I’m actually excited about writing this review, because the size of these jugs of soap is so massive that I don’t think I’ll get the chance for another couple of years! Okay, maybe *excited* is too strong a term for hand soap, but you know what I mean. Buying things like these is the real essence of Costco savings, and why I try to shop there as much as I can. I did a relatively large Costco order the other day, and it seemed like the right time to stock up on hand soap, as our supplies at home were depleted. I got the Softsoap Soothing Aloe Vera Moisturizing Hand Soap, in not one, but two massive, 2.36 liter jugs, for only $11.49, plus applicable taxes.
Softsoap Soothing Aloe Vera Moisturizing Hand Soap
Now I don’t need to tell you that this is a bunch of soap. Combined, these two jugs represent almost 5 liters of hand soap, which is quite a bit more than a gallon, imperial or otherwise. The little dispenser bottle I fill up contains 340 ml, which means that I can refill it almost 14 times before running out. This means that each refill costs me about 83 cents. If you compare that with buying a new dispenser at the pharmacy, like countless people do, every time they need more hand soap, you’ll realize that the savings are incredible, in all likelihood in the range of 75% to 90%, depending on the specials in your area.
But what about the soap itself? Is it any good? Well, it washes my hands without drying them out, and is certainly appropriate for all but the most compulsive hand-washer. I wash my hands an appropriate number of times during the day (without going into details), and have never experienced dry excessively dry hands, except maybe for a few days in winter. I’m certain that you could find hand soap that is marginally better than the Soaftsoap with Aloe Vera, but not at this price, that’s for sure.
Here are the ingredients of the Softsoap Soothing Aloe Vera Moisturizing Hand Soap, in decreasing order:
- Aqua (that’s water, with a fancier name)
- Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- Laureth-3
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- Glycol Stearate
- Sodium Chloride
- DMDM Hydantoin
- Perfume
- Polyquaternium-7
- PEG-18 Glyceryl Oleate/Cocoate
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (that’s the Aloe Vera)
- Citric Acid
- Tetrasodium EDTA, Glycerin
- Poloxamer 124
- Hydrolyzed Silk
As you can see, the list is heavy with chemicals and unpronounceable ingredients, but that doesn’t mean much. This is hand soap, not chicken soup. You’ll notice, however, that the Aloe Vera, which features prominently in the name of the product, is quite far down the ingredients list. There’s not that much in there, and the Softsoap hand soap relies partly on hydrolyzed silk for its silky, smooth feel. This hand soap is manufactured and distributed by Colgate-Palmolive.
In closing, I’ll mention something that is often overlooked in reviews such as these: the containers themselves. They are made of recyclable plastic, and are easy to squeeze, but not *too* easy. You don’t want to make a mess when you refill your little bottles. They are easy to grasp and hold, and the lid easily snaps open and shut (see picture), making for a convenient pour. Overall, I must say that I’m quite happy with my Softsoap Soothing Aloe Vera Moiturizing Hand Soap, on all levels: the price is right, the quantity convenient, the soap cleans and the containers are recyclable and easy to use. Five stars. So far I’m two on two with my Softsoap products!