Best Hand Sanitizers (for Coronavirus/Covid-19) in India in 2020: Lifebuoy, Dettol, and Others
The whole world is fighting with the coronavirus pandemic at present. It already has claimed thousands of lives all across the globe. Lakhs of people are still infected and battling for their lives as we speak. India is not too far from this global crisis; the number of infected people is moving close to thousands with people dying every day.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one of the primary measures to prevent infections including coronavirus is hand hygiene. The only way to save ourselves from this deadly spread of COVID-19 is by practising self-isolation or quarantine and taking protective measures like washing hands regularly for at least 20 sec, maintaining hygiene, and eating immuno-modulating foods.
So, when you need to sanitize your hands regularly, you and your family need a decent hand sanitizer so that you can maintain hand hygiene. As you are required to practice hand hygiene all the time, you can use sanitizers that reduce the need for using water again and again for the whole family.
And as you know water scarcity is huge in many parts of India, hand sanitizers can be your best option. As a result, the demand for hand sanitizers in India is skyrocketing in view of this coronavirus outbreak.
That said, many people are confused as to which sanitizer can be their best option to maintain the health of their family. So, in this guide, we have curated some of the best hand sanitizers available in the Indian market.
Before moving further, let’s understand some points about sanitizers that can help you buy the best one amid this pandemic.
Hand Sanitizers: What Are Their Types?
Hand sanitizers can be gels or liquids that can kill or decline infectious agents.
It is important to know the type of sanitizer that can work best to provide superior health hygiene. It is important because not all sanitizers can solve the purpose. You need to choose the one that can strike on the right spot.
So, there are generally two different types of sanitizers available, they are:
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers
These types of hand sanitizers are used widely in hospitals. As a matter of fact, alcohol has a long history of use in the form of antiseptic. Hence, alcohol-based sanitizers are efficient in killing bacteria, germs, or microorganisms that may thrive on your hands.
Hand sanitizers of this kind contain about 60-95 % of alcohol and therefore, can effectively kill different types of microorganisms. Once you apply sanitizer, it starts working after a few seconds.
In fact, the WHO also says that alcohol-based sanitizers are among one of the essential medicines in their list. They generally offer greater tolerance to your skin as compared to soaps because sanitizers contain glycerol to prevent your skin from drying out.
Hence, in view of coronavirus, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are more efficient, and you must buy them in this critical time for better germ protection.
• Alcohol-free hand sanitizers
Alcohol-free sanitizers contain ingredients other than alcohol that can kill germs and microorganisms. The ingredients included might be triclosan or chlorine and might contain iodine-based formulations.
These types of sanitizers use non-alcoholic formulations only about 0.1-0.13% while alcohol-based sanitizers use comparatively higher alcohol quantities. These sanitizers are also effective but are prone to contamination sometimes. Therefore, try to use alcohol-based sanitizers.
Our Top 3 Recommendations
In this guide, we have shortlisted 6 of the best hand sanitizers available in the Indian market and are literally dominating it as well. They can provide you with effective germ-kill protection and are safer to your hands.
To ease out the selection process here are our top 3 winners of this list. You can check out them along with their brief explanation so as to make your choice even faster.
Dettol Instant Hand Sanitizer
This hand sanitizer is by one of the trusted brands in India for personal hygiene. Dettol Instant Hand Sanitizer is certified by the Indian Medical Association and has the potential to kill almost 99.9% germs. It is formulated as a non-sticky as well as rinse-free liquid and is safe for your entire family.
Lifebuoy Lemon Fresh Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
Lifebuoy is another brand that is well-known in Indian homes. This Lifebuoy Lemon Fresh Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer is an immuno-modulating hand sanitizer that can kill almost 99.99% of germs. It is suitable for both the adults as well as kids and its fragrance can give the freshness of lemons.
Sterillium hand sanitizer Blue
The personal hygiene products of this brand can be seen in the majority of hospitals in India. With over 50 years of experience in the medical industry, Sterillium hand sanitizer definitely is one of the best in the market. It is alcohol-based and very effective in killing infectious agents and is safe for all skin types and age groups.
Essential Factors to Consider While Choosing a Hand Sanitizer
Choosing the right-hand sanitizer is an important thing especially in the middle of this coronavirus outbreak. As you cannot risk the health of your family even for a bit in this pandemic, you must choose it with extra care.
While many people tend to select products depending upon their outside look and value, what is inside actually matters the most. In fact, the ingredients used in making the hand sanitizer really make the difference.
