14 Derm-Approved Hand Soaps That Are Good for Your Skin, Look Chic, and Smell Amazing

Best Overall

Dedcool Hand + Body Wash 01

View on Dedcool.com

Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Glycerin, aloe vera, shea butter | Scent: Bergamot, vanilla, and amber | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This wash from Dedcool has everything you could ever want in a hand soap. It's gentle and creates a creamy lather, cleanses without stripping moisture, and has a luxurious scent that includes top notes of bergamot and bottom notes of warm vanilla and amber. It isn't too strong—but lingers after you're done washing your hands, which we love. It also comes in two of their other signature scents that smell equally as lovely.

It has a completely vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic formula, so you don't have to worry about any harmful chemicals coming in contact with your skin. Perhaps our favorite part is it doubles as an everyday body wash. We love the quick pick-me-up we get from being able to use it multiple times a day.

Best Budget

Organic Bath Co. PeaceFull Hand Soap

$8 at Thewoodsmaineshop.com

Size: 10 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Essential oils | Scent: Lavender | Cruelty-Free: Yes

People often associate cheaper with lower quality. In this case, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Made with high-quality, organic oils, this soap gently cleans without stripping the skin. It’s genuinely hard for us to believe that this gentle but effective formula rings in at under $10. There may be cheaper options on the market, but weighing in at a whopping 10 fluid ounces, this container is bound to last a while. Plus, its formula is crafted with a whole slew of ingredients, including coconut, oil and jojoba oil, that won’t dry your hands out every time you lather. 

If we could change one thing, we would make the dispenser a little easier to maneuver. 

Best Drugstore

Mrs. Meyer’s Liquid Hand Soap

$15 at Amazon $5 at Target $5 at Walmart

Size: 12.5 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Olive oil, Aloe vera, and Essential oils | Scent: Basil, acorn spice, apple, apple cider, bluebell, compassion flower, daisy, eucalyptus, fresh cut grass, geranium, honeysuckle, Iowa pine, lavender, lemon verbena, lilac, mint, mum, oat blossom, orange clove, pear tree, peony, peppermint, plum berry, radish, rainwater, rhubarb, rose, rosemary, snowdrop, watermelon | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you're not already on the Mrs. Meyer's hand soap train, then you’re in for a treat. Aside from being readily available at most drugstores and grocery stores, it also has a clean formula with so many delightful scents, that we've lost count. Pro tip: check out the holiday scents—the orange clove one is particularly delicious.

Beyond that, the formula is infused with moisturizing olive oil and aloe vera to keep hands feeling soft. Its cute retro packaging, super affordable price tag, and complementary cleaning products only add to its appeal. If you have particularly dry skin though, it may not be the best choice for you.

Best Scent

Le Labo Hand Soap

$33 at Nordstrom $33 at Saks Fifth Avenue View on Harveynichols.com

Size: 16.9 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Sea buckthorn, rosemary leaf, and sugarcane | Scent: Hinoki, sea buckthorn, rosemary leaf, sugarcane | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Warning: the price may cause some sticker shock, but each time you take a whiff of this delectable scent, you’ll be transported to the Buddhist temples of Mount Koya in Japan, which carry the unmistakable smell of the nearby hinoki trees. Hinted with notes of sea buckthorn, rosemary leaf, and sugarcane, the jumbo-sized bottle became our instant favorite.

Sensitive skin types will appreciate that it's paraben-, phthalate, and artificial colorant-free. Also nice: It has a super smooth lather and a thick, luxurious texture. 

Best Scent, Runner-Up

Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash

$41 at Nordstrom View on Aesop.com $43 at Saks Fifth Avenue

Size: 16.9 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Mandarin rind, rosemary leaf, cedar atlas | Scent: Citrus, woody, and herbaceous | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This cleansing gel leaves hands fresh and clean, though never stripped of moisture due to its addition of orange, rosemary, and lavender essential oils. Truth be told, we can’t get enough of the citrusy, woodsy, herbaceous scent—it's a serious crowd-pleaser.

