Make no mistake, washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds should be your first line of defense to slow the spread of the coronavirus and keep yourself from getting sick. But if you're out and about on the occasional socially distanced outing, the CDC recommends that using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is your next best bet when you don't have easy access to a sink or soap. But before you set off to turn your Tito's into hand sanitizer (seriously, don't do it), there are some important things you should know about selecting the right one.
What to Consider
According to the FDA, hand sanitizers that are intended for consumer use should contain at least 60 % alcohol to be effective. You should also check that the packaging displays a Drug Fact label listing its active ingredients and make sure you're dispersing the exact amount recommended according to the instructions.
If you have skin or smell sensitivity, you may also want to opt for a fragrance-free hand sanitizer and scan the ingredient list for any potential skin irritants like methanol and silicone.
Since we’re using hand sanitizer pretty much everywhere we go these days, think about the form you’re buying too. A large bottle might make sense to stash in your car, whereas wipes may come in handy if you’re going to eat lunch in the park and don’t want to add bulk to your bag.
How We Chose
Given the constant demand, hand sanitizer pricing varies greatly on a monthly and even weekly basis, but in general, we tried to look for products in the $30 and under price range. We also chose hand sanitizers that were easy to use, leaving out the hand sanitizers with awkward spray nozzles and poorly designed pumps, ensuring all of the selections we’ve deemed as the best hand sanitizers were all easy to open and operate.
In addition to making sure these hand sanitizers are above the 60% alcohol guideline (or, in the case of the alcohol-free wipes we love, that they have an effective cleansing agent), we looked for hand sanitizers that also contain ingredients like aloe vera to keep your hands from getting stripped of moisture.
We sniffed our way through countless hand sanitizers to find smells that were refreshing without being overpowering. We even included some solid fragrance-free options too.
Check out our carefully selected list of Amazon’s best hand sanitizers below to keep your hands germ-free on the go.
This 80% alcohol hand sanitizer uses lavender as its denaturant as opposed to potentially toxic chemicals like methanol, 1-propanol, denatonium benzoate, silicone, and propylene glycol.
The travel size also makes it ideal for keeping on hand during your errands and travels. Plus, that lavender smell constantly gives us a moment of soul-soothing calm, a much-needed reprieve from these trying times.
Say hello to skin-savers aloe vera, green tea, and safflower seed oil in this convenient spritz bottle hand sanitizer. We love its invigorating, black tea scent and the fact that it’s made with 65% ethyl alcohol.
This American-made product is sold in a three-pack, so you’ll have hand sanitizer galore with this natural blend that doesn’t dry out your skin.
We’re sanitizing our hands like crazy during these pandemic times. Let the beautiful Sandalwood scent of this J.R. Watkins hand sanitizer teleport you away from your present-day woes — and Peppermint and Lemon are delightful, too. An unscented version is on offer as well. Another winning feature? This 70% ethyl alcohol is made with aloe to keep your skin in tip-top shape.
Bonus: All J.R. Watkins products are cruelty-free, paraben-free, silicon-free, and sulfate-free, so you don’t have to worry about bad-for-you gunk in your hand sanitizer.
Made in the USA, this 75% ethyl alcohol helps bring moisture back to your hands while it destroys germs. Best of all, this hand sanitizer is made with essential oils and aloe vera that makes for a spa-like experience every time you pump some into your palms — leaving no greasy residue behind.
Made in the USA with premium locally sourced ingredients, every purchase of H2One Hand Sanitizer spurs a donation of a percentage of profits to provide bottles to organizations and charities in need.
Place a few of these hand-sanitizing wipes in your regular rotation of bags, jackets, and wallets, so you’ll never be without hand sanitizer. Made with benzalkonium chloride instead of alcohol as the active ingredient, research shows alcohol-free hand sanitizer is just as effective as alcohol-based versions, so rest assured you’re still getting your hands clean.
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Large Size
Chemical Guys EightyAID Hand Sanitizer Alcohol Antiseptic
This 80% alcohol topical solution doesn’t smell like roses and sunshine, but it gets the job done. As one Amazon reviewer put it, “it smells fine! It smells like ethyl alcohol — because that is exactly what it is” — touché.
The 16-ounce bottle is great for keeping in your car for a spritz as you go about your day or for keeping it by your doorway to give your hands a quick cleaning after getting a delivery. With no added fragrance, we also like this pick for people who prefer to use unscented products.
Okay, so these 71.5% ethyl alcohol “stix” won’t win any eco-friendly prizes, but if you’ve ever had the fiasco that is hand sanitizer explode in your backpack or purse, you know you’ll go to great lengths to avoid that again. These single-use hand sanitizers won’t leak and are made in the USA with a non-drying formula and 71.5% ethyl alcohol to kill 99% of germs.
To apply, all you have to do is grab the easy-tear tab on the top and put it on your hands, and a minty scent seals the deal.
This hand sanitizer’s 65% ethyl alcohol solution has an efficacy of 99.9% when it comes to its offensive on germs. Thanks to a clip, attach this easy-to-use misting hand sanitizer to your purse, belt loop, or keychain for easy access throughout the day. In addition to getting your hands squeaky clean, the blend includes skin-softening aloe vera and pure essential oils.
Bonus: The ergonomic packaging is refillable, reusable, and recyclable. For the fragrance-averse, there’s even a fragrance-free version.
Bluelene is a science-driven skin care line developed by Dr. Kan Cao, a scientist, human aging expert, and professor at the University of Maryland and Founder of Bluelene.
Along with destroying 99% of all germs, this 70% alcohol formula doesn’t dry out your skin and has hydration-boosting ingredients like vitamin C, aloe vera, and methylene blue to keep your skin healthy and clean.
Kill 99.99% of germs with this easy-to-use spray with 70% ethyl alcohol, making it ideal for keeping in your purse, glove compartment, or pocket when you’re on the move. FYI: TSA currently allows you to bring up to 12 ounces of liquid hand sanitizer in carry-on bags until further notice, so you’re good to go on that front, too.
Unlike many hand sanitizers that leave your hands feeling parched, this is made with hydrating and moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera and glycerin, as well as plant-based oils. Scents include Tangerine Coriander, Lemon Carrot, Cardamon Lavender, and more.
Perri O. BlumbergPerri is a New York City-born-and-based writer; she holds a bachelor's in psychology from Columbia University and is also a culinary school graduate of the plant-based Natural Gourmet Institute, which is now the Natural Gourmet Center at Institute Of Culinary Education.
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