Washing your hands with soap and water should always be a priority but if there isn’t a sink nearby, these mighty wonders will do the heavy lifting.
If you told us a year ago that hand sanitisers would be selling off the shelves and becoming a staple in everyone’s handbag, we’d give the judgy face. But here we are in pandemic city, hoarding essential items, practicing social distancing, buying face masks and learning to wash our hands the right way. These itty-bitty bottles hold just enough power to kill viruses and bacteria, plus they’re also quick-drying and gentle on the skin. Note: We’re stressing once again that using hand sanitisers should always be your second choice. Always opt for soap and water whenever you can.
Ollie Hand Sanitizer Spray
Made with just a handful of ingredients – 70% ethyl alcohol and hydrating aloe vera leaf juice, with anti-bacterial tea tree, sweet orange and peppermint essential oils – it’s a soothing yet heavy duty sanitiser. Pop this into your bag and spritz away. Plus points for its citrusy aroma.
Ollie Hand Sanitizer Spray, $7 for 30ml, available online
Oasis Skin Purifying Hand Sanitiser
Fight the virus with this no-nonsense, purifying hand sanitiser. It’s made with 90% plant-based alcohol (mild on skin but wild on bacteria), as well as organic aloe vera, cold-pressed yellow mandarin and distilled Yunnan lemon verbena leaves for supple skin.
Oasis Skin Purifying Hand Sanitiser, $8.50 for 30ml, available online
Maison 21G 2.1 Hand Sanitizer
For those who need something a little extra, Maison 21G’s got you covered. Probably the most luxurious hand sanitiser on our list, these babies are layered with 75% alcohol and hand-crafted perfume essences to keep you fresh and protected. Scents come in sage and lavender, vetiver and lavandin, orris and vanilla, and basil and lavandin combos, packed in a sleek glass bottle. Can’t choose just one? Order a set of four bottles.
Maison 21G 2.1 Hand Sanitizer, $15 for 15ml, available online
Botanica Culture 100% Natural Hand Sanitizer
Packed with seven organic essential oils (including tea tree oil, lemongrass oil and eucalyptus oil), anti-microbial activities, vitamin E, aloe vera and witch hazel, this hand sanitiser is super friendly to the skin. The anti-inflammatory and disinfecting properties of the essential oils kill germs, viruses, fungi and bacteria. If you’re looking for an alcohol-free option, this is your best bet.
Botanica Culture 100% Natural Hand Sanitizer, $12 for 30ml, available online
Bentley Organic Hand Sanitizer
This mighty bottle is 99.9% effective against germs but is also super moisturising. It even ticks all the marks – it’s free of parabens, SLS, alcohol, synthetic colour and fragrance. In addition, it’s vegan, vegetarian, and has a biodegradable formula that’s kind to the environment. A definite YES in our books.
Bentley Organic Hand Sanitizer, $15 for 50ml, available via Aldha
IDS Skincare Moisturizing Sanitiser
Don’t be fooled by the tiny bottle. This product is a sanitiser, antiseptic, mosquito repellent and moisturiser rolled into one. You can count on the local skincare brand to create a hand sanitiser with moisturising properties (glycerin) for smooth and clean hands.
IDS Skincare Moisturizing Sanitiser, $4.17 for 10ml, available online
Rough Beauty Springs Hand Sanitizer
Rough Beauty’s no-frills sanitiser is tough on germs thanks to the isopropyl alcohol in the formula. Add tea tree, grapefruit and lavender essential oils along with vitamin E, and you’ve got a handy sanitiser that isn’t drying. Refill bottles in 60ml and 250ml sizes are also available.
Rough Beauty Springs Hand Sanitizer, $3.50 for 10ml, available online (currently sold out)
The Skin Pharmacy SepiClean Hand Sanitiser
If you’re worried about finding a nearby place to wash your hands, this will suffice. Made with 70% alcohol and hospital-grade chlorhexidine, it effectively eliminates microorganisms and bacteria. It’s also quick-drying yet moisturising. Also available up to massive one-litre sizes so you can avoid panic buying.
The Skin Pharmacy SepiClean Hand Sanitiser, $5 for 60ml, available online
Leonica K Hand Sanitiser
No OTT packaging or frills – just good ol’ hand sanitiser to keep your hands free of nasties. We’re talking about the 99.9% purity pharmaceutical grade isopropyl alcohol that goes into it, plus hydrating oils to keep your hands from drying out.
Leonica K Hand Sanitiser, $3 for 30ml, available online
Ange Gardien Paris Le Soin Hand Sanitisers
Pamper your hands with fragrance-infused hand sanitisers from Ange Gardien Paris. Feeling floral, fruity or botanical? These bottles are combined with 75% alcohol and aloe vera extract to kill germs and moisturise your hands along the way. Plus, the collector’s edition also comes in Le Soin Essential hand cream and sanitiser sets for a longer-lasting scent.
Ange Gardien Paris Le Soin Hand Sanitisers, from $6 for 30ml, available online
Hysses Hand Sanitiser
Can’t stand the stench of alcohol on your hands? Don’t fret as the local aromatherapy brand is here to save the day. The hand sanitisers come in two scents – refreshing rosemary peppermint and uplifting lemongrass – that are gentle on skin but tough on germs. Your hands will thank you later.
Hysses Hand Sanitiser, $14.90 for 65ml, available online
Handmade Heroes No-No Nasties Sanitizer
Apart from being obsessed with its sassy name, this 100% natural hand sanitiser is made with just ethyl alcohol, water, glycerin, orange and eucalyptus oil. It’s great to know that the alcohol derived from sugar cane is just as powerful in killing 99.9% of germs and bacteria. It’s ‘yes-yes’ from us.
Handmade Heroes No-No Nasties Sanitizer, 60ml, available online
Dr Bronner’s Lavender or Peppermint Hand Sanitizer
Kill germs and nasties with Dr Bronner’s hand sanitiser, which features an organic formula of ethyl alcohol, water, glycerin and peppermint or lavender oil. Not only is it great for sticky messes and sanitisation on-the-go, but it also doubles up as a deodoriser. Just spritz into the air for soothing lavender or uplifting peppermint aromas.
Dr Bronner’s Hand Sanitizer, $7.90 for 59ml, available via Watsons stores and online
The Body Shop Mango Hand Cleanse Gel
If The Body Shop’s mood-lifting scents make your heart flutter, you’re going to love this hand cleansing gel. Move aside, chemical-smelling hand sanitisers, ‘cos this rinse-free gel comes in a fruity mango scent. Pop the bottle in your bag for on-the-go cleansing.
The Body Shop Mango Hand Cleanse Gel, $7 for 60ml, available at multiple locations including Ion Orchard and VivoCity, and online
Kick nasty germs in the butt with these powerful yet gentle-on-the-skin hand sanitisers!
