Public health has become a serious concern in the last three years and washing one’s hands is a practice that the media hasn’t stopped emphasizing. Everyone these days wants to get the best hand soap to keep germs and bacteria at bay, so they don’t experience constant paranoia when touching their face, nose, or mouth. In addition to these factors, people also look for cleansers that don’t over-dry their skin. Besides, cleansers that smell really good are a preferred choice as they leave one feeling fresh and clean. 

Adding to that, Ollie Wertheim, the founder and chief formulator at SENSITIVE SKIN, LLC tells Pinkvilla, “using hand soap multiple times a day is generally safe for the skin, as long as the soap is gentle, pH-balanced, and doesn't cause irritation. It's essential to moisturize your hands regularly to prevent dryness and maintain skin health.”

Like other health-related supplies, hand soaps are something that needs to be made really cost-effective, to make them accessible to everyone! We have considered the above-mentioned aspects and as per our expertise, have curated the following list of our top-recommended products. These hand soaps are available in liquid formulations for hygienic dispensation, and are mostly available in a pack of many so you get a good deal for your buck! Scroll away to find your best pick!

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  Best Overall

  L'OCCITANE SHEA EXTRACT HAND & BODY LIQUID SOAP

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Pamper your hands with L'OCCITANE's Liquid Soap for the hands and body – it comes in a 16.9 oz bottle of sheer indulgence for your skin! The zesty, lemony scent of Verbena will transport you to a fragrant paradise as this artisanal soap gently cleanses and softens your hands with the infusion of shea extract. Additionally, it's also free from palm oil, leaving your skin refreshed and renewed. Plus, it contains no phthalates or parabens, making it perfect for sensitive skin. Just massage, rinse, and revel in its goodness.

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Best Cruelty-free

MOROCCANOIL AMBIANCE DE PLAGE HAND WASH - Best Cruelty-free Formulation

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This hand wash from MOROCCANOIL will become your daily escape to an exotic beach in a bottle! It is an opulent oil-based hand wash that's suitable for all skin types, transforming your cleansing routine into a delightfully fragrant experience. Ambiance de plage is a dreamy blend of gardenia petals and shredded coconut that will soothe your senses, while argan oil and hyaluronic acid nourish your hands, leaving them silky and moisturized. Just dispense it, lather it up, and rinse it off for a touch of luxuriousness in your daily routine.

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MRS. MEYER'S CLEAN DAY HAND SOAP - RAIN WATER SCENT (Pack of 3)

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You can trust the plant-derived ingredients infused in this hand soap by Mrs. Meyer’s to cleanse your hands thoroughly and leave them feeling refreshed. The goodness of olive oil, and aloe extracts fortified in this product ensures that the washing process does not strip your skin of its natural lipid barrier — meaning your hands will stay nourished and protected. To boot, the product’s “rainwater scent” is perfect to indulge your olfactory senses without overwhelming them! All in all, with these lovely features, the product has managed to fetch a whopping 4.8 rating from its users on Amazon!

4

Best Citrus Fragrance

everyone gentle + nourishing hand soap - meyer lemon + mandarin (Pack of 3)

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This gentle hand soap by Everyone not only goes easy on your skin by retaining its softness but also goes easy on nature as it is ethically sourced. Bursting with the nourishing goodness of calendula and aloe vera extracts, this soap shows sublime results in replenishing the skin’s natural moisture to prevent dehydration. These ingredients also help in soothing and mollycoddling the skin, to alleviate the cleansing action (1) (2). Adding on, the essential oils formulated in it work as natural deodorizers to invigorate your hands.

5

Best Eco-friendly Formula

SOFTSOAP SOOTHING CLEAN MOISTURIZING HAND SOAP - ALOE VERA FRESH SCENT

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With a gorgeously translucent and “no-nonsense” formula, this liquid hand soap by Softsoap takes a straightforward approach to purify your skin. It is the kind of soap you reach for when it comes to getting rid of foul smells, and stains as well as relieving your hands from “chilly residues” to prevent getting them in your eyes. Formulated with large and small bubbles, this hand soap provides the best cleansing results in just about 20 seconds. Besides, its price point is straight up “sublime”, considering these benefits.

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Dial Complete Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap - Spring Water (Pack of 4)

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Dial’s antibacterial liquid hand soap is a holy grail of hand washes, as it effectively kills 99.9% of bacteria from your skin, especially the ones encountered easily in a household setting. Despite its superb cleansing action, the formula consists of skin conditioners such as glycerin that ensure your skin is left feeling nourished after washing. Adding on, our research indicates that the translucent formula of this product is not too thick or too watered down, which is ideal to get a rich lather.

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amazon basics liquid hand soap - Mango & Coconut Water Scented (Refill Pack of 2)

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It is easy to get your skin irritated with frequent washing unless you have a pH-balanced hand soap like this product from Amazon Basics. This liquid soap has a translucent color and a lean formula that is free from unnecessary filler ingredients that don’t serve any purpose, so the chances of getting allergies are very less with this product. In less than 10 dollars, you can get more than 800 pump dispenses per bottle, which is great news for your pocket!

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amazon basics liquid hand soap - Fresh Scent (Pack of 6)

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With this whopping pack of six liquid hand soaps by Amazon Basics, you can be relieved from the hassle of shopping for handwashes for about a year. This is also because a small quantity of these liquid soaps goes a long way in forming a rich lather and cleansing your hands effectively. We have found from using this product that though it doesn’t particularly dry your skin out, it is best to follow the use of this product with a good hand cream/moisturizer, especially for those with dry and sensitive skin.

