When I first went vegan, I realized the significance of making conscious decisions when purchasing the products I use on a daily basis.
Finding 100% cruelty-free cosmetics and toiletries can be a daunting prospect and are often not to be found in typical supermarkets. One of the trickiest items in this category is vegan hand soap.
As well as containing animal fats, conventional non-vegan soaps, often contain toxic artificial fragrances, detergents and certain sulfates that are known to be carcinogenic.
Luckily, there are many options on the market, for those with a keen eye, that exclude all those yucky ingredients.
Each of these hand soap options is 100% cruelty-free and can be purchased online, or bought at selected supermarkets and health- food shops.
Top 5 Vegan Hand Soaps
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Moisturizing |  | | | | |
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Natural Ingredients | | | | | |
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Organic Ingredients |  | | | | |
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Free of Artificial colors | | | | | |
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Paraben-Free | | | | | |
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Gluten-Free | | | | | |
Puracy - Natural Hand Soap (Liquid)
This award winning vegan hand soap from Puracy has featured on NBC, FOX and ABC for good reason.
With a soothing lavender and vanilla fragrance, this soap is infused with Vitamin E, Aloe Vera and Sea Salt to naturally moisturize your skin and contains no sulfates, parabens, phosphates or petrochemicals.
The product is formulated by doctors, and is hypoallergenic and gluten- free so it’s safe for sensitive skins of all age types.
What We Love
Besides from ticking nearly all boxes on the healthy ingredients checklist, this product also supports it’s local community. The beautiful floral design on all of its bottles was hand- drawn by local artists, a feature which is evident in all Puracy products.
The Downside
It’s not organic! Though we cannot complain with it’s extensive list of beneficial natural ingredients and it’s absence of harmful toxins and chemicals, if this product was produced organically it would be the without a doubt, the most perfect vegan hand soap! Also, as this soap only has one fragrance, some of the reviewers pine for more variety when it comes to fragrance.
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Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Hand Soap
Made with 98% plant- based ingredients such as olive oil, aloe vera and other essential oils, Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap is non-drying and leaves your hands feeling soft and smooth.
It is sulfate and paraben free with no artificial colors, with added glycerin (from corn) to attract moisture.
It comes in a variety of fragrances, some of which are Basil, Geranium, Rosemary, and Honeysuckle.
You can also plop one of these soap bottles into your guest bathroom; you’ll have your friends and family raving about how much they love the soap.
What We Love
The variety of unique fragrances! If you are someone who likes a different assortment of fragrances, or someone who enjoys a more interesting scent, then Mrs. Meyers does not disappoint. Some more individual scents of the range are Rhubarb, Radish, and Parsley.
The Downside
These hand soaps are not hypoallergenic or gluten- free so for those with more sensitive skin, these might not agree with you. Also, some reviewers agree that some of the scents do not have the best smell, so when purchasing online, choose wisely, as to not be stuck with a fragrance you would rather not have on your hands.
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Dr. Bronner’s Organic Pump Soap
This Australian-made hand soap from Dr. Bronner’s is certified organic, cruelty- free and fair trade!
If this isn’t enough to persuade yourself to buy some, then it’s their unique ingredient list that might do so.
As well as essential oils and other plant-based ingredients, the soap uses organic shikakai, a fruit from the small South Asian Tree, Acacia Concinna which had been used in India for skin and hair health for millennia.
The hand soap comes in Peppermint, Lavender, Lemongrass Lime and Tea Tree scents and has a Baby Unscented hand soap option as well.
What We Love
It’s both natural and organic! The only soap on this list to be deemed organic, this makes this soap a worthy choice for hand cleanliness. Dr. Bronner’s can also boast having five generations of soap- making experience under their belt, the owner’s family crafting soap since 1858.
The Downside
Again, this soap is neither gluten- free or hypoallergenic, so it will not suit all skin types. Some reviewers also complain that the product is quite pricey for what it is and some of the scents have a slight antiseptic smell.
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Puracy Natural Foaming Hand Soap
If you are a fan of the normal liquid soap of the same brand, then you will surely love Puracy’s foaming hand soap.
