Fight the Flu with Luxe Soaps

When you’re serious about fighting a cold, sometimes it’s necessary to bring out the big guns. LUSH developed this soap especially for combat, including oregano oil, an antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiparasitic that’s a favorite of nurses for killing germs quickly and efficiently. The bar form is ultra-hygienic and looks beautiful in the soap dish we never get to use.

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We love both the utilitarian look of this Kiehl’s soap ($15.50) and the light pear scent. Green label means green soap: this lather’s paraben-free and fortified with vitamin E and aloe vera, soothing for frequent washing.

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A favorite of our beauty editors, Glowology ($18) boasts luxurious sounding ingredients like honey, lavender and clover. Silk protein improves moisture balance and keeps hands from getting dry and itchy.

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At first pump, Ellen Sirot Hand Perfection ($30) looks like a facial cleanser, but what else would you expect from the pet project of veteran hand model Sirot? Her home remedies resulted in this sulfate-free, fatty acid-rich soap.

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Tried and true, Bath & Body Works always delivers the goods. We love the slightly floral scent of this anti-bacterial option ($4.50), complete with vitamin E and tiny cleansing beads.

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J.R. Watkins’ soap ($8) is plant-based and non-toxic, with an earthy fresh scent that’s only fitting. Need more proof it’s a sudser worth noticing? The aloe and green tea variety is going home in gift bags from this year’s Entertainment Tonight and People magazine party.

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The light scent of mimosas and green tea is the first thing we love about Molton Brown’s hand soap ($25). The second is the white mulberry bark, a favorite of ancient China, that’s supposed to reduce signs of aging by inhibiting the enzyme that produces melanin in the skin.

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One of the most feminine soaps on our line-up, Red Chérie ($14) is a mix of cherries, jasmine and Asian lychee that smells so softly sweet we’d like it in a spritz-able version.

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C.O. Bigelow lived and learned: after the company’s lemon body creams and lotions continuously sold out, they added to the empire with a Lemon Hand Wash ($12). We count it as a smart move. The sugary lemon scent is a pitch perfect incarnation of grandma’s lemonade.

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Dove’s Beauty Bar ($3 for 2) is a luxe take on the classic bar of soap, with a track record that speaks for itself. With a quarter moisturizing lotion, it’s been a favorite for over 50 years.

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Think you need a little bit of luck to stay flu-free? Try L’Occitane’s Verbena Hand Wash ($18). The lemon-scented verbena shrub is a symbol of good luck in Provence, but we think it’s more than a wife’s tale. A vegetal soap base and wheat proteins cleanse without drying, making washing up much more appealing.

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Dr. Bronner’s Magic Shikakai soap in lavender ($9) is organic and fair trade, so the pros of using it extend beyond just a safe flu season. Another benefit? The grape-colored bottle will make soaping up appealing for even the youngest hand washers.

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Next: Soothe dry hands with Flu Season Comforts