Your hands are some of the most active parts of your body, and they come into contact with a lot of surfaces.
From mobile phones to doorknobs to the lift button of your apartment building, you’re touching quite a bit of dirt. Which means you need to wash your hands – a lot.
Stock up on some of the best hand wash in Australia so you and your loved ones can stay safe and hygienic!
Best Overall | Best Natural | Best Antibacterial | Best Scent | Best Unscented | Best Luxury | Best Budget | Best Bar Soap | Best Hand & Body | Best Soap-Free | Best Foaming | Best for Dry Hands | Best for Sensitive Skin | Best for Tattoos | Best for Dirt | Best for Grease | Best Refillable | Best Sanitiser
Best Hand Wash Australia
There are endless brands of liquid hand soaps on the market, but we’ve got our favourites!
Here’s a round-up of the best hand wash in Australia – there’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for an addictive aroma or a formula for your sensitive skin.
Best Hand Wash Overall: al.ive body Hand & Body Wash/Lotion Duo
The cult favourite hand wash in Australia has to be the al.ive body range. Their Duo set comes with liquid soap, lotion, and a matching tray for easy display and storage.
This Australian-made product uses all-natural ingredients, mainly cotton seed oil and aloe. The luxurious blend is fortified with essential oils and botanical extracts that leave your skin feeling smooth and supple.
Choose your favourite scent – some popular ones are Sea Cotton & Coconut for a beach vibe, or Applewood & Goji Berry for a woody feel.
Plus, the bottles come in colours that match the scent, so your bathroom will look sophisticated as well.
Best Natural Hand Wash: Koala Eco Hand Wash
Koala Eco is known for its natural, plant-based products, and its hand wash is no exception.
The Lemon-Scented Eucalyptus and Rosemary wash uses organic ingredients such as plant-based glycerin, rosemary and eucalyptus essential oils, and plant-derived surfactants.
It also contains no synthetic fragrance and is greywater-safe.
Koala Eco’s biodegradable formula is gentle on your hands while cleaning your skin.
Best Antibacterial Hand Wash: Dettol Antibacterial Hand Wash
As the brand says – “soft on skin, hard on germs.” Dettol’s Antibacterial Hand Wash with Aloe Vera kills 99.9% of germs and is suitable for everyday use.
This liquid soap is subtly scented with aloe, which also helps moisturise your skin. Dettol says its products are dermatologically tested so you can keep your family healthy.
Best of all, these hand washes are compatible with the Dettol No-Touch Systems, which further minimises the risk of germs and bacteria!
Best Smelling Hand Wash: Thankyou Botanical Hand Wash
Smells just as good as more luxury products without hurting your wallet. Thankyou’s Botanical hand washes have no SLS, SLES, or parabens, and they’re vegan-friendly.
Plus, they’re made with love in Australia!
Thankyou has a range of hand washes that feel great on your hands while smelling oh-so addictive. For a zesty zing, try their Aloe Vera and Lemon Oil wash.
The citrus snap of lemon will refresh you, while the botanical aloe soothes your skin. “Evoke a Mediterranean summer” right in your bathroom – all while knowing your purchase helps get clean water and sanitation to people in need.
Best Unscented Hand Soap: Clearly Natural Liquid Hand Soap
For those who prefer fragrance-free hand soaps, try the Clearly Natural Unscented Glycerine Hand Soap!
This product is enriched with vegetable-derived glycerine, which draws moisture into your skin. It nourishes and refreshes your hands without irritating your nose.
Clearly Natural’s soap is perfect for people allergic to artificial fragrances, or who simply want a fuss-free wash that won’t dry their hands.
Best Luxury Hand Wash: Aesop Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash
The Aesop Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash has a romantic aroma and a classy appearance.
Aesop is a popular hand soap brand, and for good reason. The soap smells fantastic, blending bergamot rind with petitgrain extract – making it the epitome of bathroom luxury.
The Reverence Aromatique comes as an opaque gel with an earthy scent. It contains finely milled pumice that gently exfoliates your hands and removes dirt.
Simply wet, lather, then rinse, leaving your hands clean and refreshed.
Best Budget Hand Wash: Palmolive Liquid Hand Soap
Palmolive is a classic product in bathrooms everywhere. Their Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap contains 100% natural lime and mint extracts that will help clean your skin while leaving a zesty scent.
The brand proudly makes its hand soaps without parabens, phthalates, alcohol, silicones, or animal-derived ingredients. The soap is also refillable, and comes in a recyclable bottle.
The hand soap kills 99.9% of germs thanks to a naturally derived antibacterial agent. And best of all, it costs less than $5 – that’s value for money!
Best Hand Soap Bar: L’Occitane Shea Verbena Soap
L’Occitane is another popular hand soap brand, and their Shea Verbena Soap is a crowd favourite.
The L’Occitane hand soaps are formulated with shea butter, for moisturising and nourishing. None of their soaps contain palm oil; instead, they use vegetable-based oils that are good for you.
Moreover, verbena helps tone the skin and brings mental clarity with its refreshing scent.
If citrus isn’t your thing, they have a lavender-scented soap as well! The Shea Lavender bar carries a scent right out of Provence.
Best Hand and Body Wash: Olieve & Olie Hand & Body Wash
This natural liquid soap contains the fresh scent of wild lemon myrtle. Olieve & Olie Hand & Body Wash is made right in Gunbower Creek, Victoria – by hand, in small batches.
This hand and body wash contains no synthetic fragrances or petrochemicals. Its main ingredients include coconut oil and castor oil, for gentle cleansing without drying.
You can use this soap on your hands, face, and body.
