Gentle Liquid Hand Soap

500ml | Pump bottle | Prevented Ocean Plastic | £15

A luxuriously gentle, sulphate-free liquid hand soap handcrafted in West Wittering — enriched with squalane, argan oil, evening primrose oil, and aloe vera. Scented with a clean, coastal-citrus blend of cedarwood, bergamot, and grapefruit essential oils. Effective enough for frequent washing, nourishing enough to leave hands genuinely soft. Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.

Hand washing that actually nourishes

Most liquid hand soaps — even ones marketed as gentle — strip the skin's natural oils with every wash, leaving hands dry, tight, and in need of a separate moisturiser. This formula is built differently.

The cleansing base uses coco-glucoside — a plant-derived surfactant from coconut and fruit sugars — alongside sodium surfactin, a genuinely premium biosurfactant produced through the fermentation of Bacillus subtilis. Sodium surfactin is a peptide-lipid composed of amino acids and fatty acids — naturally derived, COSMOS-compatible, and one of the most effective and gentle cleansing agents available in natural formulation. Together they create a soft, conditioning lather that cleans effectively without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.

What distinguishes this hand soap from conventional natural formulas is the nourishing active layer. Squalane — a lightweight, highly stable form of squalene derived from plant sources — is one of the most skin-compatible moisturising ingredients available, absorbing instantly without greasiness and closely mimicking the skin's own natural lipid profile. Evening primrose oil brings a rich gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) content, a rare omega-6 fatty acid particularly beneficial for dry, reactive, or sensitive skin. Argan oil — cold-pressed from the Moroccan argan tree — contributes tocopherols (vitamin E) and oleic acid, adding a further layer of nourishment that helps protect hands against the drying effects of repeated washing.

Aloe vera leaf juice and algae extract complete the botanical layer — aloe providing its well-documented soothing and conditioning properties, and algae extract contributing natural mineral richness and hydration support. Glyceryl oleate acts as a gentle emollient, helping the nourishing oils disperse evenly through the formula and leaving a soft, comfortable feel on the skin after rinsing.

Cedarwood, bergamot, and grapefruit essential oils create a clean, coastal-citrus scent that's warm and grounding without being heavy — exactly the kind of natural freshness that makes washing your hands feel like a small, pleasant ritual rather than a chore.

What's in it — and why

• Glycerin — humectant; maintains skin moisture during and after cleansing
• Coco-glucoside — gentle plant-derived surfactant from coconut and fruit sugars; soft, conditioning lather
• Squalane — plant-derived; skin-identical moisturising ingredient; absorbs instantly without greasiness
• Sodium surfactin — biosurfactant produced by fermentation of Bacillus subtilis; naturally derived peptide-lipid; COSMOS-compatible; exceptionally gentle and effective
• Glyceryl oleate — gentle emollient; helps distribute nourishing ingredients evenly and leaves a soft skin feel
• Evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis) — rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA); particularly beneficial for dry, reactive, or sensitive skin
• Aloe vera leaf juice (Aloe barbadensis) — naturally soothing and conditioning
• Argan oil (Argania spinosa) — cold-pressed; rich in tocopherols and oleic acid; protects against drying from repeated washing
• Vitamin E (Tocopherol) — natural antioxidant support and oil preservation
• Sunflower oil (Helianthus annuus) — rich in linoleic acid; lightweight and skin-compatible
• Algae extract — naturally mineral-rich; supports skin hydration
• Cedarwood essential oil — warm, woody base note; grounding and clean
• Bergamot fruit oil (Citrus aurantium bergamia) — fresh, rounded citrus-floral character
• Grapefruit peel oil (Citrus paradisi) — sharp, bright citrus top note; uplifting and energising
• Natural preservative system (Phenoxyethanol, Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate) — effective without parabens

Full INCI: Aqua, Glycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Squalane, Sodium Surfactin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Glyceryl Oleate, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Propylene Glycol, Castor Oil, Trideceth-9, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Algae Extract, Limonene**, Myrcene**, Linalool**, Geraniol** **Naturally occurring in essential oils

How to use

Pump once or twice onto damp hands. Lather gently — breathe in the cedarwood and citrus as you do. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

💡 Daily ritual tip: Keep one by every sink — the subtle coastal-citrus scent and silky lather turn an everyday habit into a genuinely pleasant moment of calm.

The Puremess Promise

✔️ Handcrafted in small batches in West Wittering, West Sussex ✔️ Free from SLS, SLES, parabens, palm oil, phthalates and synthetic fragrance ✔️ Natural, vegan, and cruelty-free ✔️ Presented in a 500ml Prevented Ocean Plastic pump bottle — made from recycled coastal plastic

Made with love, in West Wittering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this hand soap gentle enough for frequent washing? Yes — it's specifically formulated for frequent use. The cleansing base uses coco-glucoside and sodium surfactin — both significantly gentler than conventional sulphates — and the formula includes squalane, evening primrose oil, and argan oil to actively nourish the skin with each wash. Most people find their hands feel noticeably softer after switching to this formula compared to conventional hand soaps, even with the same washing frequency.

What is sodium surfactin and why is it special? Sodium surfactin is a biosurfactant — a cleansing agent produced through the natural fermentation of Bacillus subtilis, a beneficial soil bacterium. It's a peptide-lipid composed of amino acids and fatty acids, making it one of the most naturally derived and skin-compatible surfactants available in cosmetic formulation. It's COSMOS-compatible, exceptionally gentle, and creates a soft, conditioning lather that works effectively without stripping the skin's natural oils. It's the kind of ingredient you'd expect to find in a premium natural formulation — not a standard hand soap.

What is squalane and why is it in a hand soap? Squalane is a highly stable, plant-derived form of squalene — a lipid naturally found in human skin sebum. It's one of the most skin-compatible moisturising ingredients available, absorbing instantly without greasiness and closely mimicking the skin's own natural oils. In a hand soap, it helps counteract the drying effect of repeated washing, leaving hands soft and comfortable rather than tight and dehydrated. It's one of the ingredients that makes this formula feel noticeably more nourishing than a standard hand soap.

Is this hand soap suitable for sensitive skin? Yes — the formula is free from SLS, SLES, synthetic fragrance, and parabens. The scent comes entirely from cedarwood, bergamot, and grapefruit essential oils. The gentle biosurfactant cleansing base and the nourishing active layer make this well suited to sensitive, dry, or reactive hands. If you have a known sensitivity to any specific botanical ingredient, we'd recommend checking the full INCI before use.

What is Prevented Ocean Plastic? Prevented Ocean Plastic is packaging made from plastic collected from coastal communities and waterways before it reaches the ocean. By bottling this hand soap in POP, we're actively supporting the infrastructure that stops plastic pollution at source — in communities where waste management is limited. The bottle is fully recyclable after use.