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Best Hydrating Formula

J.R. WATKINS HAND SOAP - LEMON (Pack of 3)

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By saying this product is “cruelty-free” we not only mean that its manufacture did not involve animal-testing, but also that its formula is delightfully gentle on your skin. While this feature helps prevent skin dehydration and tightness, the infused humectants such as calendula extracts and oat extracts work marvelously in replenishing the moisture layer of your skin. Adding to that, vitamin E  and D2 added to this formula act as a powerhouse of antioxidants to fight environmental aggressors. Besides, you can always fall back on the product's cleansing abilities to get rid of the “nasties” lingering on your skin.

10

Best Eco-friendly Formula

Softsoap ANTIBACTERIAL HAND SOAP - fresh citrus (Pack of 6)

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Formulated with 0.13% benzalkonium chloride, this liquid hand wash by Softsoap has incredible antibacterial properties that get rid of harmful germs lingering on your skin after every hand wash. This feature makes the product an ideal choice for the health and safety of your loved ones, and a must-have for your toilet/sink shelf. Adding to that, its formula is eco-friendly and safe, maintaining the balance of your skin's pH as well as of the environment.

11

Best for Sensitive Skin

method sweet water hand wash (Pack of 3)

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Among the mildest hand soaps, this product by Method leverages the power of plant-based cleansers to purify your skin without stripping it off its natural moisture content. In addition, it is infused with plush humectants such as glycerin, aloe vera extracts, and vitamin E — a sublime blend to hydrate, soothe and replenish your skin to alleviate the harshness of the cleansing action. Every wash with this product feels oh-so-good on your skin that you can’t help but keep reaching out for more!

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Best Flavor Options

Bath & Body Works Foaming Hand Soaps - Assorted Flavors (Pack of 5)

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With this pack of 5 bathroom hand soaps by Bath & Body Works, you can indulge your olfactory senses in various revitalizing floral and fruity scents! Some of these scents that the product is available in include black cherry merlot, french lavender, peach bellini, strawberry lemon, orange vanilla, etc. that are perfect to spruce your mood with aromatherapy. That’s not all, as these liquid soaps also contain rich moisturizing agents such as aloe vera and shea butter to nourish and replenish your skin, so you can skip your hand cream once in a while!

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Best Hypoallergenic Formula

seventh generation Free & Clean HAND WASH (Pack of 8)

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This lovely pack of eight non-drying hand soaps by Seventh Generation is free from nasty ingredients such as triclosan, artificial dyes, chlorine, phthalates, and fragrances, which make them perfect for sensitive skin. Even so, the cleansing properties of this product are just as effective as you may expect from a product with a harsher formula, which is great news to stay protected from germs and diseases. Besides, the container is made with post-consumer recycled material, making this product a sustainable purchase.

14

Best Luxurious Formula

Dove ADVANCED CARE FOAMING HAND WASH aloe & eucalyptus (Pack of 4)

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With the mild and nourishing properties of aloe vera and the revitalizing effects of eucalyptus, this advanced-formulated hand soap is a great pick for most households. Just like other Dove products, this one contains the brand’s standard, luxuriously lathering formula that cleanses your skin amazingly without tampering with its natural softness. In fact, this product even replenishes your skin with added moisture — perfect choice for people with sensitive skin.

15

Softsoap cool splash ANTIBACTERIAL HAND SOAP

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As the name suggests, every pump of this liquid hand soap feels like a cool splash of hydrating goodness as the product is bursting with skin-friendly humectants. Due to this, you will seldom experience any dryness or tightness on your skin or face, and the need to read for a hand cream. Adding to that, the antibacterial properties of this cleanser sets it apart from most nice-smelling hand soaps out on the market, as this product offers genuine protection and care.

Now that you’ve seen our product recommendations for the best hand soaps, let us go through the following buying guide to help you shop for the best of your money’s worth!

Here are some factors to consider when shopping for a hand soap:

Cleansing Properties:

The first factor that you should prioritize in a hand soap is how well it cleans your hands. Whether or not it contains sulfates, the formulation should contain some natural or synthetic saponins that relinquish dirt, excess sweat and oil, strong odors, and stains from your skin, to make it “truly” clean. If the formulation has to contain sulfate, look for products that contain SLES in place of SLS as it forms larger bubbles and is gentler on the skin than the latter. Antibacterial and antimicrobial ingredients such as benzalkonium chloride, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil are always a plus point to have in your hand cleanser. However, avoid ingredients such as triclosan as they can be quite harsh on the skin. 

Moisturizing Properties:

While cleansing the skin is important, the process often strips it off natural lipids and moisture content, leading to skin dehydration and an uncomfortable feeling of tightness. Hence, alleviating the cleansing impact is really essential to maintain your overall skin health. This is why, always invest in hand soaps that are rich in humectants and emollients such as aloe vera, calendula, chamomile, colloidal oat, glycerin, shea butter, mango seed butter, olive oil, etc. These ingredients also help your skin by softening its surfaces and retaining its natural water content. 

Fragrance:

If you are someone who’s allergic or sensitive to fragrances, always look for an unscented formulation to avoid any side effects. However, if that doesn’t sound like you, but indulging your senses is something you prioritize, then always look for a product that smells amazing. As per our expertise, we recommend investing in a hand soap that contains natural deodorizers and essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender, rose, etc. over synthetic, alcohol-based fragrances. 

Whether you are someone who indulges in elaborate beauty routines or not, hygiene is something we all prioritize and it is non-negotiable to invest in such products. Hence, we really hope you found our product recommendations for the best hand soaps helpful and have managed to pick something from the list to suit your needs. Ensure you check the ingredients list of the product to avoid any allergens or harsh ingredients that may worsen your skin condition. Of course, our buying guide is always a handy guide to help you in such situations. Stay clean and fresh! Happy shopping!

Contributor: Ollie Wertheim, Founder and Chief Formulator, Senstive Skin LLC.