Art & Life

Keep em’ Clean! A hand sanitizer review

Hand Sanitizer
Graphic by Amanda Bollig.

Well, it is not the most interesting skincare topic out there but someone’s gotta do it.  

Covid is still around and even though vaccinations are available it doesn’t mean students can’t keep up with proper hand hygiene. So, here are some sanitizers that get the job done.  

The criteria is that there has to be at least the CDC recommended 60% amount of alcohol in the product, it should not strip hands of healthy bacteria and oils and, if possible, not smell terrible. 

I have given these a rating scale from 1-5 stars; 1 being meh and 5 being great. Now the results: 

Comes in Handy by Julep  

This has 72% alcohol and is a clear gel with aloe vera for moisture, soaks into skin quickly and smells like alcohol. Hands feel clean but a little dry. 3/5 stars. 

Little Trees 

This has 80% alcohol and is a light spray, soaks quickly but not as fast as Julep, and is unscented. Hands feel clean but not as clean as other sprays and dry. 2/5 stars.

Pipette 

This has 65% alcohol and is a light liquid in between a gel and lotion, it has sugarcane derived squalane to provide moisture. It is unscented, not sticky and hands feel a little soft after use. 4/5 stars.

Purell with Moisturizers and Vitamin E 

This has 62% alcohol and is a clear thin, liquid gel. It soaks quickly and has moisturizers and a clean scent. Hands feel clean, not dry. 3/5 stars.

Dove Nourishing Hand Sanitizer 

This has 61% alcohol and is a thick gel, absorbs quickly and has glycerin for moisture and a lavender scent. Hands feel clean and soft, love the scent. 5/5 stars.

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day 

This has 62% alcohol and is a spray, absorbs quickly and has a lemon scent. Hands feel clean. 3/5 stars.

Raw Sugar Green Apple Sanitizer 

This has 62% alcohol and is a clear gel. It soaks quickly and has a not so pleasant apple, alcohol scent to it. Hands feel clean but the smell is what I don’t like about it. 2/5 stars.

Overall impression of sanitizers has come a long way. The addition of moisturizing ingredients to keep hands from drying out and staying soft is a much-needed improvement. For the money, I like the Dove and Pipette. They both keep hands clean but leave a nice layer of moisture.  

Image courtesy of Amanda Bollig | Kirkwood Communiqué

Categories: Art & Life