Use This DIY hand sanitizer recipe to keep your hands clean and moisturized
Table of contents:
Benefits of making homemade hand sanitizer.
The role of alcohol in hand sanitizers.
DIY Aloe Vera hand sanitizer recipe.
During a pandemic, people tend to stock up on supplies, including hand sanitizer.
If you can’t find sanitizer online or in the stores, you’re not alone....
But you’re also not out of luck! There’s an alternative option that may prove even better for your skin.
Making homemade hand sanitizer can be an effective solution for keeping you and your family safe.
Using all-natural ingredients, you can easily prepare batches of DIY hand sanitizer in the comfort of your own home.
Benefits of Homemade Hand Sanitizer
Why make your own hand sanitizer when you can just buy some?
Along with ensuring that you have sanitizer when retailers run out, making it at home offers a wide range of benefits:
- You know everything that goes into it
- You can add your favorite scents
- You can include moisturizing ingredients
- You may reduce your risk of getting sick
When hand sanitizer is in short supply, making your own ensures that you can continue to do everything to stay safe.
DIY sanitizer also gives you complete control over the ingredients. You don’t need to worry about whether a company uses harmful chemicals, which is often the case unfortunately.
It’s also nice because you can include scents from your favorite essential oils. You can even increase its germ-fighting power by choosing antimicrobial oils like lavender or citrus.
Above all, however, making your own allows you to address the #1 issue with hand sanitizer:
That it dries out your skin and leaves patches of irritation in its tracks.
With complete control over the ingredients, you can ensure that your mixture includes moisturizing compounds such as aloe vera gel.
Why You Don’t Want to Use Alcohol Alone
Alcohol is an essential ingredient in hand sanitizer. It’s the “big dog” responsible for helping destroy pathogens that help spread disease.
Alcohol also kills bacteria, disinfecting surfaces and skin.
Unfortunately, alcohol also tends to dry out your skin and can eventually break down the skin’s natural barrier. That’s not good because it is that protective layer of lipids that helps your skin retain moisture while blocking irritants.
Damaging it leaves your skin dry and exposed. Using high alcohol-concentration products frequently can result in redness, irritation, and painful cracks.
If you have sensitive skin, I’m sure you know exactly what I’m talking about. What’s worse is that disturbing the skin’s natural lipid layer can even increase your risk of infection.
Not something you want to be dealing with in times like these!
To protect against this, you can add other ingredients to counter its drying effects while still achieving an ideal concentration of at least 60% alcohol.
Aloe vera is uniquely suited for this as it helps hydrate the skin while reducing irritation. It’s able to do so thanks to natural compounds that suppress inflammation and lock in moisture.
Using aloe vera gel also adds substance to the hand sanitizer mix, making it easier to apply to your hands.
With that said, let’s look at an easy DIY recipe you can make at home.
DIY Hand Sanitizer Recipe
Making homemade hand sanitizer is easy. You just need a few basic ingredients and supplies:
- ¾ cup of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol 91%)
- ¼ cup of organic aloe vera gel
- 1 tablespoon pure vegetable glycerin
- Up to 15 drops of your favorite essential oils
- Large mixing bowl
- Spoon
- Funnel
- Sterile containers
Sterilize or thoroughly clean everything that you plan on using to prep, including the mixing bowl.
Pour the ingredients into the bowl and mix until thoroughly combined. Your goal is a gel-like consistency.
Position the funnel over your containers and slowly pour the mixture. The mixture should remain effective for up to 6 months when stored in a cool, dry spot.
This recipe should give you a hand sanitizer with an alcohol concentration of roughly 65%, which slightly exceeds minimum recommendations.
Homemade Hand Sanitizer Recipe with Aloe
As with any other product, the quality of ingredients used directly impacts the effectiveness of your DIY hand sanitizer. For best results, consider using Era Organics Aloe Vera Gel.
In addition to the already nourishing aloe vera, this gel is infused with citrus plant stem cells, cucumber extract, and manuka honey for even more benefits.
Check it out:
✔ The citrus plant stem cells help repair your skin by promoting the synthesis of collagen and new skin cells.
✔ Cucumber extract contains helpful lipids, vitamins, and minerals that moisturize and relieve irritation.
✔ Manuka honey reduces irritation due to its anti-inflammatory properties, while its antibacterial compounds offer additional sanitizing action.
Simply use it in place of plain aloe vera in the recipe above or any homemade recipe you choose.
For best results, consider these tips for making an effective batch of hand sanitizer:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before making sanitizer
- Avoid using diluted rubbing alcohol with concentrations below 91%
- Disinfect the counter or table where you’ll be prepping
- Keep children and pets away from the mixture
To properly apply hand sanitizer, add a small amount to the palm of one hand. Rub your hands and fingers together, ensuring that you cover the backs of your hands and between your fingers.
Keep in mind that using a hand sanitizer does not replace the need to wash your hands. It is, however, a convenient alternative when you can’t get to a sink with soap and water.
Continue to practice safe hygiene practices, including washing your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds after touching potentially contaminated surfaces.
In times like these, sanitizing your hands is just a part of life, but dry skin doesn’t have to be. With our Plant-Based Aloe Vera Gel, you can make your own hand sanitizer at home that’s effective, yet tailored to soothe and restore your sensitive skin.