Caress · Body Wash
Caress Serum Infused Body Wash Creamy
Lower concern, standard liquid body wash with no known PFAS applications.
Caress Serum Infused Body Wash is a liquid cosmetic with no inherent reason to contain PFAS. Body washes don't require water-repellent coatings, nonstick surfaces, or stain-resistance treatments.
Shop Caress on Amazon →Material
Water, glycerin, surfactants, fragrance, preservatives (typical body wash)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Caress Serum Infused Body Wash is a water-based liquid cleanser built on anionic surfactants (likely sodium lauryl sulfate or similar) combined with glycerin as a humectant and emollient. The 'serum-infused' claim typically refers to added conditioning agents and fragrance compounds rather than pharmaceutical-grade serums. Preservatives (likely parabens or phenoxyethanol based on standard industry practice) prevent bacterial and mold growth during shelf life and use. This formulation is typical for mass-market body washes and poses minimal acute toxicity risk under normal use conditions.
The brand's record and disclosure
Caress, owned by Unilever, does not publicly disclose detailed ingredient sourcing, heavy metal testing results, or fragrance component breakdowns beyond regulatory minimums. The brand has not faced major product recalls or safety litigation on record for this line. Unilever has signed commitments to phase out certain legacy chemicals in personal care products but maintains a general stance of regulatory compliance rather than precautionary ingredient replacement. No third-party certifications (cruelty-free, clean beauty, etc.) are prominently claimed by Caress body wash.
How it compares in its category
Caress sits in the mainstream budget-to-mid-tier segment of body washes. It offers slightly richer conditioning (glycerin, added emollients) compared to basic drugstore options like Dial or Irish Spring, but lacks the transparency and third-party certifications of premium alternatives like Vanicream or Burt's Bees. Fragrance load is moderate for the category; heavily fragranced body washes carry higher risk of sensitization, while unscented dermatologist-approved washes are preferred by those with sensitive skin. This product is positioned as a daily-use, skin-conditioning option rather than a clinical or hypoallergenic choice.
If you buy it
Use as directed on wet skin; rinse thoroughly. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct heat or sunlight, as surfactants and fragrance compounds can degrade and become more irritating over time. Discontinue if rash, burning, or persistent irritation develops; this may indicate contact sensitivity to fragrance, surfactants, or preservatives. Replace if the product develops off-odors, visible separation, or mold growth, which signals preservative failure or contamination.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Fragrance is a complex, proprietary blend not itemized on labels. Consumers with fragrance sensitivity or contact dermatitis history may experience irritation; the serum-infused formula likely contains higher fragrance load than unscented alternatives.
Preservative-related irritation
Parabens or phenoxyethanol (typical preservatives in this category) are safe at regulatory concentrations but can trigger contact sensitization in a subset of users with prior exposure or atopic skin. No alternative preservative system is documented for this line.
Heavy metals in colorants or fragrance compounds
Caress body wash is not known to have failed heavy metal testing, and liquid cosmetics carry lower contamination risk than powders. No recalls or test results documenting lead, cadmium, or arsenic in this product are on record.
1,4-dioxane contamination
This body wash contains surfactants that may be processed with ethylene oxide, potentially leaving trace 1,4-dioxane as a manufacturing byproduct. Unilever products are not documented as outliers in third-party 1,4-dioxane testing, and residual levels in rinse-off products are typically below concern thresholds.
Skin irritation from anionic surfactants
Sodium lauryl sulfate and related surfactants are effective cleansers but can strip skin oils and cause dryness or irritation with frequent use or on sensitized skin. The added glycerin mitigates this to some degree, but sensitive-skin users may prefer gentler formulations like those using milder surfactants or ceramides.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
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More body wash grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.