Dial · Body Wash
Dial Antibacterial Body Wash with Moisturizers
Lower concern; liquid body wash poses minimal inherent PFAS risk, but Dial makes no explicit commitment.
Dial's antibacterial body wash is a rinse-off liquid cosmetic with no known surfactants, coatings, or water-resistant treatments that typically require PFAS. The brand does not disclose any PFAS testing or policy.
Shop Dial on Amazon →Material
aqueous liquid cleansing base with glycerin, surfactants, fragrance
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
Dial's antibacterial body wash is an aqueous liquid formulation built on surfactants (cleansing agents), glycerin (humectant/moisturizer), and fragrance compounds. Because this product is designed to be applied briefly to skin and immediately rinsed away with water, exposure duration and dermal absorption are both very short. The aqueous base and rinse-off nature mean volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and skin-penetrating actives pose negligible risk compared to leave-on products like lotions or deodorants.
The brand's record and disclosure
Dial (owned by Henkel) has faced no major public safety recalls or regulatory actions specific to this body wash product line. The brand does not publicly highlight ingredient safety commitments, certifications (such as EWG verification or dermatologist endorsement statements), or formal third-party testing. Dial's silence on ingredient sourcing and safety standards is typical for mass-market body wash but falls short of transparency leaders like Seventh Generation or Aveeno's disclosed formulation practices.
How it compares in its category
Mass-market antibacterial body washes (Dial, Irish Spring, Dial Gold) share similar hazard profiles as rinse-off products and occupy the middle ground between ultra-minimalist soaps and premium, heavily fragrance-loaded alternatives. Dial's inclusion of glycerin and moisturizers reduces drying compared to plain soap, but offers no performance advantage over unscented or fragrance-light competitors. No credible evidence supports superior antimicrobial claims for over-the-counter antibacterial body wash versus plain soap and water for general hygiene.
If you buy it
Store the bottle in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent fragrance degradation and preserve stability. Use as directed: apply small amounts, lather, and rinse thoroughly within seconds. Discontinue use if you experience unexplained skin irritation or allergic reaction (rare with rinse-off products but possible with fragrance or preservative sensitivity). No special maintenance is needed; standard use poses no cumulative health risk.
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 irritants
Dial's formulations typically include undisclosed fragrance blends; while rinse-off duration minimizes risk, sensitive individuals or those with dermatitis may experience contact dermatitis or respiratory irritation from airborne fragrance compounds during application.
Formaldehyde releasers in preservatives
No public documentation or recalls indicate formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, DMDM HYDANTOIN) in current Dial body wash formulations, but ingredient lists are not always fully disclosed on packaging.
Synthetic musks and bioaccumulative fragrance compounds
Mass-market body washes often use synthetic musk compounds (galaxolide, AHTN) in fragrance blends; these are lipophilic and persist in human tissue and aquatic environments, though rinse-off product exposure is transient.
Microplastic contamination
Dial's liquid formulation does not contain intentional microbeads; reformulation away from microplastics was industry-wide by 2019 in the US and Europe.
Heavy metals in color additives or impurities
No recalls or regulatory actions document heavy metal contamination in Dial antibacterial body wash; industry standards and FDA oversight minimize this risk for mainstream brands.
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.
Safer alternatives in Body Wash
Cetyl
Dr Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure Castile Liquid Soap
saponified vegetable oils (castile base), no protective coatings
Lower-concern choice; simple castile soap formulation carries minimal PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
Dr. Bronner's
Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
Plant-based soap (coconut, olive, palm oils); no coatings or treatments
Lower PFAS concern, uncoated liquid soap with no water- or stain-resistant treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Dr. Bronner's
Dr Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure Castile Liquid Soap
Plant-based soap (coconut, olive, palm oils)
Lower PFAS concern, pure castile liquid soap has no typical vector for forever chemicals.
⚠Risky category by default
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.