Cleaning your hands has now become one of the most important grooming habits. Not only are you cleaning your hands after going to the bathroom and before cooking, but now it seems like every five minutes, no matter where you are, the need to clean your hands is there. Thankfully, hand sanitizer is the perfect solution for an on-the-go (or at-home) remedy. However, with constant hand sanitizing, we have begun to realize that not all hand sanitizers are created equally. Some smell of hospitals, some leave your hands extremely dry, and some even sting. We’ve gone through bottles of hand sanitizer to find out what to look for to get a nice and reinvigorating hand cleansing experience.

Alcohol-Based vs Non-Alcohol Based

Hand Sanitizer comes in two forms, alcohol-based and non-alcohol based. Alcohol-based is more traditionally used, containing 60-95% alcohol as the FDA recommendation for maximum effectiveness. Alcohol or isopropanol is the active ingredient, used as an antiseptic to disinfect against germs and bacteria. A common side effect of alcohol-based hand sanitizer is dryness and irritation. Because of this, make sure to look for sanitizer with moisturizing ingredients(more on this below).

Non-Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizer typically comes in a water-based foam with the active ingredient Benzalkonium Chloride. While equally protective against bacteria and germs, non-alcohol hand sanitizers are harder to find because the application is more complicated, and therefore, packaging costs cause the retail cost to go up.

Goodbye Dryness

One of the most common concerns of using hand sanitizer frequently is dryness and irritation. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it also is potentially dangerous. If your dryness leads to cuts, it opens up your body for germs and bacteria to get passed the skin barrier. Because of this, it is extremely important to hand sanitizer to have a moisturizing ingredient. We are a fan of natural moisturizers, such as aloe vera and essential oils.

Scented with Purpose

Let’s face it, hand sanitizer is notorious for smelling awful. Thankfully, companies have stepped up their game on scenting. Opt for natural scents made from a blend of essential oils. Not only will these hand sanitizers make cleaning your hands a delight, but it will also give you time to take a moment, and breathe in some reinvigorating scents.

Try Maapilim’s Hand Sanitizer, $10. Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer made with Aloe Vera.