Caress · Hand Soap
Carex Complete Moisture Plus Hand Wash 500 ml
Liquid hand wash carries minimal PFAS risk. Lower concern product.
Hand wash is a rinse-off liquid cosmetic with no surface treatments or coatings typical of PFAS use. No public PFAS concerns identified for this category.
Shop Caress on Amazon →Material
aqueous liquid soap formulation
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
Carex Complete Moisture Plus is an aqueous liquid hand wash, meaning the active ingredient is soap or synthetic detergent dissolved in water with humectants (likely glycerin or similar) for moisturizing claims. Unlike bar soaps, liquid formulations eliminate concerns about lead or cadmium in glazes or enamels since there is no fired ceramic or coated surface. The primary safety consideration for liquid soaps centers on preservative systems and fragrance components rather than structural leaching.
The brand's record and disclosure
Carex is owned by Coty Inc. and markets itself as a dermatologist-recommended hand hygiene brand. The brand has not made public commitments to PFAS elimination or published detailed ingredient sourcing transparency reports. No major recalls or safety controversies are on record for this specific product line. Ingredient disclosure is limited to what appears on the label and packaging; third-party certifications (e.g., Ecocert, Dermatest) are not prominently marketed.
How it compares in its category
Among commercial liquid hand soaps, Carex sits in the mid-market segment alongside brands like Dial and Dettol. It does not carry independent eco or safety certifications that some premium brands (e.g., Dr. Bronner's, Seventh Generation) advertise. Fragrance and preservative systems in mass-market hand soaps are largely standardized; Carex does not appear to differ materially in formulation complexity or hazard profile from comparable products.
If you buy it
Liquid hand soap requires no special storage beyond room temperature away from direct heat or sunlight, which can degrade preservatives. Use as directed on the label; no dilution or mixing with other products is necessary or recommended. Pump bottles should be kept sealed when not in use to prevent bacterial growth in the product itself. For individuals with known sensitivities to fragrance compounds or preservatives, patch testing on inner forearm is prudent before regular use.
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
Liquid hand soaps typically contain fragrance blends that may include common allergens such as limonene, linalool, or cinnamal. Carex does not disclose the full fragrance composition on packaging, so individual sensitivity risk cannot be quantified without ingredient access.
Preservative system irritation (1,4-dioxane presence)
No specific record of 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde releasers in Carex hand wash formulations. Standard liquid soap preservatives (sodium benzoate, phenoxyethanol) are generally recognized as safe at permitted concentrations, though phenoxyethanol has faced regulatory scrutiny in some regions.
Eye and mucous membrane irritation
All surfactant-based hand soaps carry inherent risk of eye irritation if contact occurs. This is a category-wide property of the product class, not specific to Carex, and is standard consumer safety labeling.
Microplastics (microbeads in exfoliating variants)
The standard Carex Complete Moisture Plus is not marketed as exfoliating and does not appear to contain plastic microbeads. However, some Carex product variants do include beads; verify the specific variant to confirm absence.
Heavy metals in pigments or colorants
Liquid hand soaps do not typically employ mineral-based colorants that carry lead or cadmium risk. Carex uses synthetic dyes and pigments at trace levels; no contamination records are published for this product.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 82% 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.
Safer alternatives in Hand Soap
Ecos
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Lower concern, solid plant-based formula with credible third-party oversight; no PFAS-prone materials.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Seventh Generation
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Lower PFAS concern; buy with confidence if skin-sensitivity is a priority.
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Seventh Generation
Liquid Hand Soap Free & Clean
Water-based liquid soap formulation
Lower-concern choice; no PFAS expected in liquid soap format, but verification limited to brand claims.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
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.