Dealworthy Gel Hand Soap - Clear

This is a conventional, foaming liquid hand wash formulated with standard surfactants and conditioning agents to provide everyday cleansing.

Performance Rating: 7.4

The hand wash delivers strong cleansing and foaming capabilities through a multi-surfactant base combining sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, and gentle decyl glucoside. This blend effectively emulsifies dirt, oils, and residues while building a rich, stable lather enhanced by sodium chloride and peg-120 methyl glucose dioleate as thickeners. To counteract potential post-wash dryness, polyquaternium-7 and peg-7 glyceryl cocoate provide conditioning and skin-softening benefits, ensuring hands feel smooth. A balanced pH maintained by citric acid and chelating support from tetrasodium edta ensure consistent foaming performance even in hard water conditions.

Safety Rating: 5.9

The safety profile reflects several notable sensitization and irritation concerns typical of conventional liquid soap formulations. Chief among these is the preservative combination of methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone, both widely recognized as potent contact allergens that can trigger adverse cutaneous reactions in sensitized individuals. Additionally, primary surfactants like sodium laureth sulfate may cause mild barrier disruption or dryness with frequent handwashing. The presence of undisclosed fragrance, ethoxylated emulsifiers, and synthetic colorants (red 33 and blue 1) further increases the potential for skin irritation and contact allergies across more sensitive skin types.

Final Rating: 6.7

Overall, this formula represents a practical and effective everyday cleanser that prioritizes robust washing power and a pleasant lathering experience. It successfully lifts impurities and rinses cleanly with the support of conditioning agents like polyquaternium-7 to maintain baseline skin comfort during regular use. However, its overall appeal is moderated by a preservative and additive system relying on isothiazolinone preservatives, synthetic dyes, and added fragrance. It serves as a dependable choice for general hygiene, though individuals with reactive skin, compromised barriers, or known contact allergies may find it somewhat harsh with repeated daily application.

Verdict

This liquid hand wash relies on a classic surfactant blend featuring sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), cocamidopropyl betaine, and decyl glucoside. This combination effectively lifts dirt, grease, and daily impurities while producing a rich, satisfying lather. The inclusion of mild co-surfactants helps temper the cleansing strength of the primary sulfate, ensuring that the wash cleanses thoroughly without completely stripping the skin upon occasional use. Common salt compounds like sodium chloride and sodium sulfate are utilized alongside PEG-120 methyl glucose dioleate to achieve a pleasant, thick liquid viscosity.

To balance the cleansing agents, the formula incorporates conditioning and lipid-replenishing ingredients such as PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate and polyquaternium-7. These additives provide a silky skin feel during and after washing, helping to minimize immediate moisture loss on normal skin. Additionally, citric acid ensures an optimal, skin-friendly pH, while tetrasodium EDTA acts as a chelating agent to neutralize hard water minerals, boosting both lather quality and overall cleansing performance in various water conditions. However, the formulation lacks intensive humectants like glycerin, making the conditioning benefits relatively light.

On the downside, several ingredients present potential concerns for users with compromised or reactive skin. The preservative system relies on methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI), which are well-known contact sensitizers and frequent triggers for allergic contact dermatitis. Combined with added fragrance (parfum) and synthetic colorants like Red 33 and Blue 1, the product carries a noticeable risk of irritation, redness, or flare-ups for individuals predisposed to allergies or eczema. While rinse-off formulations reduce exposure time, sensitized individuals should still exercise caution.

Overall, this product serves as a functional, budget-friendly everyday hand wash well-suited for high-traffic household sinks and general hand hygiene. It excels at delivering effective dirt and oil removal with a pleasant lather and light conditioning. However, those requiring frequent hand washing throughout the day, or individuals with dry, cracked, or sensitized skin, may find the formula slightly drying over time and would benefit from switching to a gentler, fragrance-free, and MI-free liquid soap alternative.

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Ingredient Evaluation

📁 Surfactants / 表面活性剂

🧪 Sodium Laureth Sulfate / 月桂醇聚醚硫酸酯钠

Purpose: Primary cleansing agent and foam booster

Concerns: Can cause skin dryness or irritation in sensitive individuals if used in high concentrations.