Bonus points for the ultra-chic, jumbo-sized bottle that seems to last forever. It’s a top pick of Dr. Jeannette Graf, board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. “I love how silky this makes skin feel after use, thanks to the infusion of essential oils within its formula. It effectively cleanses without drying out the hands.” 

The only potential downside to this one is it's not super sudsy. While that doesn't both us, if you prefer a lot of bubbles, you'll want to go with a different soap.

Best Antibacterial

Softsoap Antibacterial Hand Soap

$15 at Amazon $3 at Walmart View on Zumaoffice.com

Size: 11.25 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Benzalkonium chloride | Scent: White tea and berry, fresh hands/zesty lemon, fresh citrus, crisp clean, sparkling pear, cool splash | Cruelty-Free: No

While you don't need to use antibacterial soap to get your hands clean and germ-free, if you work in an environment that's more germ-conscious (think school or doctor's office), it's a great option. Aside from its range of pleasant scents, this antibacterial soap from Softsoap is both affordable and easy to use.

“It’s an inexpensive option that is clinically proven to eliminate 99.9 percent of bacteria while still smelling great,” explains Dr. Graf. We love that the bottle is refillable, so you don’t need to worry about repurchasing a new bottle every time you run out (plus refillable products are always an environmental win). 

Best Moisturizing

L'Occitane Shea Ultra-Rich Wash

$26 at Amazon $26 at Nordstrom $33 at QVC

Size: 10.1 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Shea butter, oat milk | Scent: Shea classic | Cruelty-Free: No

If you're someone who likes to wash their hands often or live in a dry climate, you've probably noticed how quickly they can dry out. Yes, you can moisturize afterward, but why add another step to a simple process, when you can use a soap that cleanses and moisturizes all in one?

The formula from French brand L'Occitane is loaded with fatty acids to help replenish moisture, along with five percent shea milk and oat milk to soothe and protect the skin long after you wash your hands. Each pump will feel like lotion, leaving your hands feeling soft, hydrated, and ready to take on the day, which will likely include more hand washing.

Best Exfoliating

Diptyque Exfoliating Hand Rinse

View on Diptyqueparis.com $70 at Net-a-Porter

Size: 12 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Glycerin, ground olive stones, citric acid | Scent: Floral and woody notes | Cruelty-Free: No

Housed in sleek glass packaging, this Diptyque hand soap will make a statement in your bathroom for years to come (you can keep it forever thanks to the refillable design). It’ll also keep your hands super soft all year round, thanks to a formula filled with exfoliating—but not drying—ingredients. “This hand wash exfoliates to rid the skin of dead skin cells using ground olive stones,” explains Dr. Graf. Since it's refillable you’ll only have to splurge on the gorgeous bottle once, meaning it's totally worth the investment. The only thing we don't love is that the pump can occasionally get stuck.

Best Foaming

Ecodaisy Foaming Hand Soap

$36 at Walmart

Size: 12.5 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Shea butter, olive oil, aloe juice, sunflower oil, and jojoba oil | Scent: Peppermint | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There’s nothing quite like lathering up with a luxurious foamy hand soap, so it only makes sense to add one to your rotation. Developed by environmental activist Dr. Priscilla Johnson, this gentle foaming formula rinses away germs without adding harmful chemicals to our waterways. Filled with a mixture of essential oils including peppermint and rosemary, the formula will keep your skin ultra-clean while adding in a bit of aromatherapy too.

We think the cute, simple packaging makes it ideal for any bathroom space. While it’s only available in packs of four, it's a great option for those who like to stock up on house supplies. 

