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.
To keep things clean and feeling fresh, you’ll need to stock up on some of the best hand wash in Australia.
We’ve rounded up all of our top picks – and they might become a staple in your bathrooms, too!
Best Hand Washes In Australia
There are multiple brands of liquid hand soaps on the market, but we’ve all 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.
The freshness of lemon combined with the warmth of rosemary leaves your hands and your mood refreshed. The scent is one of people’s favourite things about this product and it’s all natural – no synthetic fragrances.
Koala Eco’s biodegradable formula is gentle on your hands while cleaning your skin. It’s vegan and Australian Allergy Certified, and it’s even safe for greywater and septic systems.
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: Simply Clean Hand Wash
There’s nothing more refreshing than the smell of lemon lingering on your hands after washing, and that’s what SimplyClean hand wash offers.
This creamy liquid soap features the scent of native lemon myrtle thanks to locally sourced essential oils. That aroma is pure Aussie lemon myrtle, with no artificial fragrance.
Its other vegan ingredients include plant-based glycerin, which will soothe your skin and leave it moisturised. The whole formula is non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and pet-safe.
Even better – its pH level is only 5.5, making it perfect for people with sensitive skin.
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: Baylis & Harding Hand Wash
Baylis & Harding Hand Wash comes in two heady scents. The lemon and mint version features a spicy citrus aroma with lingering herbal notes to refresh your mood.
Meanwhile, the white tea and neroli version combines delicate florals with a woody, earthy base – and it’s boosted with Vitamin E.
The bottle designs round everything out with a sophisticated touch – making this hand wash the epitome of bathroom luxury.
Baylis & Harding’s Elements hand washes are cruelty-free, paraben-free, and vegan. Each bottle feels like a gift for yourself and your home.
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 extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and castor oil, which combine to moisturise and soothe your skin.
The wild lemon myrtle scent gives you an instant mood boost, whether you use this soap on your hands, face, or body.
And yes, it’s safe for sensitive skin!
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!
This Aussie-made wash is free of sulphates, parabens, and ethanol. It’s certified cruelty-free and vegan, and can be used even by people prone to skin conditions like eczema.
Best Foaming Hand Soap: Skipper Foaming Hand Soap Tablets (by Tirtyl)
Make handwashing fun with the Skipper Hand Soap Tablets! It comes in a pack of 12 tablets with 3 different fragrances that you’ll surely love.
(Our personal favourite is the Bergamot, Blue Cypress, and Sage version.)
To use, simply fill any foaming dispenser – yep, it has to be a dispenser with a foaming pump – with 250ml of warm water. Drop in a tablet wait for it to dissolve, then enjoy the moisturising foam.
Skipper has the best foaming hand soap, and they’ve levelled up with new packaging that’s 100% plastic-free. Their formulas are paraben- and phthalate-free, safe for sensitive skin, and vegan-friendly.
BTW — they’ve rebranded to a new name, Skipper, but you’re still getting the same Tirtyl quality and commitment to the environment.
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.
It also has a soft scent that leaves you feeling relaxed.
Gently massage this foaming cream into your hands or body and feel the soothing difference.
Best Exfoliating Hand Wash: Hunter Lab Exfoliating Hand Wash
If you want to improve the texture of your hands, lather up with Hunter Lab Exfoliating Hand Wash.
It’s formulated with pumice and a blend of five Alpha Hydroxy Acids to gently remove dead skin cells and impurities on your skin.
With the scent of Eucalyptus, Cedarwood, and Basil, you’ll feel luxurious after washing your hands with this low-foaming gel.
It even works as a body wash, so you can pamper yourself by using a generous amount in the shower – and stepping out feeling like a new person.
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.
Their new micro-molecular formula also contains PCMX-L for a deep clean that prevents bacterial growth and infection.
Plus, the broad-spectrum antimicrobial protection does not use any alcohol, which means the soap is safe for 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.
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 our top Australian hand soap brands include al.ive, Koala Eco, SimplyClean, and Skipper (formerly Tirtyl)!
Other highly recommended brands include Aesop and L’Occitane.
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!
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.
