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If you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to steer clear of products containing alcohol as they can dry out your skin easily. Dry skin can lead to irritation, rashes, burning, and itching.
So instead of using a chemical-laden hand sanitiser, the best type of hand sanitiser for you should be one made with natural ingredients, particularly mānuka hydrosol.
Read on to find out why an alcohol-free hand sanitiser might be the best hand sanitiser for everyday use – especially for people with sensitive skin.
What are the Common Ingredients Found in the Best Types of Hand Sanitisers?
Over-the-counter (OTC) hand sanitisers contain one or more key ingredients:
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Ethyl alcohol (ethanol)
- Benzalkonium chloride
According to the FDA, approximately 97% of OTC hand sanitisers contain at least one of these ingredients.
The best hand sanitiser for travel, hospitals, or just everyday needs contains alcohol as the main ingredient because of its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. It disrupts or kills many different types of viruses, bacteria, and fungi faster than other compounds.
Other common antimicrobial ingredients found in OTC hand sanitisers include:
- Geranium Oil
- Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil (related to lemongrass)
- Orange Peel Oil
- Lavandin Oil (a type of lavender)
- Aloe vera gel (prevents the product from over-drying your skin)
Why You Should Go Alcohol-Free If You Have Sensitive Skin
Frequent use of products containing drying alcohol like isopropyl and ethyl alcohol can diminish the healthy fatty compounds in the top layer of the skin. This can result in an impaired skin barrier that increases the risk of skin infections.
Alcohol isn’t the only ingredient to stay away from. You might need to watch out for fragrances too. Whether they are natural or synthetic fragrances, you need to be careful as these can sometimes lead to severe skin reactions.
Thankfully, there are alcohol-free hand sanitisers on the market that contain antimicrobial essential oils, which are both safe and effective for people with sensitive skin.
Will they protect you against coronavirus? Most experts don’t think so. However, for day-to-day use, when trying to prevent colds and the flu, natural hand sanitisers without alcohol can help.
Mānuka Hydrosol: The First Ingredient to Look for in Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitisers
Mānuka hydrosol is a by-product of the steam distillation process used to extract mānuka essential oil from the manuka shrub. It’s a condensed steam that contains valuable components of the manuka plant. The combination of water and droplets of essential oil is also known as aromatic waters.
Mānuka hydrosol contains the same lovely scent and antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of pure mānuka essential oil. But because the solution is diluted, the product poses less of an irritant threat to people with skin sensitivities.
Protect Your Immune System Year-Round with an All-Natural Hand Sanitiser
While alcohol hand sanitisers are ideal in many situations – particularly during a pandemic, there are times when alcohol isn’t an ideal ingredient.
Thankfully, there is an option – the ManukaRx Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitiser. It contains lemongrass, mānuka oil, and lactic acid – all of which effectively fight microbes. Plus, they’re highly moisturising and will leave your hands looking and feeling healthy.
Mānuka oil products can keep your hands looking and feeling great. Check out our Happy Hands Bundle for when you’re on the go.
