How Do I Choose the Best Organic Hand Soap?

The best organic hand soap will have a pleasing texture and scent, be affordable for you, and be free of any non-organic ingredients. There are organic hand soaps made especially for men, women, children, and infants. You can find organic hand soaps through specialty cosmetic shops, online, or through catalogs.

Before you start searching for the best organic hand soap, consider your budget. Organic products can be expensive, but you may be able to find coupons or discounts if you sign up for a frequent customer card or e-mail newsletter. If there is a brand of cosmetics that you know and like, search online for the best price before purchasing.

Organic hand soaps are made with natural ingredients: essential oils from plants and fruits, and natural moisturizers like oatmeal, beeswax, and aloe vera. Usually, if the ingredients are listed, organic ingredients are easy to identify. Chemical soaps typically include ingredients with chemical names like sodium laureth sulfate, decyl glucoside, and cocamidopropyl betaine. They also typically include numbered dyes, and the term "fragrance."

Most organic cosmetics companies include the ingredients on the label of the product. If they do not, double check their website for ingredients before buying. If you still cannot find information on the make up of the hand soap, don't purchase the product.

Some companies are certified through a government organization that oversees organic processing. These organizations are different from country to country. In the United States, usually the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program certifies organic products. It may be useful to find a product that has been certified to ensure that the product is truly organic.

Of course, you should only purchase a product which smells and feels pleasing to you. Many cosmetic boutiques have sample or trial size organic hand soaps so that you can try them out before purchasing. At the very least, you can remove the lid of a bottle and experience its scent before you buy. If you don't like it, keep shopping. You won't use a hand soap if you don't like the way it smells.

If you can, try out the organic hand soap before buying, consider how it feels against your skin. Try an organic hand soap with an exfoliate or additional moisturizer. If the soap leaves your hands feeling itchy, inadequately cleaned, or otherwise unpleasant, try another soap.

Once you purchase a hand soap that you like in your price range, consider how your skin reacts over the course of a week of regular use. If you notice any itching, redness, swelling, or other unusual symptoms, stop using it and return it to the store or manufacturer. Report that it caused an allergic reaction, and you will usually get a refund if the majority of the product has not been used.