So, before buying a hand sanitizer, let’s find out the essential factors that you need to consider.
Type
As mentioned above, there are generally two types of sanitizers; alcohol-based and alcohol-free. Besides, you are also familiar with the fact that alcohol sanitizers are usually more effective than its other counterpart in terms of antibiotic resistance, you must go for it. It is important in view of the spreading of COVID-19.
Hence, when you are searching for a hand sanitizer to safeguard yourself and your family from Coronavirus, make sure you buy a hand sanitizer having a minimum of 60 per cent alcohol.
Ingredients
Ingredients are what makes one product different from the other. Whatever you are using on your body, both internal and external must consist of safe ingredients that do not harm you. Otherwise, what is the meaning of investing your hard-earned money on it in the first place? And most importantly, you cannot choose something that may risk your health, obviously!
But people tend to choose products based on their smell, packaging, look, etc., ignoring the label. It is not the right way to choose any product, especially when it’s related to your health.
Therefore, before you choose a hand sanitizer, make sure you read the ingredient list as well as the product description so as to keep yourself and your family at the safe harbour from unforeseen risks.
Skin type
Everyone is different, and so does their skin type. Keeping this in mind, hand sanitizers are formulated with different compositions in order to suit the needs of different skin types. They offer a solution to effective hand hygiene so that your skin does not feel any irritations.
Whether your skin is oily, dry, or even sensitive, sanitizers are available in all types. As many people have skin irritation issues that can be discomforting as well displeasing, choosing a suitable hand sanitizer becomes important. Therefore, check whether the hand sanitizer you are going to buy is suitable for your skin type or not.
Safety and quality
As you may have people of different age groups in your home, it is better to choose a hand sanitizer which is safe. You need to be extra cautious when you have kids in your home. It is because sanitizers are made up of different chemicals that may irritate the highly sensitive skin of children.
Therefore, you need to make sure you buy a safe hand sanitizer and also supervise them while using.
Cost
Even though money should not be a big deal when it comes to the health of your family in this pandemic, it would be best if you could balance between a decent-quality product at the best cost.
Therefore, compare different products along with their price to finally choose a hand sanitizer based on your needs.
So, now you have some idea about how to choose the best hand sanitizer to keep your family healthy during this period of self-quarantine. Keep in mind the above mentioned aspects while choosing a hand sanitizer and compare the ingredients, your skin type, and other necessary aspects to buy only the best hand sanitizer.
Without causing any more delay, let’s explore the top 6 hand sanitizers and the reason why we recommend them to you.
| Model | Type | Potency | Skin Types | Consistency | Packaging | Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dettol Instant Hand Sanitizer | Alcohol-based | 99.9% | All | Gel | Pump dispenser | 4.4 |
| Lifebuoy Lemon Fresh Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer | Alcohol-based | 99.99% | All | Gel | Flip cover and Pump dispenser | 4.3 |
| Sterillium hand sanitizer Blue | Alcohol-based | 99.9% | All | Liquid | Flip cover | 4.3 |
| Himalaya PureHands Hand Sanitizer (Lemon) | Alcohol-based | 99.9% | All | Gel | Flip cover and Pump dispenser | 4.2 |
| Savlon Hand Sanitizer Spray | Alcohol-based | 99.99% | All | Spray | Pump dispenser | 4.0 |
| Kaya Hand Sanitizer | Alcohol-based | NA | All | Gel | Flip cover | 3.8 |
Best Hand Sanitizers (for Coronavirus/Covid-19) in India in 2020
#1. Dettol Instant Hand Sanitizer
|Type: Alcohol-based |Skin Types: All |Consistency: Gel |Potency: 99.9% | Packaging: Pump dispenser
Pros
+ Efficient in germ-killing
+ Suitable for all skin types
+ Non-sticky
+ Rinse free
+ Safe for the entire family
+ Good packaging
Cons
– Not any so far
About the brand
Almost every Indian family knows Dettol products and its importance in maintaining personal hygiene. This highly trusted brand in India is certified by the Indian Medical Association. You might have at least one of the products of Dettol at your home whether it is disinfectant liquid, soap, or anything; now you can buy its hand sanitizer as well.
Germ-kill efficiency
Taking about its efficiency in killing germs, it can kill almost 99.9% of germs with no water usage. As it is an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is efficient in killing bacteria and germs to prevent them from attacking your body. The product is formulated as non-sticky as well as rinse-free.
Is it safe?
