Here are some details about body wash products, including positive and negative aspects, and ingredients or materials:

• Contaminants: These are ingredients that are not intentionally added to a product but can still be found in the finished product due to factors such as processing or sourcing. An example of a contaminant commonly found in body washes is 1,4 dioxane.

• Surfactants: These are a group of ingredients found in body washes to make them sudsy. Some surfactants can be problematic for our environment, such as sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate, which have been found to cause contact irritation in users and are also harmful to aquatic life.

• Biodegradability: When choosing a body wash, its important to consider toxicity to aquatic animals and our environment. MADE SAFE certifies products containing surfactants, and they zero in on biodegradability and toxicity to aquatic life.

• Ingredients: Some ingredients to avoid when shopping for safer options include PEGs, parabens, and ingredients ending in -eth. Some body washes are formulated without sulfates, such as the Pearly Soap Body Wash by Ashland, which has a high natural content of 88% . Other body washes contain ingredients such as citric acid, fragrance, and guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, which provide moisture, softness, and deep cleaning.

• Harmful chemicals: Cosmetics and personal care products are notoriously under-regulated, and some products contain harmful chemicals. For example, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is commonly used as a preservative in personal care products that contain oils or fats, such as lipsticks, eyeliners, and moisturizers. Parabens are another group of preservatives used in water-based products. Low concentrations of parabens are found in shampoos and conditioners, face washes, toothpastes, and other cosmetics. Consumers can search for a product by name or barcode on apps by the Environmental Working Group and Think Dirty to find ingredients of concern.

• Ranking: There are products whose compositions are free from risky substances and which represent a better option. Yukas ranking of the best body washes includes products that are free from harmful ingredients, such as phthalates, certain parabens or silicones, MIT (Methylisothiazolinone), CMIT (Methylchloroisothiazolinone), or Petrolatum. Some of the top-ranking body washes include 18-In-1 Hemp Rose Pure-Castile Soap by Dr. Bronners, Coconut Cream Body Wash by Pacifica, and Raw Shea Butter Body Wash by Nubian Heritage.