Kids are heading back-to-school where we live (yes, already). This year looks different for many, and some may be virtual, home, hybrid, or in classroom. Thanks, Covid. Whatever learning looks for you this year, we are still living through the changes that coronavirus created, and will be heading into cold and flu 'season' in a couple months. Public health notices, television commercials, and billboards are all admonishing us to wash our hands, well and frequently. However, a sink is not always readily available or convenient. Not to mention, if we are out and about, we are stuck using the toxic soap in the public restrooms. And God-only knows what is in the cleaners and regular hand sanitizers everyone is slathering everything in now. Remember all the recalls on that stuff from a few weeks ago??? Ew.

So do we resort to the blue goop in the vat from Costco or the little tubs of clear gel clipped to our bags?  How about the clear gel on every.single.countertop in all the places nowadays? Uh-uh. Have you ever considered those ingredients? We need to just say NO to traditional hand sanitizers as they are chock full of drying and harmful chemicals. Things like triclosan, alcohols, and methylisothiazolinone (M1) are major ingredients to avoid.

Check that label twice folks. Alcohol, in all its many forms, is a drying agent. Your skin needs moisture to maintain integrity for protection. Triclosan, a relative of Agent Orange, is a registered pesticide with the EPA and is the mainstay of most antibacterial products (also found in toothpaste, makeup, amongst other things). It is also a known endocrine disruptor - which means it wreaks havoc on the system that controls all your biological processes. Methlisothiazolinone is a powerful preservative, meaning it maintains a longer shelf life. It was named Allergan of the Year in 2013 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society. This is truly a trifecta of toxicness which we slather all over our skin in the name of germ protection.

Plain old soap and water have been proven to be the most effective and disease prevention - provided it is a safe soap! For those other times, consider using the dynamic duo of pure haven hand sanitizer and Hands on the Go, a waterless soap.

Keep hands clean with this safe, effective hand sanitizer made with organic cane alcohol to help reduce bacteria that has the potential to cause illness. Meets the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for hand sanitizer. This organic cane alcohol does no harm when absorbed into skin and is 99.9% effective against most common germs without drying. (Goldstein Research. (March 20, 2020.) Global Hand Sanitizer Market Outlook.) Best part it comes in a convenient spray so it is easy to spray little hands, shopping carts, touchpads, keypads, and masks after use. 

The waterless soap, Hands on the Go, has an organic aloe vera base that is nourishing and moisturizing, leaving hands soft and protected! Harnessing the power of nature's goodness, organic essential oils of lemon, tea tree, neem oil, and clove bud work to cleanse hands naturally with no alcohol. Our formula supports the skin's natural ability to heal and fight off icky germs. Because of the amazing ingredient profile, I have also used Hands on the Go for rash soothing, hair gel, and acne spot treatment. Love me some product versatility!

I opt out of everyone's hand products as chances are it just isn't healthy. And with the frequency of use, it isn't worth all that repeated toxic exposure and body burden. To truly repel and fight off ANY germ, you need protected skin (and a naturally-boosted immune system). I carry my own sanitizer, and everyplace I have been accepts me using mine in lieu of theirs. If you'd like more information on ingredients to avoid, head over here.