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An ingredient label for hand sanitizer isn’t something that most consumers scrutinize, other than to possibly confirm the percentage of alcohol. And yet, given recent FDA recalls of products containing methanol and updates about formulas that may not be effective, it’s more important than ever for consumers to be informed about what they’re putting on their skin and washing down the drain. We are now using hand sanitizer at a frequency much higher than the original intended use. When checking ingredient labels, here’s what to look for:
- Smell: An “off” scent can be caused by contaminants or denaturing agents. Additionally, we see many stories about “great smelling hand sanitizer. Yet, fragrances are often composed of petrochemicals which don't have to be disclosed or can be used to “mask” an “off” hand sanitizer scent.
- Alcohol content less than 70%or “alcohol free” formulas: Alcohol content less than 70% means there may not be adequate “kill data.” Some manufacturers will reduce the alcohol content to 62% and use additives like BZK, an harmful alternative form of anti-microbial, to make up the difference in kill data.
- Carbomers or any ingredient with the word “acrylate:” The production of these thickening agents is toxic to the earth, they are essentially “liquid plastic” and will not degrade in the environment.
- Glycerin: If your hand sanitizer feels sticky on the skin, chances are it’s glycerin. Many manufacturers use this as an inexpensive thickening agent – however, it is known to lower the effective kill potential of ethanol, leading manufacturers to add more BZK to make up for this.
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