January 19, 2021

“In order to help prevent the continued spread of COVID-19, washing your hands is of the utmost importance. Of course, this means that we’re going through hand soap at an aggressively rapid rate right now,” explains Kayleigh Fasnaella in Allure.

Today, consumers are seeking out ways to elevate the everyday routine of handwashing. One easy way to do that is with modern, high quality hand soaps. Liquid hand soaps that offer a more luxurious look and feel, are formulated without potentially irritating ingredients, and that provide hydration help are in top demand from consumers.

First and foremost, consumers now want liquid hand soaps that offer a touch of luxury to their frequent rounds of handwashing.

“Hand wash probably doesn’t rank high on your list of pulse-raising beauty purchases – or at least, it didn’t before 2020 arrived. Now, a chic bottle of liquid soap makes the endless handwashing cycle a little less tedious, and even a touch luxurious. The best hand soaps do more than simply cleanse, too. Deliciously scented, they’ll add a sense of ritual to that 17th turn of the taps,” explains Harper’s Bazaar.

One of the best ways for formulators to create richer looking and feeling liquid hand soap formulations? By adding a pearly effect. Without pearling, hand soaps are downright unappealing to most consumers: grayish, cloudy, and drab. But, the right pearling agent can add the luster, shimmer, and shine consumers associate with higher quality liquid hand soaps.

Another key claim consumers want from their liquid hand soaps? Hand soaps with the clean beauty label “free from,” or hand soaps formulated without a long, ever-changing list of ingredients.

For consumers with sensitive skin, finding formulations that are free from dyes, scents, or other potential irritants is especially important right now, with  frequent bouts of hand washing the norm.

“We all have different skin types, and not just on our faces. Even our hands deserve a more personalized touch, and selecting a formula that works for you can make all the difference—especially since we’re cleansing our palms ten times as much lately,” said Marie Claire.

In short? A modern liquid hand soap that can offer safety, efficacy, and is free from certain potentially irritating ingredients will be highly appealing to clean, natural, and green-leaning consumers.

Finally, consumers are also on the hunt for liquid hand soap that can help moisturize dry, irritated hands. While hand washing with soap is critical for safety and cleanliness, many consumers are finding the more frequent handwashing to be harsh on their skin.

“Washing your hands is critical to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). However, frequent handwashing can cause dry skin that can flake, itch, crack, and even bleed without proper precautions. This can cause open wounds in your skin that can allow in bacteria and other germs and increase your risk for infection,” explains the American Academy of Dermatology Association. 

Liquid hand soaps that incorporate nourishing, moisturizing ingredients like olive oil, aloe vera, glycerin, and vitamin E are all excellent options to provide a more hydrating hand soap. For consumers with irritated or dry skin on their hands, liquid soaps that can help moisturize and protect the skin barrier will be a welcome addition to any kitchen or bathroom sink.

One thing is clear: the demand for effective liquid hand soaps is only set to increase. Formulators can tap into the consumer desire for modern,  liquid hand soaps with formulations that offer a luxurious, pearly look, have “free from” ingredient lists, and incorporate hydration helpers that can moisturize and protect the skin barrier. 

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