Most body wash products on the market were excellent at removing sebum, but their effectiveness in removing fine dust varied widely by product.

The Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) on the 14th announced the results of a comprehensive evaluation of 10 popular body washes for cleaning power, user experience, safety, and environmental performance.

Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) announces on the 14th at the Fair Trade Commission press room in the Sejong Government Complex the results of testing and evaluating the quality and safety of 10 body wash products preferred by consumers. The photo shows an official examining the tested products. /Courtesy of Yonhap News

The cleaning power was evaluated through a human application test using artificial sebum and a fine dust simulant. All products received an "excellent" rating for sebum cleansing power.

For fine dust cleansing power, six products received relatively high evaluations: ▲ Kkot-eul-deun-namja "Milk Body Shower" ▲ The Body Shop "Shower Gel Pink Grapefruit" ▲ Dove "Beauty Nourishing Body Wash" ▲ L'Occitane "Verbena Shower Gel" ▲ Beyond "Deep Moisture Creamy Body Wash" ▲ Illiyoon "Fresh Moisture Body Wash."

In the user experience category, Kkot-eul-deun-namja's product scored the highest for rinse-off at 4.3 points, and Kundal's "Honey & Macadamia Pure Body Wash Baby Powder" ranked first with 3.8 points each for post-shower moisturization and overall satisfaction.

In the safety evaluation, no heavy metals were detected in any of the products, and preservative levels also met the standards. In addition, in drop tests, all products proved durable without damage.

However, the environmental evaluation revealed limits in recyclability. Only ▲ Neutrogena "Daily Body Wash" ▲ The Body Shop "Shower Gel Pink Grapefruit" ▲ Dove "Beauty Nourishing Body Wash" received an "average" rating, while the remaining seven products were classified as "difficult."

In addition, the Neutrogena product was deemed noncompliant due to an omission in labeling, even though it contained butylphenyl methylpropional, an allergen, above the standard. The company has now completed corrective measures.

Prices varied widely between products. Based on 100 ml, On The Body "The Natural Moisture Body Wash Olive" was the cheapest at 746 won, while the L'Occitane product was the most expensive at 9,900 won, a difference of about 13 times.

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