Hand Sanitizer, ranked by PFAS safety
15 products graded from Bad to Excellent, safest first. 15 grade Good or better and are worth buying.
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The best non-toxic hand sanitizer, ranked safest first
Bad · Better · Best hand sanitizer
The quickest read, what to skip and the top-graded picks worth buying instead.
Dettol
Dettol Sanitizer
Low concern; liquid antiseptic contains no known PFAS vectors, but brand offers no explicit assurance.
Purell
PURELL Advanced Refreshing Gel Hand Sanitizer
Low concern; no known water-repellent coating treatment in hand sanitizer gel formulation.
Seventh Generation
Hand Wash Natural Seventh Generation
Preferred option; MADE SAFE certification and plant-based formula substantially reduce PFAS risk.
Worth buying Good or Excellent, safest first
Seventh Generation
Hand Wash Natural Seventh Generation
water-based surfactants, plant-derived ingredients
Fragrance allergens
Limited concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Preferred option; MADE SAFE certification and plant-based formula substantially reduce PFAS risk.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Seventh Generation
Hydrating Antibacterial Hand Mist
Water-based cosmetic spray (alcohol, water, plant extracts, preservatives)
Preservative system irritation (contact allergens)
Limited concern
Plant extract allergenicity and contamination
Limited concern
Fragrance constituent allergens
Limited concern
Spray inhalation of alcohol vapors
Limited concern
Preferred option; hand mist format and brand certification reduce PFAS risk, though no dedicated lab testing published.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Purell
Advanced Refreshing Gel Hand Sanitizer
aqueous gel (alcohol, water, carbomer, glycerin, fragrance)
Fragrance allergens
Limited concern
Skin irritation from alcohol
Moderate concern
Low concern; no known water-repellent coating treatment in hand sanitizer gel formulation.
⚠Risky category by default
Purell
Advanced Gel Hand Sanitizer
Ethyl alcohol gel (typical hand sanitizer base)
Skin irritation and drying
Limited concern
Eye contact hazard
Moderate concern
Flammability
Moderate concern
Fragrance allergens
Limited concern
Low concern for PFAS; hand sanitizers lack typical PFAS-risk applications, but Purell makes no public disclosure.
⚠Risky category by default
Purell
Advanced Hand Sanitizer Refreshing Gel
ethyl alcohol gel with humectants (aloe, glycerin)
Ethanol skin irritation or sensitization
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens
Limited concern
Ingestion risk in children
Moderate concern
Eye contact irritation
Moderate concern
Low concern for typical hand sanitizer formulation; no known high-risk materials identified.
⚠Risky category by default
Aesop
Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Mist
Water, plant extracts, preservatives (standard cosmetic formula)
Preservative sensitization (contact allergen risk)
Limited concern
Lack of antimicrobial efficacy (false security)
Moderate concern
Botanical extract instability and mold growth
Limited concern
Fragrance allergens and respiratory irritation
Limited concern
Low concern; rinse-free hand mist lacks typical PFAS triggers and needs no waterproofing.
⚠Risky category by default
Aesop
Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash
Water-based rinse-free hand wash; surfactants, humectants, botanical extracts
Fragrance allergens (essential oils)
Limited concern
Skin barrier disruption from frequent use
Limited concern
Low concern for PFAS; no evidence of intentional fluorochemicals in rinse-free hand wash formula.
⚠Risky category by default
Aesop
Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash
aqueous liquid cosmetic formulation (soap/detergent base)
Fragrance allergen sensitization
Limited concern
Microbial growth in pump dispenser (maintenance hazard)
Limited concern
Low concern for a liquid hand wash containing no aqueous film-forming agents typical of the category.
⚠Risky category by default
Seventh Generation
Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizer, 7.5 oz, Fragrance-Free
Water-based gel sanitizer with glycerin moisturizer; plastic bottle
BPA & bisphenols
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Skin irritation and sensitization from ethanol and additives
Moderate concern
Low concern; no known PFAS triggers in formulation, but brand makes no explicit commitment.
⚠Risky category by default
Dettol
Original Instant Hand Sanitizer
Aqueous alcohol-based sanitizer liquid (ethanol, water, isopropanol typical formulation)
Skin irritation or sensitization (alcohol, fragrance if present)
Limited concern
Accidental ingestion (alcohol content)
Limited concern
Eye or mucous membrane irritation (if contact occurs)
Limited concern
Flammability (ethanol base)
Moderate concern
Low concern for PFAS; typical hand sanitizer formulation unlikely to require fluorinated coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
Dettol
Instant Disinfectant Hand Sanitizer
Liquid hydroalcoholic hand sanitizer formulation
Fragrance allergens
Limited concern
Eye and mucous membrane irritation
Moderate concern
Skin barrier disruption with chronic use
Limited concern
Inhalation risk from volatilized alcohol
Limited concern
Low concern for typical alcohol-based hand sanitizer; no red flags identified.
⚠Risky category by default
Dettol
Instant Hand Sanitizer 50ml
Aqueous alcohol-based liquid sanitizer (ethanol, water, glycerin)
Fragrance allergens
Limited concern
Skin irritation and drying from ethanol
Moderate concern
Preservative safety (methyl/propylparaben or phenoxyethanol risk)
Limited concern
Flammability and improper storage risk
Moderate concern
Low concern; alcohol-based hand sanitizer carries minimal inherent PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
Dettol
Antibacterial Hand Sanitiser Aloe Vera Gel 50ml
Alcohol gel base (ethanol/isopropyl), aloe vera extract, glycerin
Fragrance allergens and skin sensitivity
Limited concern
Alcohol content and flammability risk
Moderate concern
Skin drying and barrier disruption with chronic use
Limited concern
Accidental ingestion risk in children
High concern
Low concern; no known use case for PFAS in alcohol-based hand sanitizer gels.
⚠Risky category by default
Dettol
Instant Liquid Hand Sanitiser 200mL
Aqueous liquid hand sanitiser (water-based, alcohol)
Alcohol flammability
Moderate concern
Skin irritation or sensitisation from fragrance or humectants
Limited concern
Accidental ingestion toxicity
Moderate concern
Microbial contamination from improper storage or degradation
Limited concern
Low concern; liquid hand sanitizer formula has no inherent need for PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Dettol
Sanitizer
aqueous solution (water-based antiseptic liquid)
Contact dermatitis (chloroxylenol and fragrance)
Limited concern
Eye irritation
High concern
Oral/ingestion toxicity
Moderate concern
Preservative-related sensitization
Limited concern
Low concern; liquid antiseptic contains no known PFAS vectors, but brand offers no explicit assurance.
⚠Risky category by default
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