The Hand Sanitizers You’ll Actually Want to Use

The new normal for daily life looks a lot different than it did 6 months ago. Masks are now as essential for leaving the house as keys, hand washing is an hourly occurrence, and social distancing is a permanent fixture in our vocabulary. We’re all doing our part to help stop the spread of coronavirus and protect our friends and neighbors. Another essential when leaving the house these days is hand sanitizer—it’s necessary to kill germs while you’re out and about, whether it’s in a grocery store or picking up takeout when washing your hands isn’t an option.

To be effective at killing germs, it’s recommended to use a quarter-size dollop of hand sanitizer—which means you can cover your entire hand and all of your fingers. Unfortunately, the alcohol ratio in an effective hand sanitizer makes it quite drying and gives off a strong scent (the CDC recommends an ethanol alcohol formula to be greater than 60% to kill germs). But some hand sanitizer brands have added essential oils to help neutralize the smell and create a more pleasant experience (so you don’t walk around smelling like Purell). They may also contain soothing ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin E to help counteract the harsh alcohol and keep your hands a bit more moisturized.