When shopping for body wash, choose products that are free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes and fragrances, microbeads, and palm oil. The best certifications to look out for on body washes are the EWG certification (which ensures the product is free from chemicals of concern), the Fair Trade certification (which benefits the people making the product), and the PETA and Leaping Bunny certifications (which ensure no animal testing was performed using the product). 

Ingredients

Parabens

Parabens are cheap preservatives that are used to prevent the growth of mold and harmful bacteria. They have been associated with endocrine disruption in humans, and certain kinds can kill coral, even at low levels of exposure. After a 2004 study concluded that the presence of parabens may spur the growth of breast cancer cells, the public backlash led some cosmetic companies to start removing parabens from their products. However, additional studies of the effect of parabens on our health have proved inconclusive, and the FDA currently approves the use of parabens in cosmetic products. 

Sulfates

Sulfates, like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), are emulsifying cleaning agents used to break down and wash away the dirt and grime that water can’t get rid of on its own. They also happen to be highly toxic threats to aquatic life. Although there is some debate on sulfates, the World Health Organization (WHO) unequivocally states that SLS “...is toxic to aquatic organisms. It is strongly advised not to let the chemical enter into the environment.” 

Synthetic Fragrances

The most elusive ingredient of all might be fragrances. That’s because fragrances are protected from disclosure. While “fragrance” might appear to be one ingredient on the label, that word could potentially comprise hundreds of chemical compounds just for one scent! It’s not the scent that worries us, but phthalates, which enable fragrances to become soluble. They are known endocrine disruptors in both humans and aquatic life and can even lower the production of testosterone. Studies have found that prenatal exposure to phthalates can decrease mental and motor development in children. 

Microbeads

Some body washes contain exfoliating agents, many of which are just microbeads, aka tiny pieces of plastic that go down your drain and often end up in the ocean. Look for body washes that contain exfoliating ingredients like sugar or coffee grounds instead of those tiny plastic beads as a more sustainable option. 

Palm Oil

Palm oil is commonly found in soaps because it’s great at helping to remove dirt and oil and is a great source of vitamin E and antioxidants. About 66 million tons of palm oil are produced annually, making it the most common vegetable oil on Earth. It is a very productive crop, offering greater yield at a lower production cost than any other vegetable oil. However, it’s derived from oil palm trees which only grow in the tropics and need a serious amount of water to flourish. 

The increased use of palm oil has directly led to deforestation, child labor exploitation, the displacement of Indigenous peoples, has increased global warming, and has threatened 321 species with extinction, such as orangutans, Borneo elephants, and tigers. Not a great track record. As the demand for palm oil-based products expands, so too does the demand for palm oil plantations. That means that areas like Borneo and Sumatra are disproportionately affected by the problems caused by the expansion of palm oil production, which is reportedly responsible for 5% of all tropical deforestation. The expansion also leads to increasing land scarcity and higher land prices, which affect the livelihoods of local farmers who can be shut out by bigger corporate growers. 

It’s important to note that not all palm oil is produced in such an irresponsible way – some palm oils are produced without contributing to deforestation or ecosystem disruption, but it is a limited amount. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) claims to certify sustainable palm oil production. However, researchers have found no significant difference between certified and non-certified plantations for any of the sustainability metrics investigated, such as conservation of biodiversity, consideration of social impacts, and economic viability. Plus, less than 7% of total palm oil production is certified as sustainable by RSPO, so it’s not a silver bullet.

Transportation Emissions

Generally speaking, the #1 ingredient in body wash is water. And water is heavy. Heavy products require more fuel to ship, resulting in higher emissions during transportation. So, the farther your body wash has to travel to finally reach your shower, the larger its carbon footprint could be. When possible, opt for products produced locally to cut down on long-distance transportation-related emissions, or switch to bar soap to cut down on fuel consumption and plastic waste. 

Packaging

In most cases, all those ingredients are bundled up and shipped in—you guessed it— plastic bottles. More single-use plastic bottles inevitably mean more plastic waste; EPA records show our plastic consumption goes up nearly every year and almost 70% of that plastic ends up in landfills. (Just think about how many bottles of body wash you need to shower for a year...) If your body wash comes in a plastic bottle, try reducing plastic waste by buying larger volume bottles and checking the label at the bottom to learn how it can be recycled. Or, switch to bar soap to avoid those hefty plastic bottles.

‍Fun Fact

At least 8 trillion microbeads flow into aquatic environments every day. For reference, this is enough microbeads to cover over 300 tennis courts… per day. Steer clear of body washes with plastic exfoliants to avoid contributing to this problem.

Certifications

Here are some certifications to look out for when shopping this category.

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