Kiehl's Body Fuel All-In-One Energizing Wash
Lower PFAS concern for a rinse-off liquid cleanser lacking fluorinated additives.
This rinse-off body wash contains no disclosed PFAS treatment, coating, or water-repellency need. The brand makes no PFAS claims.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
aqueous cleanser, surfactants, glycerin, essential oils
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Kiehl's Body Fuel Energizing Wash is made of, ingredients and materials
Body Fuel is an aqueous cleanser built on standard surfactants (likely sodium lauryl sulfate or sulfonates), glycerin humectant, and essential oils for fragrance and positioning. Being a rinse-off product means surfactants and most additives leave the skin within seconds, drastically reducing exposure time compared to leave-on products. The glycerin and water make up the bulk; essential oils are present in low concentration for scent and mild antimicrobial claims, but are not systemically absorbed from brief skin contact.
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 (undisclosed components)
Essential oils and fragrance compounds are listed vaguely on labels and can trigger contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Kiehls does not publish a fragrance allergen breakdown for Body Fuel, so users with known sensitivities to citrus, geranium, or other botanical oils cannot easily verify safety.
1,4-dioxane (contaminant in surfactant ethoxylates)
Cosmetic surfactants derived from ethylene oxide can harbor trace 1,4-dioxane; the EPA permits up to 30 ppm in rinse-off products. Kiehls does not publish dioxane testing; independent lab testing would be required to confirm levels.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Parabens
No public evidence of prohibited or concerning preservatives in Body Fuel formulations; however, Kiehls does not disclose which preservative system is used, so independent verification is not available.
Source, FDA ↗Heavy metals
Body Fuel is a clear-to-opaque wash with no visible colorants or mineral claims; no recalls or regulatory actions for heavy-metal contamination have been recorded for this product line.
Source, FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
No public evidence or regulatory action linking Body Fuel to formaldehyde-releasing preservatives such as DMDM hydantoin or imidazolidinyl urea; the product does not claim antimicrobial performance beyond surfactant cleansing.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Kiehls (owned by L'Oreal) does not publicly post ingredient or safety testing detail beyond standard labeling; no PFAS transparency statement found on record. The brand is not known for major cosmetic safety recalls or substantiated heavy-metal contamination incidents. Kiehls markets Body Fuel as a prestige men's grooming line with emphasis on plant actives, but provides no third-party certifications (e.g., EWG, Clean Beauty) or toxicology summaries.
How it compares in its category
Body washes occupy a middle safety tier, they are lower-risk than leave-on creams or foundations (which accumulate on skin) but higher-risk than pure soaps if they contain synthetic preservatives or fragrance allergens. Body Fuel's formula is conventional and similar to most mass-market male grooming washes; it is not marketed as hypoallergenic, unscented, or dermatologist-tested, so sensitive skin users may see more irritation than simpler alternatives. The price point and ingredient transparency are typical of prestige brands, not above industry standard.
If you buy it
Use as directed, apply to damp skin, lather, rinse thoroughly with water within 30 seconds. Store in a cool, dry place and replace after 12 months to avoid bacterial overgrowth in the bottle; do not let product sit on skin longer than necessary. Discontinue immediately if redness, stinging, or rash develops; patch test on inner arm first if you have sensitive skin or known fragrance sensitivities. Do not ingest or use near eyes.
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
- Kiehl's 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.