Softsoap · Hand Soap
Softsoap Antibacterial Hand Soap Lavender And Shea Butter Scent
Lower concern, liquid soap formulations rarely require PFAS, but Softsoap makes no public disclosure.
Softsoap Antibacterial Hand Soap is a standard liquid soap with no known PFAS-dependent chemistry (no water-repellent, stain-resistant, or nonstick properties that would trigger PFAS use). The brand does not publicly disclose PFAS testing or claims.
Shop Softsoap on Amazon →Material
aqueous soap solution (anionic surfactants, water, glycerin, shea butter extract)
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
Softsoap Antibacterial Hand Soap is an aqueous solution of anionic surfactants (cleaning agents), water, glycerin (humectant), and shea butter extract. Liquid soap formulations are inherently lower-risk than bar soaps or solid products because the water content and lack of solid binders eliminate many degradation pathways and leaching concerns. The surfactants are biodegradable synthetic chemicals designed to remove soil and microbes; shea butter extract serves as an emollient and is a food-grade plant material with no known safety flags in cosmetic use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Softsoap (owned by Colgate-Palmolive) does not publicly disclose PFAS use in its hand soap lines and makes no transparency statements about chemical composition beyond ingredient labeling. The brand has faced no major documented recalls or safety controversies specific to this product line. Colgate-Palmolive as a parent company has not committed to PFAS phase-out statements comparable to leading personal-care brands, though this silence is typical for mass-market soap manufacturers rather than indicative of a known problem.
How it compares in its category
Liquid antibacterial hand soaps occupy a middle tier of chemical complexity: simpler than multi-ingredient cosmetics, more complex than plain bar soap. Softsoap is a conventional mass-market product with ingredient transparency comparable to competitors like Dial and Irish Spring. Premium alternatives (e.g., plant-derived surfactant brands, fragrance-free dermatologist lines) offer slightly more transparent formulations, while budget options carry similar or lower disclosure standards. The 'antibacterial' claim typically relies on triclosan or similar antimicrobial agents, which most health agencies no longer recommend for consumer hand soap due to lack of clinical superiority over regular soap.
If you buy it
Hand soap requires no special care or heating and poses negligible risk from temperature or storage degradation. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve fragrance and prevent formulation separation. Liquid soap has an indefinite shelf life if kept sealed; once opened, use within 2-3 years. Individuals with sensitive skin or fragrance allergies should patch-test first; the lavender and shea butter scent may trigger contact dermatitis in prone users, though this is product-specific reaction risk, not a manufacturing defect.
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 (lavender, shea butter scent)
Lavender and botanical scent blends are known allergens in sensitive skin populations; this product's specific fragrance composition is not disclosed beyond the label claim. Prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis to lavender in hand soaps is estimated at 1-3% of regular users with atopic dermatitis or fragrance sensitivity.
Triclosan or antimicrobial residues
Softsoap's antibacterial claim likely employs triclosan or similar agents; the full active ingredient list is not publicly detailed in available sources. Triclosan persistence in aquatic environments and human tissues is established, though consumer-use hand soap exposure is considered low-risk by FDA standards.
1,4-dioxane (fragrance contaminant)
Liquid hand soaps with fragrance blends may contain trace 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct of ethoxylated surfactant synthesis. No public testing data exists for this specific Softsoap product; regulatory limits in the US allow up to 10 ppm, and hand soap rinse-off use presents lower exposure than leave-on cosmetics.
Formaldehyde releasers in preservatives
Liquid soaps require antimicrobial preservatives; if this formulation uses imidazolidinyl or dmdm hydantoin (common in rinse-off products), trace formaldehyde release is possible. No recalls or independent testing of Softsoap for formaldehyde have been documented.
Surfactant skin irritation on repeated use
Anionic surfactants in hand soap can cause cumulative skin barrier damage with frequent washing; this is a use-pattern risk rather than a product defect. The glycerin content may partially offset this, but individuals who wash hands 10+ times daily may experience dryness or dermatitis regardless of brand.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 75% 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
Orange Hand Soap
Plant-based surfactants, water, essential oils (orange)
Lower concern, solid plant-based formula with credible third-party oversight; no PFAS-prone materials.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Seventh Generation
Hand Wash, Free Clean
aqueous surfactants, botanicals, water-based formula
Lower PFAS concern; buy with confidence if skin-sensitivity is a priority.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
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.