The Reason Dermatologists Recommend Using Face Wash To Wash Your Hands (2024)

You've likely never thought about hand soap more than just browsing the grocery store aisles when you run out. But after almost two years of washing our hands incessantly (at least we hope so), it's likely that—like us—you probably have some ~feelings~ about the category.

Picking out a hand soap can feel a bit like playing goldilocks... This one is too drying, this one doesn't suds up enough, this one smells too strong. Yep, there's more to hand soap than you likely even realized before you became a hand washing aficionado. With all this hand washing you've likely also realized that your hands need some TLC too. And it's true! "My first rule of thumb (no pun intended) is to do unto your hands as you do to your face," recommends Mona Gohara, MD, a Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist. "Think sunscreen, skin routine (My hands get retioind) and cleanser." Okay, that may seem like a lot. If you have the time, great, but if you don't, the one swimple swap you can do for your hands is to switch to a gentle hand soap. "Our hands take a beating with all the extra hand washing going on these days so gentle cleansers are key," says Dr. Gohara.

So rather than have us pick our personal favorite hand soaps, we decided to tap the skin experts—dermatologists—themselves to have them share the best hand soaps that are also good for your skin. And it turns out that when it comes to that bit about treating your hands like your face, they weren't joking around. About half of the derms we spoke with prefer using facial cleansers over hand soaps. "After washing my hands with harsh cleansers all day at work, I prefer to use a face cleanser at home because it doesn't strip my skin dry," explains Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in West Islip, New York. Worried those facial washes won't "kill" the germs, not a problem. "Turns out that it’s not the antimicrobial additions to the soap, but the mechanical act of handwashing and moving the hands around for a long enough time that cleans the hands," says Ranella Hirsch, a Massachusetts-based, board-certified dermatologist.

Here are the best moisturizing hand soaps chosen by dermatologists (and one from me).

"This product is extremely gentle and specifically is formulated for those with potential sensitivities, so a great all around option,"says Dr. Hirsch.

"This one contains oat and feverfew which are both extremely soothing to irritated skin. Gentle effective cleanser at a great price," says Dr. Hirsch.

"I know this is marketed for the face but after washing my hands all day at work with harsh cleansers this is what I trust my hands with at home. It doesn't strip my skin and no matter what I am doing running after three boys my hands do not crack and the skin stays intact so I can stay safe as a physician treating patients whose skin I have to touch during the day,"says Dr. Mariwalla.

"I really love Dial Soap'snewClean+ Gentle line. At their core, hand soaps are meant to and should effectively clean our hands,so I tend to opt forantibacterial soaps (especially during a pandemic!). Some antibacterial soaps can be heavily loaded with fragrances or dyes, which can cause skin irritation. I love this one because it really cleans hands well and is also free of fragrance. It works without drying out my hands,"says Lindsey Zubritsky, MD,a board-certified dermatologist in Pittsburgh.

"Vanicream is great not because of what it does have in it, but because of what it doesn’t. Fragrance free with a gentle surfactant it tends to the hands during cleansing,"says Dr. Gohara.

"Yes, this hand wash is a little pricier than the average but it also feels like a special treat every time you wash with it. clove, palo santo, litsea and helichrysum essential oils are a natural antibacterial alternative and they float in a a blend of olive and sunflower seed oil.Not to mention it's just gorgeous. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?Guest bathroom soap!" - Chelsea Traber Burns, Beauty Director

"When I am on the go, I actuallypurchase a sample size of the Dove's sensitive body wash.It fits very nicely in my handbag so I don't have to use the often harsh ones in public restrooms like airports,"saysAdeline Kikam, MD, a dermatologist based in Texas.