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Free of dyes, parabens, and artificial fragrances, these detergents are tough on dirt and gentle on skin.
hormone disruption and skin irritation. Why Trust Us?
If you have sensitive skin, you may already have a whole skincare routine dedicated to keeping your complexion calm. However, if you still find that you're dealing with itchiness, dryness, and irritation on a regular basis, your detergent may be to blame. While a lot of detergents claim to be gentle, many detergents for sensitive skin still contain irritants like artificial fragrances and harsh chemicals. To help you find the best sensitive skin detergents out there, we've gathered up some of our favorites that live up to their claims of getting your clothes clean without irritating your skin. Look below for the top ingredients to avoid when shopping for the best laundry detergent for sensitive skin.
Detergent Ingredients to Avoid
If you're looking for a good laundry detergent for sensitive skin, you'll first want to check out the ingredients in the formula you're considering. There are a few common detergent additives that can cause irritation, and while they won't affect everyone in the same way, choosing a formula that has fewer of these ingredients may help you fend off discomfort.
Best Aromatherapy Detergent: Unless they're made using essential oils or other natural fragrances, it's a good idea to avoid heavily scented detergents if you have sensitive skin. The synthetic fragrances used in many detergents can be both irritating and drying.
Parabens: Used as preservatives in a number of cosmetic products, there has been increased scrutiny over the use of parabens in personal care products in recent years due to potential links to Advertisement - Continue Reading Below.
Dyes: Though dyes in detergent may not seem like a big deal, they have the potential to cause skin irritation in some people.
Chlorine: If you've ever found yourself feeling a little itchy after swimming in a pool, you may have experienced irritant dermatitis from the common disinfectant. Although the chlorine levels in detergent are not nearly as high as those in a swimming pool, it can still cause irritation and even hives.
How We Choose Our Products
To determine the best detergents for sensitive skin on the market, we looked at expert-tested reviews from trusted sources like The Spruce and Allure. We then took into account price, ingredients, cleaning power, and environmental consciousness. Finally, we consulted more than 54,000 reviews, written by people who’ve bought these detergents on sites like Amazon, Best Running Shoes 2025.
Seventh Generation has been making eco-friendly home and personal care products for more than 30 years, and their Free & Clear detergent for sensitive skin has earned a cult following.
The formula contains no dyes, synthetic fragrances, harsh chemicals, or artificial brighteners, and 97 percent of its plant-based ingredients are biologically renewable. Not only can this formula make you feel good about your clothes and skin, you can feel good about the minimal impact its use has on the environment.
Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Liquid Laundry Detergent
Mrs. Meyer's detergent is a terrific option if you're looking for a formula that smells great but won't irritate your skin. This particular bottle is the brand's honeysuckle formula, but the detergent also comes in basil, lavender, lemon verbena, and baby blossom scents.
Made using essential oils instead of artificial fragrances, it's gentle on your skin and won't dry it out.
Although the bottle is on the smaller side, it can actually clean up to 64 loads of laundry, thanks to its highly concentrated formula.
Like most Arm & Hammer products, this detergent uses baking soda as its main cleaning agent. The baking soda formula is gentle on skin, but works wonders when it comes to removing stains and odors from clothes. This detergent is hypoallergenic, doesn't contain any fragrances or dyes, and won't leave residue behind on your clothes.
This detergent has all of the cleaning power associated with Tide’s original formula without the dyes, heavy fragrance, chlorine, or phosphates. Instead, it has a light honey lavender fragrance that reviewers describe as “wonderful” and “fresh.”
It contains 65 percent plant-based ingredients, and is made at a zero-waste manufacturing site that uses electricity from 100 percent renewable wind power.
If you prefer pods to a liquid detergent, these Tide Pods could be a great choice. They're free of parabens, dyes, and perfumes, making them easy to use and easy on the skin. They work well in both hot and cold water, and still have the signature Tide Pod technology, with a 3-in-1 detergent, stain remover, and color protectant.
It’s also super easy to adjust their usage depending on how much you’re washing: Use one pod for small loads, two for large loads, and three for extra large loads.
ECOS Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent
This two-pack of eco-friendly detergent is not only hypoallergenic, but it’s also 100 percent vegan and gluten-free. This particular formula is made in a “climate-positive” factory that is carbon-neutral, water-neutral, zero waste, and uses 100 percent renewable energy.
The detergent leaves out dyes, optical brighteners, parabens, phosphates, and more to create a super clean formula that's great for sensitive skin. It does, however, have a light magnolia and lily scent, which reviewers say leaves their clothes smelling clean, but not overly perfumed.
If you’re looking for a detergent that does more than just clean your clothes, Dr. Bronner’s is the all-in-one formula you need. You can use it as dish soap, laundry detergent, shampoo, body wash, and for a variety of other household and personal care needs.
Although Dr. Bronner's comes in a variety of fragrances, this unscented version will be most gentle on the skin. It's a bit expensive compared to other detergents, but a little goes a long way—and it saves you from having to buy a bunch of cleaning products.
Dreft Newborn Liquid Laundry Detergent
No one's skin is more sensitive than a new baby's, so this laundry detergent formulated specifically for newborns is extra gentle. It's hypoallergenic, includes biodegradable surfactants, and it has a light, fresh scent. The detergent is pediatrician-recommended, safe for regular and high-efficiency washers, and a 50-ounce bottle can clean up to 32 loads of laundry.
Before joining Runner's World, Gabrielle Hondorp spent 6 years in running retail (she has tested top gear from shoes, to watches, to rain jackets which has expanded her expertise—and her closets); she specializes in health and wellness, and is an expert on running gear from head-to-toe. Gabi began her journalism career as a Digital Editorial Fellow for Runner’s World and Bicycling Magazine, and has since advanced to a Runner's World Editor specializing in commerce. She has a double degree in English and Media and Communication from Muhlenberg College where she also ran cross country and track.
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