Honest Company · Body Wash
Honest Company Soothing Therapy Eczema Body Wash
Lower concern; body wash formulations rarely require PFAS, and Made Safe certification adds assurance.
Honest Company markets this eczema wash as hypoallergenic and holds Made Safe certification, which screens for harmful chemicals including PFAS. Liquid cosmetics like body wash have minimal structural need for fluorinated compounds, surfactants and humectants are typically non-fluorinated.
Material
aqueous liquid cleansing formula (typical: water, plant-derived surfactants, glycerin, essential oils)
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.
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
Honest Company's eczema body wash uses aqueous liquid formulation with plant-derived surfactants, glycerin (a humectant), and essential oils or botanical extracts as active ingredients. The aqueous base minimizes volatile off-gassing and leaching risks compared to oil-based or heavy-cream formulations. Glycerin acts as an emollient to support skin barrier repair, which is the intended mechanism for eczema-prone skin. The absence of synthetic detergents (sulfates) reduces skin irritation in a product explicitly marketed for sensitive skin.
The brand's record and disclosure
Honest Company holds Made Safe certification, which independently screens for over 800 chemicals of concern and requires full ingredient transparency. The brand publishes ingredient lists openly and has committed to removing synthetic fragrances from many product lines, replacing them with essential oils. No major product recalls or toxicity warnings have been established for this specific body wash. The company has faced regulatory scrutiny on other products (e.g., talc-free claims) but maintains no documented safety incidents for cleansing formulas in this line.
How it compares in its category
This product sits in the premium eczema-targeted segment alongside Aveeno Eczema Therapy and Eucerin Eczema Relief; most alternatives use similar plant surfactant and glycerin bases. Body washes as a category carry lower chemical exposure risk than lotions or creams because they rinse off immediately and do not accumulate on skin. Honest Company's plant-derived approach is standard for certified natural brands and avoids the synthetic fragrance and preservative concerns common in mass-market options. The Made Safe badge differentiates it from non-certified competitors on third-party verification.
If you buy it
Use only as directed (small amount, lather, rinse thoroughly) and avoid contact with eyes. Store in cool, dry conditions away from direct sunlight to preserve botanical extract potency; exposure to heat or humidity may degrade essential oil components. Discontinue use immediately if rash, redness, or burning develops, as even plant-derived ingredients can trigger contact dermatitis in individuals with severe eczema or fragrance sensitivity. Replace if formula separates, discolors, or develops odor changes, which indicate microbial growth or oxidation.
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 (essential oils / botanical extracts)
Even plant-derived essential oils and natural fragrance compounds can trigger contact dermatitis or allergic reactions in eczema-prone skin. Patch testing is recommended for individuals with known sensitivity to fragrance, particularly limonene or lavender oils if present.
Preservative system adequacy
No recalls or contamination incidents are on record for this product line. Plant-based formulations require effective preservatives to prevent microbial growth; Honest Company's Made Safe certification requires review of preservative choices, but specific preservatives are not disclosed in public sources.
Formaldehyde releasers or resins
Body wash formulations typically do not require formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea) when plant surfactants are used. No evidence of these agents in Honest Company cleansing products; Made Safe certification would flag their presence.
Heavy metals in botanical extracts
Plant-derived ingredients can accumulate trace metals (lead, cadmium) depending on soil source. No independent testing results or contamination findings are publicly available for this specific product. Made Safe certification includes testing for heavy metals in botanical ingredients as a standard requirement.
Skin irritation from surfactant residue
Incomplete rinsing of plant-derived surfactants can leave residue that disrupts the skin barrier in eczema-prone individuals. This is a usage risk rather than formulation defect; thorough rinsing with cool or lukewarm water minimizes this concern.
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.
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.