You've got to hand it to Method! (Method Gel Hand Wash)

Member Name: jo1976

Product:	Method Gel Hand Wash
Date:	21/06/09 (105 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Attractively designed dispenser, thick gel, cleans and leaves hands soft

Disadvantages: Quite expensive for a handwash

I've been a fan of Method products since picking up their 'Tub Scrub' cleaner a few months ago. I was initially attracted by their unusual and attractive packaging but my interest in the company and their products developed because of their ethical and ecological principles and the fact that they come across as a company that genuinely cares about the products they produce, as well as the consumers that use them. I don't usually subscribe to newsletters from companies online (I have enough junk email as it is) but I was genuinely interested in Method and wanted to find out more about the products that they produce and so I signed up to their email newsletter. Not only have I got more knowledge about the company and their range, which includes handcare and baby toiletries as well as cleaning products, but I also won a free bottle of their French Lavender hand wash in one of their competitions. Those lovely people at Method just got even lovelier in my opinion.

The hand wash normally retails at £2.99 for a dispenser containing 354ml of gel. This is not just any hand wash dispenser though. I'm not normally one for describing packaging to any great degree but this bottle is certainly worthy of comment. It is a recyclable container (made from 100% recycled plastic) with a pump action dispenser and a funky almost tear-shaped transparent bottle. It certainly makes a classy addition to my bathroom and is much superior to the look of its (cheap!) predecessor. The contents are a vibrant purple colour and the gel is easy to dispense using the pump and, perhaps because it's slightly thicker than other varieties I've tried, actually manages to dispense without then leaving unslightly drips in its wake.

We all know that judging things on appearances alone is very superficial and for £2.99 we want a hand wash that actually functions well, too. Unlike the majority of contemporary hand washes, this isn't anti-bacterial. Method believe that anti-bacterial products can be too harsh for skin and can lead to the development of 'super' bacteria that become resistant to cleaning products. This hand gel is Triclosan free but still cleans hands effectively, which I can confirm. I personally avoid anti-bacterial products because I have dry, sensitive skin and I find that they can dry out and irritate my hands. Thankfully, this hand wash doesn't leave my hands feeling dry at all and actually leaves them feeling soft and fresh. The official blurb from the website tells me that this '...is made with biodegradable ingredients and natural moisturisers that clean and soften hands, effectively removing every last trace of anything nasty.' Sounds good to me! The product isn't tested on animals either although it doesn't actually make that clear on the packaging.

The variety I've tried is 'French Lavender' which wouldn't have been my first choice of fragrance. (I much prefer the sound of the 'Sweet Water' and 'Pink Grapefruit' varieties to be honest.) This lavender scent is the traditional sort that I associate with the lavender bush we used to have in our garden, so it is what you might rather unkindly refer to as the 'old lady' kind (rather than the lavender fragrance used in baby bath, for example.) Despite my misgivings over the fragrance, the scent isn't too overpowering and, although it lingers slightly on my hands after use, it isn't actually an unpleasant scent at all. I will try one of the alternative fragrances next time or even one of their foaming hand washes - the kids would like that, I'm sure.

This hand wash is, admittedly, pricier than other brands available but I'd recommend it to anybody that has sensitive skin on their hands or is concerned about the amount of chemicals and toxins that their household (and skin) regularly comes into contact with. The hand wash can be purchased from selected Waitrose and Tesco stores and there is a full list of local stockists on the Method website.

http://www.methodproducts.co.uk/

Summary: A round of applause for Method with my nice soft, clean hands!