Caress Exfoliating Body Wash Shea Butter & Brown Sugar
Lower concern cosmetic wash; no identified PFAS risk factors.
Body wash formulated with water, glycerin, surfactants, and natural exfoliants. No waterproofing, grease resistance, or non-stick coatings typical of PFAS use.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
water, glycerin, surfactants, shea butter, brown sugar exfoliant
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Caress Exfoliating Body Wash Shea Butter is made of, ingredients and materials
Caress Exfoliating Body Wash is a rinse-off cosmetic based on water, glycerin (humectant), surfactants (cleansing agents), shea butter (emollient), and brown sugar (mechanical exfoliant). The formulation contains no reported chemical binders, resins, or coatings that would introduce lead, cadmium, or formaldehyde releasers. Because it is applied briefly to skin and fully rinsed, dermal absorption of ingredients is minimal, and the brown sugar breaks down in water rather than persisting as microplastic.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Fragrance allergens
Caress products typically contain fragrance compounds listed as 'fragrance' in ingredient declarations. Individual sensitivity to fragrance mixtures is common; specific allergens (e.g., limonene, linalool) are not disclosed on the label.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
1,4-dioxane (surfactant contaminant)
No independent testing or regulatory findings of 1,4-dioxane in this product are on record. Dioxane can form as a trace contaminant during surfactant synthesis; rinse-off products pose lower risk than leave-on due to brief contact time.
Heavy metals
No recalls or reports of lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals in Caress body wash products exist. Shea butter and brown sugar are not known sources of heavy metal contamination in cosmetic-grade formulations.
Source, FDA ↗Talc contamination
This product does not list talc as an ingredient and is not a powder or aerosol; talc risk does not apply.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (e.g., DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea) are declared in the known formulation. Glycerin and shea butter are not formaldehyde sources.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Caress is owned by Unilever and markets primarily on emollient and fragrance positioning rather than toxicological transparency. The brand does not publish detailed ingredient breakdowns or third-party safety certifications on its website. No recalls or regulatory actions specific to this product line are on record. The brand's PFAS stance is undisclosed, but the PFAS assessment for this product indicates lower concern.
How it compares in its category
Exfoliating body washes occupy a middle tier of complexity in rinse-off cosmetics. Unlike leave-on products (creams, serums), short contact time limits exposure to potential irritants or contaminants. Brown sugar is a safer mechanical exfoliant than microbeads, which were banned in the US in 2015. Most mass-market body washes in this category have similar ingredient profiles and no established heavy metal or formaldehyde risks; Caress sits at parity with competitors like Dove Exfoliating and store brands.
If you buy it
Use as directed, apply to wet skin, gently massage, rinse thoroughly. The brown sugar particles are water-soluble and pose no hazard if accidentally ingested in small amounts during rinsing. Store in a cool, dry place; do not expose to direct heat or sunlight, as glycerin can separate and fragrance can degrade. No special maintenance is required. Discontinue use if skin irritation or allergic reaction occurs; patch test on a small area first if you have sensitive skin.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Caress has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More body wash grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.