence that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are more effective than plain soap and good handwashing practices.

How to wash your hands

No matter what soap you’re using, it’s important to lather up properly. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend a seven-step process for cleaning hands:

1. To wet your hands, use clean water.
2. You should use enough soap to cover your hands.
3. “Rub your hands together quickly and thoroughly, cleaning the fronts and backs. Don’t forget your hands.”
4. Continue scrubbing for a while.
5. Clean, running water is what you should rinse with.
6. Allow your hands and wrists to dry with a clean towel.
7. Turn off the faucet with a towel.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between soap and hand wash?

Hand wash is synthetic, whereas soap is natural. Bar soaps are more affordable and more sustainable.

What is hand soap made of?

Oil, fat, lye and water are the main ingredients of hand soap.

What are the uses of hand soap?

Germs are removed from hands with hand washing. This helps prevent infections.

The takeaway

It is important to wash your hands regularly to keep you healthy. It is worth finding a soap that makes the experience enjoyable.

It is important to suds up thoroughly, even though an antibacterial soap is not necessary. Before rinsing with clean, running water, cover the entire surface of your hands, fingers, and wrists with soap.