Notes: An ethoxylated anionic surfactant that is gentler on skin than sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

🧪 Cocamidopropyl Betaine / 椰油酰胺丙基甜菜碱

Purpose: Secondary surfactant and foam stabilizer

Concerns: Can cause contact allergies in rare cases due to manufacturing impurities (3-dimethylaminopropylamine).

Notes: An amphoteric surfactant derived from coconut oil that helps mitigate irritation from anionic surfactants.

🧪 Decyl Glucoside / 癸基葡糖苷

Purpose: Mild non-ionic surfactant and co-cleanser

Notes: A plant-derived, biodegradable surfactant that is exceptionally gentle on delicate and sensitive skin.

🧪 Poloxamer 124 / 泊洛沙姆 124

Purpose: Non-ionic surfactant, emulsifier, and solubilizer

Notes: A synthetic block copolymer that helps solubilize fragrance oils and hydrophobic ingredients.

📁 Thickeners / 增稠剂与调理剂

🧪 Sodium Chloride / 氯化钠

Purpose: Viscosity builder and thickener

Notes: Common table salt used to build viscosity in sulfate- and betaine-based surfactant systems.

🧪 PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate / PEG-120 甲基葡萄糖二油酸酯

Purpose: High-efficiency thickener and mildness enhancer

Notes: A naturally derived polyether ester that reduces the irritation potential of harsh surfactant blends.

🧪 PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate / PEG-7 椰油酸甘油酯

Purpose: Emollient and refatting agent

Notes: Helps replenish the skin lipid barrier to prevent dryness and post-wash tightness.

🧪 Polyquaternium-7 / 聚季铵盐-7

Purpose: Skin conditioning agent and sensory enhancer

Notes: A cationic copolymer that imparts a smooth, silky after-feel to the skin during and after washing.

🧪 Sodium Sulfate / 硫酸钠

Purpose: Viscosity adjuster and ionic strength regulator

Notes: Often present as an electrolyte byproduct or added directly to assist in formulation thickening.

📁 Preservatives / 防腐剂与稳定剂

🧪 Water (Aqua) / 水

Purpose: Solvent and product carrier base

Notes: Forms the continuous aqueous base for dissolving all water-soluble components.

🧪 Tetrasodium EDTA / 乙二胺四乙酸四钠

Purpose: Chelating agent

Notes: Binds hard water metal ions (calcium, magnesium) to prevent soap scum and boost preservative efficacy.

🧪 Citric Acid / 柠檬酸

Purpose: pH adjuster and buffer

Notes: Adjusts the formula’s pH to be skin-compatible and optimize preservative performance.

🧪 Methylchloroisothiazolinone / 甲基氯异噻唑啉酮

Purpose: Broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal preservative

Concerns: Known skin sensitizer and contact allergen; strictly regulated for use only in rinse-off products.

Notes: Commonly used in combination with methylisothiazolinone under trade names such as Kathon CG.

🧪 Methylisothiazolinone / 甲基异噻唑啉酮

Purpose: Broad-spectrum preservative

Concerns: Significant potential for skin sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis.

Notes: Allowed in rinse-off products up to 15 ppm (0.0015%) in the EU when combined with CMIT in a 3:1 ratio.

📁 Fragrance / 香精与着色剂

🧪 Fragrance (Parfum) / 香精

Purpose: Adds pleasant scent and masks base chemical odor

Concerns: Can trigger allergic reactions or contact dermatitis in fragrance-sensitive individuals.

Notes: Represents a proprietary mixture of synthetic and/or natural aromatic compounds.

🧪 Red 33 (CI 17200) / CI 17200 (红 33)

Purpose: Colorant

Notes: A synthetic azo dye used to impart a pink or reddish hue to cosmetic formulations.

🧪 Blue 1 (CI 42090) / CI 42090 (蓝 1)

Purpose: Colorant

Notes: A synthetic triphenylmethane dye used alone or blended with red dyes to achieve purple or custom shades.