All your hand sanitizer questions answered!

Q: Why do hand sanitizers typically dry out my hands?

A: They can dry the skin if the active ingredient is alcohol, a quickly evaporating ingredient that works to kill germs on contact. Alcohol breaks down the lipids in the skin, which is what causes the drying effect. This is why we included moisturizing squalane and hydrating glycerin to our formula to replenish skin while effectively killing germs.

Q: How is your hand sanitizer moisturizing without drying out my hands? Is it still effective in killing germs?

A: Our Pipette hand sanitizer has 65% alcohol content and is absolutely effective in killing germs! It also has two specific ingredients that help counter the drying effects of alcohol. Squalane adds weightless moisture while the glycerin helps maintain hydration to counteract the drying effect of the alcohol. And in recent clinical studies, squalane was shown to support skin’s microbiome—the good bacteria naturally found in our skin and an important part of keeping it healthy.

Q: Why does the Pipette Hand Sanitizer have 65% alcohol content?

A: The CDC recommends the ethyl alcohol level in hand sanitizer to be at least 60% to effectively kill germs. Ours contains 65%, for a little added assurance.

Q: I’ve seen hand sanitizers with 70% alcohol or more, does this mean they’re more effective?

A: The level of alcohol doesn’t determine effectiveness. Rather, it is a “kill test” that proves how thorough a hand sanitizer is at killing germs. Plus, the higher the alcohol content, the greater potential to dry out skin and upset the microbiome. At 65% alcohol, Pipette Hand Sanitizer was proven highly effective, eliminates 99.99% of many harmful germs and bacteria.

Q: Is your hand sanitizer safe to use on my baby?

A: Our hand sanitizer is safe to use for the whole family,  though FDA recommends not to use on infants under 2 months of age. Be sure to supervise application for children under 6 years, and don’t allow them to put their hands in their mouth until the product evaporates and feels completely dry on the skin to avoid accidental ingestion.

Q: Is your hand sanitizer safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

A: Yes, our hand sanitizer is alcohol-based, which is considered safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding if soap and water are not an option. We always recommend checking with your doctor prior to using any topical skin product.

Q: What is EWG Verified™ and why does it matter?

A: EWG stands for Environmental Working Group, an independent nonprofit committed to making consumer products safer and cleaner for everyone. The EWG Verified™ seal is the Environmental Working Group’s nontoxic stamp of approval, and it means our Hand Sanitizer meets the EWG's strictest safety standards. We ban over 2000 suspect ingredients from our products, because safety is our number one priority.

Q: Do I need to wash my hands after using hand sanitizer?

A: Nope! No rinsing required.

Q: What is the difference between hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes?

A: Our hand sanitizer can be applied to hands, and after it kills germs and evaporates away, you can grab something to eat, change your shirt and get on with your day—no rinsing required. Plus, your hands stay soft and conditioned. Disinfecting wipes are made to clean countertops, shopping cart handles, and any surface that you want germ free—except skin. After use, thoroughly wash your hands before eating or touching clothes to remove the sanitizing chemicals so they don’t contaminate food, bleach clothing or cause skin irritation.  

Q: How much hand sanitizer should I use on my hands?

A: About a half dollar size for adults and about a pea-size for kids old enough to use.

Q: Can hand sanitizers be used on other body parts?

A: Yes! A fun tip is that if you forget to apply your deodorant, a little hand sanitizer will work in a pinch. Just make sure not to apply onto freshly shaven skin!