Caress · Hand Soap
Carex Editions Cherry on Top Antibacterial Hand Wash 250ml
Lower concern. Hand wash liquid has minimal PFAS risk profile.
Liquid hand soaps are not typical PFAS vectors since they lack coatings, water-resistant treatments, or non-stick surfaces. Brand makes no claims about PFAS either way.
Shop Caress on Amazon →Material
aqueous liquid soap with typical surfactants and preservatives
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 Editions Cherry on Top is an aqueous liquid soap containing surfactants (cleaning agents), water, preservatives, and fragrance to provide antimicrobial action. Liquid soaps of this type do not rely on coatings, ceramics, or polymers that shed microplastics, eliminating major hazard pathways. The 'antibacterial' claim typically indicates inclusion of a broad-spectrum preservative system, common in consumer hand soaps sold in markets without strict antimicrobial restrictions.
The brand's record and disclosure
Caress (the parent brand) maintains minimal public transparency on ingredient sourcing or testing, and has not published PFAS statements or third-party certifications (e.g., EWG verification, Leaping Bunny). However, hand wash products occupy a low-risk category overall, and no recalls or safety actions specific to Carex Editions hand wash lines are on record. The brand's silence does not indicate a documented problem, only limited proactive disclosure.
How it compares in its category
Liquid hand soaps are inherently lower-hazard than bar formulations (which may contain antimony in colorants or higher surfactant residues on skin). This product is typical for mass-market retailers and positioned similarly to Dove, Dial, and store-brand foaming soaps. No meaningful safety differentiation exists between Carex Editions and equivalent unbranded or private-label liquid hand washes; fragrance blends and preservative packages are standard across the segment.
If you buy it
Use as directed: apply to wet skin, lather, rinse thoroughly. Store bottle in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to maintain preservative integrity and prevent evaporation that could concentrate irritants. Discontinue use if rash, irritation, or sensitization develops (typically fragrance-related). Replace bottle once empty or if visible mold or separation appears, indicating preservative failure.
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
Liquid hand soaps marketed with flavor or scent names (here, 'Cherry on Top') typically contain fragrance compounds. While not inherently hazardous at normal rinse-off exposure, fragrance blends can trigger contact dermatitis or sensitization in individuals with sensitive skin or preexisting fragrance sensitivities; no brand-specific allergy data is published for this product line.
Preservative irritancy (eye and mucous membrane exposure)
Liquid soaps require preservatives to prevent microbial spoilage. Common preservatives (e.g., methylisothiazolinone, parabens) are safe at rinse-off concentrations, but accidental eye contact or ingestion can cause irritation or gastric upset; this risk is not unique to Carex Editions but applies to all liquid hand soaps.
Formaldehyde releasers in preservation systems
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (e.g., DMDM hydantoin) were historically used in personal care liquids but have been largely phased out in mass-market hand soaps. No published safety alerts or ingredient declarations suggest formaldehyde releasers in this product; modern rinse-off soaps typically employ non-releasing systems.
1,4-dioxane as manufacturing byproduct
1,4-dioxane can form as a contaminant during ethoxylation of surfactants. It is not listed in standard Carex product disclosures, and rinse-off exposure limits dioxane contact time; regulatory surveillance has not flagged hand wash products as major dioxane sources, though trace levels may be present in conventional soaps.
Microplastics or plastic packaging shed
This is a liquid soap with no solid plastic additives or microbeads. The plastic bottle is not intended for ingestion or direct skin contact and poses no microplastic leaching hazard during normal use.
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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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.