The Best All Natural Hand Sanitizers

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Hand sanitizer has become such a norm that for many of us it’s second nature to stick our hands under the automatic dispensers next to the elevator, the work kitchenette, etc. We carry around little containers of sanitizer for “cleaning up” before eating, after taking the bus, when we go camping.

What’s in conventional hand sanitizer… that doesn’t have to be

As with most heavily processed products, conventional hand sanitizers have some pretty unhealthy ingredients in them. Triclosan, an active ingredient in many antibacterial products, was recently banned by the FDA because it’s a hormone disruptor and is contributing to bacteria resistance—and it isn’t even effective in protecting against seasonal infections like the cold and flu, which are mostly viral, not bacterial.

Other less-than-desirable ingredients in your everyday hand sanitizer include parabens (common in personal care products, and linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive and immune problems, and skin irritation) and chemical fragrances (linked to allergies, dermatitis and respiratory issues).

Is it safe to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer?

Most hand sanitizers are made primarily of alcohol, which, though effective against both bacteria and viruses, kills not just disease-causing bacteria but also healthy microorganisms on the skin. This isn’t good, as your skin’s naturally occurring microorganisms are important for immunity and protect against the invasion of harmful bacteria. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also dry out your skin, which reduces its natural protective functioning.

That said, alcohol-based hand sanitizer is effective at killing harmful bacteria and viruses, so can be safely used in a pinch as needed, though is not recommended to use regularly as a primary method of keeping your hands clean.

Hand sanitizer may not be helping our immunity

Another question worth asking is whether we need hand sanitizer at all.

New research suggests that hyper-sterilizing ourselves with persistent use of antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers may actually inhibit proper immune development, especially in children. Our immune systems require exposure to common germs to develop properly and stay strong.

So, what to do?!

The best ways to keep your hands clean & germ-free

Fortunately, there are some simple, natural ways to keep your hands reasonably clean—without the toxic ingredients in conventional hand sanitizer. Here are some good options for more “natural” hand sanitizing:

Wash your hands with soap and water

For most purposes, a good old fashioned hand washing with soap (non-antibacterial) and water is probably the most effective way to keep your hands clean and your immunity strong.

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds—about the length of time it takes to sing Happy Birthday.

However, if you’re not around soap and water, here are a few natural hand sanitizer options to call upon if needed:

Natural, non-toxic hand sanitizers

For an alcohol-free option, we love CleanWell (this is great for kids, too!). We also like EO or Dr. Bronner’s—they both cleanse with ethyl alcohol, but have enough nourishing ingredients that they won’t dry out your skin.

DIY natural hand sanitizer

It’s actually really simple to make your own effective homemade hand sanitizer. All you’ll need is aloe vera gel, tea tree oil, cinnamon essential oil, and a container to store it in. Mix 1/4 cup aloe vera gel per 10 drops of each essential oil. Store in your desired container and use as needed!

Essential oils are good sanitizers because they have potent antibacterial, antifungal and other antimicrobal properties, but they need to be properly diluted (such as in the recipe above) before being applied directly to skin.