The Best Non-Toxic Body Wash of 2026
100 of the 101 body wash products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 99% of the category, as of October 2026, and 1 scores below it. The highest graded is Dr. Bronner's Organic Sugar Soap Peppermint at 75 out of 100.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Is body wash non-toxic?
100 of the 101 body wash products we graded clear our screen and 1 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on body wash products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, artificial dyes, parabens. The highest graded here is Dr. Bronner's Organic Sugar Soap Peppermint at 75 out of 100.
Quick picks
Best overall
Dr. Bronner's Organic Sugar Soap PeppermintHighest PFAS grade in the category
75 Excellent
A second brand to consider
Irish Spring Body WashThe best grade here from a brand other than the winner
75 Excellent
Why Dr. Bronner's Organic Sugar Soap Peppermint wins, and what it beats
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 1 product it beats, so you can see exactly where the 10 points between the top and the bottom of this body wash ranking come from.
The winner
Made of Saponified plant oils, peppermint essential oil.
- +20Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
25risk points in total, which is a grade of 75
What the grade does not fix. It still carries one risk factor, No PFAS disclosure, and our graders recorded 2 other hazards on it. See the full breakdown.
What it beats, and why
What puts it behind. The winner earns -10 points for Base material not linked to PFAS. We found nothing comparable published for this product.
Made of aqueous gel cleanser, surfactants and actives.
- +20Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure
35risk points, a grade of 65
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in body wash
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 101 body wash products in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- Undisclosed fragrance
A single word on a label that can stand for dozens of undeclared ingredients, protected as trade secret.
Found on 8 of these body wash products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 89 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- 1,4-dioxane
A contaminant created during manufacturing rather than added, so it never appears on an ingredient list.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 52 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Formaldehyde
A preservative and resin ingredient that is also released slowly by a group of chemicals used in its place.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 20 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NCI
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 2 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
The safest body wash we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Highest grade here
- Saponified plant oils, peppermint essential oil
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens (peppermint essential oil)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 2
- aqueous surfactant solution, no known PFAS-targeted additives
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 3
- water, glycerin, cleansing agents, botanical extracts
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- 1,4-dioxane (synthetic contaminant in surfactants)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 4
- aqueous surfactant cleansing formula, standard cosmetic base
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergen sensitivity
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 5
- water, glycerin, cleansing agents, fragrance
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens (undisclosed aromatic compounds)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 6
- water-based aqueous liquid formulation (surfactants, humectants, glycerin)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 7
- aqueous liquid soap base with marula oil
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components
- 8
- water-based surfactants, glycerin, botanical extracts
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Questions people ask about body wash
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Every body wash that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk.
| # | Body Wash | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Bronner's Organic Sugar Soap Peppermint | 75 | Excellent | Saponified plant oils, peppermint essential oil | Fragrance allergens (peppermint essential oil) |
| 2 | Irish Spring Body Wash | 75 | Excellent | aqueous surfactant solution, no known PFAS-targeted additives | Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components |
| 3 | AVEENO SKIN RELIEF BODY WASH | 75 | Excellent | water, glycerin, cleansing agents, botanical extracts | 1,4-dioxane (synthetic contaminant in surfactants) |
| 4 | Cetaphil Acne Relief Body Wash | 75 | Excellent | aqueous surfactant cleansing formula, standard cosmetic base | Fragrance allergen sensitivity |
| 5 | Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash | 75 | Excellent | water, glycerin, cleansing agents, fragrance | Fragrance allergens (undisclosed aromatic compounds) |
| 6 | Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Refreshing Body Wash | 75 | Excellent | water-based aqueous liquid formulation (surfactants, humectants, glycerin) | Fragrance allergens |
| 7 | Dial Body Wash Marula Oil | 75 | Excellent | aqueous liquid soap base with marula oil | Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components |
| 8 | Dial Body Wash Silk | 75 | Excellent | water-based surfactants, glycerin, botanical extracts | Fragrance allergens |
The verdict on body wash
Dr. Bronner's Organic Sugar Soap Peppermint grades 75 out of 100, the highest here. It is saponified plant oils, peppermint essential oil. We found no PFAS statement from the brand, so the grade rests on materials alone.
Choose Irish Spring Body Wash instead if you want a second option at 75 out of 100, aqueous surfactant solution, no known pfas-targeted additives.
We hold no price data, so nothing here is a budget recommendation. Grades are model-based assessments from published materials and disclosures, not laboratory tests.
The body wash we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 65Tone Olay Tone Correcting BHA and Vitamin C Serum Complex Body WashGood
Formaldehyde / VOCs
- 75Dr. Bronner's Organic Sugar Soap PeppermintExcellent
Fragrance allergens (peppermint essential oil)
- 75Irish Spring Body WashExcellent
Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components
What we check on body wash
- Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
- Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
- Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
- Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The body wash brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 27 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Alba Botanica, Aveeno, Axe, Bath & Body Works, Bath and Body Works, Caress, Cetaphil, Dial, Dr. Bronner's, Earth Mama, Harry's, Irish Spring.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in body wash
Is body wash PFAS free?
100 of the 101 body wash products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 99% of the category, as of October 2026, and 1 scores below it. The highest graded is Dr. Bronner's Organic Sugar Soap Peppermint at 75 out of 100. The lowest graded is Tone Olay Tone Correcting BHA and Vitamin C Serum Complex Body Wash at 65 out of 100.
Is body wash non-toxic?
100 of the 101 body wash products we graded clear our screen and 1 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on body wash products in this category are undisclosed fragrance, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, artificial dyes, parabens. The highest graded here is Dr. Bronner's Organic Sugar Soap Peppermint at 75 out of 100.
What is the safest body wash to buy?
On our grades, Dr. Bronner's Organic Sugar Soap Peppermint at 75 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. Then Irish Spring Body Wash at 75. These are model-based assessments from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and disclosures, not laboratory tests, so treat them as the lowest risk we can evidence rather than a safety guarantee.
Which body wash grades best for PFAS?
Dr. Bronner's Organic Sugar Soap Peppermint, at 75 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is saponified plant oils, peppermint essential oil. The runner up is Irish Spring Body Wash at 75.
Which body wash should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Tone Olay Tone Correcting BHA and Vitamin C Serum Complex Body Wash at 65, Dr. Bronner's Organic Sugar Soap Peppermint at 75, Irish Spring Body Wash at 75. The problem with the first is that low PFAS risk for rinse-off product, but Olay does not disclose PFAS status.
Which body wash brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 27 of the brands we scored in this category, including Alba Botanica, Aveeno, Axe, Bath & Body Works, Bath and Body Works, Caress. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. It is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test body wash?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
More beauty and personal care categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to body wash.
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Does a particular brand of body wash have PFAS?
Brands we grade across the catalogue
Everything we have scored from these brands, not just body wash.
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Body Wash, 90 Washes and Why They All Grade the Same
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 101 body wash.