Best Soap-Free Hand Wash: DermaVeen Soap-Free Wash
DermaVeen has formulated their Soap-Free Wash to be gentle while maintaining your natural oils. It’s also unscented and pH-balanced, so it soothes even sensitive skin.
Instead of traditional methods, DermaVeen soap uses natural colloidal oatmeal to clean, hydrate, and prevent irritation. It’s non-foaming and non-drying – and yep, it’s vegan!
Best Foaming Hand Soap: Tirtyl Foaming Hand Soap Tablets
Make handwashing fun with the Tirtyl Hand Soap Kit! It comes with a glass foaming dispenser and 3 tablets in a variety of fragrances – although you can choose larger kits or a variety fragrance pack with 12 tablets.
To use, simply fill the dispenser with warm water then drop a tablet in. Once the tablet has dissolved, pump out the moisturising foam lather.
Tirtyl has the best foaming hand soap tablets since they’re paraben and phthalate-free, and are safe for sensitive skin. They come in fantastic scents (like Coconut & Vanilla or Lemon & Makrut) and 100% home-compostable packaging.
Best Hand Wash for Dry Hands: L’Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Hands & Body Wash
Fans of the L’Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Hands & Body Wash say it’s perfect even for your chapped hands in winter!
This hand soap is enriched with both shea butter and oat milk for a natural, moisturising formula. L’Occitane’s organic shea butter is packed with omega-3 and omega-6 so your epidermis doesn’t dry out.
Gently massage this foaming cream into your hands or body and feel the soothing difference.
Best Hand Wash for Sensitive Skin: Ecostore Ultra Sensitive Hand Wash
No fragrances, no colourants – all-natural formulation. Ecostore’s Ultra Sensitive Hand Wash is one of your best choices for sensitive skin, according to dermatologists.
This liquid soap has a very mild, plant-based formula that contains harakeke (New Zealand flax) to hydrate your skin. Many users rate it as the best hand wash for eczema, dermatitis, contact dermatitis, or psoriasis.
Kill germs without nasty chemicals that can cause damage to your hands.
Ecostore’s gentle hand wash is also approved by Sensitive Choice, a program by the National Asthma Council Australia.
Best Hand Soap for Tattoos: Tattoo Goo Deep Cleansing Soap
If you’re freshly inked, you’ll need a specialised hand soap brand that can safely clean your skin while managing the healing process.
The Tattoo Goo Deep Cleansing Soap is formulated with premium olive oil – nature’s ultimate moisturiser. It’ll help prevent the area around your tattoo from drying while the skin heals.
Its formula also contains broad-spectrum antibacterial and antimicrobial protection without any alcohol. This makes it safe to use on piercings as well!
Best Hand Soap for Dirt and Grime: Seattle Sundries Gardener’s Gold Soap
This hardworking soap even comes in a travel tin, so you can carry it on the go! The Seattle Sundries Gardener’s Gold Soap is the perfect gift for the plant lover in your life (including yourself).
The vegan soap is scented with geranium, grapefruit, and lavender essential oils. It has no synthetic fragrances or artificial dyes – instead, the colour comes from carrot juice (which has beta-carotene).
Simply take the soap out of the tin and use it to scrub anything dirty, from your hands to your face to your feet!
Best Hand Soap for Grease: Permatex Fast Orange Pumice Hand Cleaner
If you often get grease and grime on your hands, you’ll need a powerful cleaner to tackle even the toughest dirt.
Permatex Fast Orange Pumice Hand Cleaner has a biodegradable formula that’ll get the grease off your hands. It’s the best hand wash for mechanics due to the even pumice-dispensing formulation – but since it’s fortified with conditioners, it won’t harm your skin.
This product is formulated to be non-toxic, with a fresh citrus scent. Use on dry hands until grease is dissolved.
Best Hand Soap Refill: Zero Co Handwash Combo
Zero Co products come in classy refillable bottles made from 50% recycled and ocean plastic. So it’s not just their formula that’s planet-friendly, but also their packaging!
If you’re a fan of woody scents, one of their most popular hand washes is the Red Cedarwood and Suede Handwash Combo. It contains aloe vera to hydrate your skin and coconut surfactants that gently cleanse.
Besides the cedar wood scent, the soap also contains chamomile and finger lime extract to give you an extra boost of energy. Simply place the forever bottle in your bathroom, then refill from the pouch as necessary.
Best Hand Sanitiser: Purell
Hand sanitisers aren’t soap, but they’re still great for disinfecting your skin on the go!
Purell’s Instant Hand Sanitizer comes in travel-friendly 1oz bottles that you can hang on your bag or keep in your car. The mild formula uses plant-based ethanol so it won’t dry out your skin.
Simply squirt out some sanitiser and rub until it’s fully absorbed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got some questions about choosing between hand soaps and washes? We’ve got you covered!
Which hand soap cleans the best?
All of the above recommended hand soaps work well for hand washing. However, the best overall remains the al.ive body range – it combines effectiveness, aesthetic, and natural ingredients in one great package.
Which brand is best for hand wash?
Some of the top recommended brands for hand wash include al.ive, Aesop, Koala Eco, L’Occitane, Zero Co, and Thankyou.
What’s the best hand soap dispenser?
For automatic hand soap dispensers, the Dettol No-Touch System works perfectly. There’s no installation required, and they’re compatible with the recommended antibacterial soap!
If you do use hand soap dispensers in your home, remind your regular house cleaner to wipe them down during their routine.
Which Aesop hand wash is best?
As a hand soap brand, Aesop is incredibly popular – and the fan favourite is clearly the Aesop Reverence. It’s well-loved for its signature bergamot scent and the way it leaves your hands feeling supple and smooth.
