Hygiene is vital for everyday health, and washing your hands thoroughly is important to personal health. But if you choose the wrong hand wash, you can end up with dry, red, and sore skin.
If you want to be eco-friendly, look for a bar of soap that isn't using single-use plastic packaging. Ordering more than one pack at a time is also good for your carbon footprint. There are loads of hand washes that are paraben-free, making them better for your skin, and always make sure they're not tested on animals.
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To wash your hands thoroughly, aim for about 20 seconds of washing with warm water (you can sing Happy Birthday to yourself twice, for a rough estimate of the time you should take).
We're hot on hygiene and wash our hands regularly, you'll be pleased to know - and we want to share with you our favourite hand washes. Whether you're looking for a creamy hand wash, or a more traditional soap bar, here are the team's picks:
Just so you know, while we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections
The best soaps and hand washes
1 of 8Pears Transparent Amber Soap 125 g (Pack of 12)
I choose this soap because my gran used it, and it brings back happy memories. And it smells lovely.
2 of 8Molton Brown Delicious Rhubarb and Rose Fine Liquid Hand Wash 300 ml
Smells delicious and will leave your hands soft, Molton Brown is a bit of a treat but worth every penny.
3 of 8Scottish Fine Soaps Sea Kelp Hand Wash 300ml Bottle
Smells like a fresh sea breeze, and lathers up well. Includes a blend of three types of seaweed.
4 of 83 x Dove Beauty Cream Bar
Renowned for looking after your skin, if you're washing your hands frequently then this classic Dove soap will take care of you.
5 of 8Scottish Fine Soaps Au Lait Milk Soap
Not only is the smell of this milky soap totally luxurious, but it leaves skin gloriously soft.
6 of 8Crate 61 6-Pack 100% Vegan Cold Process Bar Soap
With no plastic packaging, these vegan soaps are saving the planet one bar at a time, and they contain just premium essential oils. LOVE.
7 of 8Baylis & Harding Royale Garden Verbena & Chamomile, 500ml Hand Wash, Pack of 6
Great value for a pack of six, this will keep you going for a while! The bottles are 100% recyclable, and the wash is paraben free. Looks fancy, too.
8 of 8Baylis & Harding Fuzzy Duck Hand Wash, Cosmopolitan, 500ml (Pack of 3)
If you're a fan of a Cosmo when you're out out, then you'll love the smell of this hand wash.
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