DIY Hand Sanitizer With Essential Oils

The most spoken, heard, and memorized phrase of 2020 would be “Wash Your Hands.” These three words have become a global mission after the outbreak of Covid-19. Before the ungodly arrival of Coronavirus, our lives were smooth and carefree. Back in those days, which now seem like an eternity ago, we would step out and come home without the worry of being a virus host. Now that we have no choice but to adopt the new normal and fight against this virus while still living with it, hand sanitizers are requisite for personal care. 

However, the dilemma of choosing the best hand sanitizer is still there. With the outbreak of corona, there is an excess of hand sanitizers in the market. Numerous commercial sanitizers contain chemicals that are not only hard to pronounce but also seem intimidating. Natural hand sanitizers are always the right choice because, with them, we don’t need to worry about irritations, redness, or skin sensitivity. The last thing we want these days is a visit to the hospital. Hence, natural hand sanitizers are the best bet at the moment. Here are some reasons to validate this theory:

Benefits of Natural Hand Sanitizer:

• Easy to use and time-saving
• Instant and thorough rinse
• Accessible at all times
• Promotes protection from germs
• Minimum risk of skin sensitivity
• Support soft and supple skin
• Preserve skin’s natural beauty
• Dries quickly and leaves no sticky feel

DIY Hand Sanitizer Recipe:

Making a hand sanitizer at home has the advantage of knowing the ingredients you will introduce to your skin. Natural ingredients such as aloe vera, essential oils, and glycerin are healthy alternatives to chemical-based cleansers. Additionally, natural ingredients are good for the skin in the long term. They don’t strip off your skin’s natural oils and maintain its youthful radiance. As for essential oils, you can add the ones whose scent you like the most. 

Essential oils boost the effectiveness of hand sanitizers with their innate cleansing and exfoliating properties. Besides, essential oils have aromatic compounds that provide aromatherapy benefits like soothing stress, mental agitation, and tension while hydrating your skin. 

Here Is a List of The Best Essential Oils for Hand Sanitizers:

• Tea Tree Oil—purifying, soothing, deodorizing
• Peppermint Oil—exfoliating, cleansing, relaxing
• Rosemary Oil—hydrating, purifying, calming
• Lemon Oil—refreshing, deodorizing, cleansing
• Orange Oil—revitalizing, purifying, hydrating
• Eucalyptus Oil—soothing, reviving, energizing

Why Add Isopropyl/Rubbing Alcohol in Hand Sanitizers

Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol is easily available in pharmaceutical stores. It has antibacterial, antivirus, and antifungal properties. Rubbing alcohol is used as an ingredient in many home surface cleaners and disinfectants. It is gentle on the skin and can kill pathogens in less time. 

Studies suggest alcohol kills bacteria and germs and is highly effective in hand hygiene. As per one CDC report, a hand sanitizer must contain at least 60% alcohol in its composition. Alcohol-based sanitizers are known to help remove many microbes on the skin that can cause germ-related diseases. While 60% of alcohol might not be able to kill germs completely, it reduces its growth. However, a 95% ratio of alcohol in sanitizers is known to kill 99% bacteria, viruses, and germs. 

List of Required Ingredients and Material:

• 2 Ounce Pump Bottle
• Funnel
• ⅔ cup of isopropyl alcohol
• ⅓ cup of aloe vera gel
• 10 drops of your favorite essential oil

Directions: 

• Add alcohol and aloe vera gel until blended well
• Add essential oil and let it mix completely
• Pour the ingredients into pump bottle with a funnel
• Tightly lid the bottle, shake well, use
• Let it air-dry
• Apply moisturizer afterward

Hand Sanitizers Vs. Hand Washes

Hand hygiene is essential at all times. We eat, touch and work with hands that come into contact with hundreds of germs every day. Without our realization, we carry a large number of microbes in our hands and transfer them to others, causing diseases. Whether we choose sanitizers or hand washes, the goal is to promote health and prevent the spread of diseases through germs.