Consisting of the same ingredients and soothing distinct scent the added foaming counterpart allows less soap to be used each time you use it, saving your pockets, as well as the environment.
This soap is also a great option if you are concerned with and sensitive to products with harsh chemicals and additives.
Putting aside the quality of their products and the social impact, Puracy is also great when it comes to customer service. They stand behind their products and if you ever have a problem, just contact them, and they are more then willing to rectify the issue. Thumbs up for a great product and a great company.
What We Love
The foaming component of this product takes something we already love, but makes it more cost-effective and environmentally sound. The lavender and vanilla scent is present but not too overpowering!
The Downside
Like it’s original counterpart, this soap is not certified organic. Some reviewers have also mentioned that the new foaming bottle can sometimes be faulty. If this happens, however, the company is happy to send you a new bottle free of charge.
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Hugo Naturals Foaming Hand Soap
If you prefer foaming soaps to liquid ones, then this addition is another great candidate for your vegan bathroom.
This luscious soap from Hugo Naturals is made of vegetable derived glycerin with added shea butter and aloe to leave your skin dirt-free and moisturized.
It’s free from all sorts of nasties including, parabens, petrochemicals, artificial colors and synthetic fragrances.
The two available scents sold are Shea Butter & Oatmeal and Vanilla & Sweet Orange.
What We Love
The addition of shea butter gives this soap an extra moisturizing component, also leaving your hands smelling pleasantly creamy. It’s also gluten-free, so it’s safe for those suffering from a celiac intolerance. Also, the price is very reasonable!
The Downside
A lot of reviewers have complained that the pumps break easily, and the soap can leak out of the pump, leaving the bottle sticky with residue. Also, some reviewers think that though inexpensive the price added with the faultiness of the pump is not worth that much.
Check Price on AmazonHow Can I Tell if the Soap I Have is Vegan?
Most cruelty- free soaps will clearly state somewhere on the package that they are vegan.
However, if this is not the case always double check the ingredient list at the back, bottom, or side of the soap packaging.
Some ingredient names for animal-based skin cleansers used in soaps are oleic, palmitic, stearic, palmitoleic, linoleic and myristic acid.
Though some of these fatty acids can be derived from plants, many are from animal fats such as tallow, so if you are still unsure, feel free to ring up the manufacturer and ask!
Do Soaps Free of Animal Fats Still Clean as Well as Those with Animal Fats?
Yes!
Even though the use of animal fats within soaps as been common practice for centuries, plant- based soaps are proven not only to clean just as well as their cruel counterparts but better.
They also have the added bonus of having less harmful additives.
If a hand soap is vegan, chances are it also as a lot of harmful and toxic chemicals removed from the product as well, which are usually found in ordinary soap.
In fact, there are so many chemical stabilizers in conventional soaps, to give it a longer shelf life and so on, that any benefits on the soaps are made redundant, and leave the skin dry.
All plant- based soap products, due to their natural and animal- free products, leave the skin moisturized and supple.
Dirt-Free, Guilt-Free Hands
There are countless cruelty- free hand soap options out there, and there is no lack of variety.
Vegan soaps are usually more suitable for all skin types and ages and are more likely to be hypoallergenic.
Do you like strong, interesting fragrances or simple, understated scents?
From the list above, there is a wide selection of soaps to choose from to suit you best, no matter what your personal preferences.
Enjoy being dirt-free, guilt-free!
Really clean website, thanks for this post.
Dr Bronners castle and bar soaps uses palm oil which contributes to deforesstation, not to mention loss of habitat and orphan orangutans, sumatran elephants and tigers, right?
Hi Maria.
Please visit this page on Dr Bronner’s website to read their stance on how they ethically source their palm oil.
Here’s a snippet, but I suggest following the link above to read their full article:
“We buy palm fruits exclusively from 500 small organic family farms. These farms were developed without the widespread clear-cutting of rainforest and resulting devastation to local primates that are common nowadays with many of the newer, larger-scale palm oil plantations.”