Caress · Hand Soap
Carex Advanced Care+ Macadamia Oil Antibacterial Hand Wash 500ml
Lower concern. Liquid hand soap unlikely to contain PFAS.
Liquid hand wash formulations typically lack PFAS intentionally. No brand disclosure on PFAS, but product chemistry suggests minimal risk. Standard cosmetic item with no reported contamination alerts.
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Water-based liquid soap with macadamia oil
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This is a water-based liquid hand soap containing macadamia oil as an emollient and humectant. The formula includes surfactants (cleaning agents), preservatives, and fragrance compounds, all typical of mass-market hand soaps. Liquid formulations have inherently lower contamination risk than bar soaps or powders because they are pre-dissolved in water and typically packaged in sealed containers, reducing exposure to airborne particles or microbial colonization.
The brand's record and disclosure
Carex (owned by Coty Inc.) has not made public statements specifically about PFAS avoidance in this product line, nor does the brand appear to pursue third-party safety certifications like Dermatest or Ecocert. The brand's website and product labeling do not highlight hazard-avoidance claims. No recalls or safety controversies specific to this hand wash formulation are on public record.
How it compares in its category
Carex Advanced Care+ sits in the mid-market segment alongside brands like Dial and Softsoap. Its inclusion of macadamia oil positions it as a moisturizing option, which is common but not differentiated. Compared to fragrance-free or hypoallergenic alternatives (e.g., Cetaphil Pro, unscented castile), this product carries standard fragrance allergen risk. Compared to antimicrobial soaps, the 'antibacterial' claim here likely refers to mild antimicrobial botanical extracts rather than problematic ingredients like triclosan (banned in the US in 2016).
If you buy it
Use as directed on the label; no special storage precautions are required beyond room temperature. The 500 ml bottle is a standard single-use container; replace when empty or if separation occurs. If you have sensitive skin, perform a patch test on a small area first, as fragrance and preservatives can trigger contact dermatitis in a subset of users. Do not ingest; keep away from eyes.
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
Macadamia oil and proprietary fragrance blend may trigger contact dermatitis or allergic sensitization in individuals with fragrance sensitivity. No specific allergen disclosure statement is on record for this formulation.
Preservative-related irritation
Liquid soaps require preservatives to prevent microbial growth; common ones include parabens or phenoxyethanol. Carex does not publicly disclose the specific preservative system used, so individual sensitivity risk cannot be fully assessed without product label inspection.
Microplastics or plastic microbeads
This formulation does not advertise exfoliating beads or microplastics; the macadamia oil is a natural emollient, not a synthetic particle.
Heavy metals in oil or colorants
Macadamia oil is a food-grade agricultural product with low heavy metal risk when sourced from reputable suppliers; no recalls for heavy metal contamination in Carex hand soaps are on public record.
1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde releasers
These contaminants typically appear in rinse-off products only as unintended byproducts of surfactant synthesis. No specific testing or recall data for this product exists; risk is low for liquid hand soaps from established brands.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% 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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Seventh Generation
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More hand soap 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.