Can you guess which product we are talking about when we say that it is a must-have product that ensures a quick and effective manner to banish germs, even when on-the-go…? Yes, that’s right. We're talking about hand sanitisers, a product that we are all familiar with nowadays. Although we all use hand sanitisers for a very good reason – that is to keep our hands free of germs – they can sometimes do our skin more harm than good by damaging the barrier of the skin. This article walks you through this subject and tells you how to maintain your skin barrier whilst travelling clean and safe.
How sanitisers can harm hands
Most hand sanitisers are tough on your hands as they contain an alcohol percentage of at least 60%. The alcohols used (i.e. ethanol, denatured alcohol, ethyl alcohol) disrupt the skin’s barrier function by damaging the stratum corneum skin barrier (the outer layer of the skin) and removing lipids. This leads to:
+ Skin dryness. If your skin is dry, it can feel uncomfortably tense, it can also begin to flake & itch
+ Dermatitis. When micro-organisms, irritants or allergens penetrate the damaged skin barrier, a second line of defense is activated which leads to inflamed, red skin that can also become itchy, flakey and rough.
+ Chronic dermatitis. As repeated damage leads to repeated inflammation, the skin increases in thickness, the surface structures coarsen, and the skin starts to crack.
Besides alcohol, you want to avoid the harmful ingredient triclosan, a synthetic antimicrobial agent. Triclosan was banned from cosmetics, including hand sanitisers, in the EU by the European Commission however we still see it sneaking across the borders and onto many hands. Outside the EU, triclosan was banned from soap products following the risk assessment by the US Food and Drug Administration, but remains in other products such as mouthwash and hand sanitiser. Triclosan has been linked to antibiotic resistance, altered thyroid and estrogen hormone levels and reproductive issues.
Another added nasties to avoid are artificial perfumes, scents and fragrances. Chemicals used to make fragrances have been linked to many health risks including having a carcinogenic affect on cells and disrupting hormones.
Clean AND healthy hands
If at this stage of the article you are concerned that you have to give up on hand sanitisers you can put your mind at ease as there are lots of great options that will keep you & you your skin safe:
+ Sans [ceuticals] Moisture + Shield
This product not only contains ingredients with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, but also ingredients that draw moisture into the skin and deliver powerful healing properties. This unique hand serum offers protection from 99.9% of microbes whilst ensuring moisturised and hydrated hands!
+ Bondi Wash Mist Sprays
These sprays are gentle on your hands as they contain only a very small amount of alcohol (<10%) whilst still being effective thanks to the natural Australian bush oils included in the formulation. These powerfully effective, delicious smelling, and skin safe mist sprays are independent lab tested & verified to kill 99.9% of germs, virus & bacteria naturally. The perfect multi-functional product, it can also be used to disinfect surfaces & fabrics. Our tip: use your mist spray as a pillow-spray or use it to refresh your clothes.
You can choose from four different natural scents:
+ Relaxing (Tasmanian Pepper and Lavender)
+ Refreshing (Sydney Peppermint & Rosemary)
+ Cleansing (Lemon Tea Tree & Mandarin)
+ Grounding (Fragonia & Sandalwood).
+ Bondi Wash Hand Spray - with all the effectiveness of the mist sprays in defending you from germs, virus & bacteria, the Hand Spray comes in a travel/handbag/nappy bag sized bottle. Perfect for on-the-go!
+ Bondi Wash Travel Spray - who doesn't like fresh clothes, hands and luggage while traveling? This fragrant spray deodorises, cleans and is proven to kill 99.9% of germs! Bye travel odours.
With these products you can maintain your skin barrier whilst travelling clean and safe. Say bye bye to germs and hello to clean AND healthy hands!
