Dial · Body Wash
Dial Refresh & Renew Body Wash Spring Water 16 fl.. oz. 4 pk.
Lower PFAS concern for a basic liquid body wash without surface treatments.
Dial Refresh & Renew is a standard aqueous body wash with no confirmed PFAS-prone ingredients (no Teflon-family coating, water repellency coatings, or stain resistance treatments). Body washes are not manufacturing categories known to routinely employ PFAS.
Shop Dial on Amazon →Material
aqueous liquid body wash (water, cleansers, humectants)
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 Refresh & Renew is an aqueous liquid body wash, meaning its base is water plus synthetic surfactants (cleansers), humectants, and fragrance. Liquid body washes have a simpler chemical profile than bar soaps or exfoliating scrubs because they lack binders, abrasives, and coating agents that introduce heavy metals or synthetic polymers. The absence of talc, mineral oils, or particulate fillers reduces several contamination pathways common in powders and solid personal care products.
The brand's record and disclosure
Dial (Henkel subsidiary) does not publicly disclose detailed ingredient sourcing, microplastic content, or fragrance composition (typical for the mass-market body wash segment). The brand has no major recalls or safety controversies on record for this product line. Dial does not carry third-party certifications (e.g., EWG Verified, Leaping Bunny) that would signal enhanced transparency, but absence of certification is standard for mainstream drugstore brands.
How it compares in its category
Dial Refresh & Renew is a conventional synthetic body wash with a fragrance-forward profile. It sits in the mid-tier of the category: safer than heavily scented or exfoliating products (which may harbor undisclosed dyes and abrasives) but less transparent than dermatologist-recommended unscented or hypoallergenic brands (CeraVe, Vanicream). No published independent testing of this specific SKU exists to distinguish it from generic body washes.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve fragrance stability and prevent container degradation. Use as directed; the product requires no dilution or special handling. No skin accumulation of residue is expected with standard rinsing. Discontinue use if irritation develops, particularly on sensitive skin or open wounds; fragrance and surfactants can trigger contact dermatitis in susceptible individuals.
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 contact dermatitis
Dial Refresh & Renew is marketed as a fragrance product ('Spring Water' scent); undisclosed fragrance components may trigger allergic contact dermatitis or irritation in sensitive populations. Industry practice does not require full fragrance disclosure, so specific allergens (e.g., limonene, linalool) are not publicly available for this SKU.
1,4-dioxane (surfactant contaminant)
Synthetic surfactants used in mainstream body washes may contain trace 1,4-dioxane as a manufacturing byproduct, particularly in ethoxylated ingredients. No specific testing of this Dial product has been published; regulatory limits in the US allow up to 10 ppm. Risk is low but cannot be ruled out without independent lab data.
Microplastics in formulation
No polyethylene microbeads, synthetic polymers, or visible exfoliants are listed or implied in Dial Refresh & Renew's typical formula. Liquid body washes without 'scrub' or 'exfoliating' claims generally do not contain intentional microplastics, though some brands have used microplastic alternatives (polyquaternium); not documented for this product.
Heavy metals in colorants and preservatives
Dial does not disclose use of synthetic dyes (azo or otherwise) in published ingredient lists for this product. Liquid body washes typically rely on dissolved colorants rather than pigment additives; risk of lead or cadmium contamination is lower than in powdered cosmetics or colored bar soaps.
Formaldehyde releasers (preservatives)
Mainstream body washes may use formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (e.g., dmdm hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea) to prevent microbial growth. No specific preservative system is disclosed by Dial for this SKU; industry standard practice does not identify these as major risks at typical concentrations, but sensitive individuals may experience irritation.
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.
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.