Body Wash vs Bath Shower Gel: which is safer?
Irish Spring Body Wash is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Irish Spring
Body Wash
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFragrance allergens and undisclosed components
PossibleSkin irritation from sodium lauryl sulfate
Molton Brown
Bath Shower Gel
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possible1,4-dioxane (synthetic byproduct in ethoxylated surfactants)
PossibleFragrance allergens and undisclosed ingredients
PossibleBotanical extract variability and contamination
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components and Skin irritation from sodium lauryl sulfate on the Irish Spring and not on the Molton Brown.
- We flag 1,4-dioxane (synthetic byproduct in ethoxylated surfactants), Fragrance allergens and undisclosed ingredients and Botanical extract variability and contamination on the Molton Brown and not on the Irish Spring.
- The Irish Spring is aqueous surfactant solution, no known PFAS-targeted additives where the Molton Brown is water-based surfactants, glycerin, botanical extracts, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More body wash: see the full ranking