Hand Sanitizer

One of the most important things to remember during this time, is that hand washing is the number one way to prevent the spread of disease. With that being said, there are times when you are out and a sink isn't exactly available and hand sanitizer is the quicker option. As people rush to the grocery stores to stock up on just about everything, most of society is left without the essentials. For that reason, I decided to give you an eco friendly way to make your own hand sanitizer. 

1 | SANITIZER AND THE PLANET

As the demand for products such as hand sanitizer increases so does the effect on our environment. The Hand Sanitizer industry has increased tremendously after the COVID-19 virus surged the world. One of the first things to go in our local stores was hand sanitizer and this caused a huge impact on our resources to produce enough product to meet demand. Not only that but the tiny plastic bottles that are used to package this product are difficult to recycle and frequently end up in landfills, dumped into the ocean, or scattered around public areas. 

Not only does hand sanitizer packaging have an effect on the planet but running off from washing our hands also has an impact. As discussed in other posts, it is very frequent for the chemicals we put on our body to disrupt the aquatic ecosystems that our water runs off into. Triclosan and other chemicals can be toxic, promote algae growth, and slowly kill off organisms in these ecosystems. 

1 | HAND SANITIZER AND YOUR SKIN

Before we get to the recipe let's quickly talk about why homemade hand sanitizer might be the healthier option even if it wasn’t sold out at stores. One of the main ingredients used in most common non alcoholic hand sanitizer brands is Triclosan. Triclosan is something I commonly talk about as it is used in a multitude of everyday items such as toothpaste, body wash, and face wash. It is labeled as an antimicrobial chemical which could increase antibiotic resistant bacteria. The question of how Triclosan affects human health and hormonal balance is one that is still being studied, however, the use of Triclosan has been warned against. 

Other things that might be lurking in your hand sanitizer are Phthalates and Parabens. This is most common in scented hand sanitizer as they usually contain a lot of hidden chemicals. Parabens and Phthalates can throw your hormones out of balance and have been hypothesized to be linked to breast cancer with frequent use. 

All in all, using something that is potentially harmful frequently on your skin while you are trying to stay clear of germs is probably not the best idea. So let's look at a way to stay clear of picking up germs and viruses while being gentle on your skin, body, and the planet.

3 | WHAT YOU CAN DO

So let's get into our easy DIY eco friendly hand sanitizer recipe!

What you’ll need:

- Small container (bottle, old hand sanitizer container, etc)

- Isopropyl alcohol 

- Aloe vera (gel or plant)

- Tea Tree Oil (or peppermint oil substitute)

- Lavender oil (optional)

- Vitamin E Oil (optional)

Mix a 3:1 ratio of isopropyl alcohol and aloe vera gel. Add a couple drops of lavender, tea tree oil, or peppermint oil and vitamin E oil if desired and shake until nicely mixed. 

Now you have a gentle and easy homemade hand sanitizer that you can use! Stay safe, wash your hands, and stay home!