Best Splurge

Byredo Suede Hand Wash

$70 at Bloomingdales

Size: 15.2 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Citric acid, glycerin | Scent: Bergamot and pear | Cruelty-Free: No

Sure, you could save this pricey soap for days when you need a bit of self-care, but in the spirit of treating yourself, we say snag a bottle for everyday enjoyment. Similar to the brand’s iconic perfumes, Byredo handwashes up the ante with lovely, complex aromas.

Choose between Suede and Tulipmania, which both add a floral and fruity scent, Rose, a mix of musk and pink pepper, or the earthy yet sweet Vetyver. Luckily, all smell delicious, so you truly can’t go wrong with whatever you ultimately decide. We do wish the soap came in a nicer bottle, considering the price.

Best Gentle

Alaffia EveryDay Shea Liquid Hand Soap

$15 at Amazon

Size: 18 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Shea butter, virgin coconut oil, neem leaf | Scent: Unscented, lemon verbena, peppermint tingle, lavender spice, lavender, vanilla passion, honeysuckle, mandarin mango, vanilla mint, eucalyptus mint | Cruelty-Free: Yes

You use gentle products on your face, so why not your hands? Within this particular soap is a mixture of three natural ingredients—shea butter, virgin coconut oil, and neem leaf—which eliminates any worries about dealing with skin irritation or dry, red patches due to unknown ingredients. We especially like that there are unscented varieties of this soap, and the formula is free of any sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and silicones for an added layer of protection.

The texture is a bit thin, but the moisturizing effects of shea and coconut oil will leave your hands feeling luxurious. Plus you get 18 ounces of product, which is a lot of soap for the price.

Best Natural

J.R. Watkins Tumeric & Citron Plant-Based Hand Soap

$14 at Amazon

Size: 12 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Oat, calendula, and primrose | Scent: Turmeric and citron, monoi and sandalwood, rosewater, rosemary and rosewood, oud | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We’d be remiss not to mention this hand soap from J.R Watkins. It has some of the most unique scent combinations we've tried (for example: Bergamot, Neroli, Fig Fruit, and Cardamom) and its formula is made with only natural ingredients. Those ingredients, such as calendula and turmeric, work to soothe and revitalize the skin. It has a great price tag for the large bottle size, too. Plus, it’s cruelty, paraben-, silicone-, and sulfate-free. 

The dispenser can get stuck sometimes, so just make sure you're cleaning it every now and then to avoid product buildup.

Best Bar

Beekman 1802 honey & orange blossom 3.5 oz 3-pack bar soaps

$21 at Amazon $18 at Beekman1802.com

Size: 3.5 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Shea butter, jojoba seed oil, kukui seed Oil, and joney | Scent: Honey and orange blossom, fresh air, honeyed grapefruit, vanilla absolute, ylang ylang and tuberose, fig leaf, lavender | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Bars soaps aren’t as common as liquid hand soaps these days, but that doesn’t mean they should be overlooked. Outside of the packaging benefits (no excess plastic here!), bars typically rely on fewer chemicals than liquid options. This bar in particular is gentle enough to cleanse the body but also strong enough to take to your hands. Made with nourishing ingredients like shea butter and jojoba seed oil, it will keep your hands nice and hydrated, too. We aren't made at the invigorating citrus notes, either, although it may be too much for sensitive skinned (and nosed) folks.

Best Sustainable

Public Goods Hand Soap

$12 at Amazon $8 at Publicgoods.com

Size: 12 fluid ounces | Ingredients: Essential oils | Scent: Fresh grapefruit and juicy mandarin | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Public Goods makes simple, sustainable home products at a reasonable price, and their hand soap is no different. Loaded with essential oils including orange, geranium, cinnamon, mandarin, nutmeg, petitgrain, rosewood, celery seed, grapefruit, and vetiver, this creamy soap lathers well and won't dry out the hands. It'll also leave them smelling incredible and super hydrated with surfactants derived from coconut oil.

Beyond that, every item from Public Goods is made from post-consumer recycled materials. Best of all? It’s under $10, so you can slather it on guilt-free.