Hand sanitizer is used my millions, every day, as a way to wash their hands when soap and water isn't readily available. Hand sanitizers are believed to kill bacteria but they also have a very dark side.
The active ingredient in most hand sanitizers is alcohol, either ethol alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, or a mixture of both. This is what kills the germs. The problem is that alcohol in the sanitzers are mixed with lots of harmful chemicals. Alcohol enhances the absorption of other ingredients. This means anything mixed with it will move through the skin and into the bloodstream more easily. Let's look at some of the hand sanitizers on the market.
Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea Hand Sanitizer
Active Ingredient: Alcohol 68%
Inactive ingredients: Water (Aqua, Eau), Isopropal Alcohol, Fragrance (Parfum), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Honey Extract (Mel, Extract de meil), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract, Dimethicone, Hydroxyproplcellulose, Dimethiconol, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, Glycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Alumnia, Isopropal Myristate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 33 (CI 17200), Yellow 5 (CI 19140).
Purel Advanced Naturals Hand Sanitizer (this is marketed as a more natural hand sanitizer!!)
Active ingredient: Ethol alcohol 70%
Inactive ingredients: Alcohol Denatured, Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Panthenol, Glycerin, Cyclomethicone, Tocopherol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-75 Lanolin, Water (Aqua/Eau), Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Amino-Methyl Propanol, Parfum/Fragrance, Linoleamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Hydroxycitronellal, Dimethyl Lauramine, Isostearate, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Sodium PCA, Butylphenyl, Methylpropional, Amyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal.
Dr. Bronners Organic Fair Trade Hand Sanitizing Spray
Ingredients: Organic ethanol 68%, water, organic glycerin, organic lavender oil
Which one would you choose? Definitely the Dr. Bronners right? That's what I use. Or I make my own (recipe below). Bottom line is to always wash your hands with soap and water when you can. When you can't, find a chemical free hand sanitizer. The chemical ones raise real concerns, especially in children, when used frequently.
DIY Hand Sanitizer
2oz of 120 proof vodka (any brand will work. I use vodka over rubbing alcohol because it has natural antiseptic properties from natural resources)
10 drops of lavender essential oil (I use Young Living)
10 drops of vegetable glycerin
Mix ingredients and transfer to a 2oz spray bottle. I keep these bottles in my car, purse, and in my desk at the office.
