Amazon.com: Kiehls Body Wash
Liquid body wash formulation has lower PFAS concern than coated products.
Body wash is a rinse-off liquid cosmetic unlikely to contain intentional PFAS. Kiehl's does not disclose PFAS status; standard cosmetic formulations pose lower concern than treated textiles or coated goods.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Water, glycerin, surfactants, botanical extracts
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Amazon.com: Kiehls Body Wash is made of, ingredients and materials
Kiehls Body Wash is a water-based surfactant system with glycerin humectant and botanical extracts. The liquid format eliminates concerns tied to pressed powders or talc inhalation risk. Surfactants and glycerin are standard cosmetic ingredients; the absence of synthetic dyes or heavy fragrance oils in listed formulations reduces pigment-metal and allergen vectors compared to heavily scented or colored alternatives.
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 and sensitizers
Kiehls Body Wash contains fragrance and botanical extracts listed in standard formulations. Fragrance is not fully disclosed by individual components on label; contact dermatitis and sensitization are documented risks in body wash users with sensitive skin or known fragrance allergies.
Bacterial or fungal growth post-opening
Aqueous body washes are susceptible to microbial colonization after opening if stored warm or in humid bathrooms. This is a usage and storage issue, not a manufacturing defect, but poor maintenance can create hygiene risk.
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 by-product)
No recalls or testing results on record for Kiehls Body Wash. 1,4-dioxane can be a trace contaminant in surfactant-based formulations; manufacturer data sheets or third-party testing would be required to confirm absence at parts-per-million levels.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No recalls or published complaints specific to this product. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea) are regulated and less common in premium brands, but ingredient lists would confirm absence.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Kiehls does not disclose third-party heavy metal testing for botanical ingredients. Cadmium and lead uptake in plant extracts depends on source soil; no specific recalls exist for this brand, but independent verification is not publicly available.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Kiehls (owned by Estee Lauder Companies) does not publicly disclose PFAS testing or a PFAS phase-out commitment, despite parent company statements on broader sustainability. The brand has no established recalls for heavy metals, formaldehyde releasers, or 1,4-dioxane contamination on record. Kiehls lists ingredients on packaging and online; third-party certifications (cruelty-free, vegan variants) exist but no independent safety audits are publicly available.
How it compares in its category
Body washes as a category carry lower inherent hazard than powdered cosmetics or heavily fragranced colognes because liquid formulations avoid talc inhalation and concentrate fragrance volatiles less. Kiehls sits in the premium mainstream segment, not professional-grade or indie brands with variable QC. Most mass-market body washes use similar surfactant blends; Kiehls' botanical extract branding does not systematically reduce or elevate safety risk versus unscented alternatives.
If you buy it
Store below 25 degrees Celsius to slow ingredient degradation; check the batch code on the container and discard after 12 months of opening to avoid bacterial bloom in rinse-off formulations. Use as directed (lather and rinse); prolonged skin contact is not intended. If skin irritation or sensitization appears, discontinue and consult a dermatologist; fragrance and botanical extracts can trigger contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Kiehls 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.