How to Choose & Properly Apply Hand Sanitiser?

We already know the importance of hand sanitiser after having lived through the pandemic. And what with all the new strains of coronavirus, and not to mention the monkeypox virus on the horizon, we must be up to par with our hand hygiene. So here are some reminders on how to properly use a hand sanitiser to keep viruses at bay.

·      Choose a hand sanitiser that’s alcohol-based, preferably with an alcohol concentration of 60 to 95%, as it has higher germ-killing efficiency. A concentration of more than 95% isn’t effective since alcohol requires a specific volume of water to denature or break down microbes.

·         However, while a 60% concentration of alcohol-based sanitiser works well against common viruses, it cannot protect you from certain types of germs like the Cryptosporidium parasite or the highly contagious and potentially fatal norovirus. Also, it can’t protect your hands from harmful chemicals, which require proper washing with soap and running water immediately upon contact.

·         Use a hand sanitiser only when proper hand washing is not possible and if the hands aren’t visibly dirty. Otherwise, cleaning your hands with soap and water would still be best.

Proper Hand Sanitiser Application

Also called a hand rub, this alcohol-based preparation can be in gel, foam or liquid form and kills 99.9% of common germs by rubbing on the hands. It may appear too easy on the surface, and we often take it for granted, but there is a proper way of using hand sanitiser.

·         Pour a palmful of sanitiser into one cupped hand and start rubbing both palms together, making sure to cover all surfaces.

·         Rub one palm over the opposite hand’s back, interlacing the fingers to spread the product thoroughly. Do the same with your other hand.

·         Rub hands with palms facing each other and fingers interlaced.

·         Thoroughly rub each finger of both hands with sanitiser.

·         Rub until your hands are completely dry.

·         Ideally, it takes 20 to 30 seconds of rubbing before the sanitiser dries up and kills whatever germs and bacteria are on your hands.

·         Never wipe off or rinse with water, as doing so nullifies efficiency.

Try L'occitane hand sanitizer. This French-made gel has a 69% alcohol concentration for maximum protection and comes in verbena and lavender scents. It also garnered the silver award under the Best Hand Sanitiser category in the 2022 Beauty Bible Awards.