Body Wash vs 5-in-1 Shower Gel: which is safer?
These two grade almost identically. Pick on price and preference; neither has a PFAS edge.
Irish Spring
Body Wash
PFAS grade
Excellent 75/100
Overall grade
Good 67/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
aqueous surfactant solution, no known PFAS-targeted additives
Confidence
85%
PossibleFragrance allergens and undisclosed components
PossibleSkin irritation from sodium lauryl sulfate
Nivea
5-in-1 Shower Gel
PFAS grade
Excellent 75/100
Overall grade
Good 67/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
aqueous gel, typical surfactants and glycerin
Confidence
78%
PossibleFragrance allergens
PossibleSkin sensitization or irritation from surfactants
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 Nivea.
- We flag Fragrance allergens and Skin sensitization or irritation from surfactants on the Nivea and not on the Irish Spring.
- The Irish Spring is aqueous surfactant solution, no known PFAS-targeted additives where the Nivea is aqueous gel, typical surfactants and glycerin, 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