Hand sanitizer has become a ubiquitous substance for cleaning and sanitizing hands. Since the start of the pandemic, it has become more important than ever for people to keep their hands free of germs and viruses. Because you aren’t always going to be near soap and water for washing your hands, you will find portable hand sanitizer bottles to be incredibly useful to carry around with you.
But some people lament the fact that hand sanitizer can be very drying on the skin. This is where squalane hand sanitizer comes into play. Unlike traditional hand sanitizers, squalane hand sanitizer can effectively hydrate and nourish your skin. Squalane might sound like a scary, scientific ingredient, but it’s actually great for your skin! Read on to learn about all of the wonderful benefits this substance can offer for your skin.
What is Squalane?
Let’s breakdown the basics of the substance and the benefits it can offer for your skin health
So, what is squalane exactly? Unless you are a seasoned skin care guru, you probably haven’t heard of the substance. However, it is slowly gaining in popularity in numerous cosmetic brands and stores. Squalane is a natural moisturizer made from 100% plant-based sugarcane. Scientists who make squalane are attempting to recreate the squalene that is naturally made from your body. What results is an effective substance that can successfully be integrated into numerous skin care products.
Squalene — with an E — is naturally produced by our sebaceous glands, which are attached to hair follicles in the skin. Unfortunately, our body produces less squalene over time. That’s why so many skin care companies have found great value in squalane.
How is Squalane Good for Your Skin?
Sqaulane has only recently made waves in the skincare industry. Nowadays, you can probably find the substance in most moisturizers, acne creams, and other skincare products. Squalane with an A offers numerous skincare benefits such as:
- Increased levels of moisture
- Improved elasticity in the skin
- Encouraging balanced production of oil
- Protecting the skin
- Offering a lightweight moisturizing effect without clogging up the pores
- Fighting off harmful free radicals
- Treating uncomfortable skin conditions like acne or eczema with its anti-inflammatory properties
- Boosting blood circulation to plump up your skin
Because of its numerous benefits, an increasing number of consumers are seeking out skincare products containing this substance.
Squalane vs. Squalene
It can be easy to mix up squalane and squalene. After all, there is only one letter difference between the two. Essentially, squalane is a hydrogenated, man-made version of the naturally occurring substance squalene, which is made by the body. Because squalane is hydrogenated, it can enjoy a long shelf-life, making it perfect to add to skin care products.
Here are the main features and differences of the two substances that you should remember:
Squalane
- Hydrogenated version of squalene
- Stable enough to be included in various skin creams
- Unlike squalene, it is not known to clog your pores
- Traditionally taken from shark liver, but most companies have turned to plants in an effort to follow cruel-free and environmentally-friendly practices
Squalene
- Lipid that is made by the oil glands and synthesized in the liver
- Naturally protects the barrier of our skin
- Slows down in production starting at the age of 30
- Unusable for skin care products because of its ability to easily oxidized
- Goes bad much quicker than squalane
Substances That Contain Squalane
You can find squalane is a variety of different skin care products such as lotions, lip balms, cleansers, and sunscreen. Many people incorporate the substance into their skin routine by wearing a hydrating face mask or applying body moisturizer containing squalane to their skin. If you are looking for a product that offers multiple benefits, such as skin hydration or acne prevention, we recommend searching for one containing squalane.
Unlike some moisturizing products, you don’t have to worry about adding too much oil to your face and accidentally clogging your pores. It’s no wonder why so many companies are adding squalane to their products!
What Skin Type is Most Compatible with Squalane?
Squalane products can benefit all skin types. However, dry skin tends to benefit the most from squalane products. This is because of the substance’s moisturizing properties, which dry skin tends to need. If you suffer from oily skin, you will still benefit from squalane products. Squalane is known to moisturize the skin without clogging up your pores and causing unintended skin problems.
People with sensitive skin often have to avoid certain products like chemical sunscreens and fragrance. Luckily, they can still use products containing squalane. This is because of the gentle nature of squalane and its odor-free properties. That being said, it’s always best to practice caution when applying new products to sensitive skin.
Hand Sanitizer and Squalane
Numerous hand sanitizers are now being made with squalane
If you find that hand sanitizer dries out your skin, you are not alone. This is because of the alcohol contained in your hand sanitizer. While alcohol is effective in eliminating germs, it can also dry out your skin. Dry cracks can be incredibly uncomfortable and even painful.
Luckily, you don’t have to bear with dry, cracked skin. Many people apply lotion after rubbing sanitizer into their hands. Another easy and effective technique for keeping your hands moisturized is switching to hand sanitizer that contains squalane. Rather than having to carry multiple bottles of sanitizer and skin creams, you can enjoy all of the benefits that both products offer in one, convenient container.
Other Ingredients You Need in Your Hand Sanitizer
Squalane isn’t the only ingredient that can add numerous benefits to your hand sanitizer. If you’re on the hunt for some new hand sanitizer, keep a look out for one containing the following ingredients.
- At least 60% alcohol: According to the CDC, your hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol. Most hand sanitizers contain around 70% of alcohol, so finding one that reaches this minimum shouldn’t be difficult.
- Aloe Vera: Known for its healing properties and anti-inflammatory ingredients, aloe vera is another popular ingredient for numerous skin creams. Because of the numerous benefits it offers, aloe is also an effective ingredient for balancing out the harsh effects of alcohol. It also adds thickness to your hand sanitizer, making it easier to apply.
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E is known for supporting skin health and treating dry skin. Most hand sanitizers contain vitamin E, so it will be easy to find one with this crucial ingredient.
Can I Make My Own Hand Sanitizer?
If you make a quick Google search, you will find numerous recipes for homemade hand sanitizer. But many people wonder if making their own hand sanitizer is actually safe. While you can definitely try to make your own at home, the FDA does not encourage it. Most of the time, they do not actually work. At worst, you can suffer from skin burns.
While it’s understandable that many people wanted to make their own hand sanitizer during the early days of the pandemic when the country faced a shortage, it doesn’t really make as much sense now. You can easily find an effective hand sanitizer online or in-stores nowadays. So, for safety reasons, it is best to just purchase a bottle of hand sanitizer at the store.
Best Practices for Using Your Hand Sanitizer
For some reason, people have started to drink hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer is not meant to be ingested. In fact, it can cause severe visual impairment or even death. So, whatever you do, keep the hand sanitizer on the surface of your skin and away from your mouth. Ingesting it can only harm you.
Before applying hand sanitizer, make sure organic matter like dirt and grime is already removed from your hands. You just need to apply a dime-sized portion to your hands to achieve maximum benefits. Then, simply rub your hands together until the hand sanitizer is completely absorbed. You will want to avoid rubbing your eyes or touching your mouth after applying the hand sanitizer.
Taking care of your skin is essential. Not only do you need to keep it cleaned and sanitized, but you want to nourish it to prevent wrinkles and other signs of premature aging. One of the best ways to take care of your skin is by treating it with hand sanitizer containing sqaulane.
How have you been taking care of your skin during the pandemic? Let us know in the comments below!
