9 Editor-Approved Hand Washes Worth Trying

Happy Global Handwashing Day!

By Allie Hogan, Staff Writer · Oct 15, 2021

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Soap has been on our minds over the past year and a half a bit more than usual. From the emphasis on washing our hands for 20 seconds early on in the pandemic to wondering if the product on our sinks at home is doing enough to keep us safe and healthy, hand soap has been front of mind.

Washing your hands is essential—we’re taught that from an early age—and the act of scrubbing away the impurities on your hands is so important that it even has its own day. October 15 is Global Handwashing Day, which is meant to build awareness about the importance of keeping your hands clean and encourage people to improve their habits. To celebrate the holiday, we’ve rounded up some of the best hand soaps to keep your hands clean and your bathroom sink looking chic.

1 / 9

Susanne Kaufmann Hand Soap ($49)

This hand soap boasts a unique ingredient list including aloe vera, horsetail, and wheat germ oil, which helps to improve the skin’s ability to protect itself from free radicals while also treating inflammation. Read: a perfect product for the winter when you’re washing your hands more frequently to evade colds and COVID.

2 / 9

C.O. Bigelow Hand Wash ($15)

This refreshing hand soap from C.O. Bigelow is packed with pro-vitamin B5 and aloe vera to help moisturize and soothe hands with each wash. The Rosemary Mint hand wash, shown, comes in a gorgeous green bottle which would be a lovely addition to any sink.

3 / 9

OUAI Hand Wash ($32)

This refillable hand soap doubles as an exfoliant to keep your hands soft and smooth. The unique scent was blended to honor one of the company’s favorite streets in London, Dean Street. Let the smell of citrus, apricot, rose, magnolia and musk transport you to the streets of England while ridding your hand of any impurities.

4 / 9

Dove Foaming Warm Vanilla & Sugar Cane Hand Wash ($4)

You’ve likely washed your body with Dove soap or rolled on a Dove deodorant before, and as most Dove products do, this foaming soap also helps soften and nourish your skin. There are a handful of fresh scents to choose from, but we’re partial to the classic, cozy smell of Warm Vanilla and Sugar Cane.

5 / 9

Byredo Hand Wash ($65)

If you’re looking for a luxe soap to elevate your hand-washing experience, Byredo has you covered. Some of the brand’s most popular fragrances have been transformed into soap, including Suede, Rose, and Vetyver. The Tulipmania scent, shown, is spring in a bottle with notes of freesia, tulip accord and blonde woods.

6 / 9

Gelo Reusable Glass Bottle ($10)

If you’re looking for a sustainable hand soap option to grace your bathroom, give the Gelo Reusable Bottle a go. Each bottle is designed to last for eight or more years—per the brand, it also reduces packaging waste by 97 percent when compared to single-use bottles—and you can choose to fill with a gel or foaming soap. (Each come in shake-and-use pods, shown.)

Gelo currently has five different scents to choose from including Sea Mist, Mineral, and Freesia and Lemon, Basil, and Geranium. The Starter Kit, sold separately, includes a reusable plastic bottle and four hand soap refills.

7 / 9

Hand in Hand Liquid Hand Soap ($5)

Another sustainable option, this hand soap features a refillable bottle while also being vegan and palm oil–free. The brand has an array of exciting scents, including Cactus Blossom, Island Mimosa, Sea Salt, and Sweetgrass, but that’s not even the most compelling part. For each product purchase, Hand in Hand donates one bar of soap and one month of clean water to a child in need, which has benefited at least 13 million children so far.

8 / 9

The Laundress Hand Soap ($19)

The Laundress is well-known for its expertise in removing the grime and grease of stubborn stains from your clothing, so you should trust the brand’s ability to do the same for your hands. The hand soap features vegetable glycerin, aloe, vitamin E and soy protein to ensure skin stays moisturized even with constant washing.

9 / 9

Diptyque EXFOLIATING Hand Rinse ($62)

For another elegant exfoliating option, look no further than Diptyque. The iconic brand is renowned for its chic, delicious home fragrance, and the brand’s hand soap is just as impressive. Ground olive stones in the formula work to cleanse and polish while all being housed in a minimalistic, refillable glass bottle.