As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Full Disclosure Here
Disclaimer March 2020: This article was written prior to the recent coronavirus pandemic and the recipe below is not meant to be used for this particular purpose. Scroll below to find recommendations for readymade hand sanitizers by reputed brands.
To stay informed, updated, and safe on the coronavirus, please refer to these two resources Centers for Disease Control And Prevention and WHO website on symptoms and preventive measures.
Carrying a moisturizing hand sanitizer is a smart idea, especially during flu season. Touching a surface immediately after someone with the flu has touched it is one of the fastest ways to contract the horrid flu virus.
What’s particularly worrisome about this is that you cannot tell whether the doorknob of the store you just entered, the handrail on the train, or the item you just touched in the grocery store was contaminated until after the symptoms manifest.
The best way to minimize getting the flu is to rub a little sanitizer on your hands.
Here are three recipes you can use to make your own fragrant, moisturizing hand sanitizer that moisturizes your skin as it cleans. And they smell good too!
Recipe #3 is particularly gentle and safe for kids.
Scroll down after the recipes to read what each ingredient does and the role they play in these moisturizing hand sanitizers.
Recipe #1 – Homemade Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer With Lavender Scent
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pure Aloe Vera Gel – Seven Mineral’s Xanthan-free Aloe Vera Gel absorbs rapidly without leaving a sticky residue
- 1 tablespoon Pure Witch Hazel – T.N. Dickson’s Witch Hazel cleanses and conditions without removing essential moisture
- 1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E Oil – This Vitamin E Oil softens the skin without feeling too heavy or sticky
- 20 – 30 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
- 5 – 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Instructions
Add the Aloe Vera Gel, Witch Hazel, and Vitamin E Oil together in a small glass container and swirl gently until well blended.
Add the essential oils slowly, swirling gently to let the essential oils mix with the other ingredients.
Mix up a batch and transfer your homemade moisturizing hand sanitizer into small dark-colored squirt bottles or pump-top bottles. Choose a size that is convenient for keeping in the car or slipping into your handbag, satchel, or backpack.
Alternatively, you could pour the bulk of the sanitizer into a large bottle that you keep at home. Replenish your smaller carry bottles from this large bottle.
I highly recommend using these dark-colored bottles so that the properties of the essential oils remain intact. Storing essential oils in light-colored bottles exposes them to light, which destroys their healing properties.
Shake the bottle gently before each use. Pour a few drops into your palm and rub your hands together gently to spread the sanitizer all over.
Recipe #2 – Citrus-Scented Homemade Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer
Ingredients
- 2 tbsps Aloe Vera Gel
- 8-10 drops Vitamin E Oil
- 12 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 8 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
- 5 drops Lemon Essential Oil
- 5 drops Lime Essential Oil
- Distilled Water
Instructions
Add the Aloe Vera Gel, and Vitamin E Oil in a small glass container and swirl the bowl until the gel and oil are well blended.
Add the essential oils slowly, swirling gently to let the essential oils mix with the other ingredients.
Transfer your homemade moisturizing hand sanitizer into a large bottle and top it up with distilled water.
Shake vigorously to mix for a fresh, citrusy-smelling moisturizing hand sanitizer.
Shake the bottle well before every use.
Apply as needed, adding a little bit to your hands. Rub hands together gently.
Recipe #3 – Gentle Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer for Kids
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Organic Aloe Vera Gel
- 20 drops Essential Oil – This Germ Destroyer Essential Oil by Plant Therapy is perfect for this purpose. It contains a propriety blend of essential oils that destroys germs and even more important, it is kid-safe.
Instructions
Mix both ingredients and transfer to a dark-colored squeeze bottle.
Put a few drops and rub your hands gently to get rid of germs naturally.
Note About the Ingredients Used
- Tea tree and lavender essential oils both have germ-killing properties, which makes this homemade moisturizing hand sanitizer particularly effective.
- The aroma of lavender oil also helps mask the stronger scent of the tea tree oil.
- Not too fond of the lavender scent? Lemon, lemongrass, eucalyptus, thyme, and cinnamon essential oil all have germ-killing properties too. Choose any one of these to make a range of scents that appeal to you or to anyone you are gifting it to.
- In addition to acting as a moisturizer, Vitamin E also acts as a preservative and will help your sanitizer last several months.
Precautions When Using Essential Oils
Be careful when handling essential oils. Essential oils are very concentrated plant extracts and can cause irritation if the concentrated form touches your skin. They should only be used in diluted form.
Also, if you have never used essential oils before, be sure to perform an essential oil allergy patch test before you slather on any skincare lotion that contains essential oils.
Note – Always check with your doctor or healthcare provider before using essential oils, especially on children.
Best Premade Hand Sanitizers
These are some of the most popular readymade hand sanitizers marketed by reputed brands on Amazon.
Related Reads:
Make Your Own Natural Cleaning Products With Essential Oils
Spring Cleaning With Essential Oils
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to serve as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before using any natural medication or if you experience any unusual symptoms. See Full Disclaimer here.
