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I will occasionally tuck the hand soap dispenser under the kitchen sink and instruct my husband to simply wash his hands with dish soap if I become overly enthusiastic about decluttering.
Every time, he puts it right back where it was. “Emily, I like to wash my dishes with dish soap and my hands with hand soap.” ”.
For those who know us well, this tracks. He’s the type who actually uses products as directed. He uses a two-minute tooth-brushing timer and avoids taking ibuprofen one month after the medication’s expiration date. I’m pretty much a one-woman off-label testing lab. I clean my kitchen sink with laundry detergent. Long before TikTok began calling balsamic vinegar and club soda “healthy Coke” (it’s essentially a shrub, people! ), I was drinking it. Since diaper cream and sunscreen both contain the active ingredient zinc oxide, I used diaper cream on my babies’ faces when they were too young for sunscreen because, if it’s good enough for their little butts, why not their faces?
Anyway, I’ve never understood the need for two soap dispensers on our already crowded kitchen counter, especially considering that I frequently expose my hands to dish soap whenever I forget to wear gloves when washing dishes, which is the majority of the time. Additionally, I remember that Palmolive’s tagline has always been some variation of “Tough on grease,” and baby ducks are bathed in Dawn. Gentle on hands. ”.
But despite the fact that I consider myself to be a hobby apothecary, I have a liberal arts degree. So I consulted a real scientist to get their opinion in a way that was grounded in science.
A cosmetic chemist from Los Angeles named Javon Ford frequently corrects individuals like me on TikTok and Instagram. I’m pleased to report that he provided scientific evidence to support my hypothesis, which is also somewhat relieving.
Ford informed me, “The short answer is yes, you can use dish soap as hand soap as long as you don’t have a skin condition like eczema. The ingredients in dish soap are used in skin-safe concentrations. “Safety-wise, it’s no worse than bar soap. ”.
Ford outlined the primary distinction between hand soap and dish soap as being that the former is frequently formulated with additional conditioning agents and is formulated at the ideal pH for skin. Therefore, hand soap is preferable for prolonged use if you want soft skin. However, because suds are what remove dirt, grime, and bacteria from soap, those skin-softening additives may make it less sudsy and consequently less effective (yes, I know what I did there).
Ford explained that while hand soap will still make you feel clean, dish soap will be more effective at removing dirt and grime. “The better for cleaning, the more sudsing and lather you can get from soap.” ”.
Ford cautioned against using anything on your body that contains high concentrations of citrus oil because not all dish soaps are created equally and they can cause photosensitivity and dangerous, painful sunburns. I was also somewhat saddened to learn that Dr. Many Epi staff members love Bronner’s Sal Suds all-purpose liquid soap, but it’s not the best choice for hands because it contains two types of pine oil, which can irritate the skin.
I was ecstatic to discover that Mrs. Meyers, the dish soap I use at home, was one of the five dish soaps Ford tested for me. The best option for washing hands is Meyer’s Lavender Dish Soap because it contains glycerin, an uncommon humectant in dish soap. And as Ford said, “Dishes don’t need that!”.
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Lavender Liquid Dish Soap, 16 Ounces
Wash your hands with a mild dish soap now. It’s perfectly fine. And probably much healthier than writing articles just to get your spouse to agree with you after an argument.
Here are three more dish soaps recommended by cosmetic chemists that you can use to safely and effectively wash your hands at the kitchen sink.
The least irritating substance is zinc oxide, which provides broad spectrum protection and doesn’t break down in sunlight, according to Dr Fenton explained.
And it’s not for nothing that my fiancee responded “Yeah, maybe” when I asked her if she noticed a difference. “I suspect that was a white lie to encourage future non-deranged behavior.
But screw it: I used to wash my face with dish soap once in a while. Of course, I didn’t do this every day; instead, I did it when my face felt particularly oily or unclean.
Otherwise things looked normal, or maybe a little better. I may have occasionally turned red from the retinol, but I’ve also always had reddish bumps and flushed cheeks on my face. Here are pictures from my experience’s beginning and end. Beyond my at-home buzzcut and a shave, I’d say there weren’t any significant changes. If anything, there are fewer blotches, though that could also be due to lighting.
I followed Dr. For about a month, I followed Fentons advice pretty religiously, but occasionally I got confused and forgot to apply the retinol on that day.
On some days, I have to sit down after opening my mailbox because I’m laughing so loud. Some things just strike me funny. But it seems like I got the last laugh this time.
I found the list of ingredients for Procter & Gamble original Blue Dawn and compared it to the most expensive men’s shampoo I could find—Kérastase Capital Force. While not exactly the same (for starters, Blue Dawn has far fewer ingredients) and with full disclosure that I am not a chemist—let me tell you that I was stunned by the similarities. From sodium laureth sulfate to methylisothiazolinone, Blue Dawn and Kérastase Capital Force have what I found to be remarkable similarities.
Boy, was I in for a shock. I found a cult-like following of people who swear by Blue Dawn, not only for hair care and body wash but also as a highly effective acne treatment, because I was unable to find any valid reasons to avoid using it for personal care.
I used my usual techniques and styling tools to style my hair. I waited a few days to declare the outcome. My hair looked amazing and was incredibly glossy—read that again: luxuriously glossy. And super clean. My best guess is that P
Dear Bill: I must admit that as I read your letter, I was a little shocked myself. And I was on the verge of responding in favor of your wife. However, I detoured by embarking on a research mission so I could explain to you in detail why you should heed her advice and never ever shampoo or take a shower with Blue Dawn.