This hand sanitizer is safe for your entire family, that means both the adults and children can use it without any issue. The Dettol hand sanitizer is non-toxic and non-irritating, which means any skin type can use this product.
Yes, it contains alcohol but you do not need to worry about the product drying out your skin. It is due to the fact that it is formulated carefully as a moisturizing gel.
Packaging
Speaking of its packaging, the bottle has a pump dispenser that makes sure the product is used wisely in adequate quantities. Besides, there is no risk of contamination as well with this type of packaging.
This bottle is also convenient while carrying it in your bag and is easy to use as well. Plus you get to choose from 3 different options; normal sanitizer, spring-fresh fragrance, and floral essence.
Verdict
So, in view of all these advantages the hand sanitizer from Dettol offers, it definitely is one of the best products available in the market. You can buy this hand sanitizer without worrying.
But this is not it; we have more products for you to discover.
#2. Lifebuoy Lemon Fresh Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
|Type: Alcohol-based |Skin Types: All |Consistency: Gel |Potency: 99.99% |Packaging: Flip cover and Pump dispenser
Pros
+ Efficient in killing germs
+ Superb fragrance
+ Safe product
Cons
– A bit sticky
About the brand
Lifebuoy is another reputed brand in India for its personal hygiene products. This Lifebuoy Lemon Fresh Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer is yet another brilliant product of this brand and is a very good option when you are searching for a hand sanitizer amid coronavirus pandemic.
Germ-kill efficiency
This hand sanitizer has agents that can boost your immunity and kill 99.99% of germs up to 10 hours after the application. And you can achieve all these with no usage of water.
So, with the help of this hand sanitizer, you are safe from viruses anytime, anywhere. All you have to do is apply a drop of this sanitizer on your hands, rub them together, and wait till it gets dry.
Is it safe?
Speaking of its safety, it is also safe to use for both the adults and children and is suitable for all the skin types. It contains about 62% of alcohol. This rinse-free hand sanitizer is available in different variants; Lemon fresh, Care, and Total 10.
This Lemon fresh variant has a great and refreshing fragrance of lemons. However, you can also try other variants if you like.
Packaging
The packaging of this hand sanitizer is also good. It has a flip-cover bottle and it is available in a different size. You can buy a small one also which is very travel friendly.
But if you want it for household usage which is the need of the hour in this self-isolation period, you can also buy pump dispenser packs so as to avoid wastage.
Verdict
So, looking at its price and offerings, it is undeniably one of the good choices when it comes to decent hand sanitizers. And that is the reason why it managed to make it be our runner up.
#3. Sterillium hand sanitizer Blue
|Type: Alcohol-based |Skin Types: All |Consistency: Liquid |Potency: 99.9% |Packaging: Flip cover
Pros
+ Suitable for all skin type
+ Uses alcohol in good quantity
+ Keeps the skin hydrated
+ Safer to use
+ Used by many medical professionals
Cons
– Not any, so far
About the brand
You might see a lot of Sterillium products in Indian hospitals. Why? It is because these products are highly efficient in killing harmful bacteria.
So, our second-runner in this list is a hand sanitizer of the blue pack from this brand Sterillium. In fact, it has been more than 50 years that this brand is in the medical industry.
Germ-kill efficiency
This alcohol-based hand sanitizer is extremely efficient in killing germs. This product is trusted to be used for surgical disinfection.
It contains alcohol in high quantities above 50% so as to provide better germ killing. And, you can achieve a long-lasting result of this product for a maximum of 6 hours.
Is it safe?
Speaking of the safety of this product, it is safe to use and does not harm or irritate the skin. So, people of different skin types can use this product. And, upon application, this product works mildly. Additionally, it provides excellent after-effects and leaves the skin hydrated.
Packaging
The packaging of this product is also decent. It is portable and compact that can easily slip into your bag without taking so much space. This hand sanitizer is actually available in different bottle size; you can buy whatever you think is the right size for your needs.
Verdict
In short, this product by Sterillium is highly recommended because of its efficiency, safety, and the fact that medical professionals also use the products of this brand. So, it definitely is one of the best choices you can make while buying for a hand sanitizer.
#4. Himalaya PureHands Hand Sanitizer (Lemon)
|Type: Alcohol-based |Skin Types: All |Consistency: Gel |Potency: 99.9% |Packaging: Flip cover and Pump dispenser
Pros
+ Uses natural ingredients
+ Skin-friendly formulation
+ Moisturizes the skin
+ Does not cause allergic reactions
+ Good smell
Cons
– Not any, so far
About the brand
Next up is the hand sanitizer from the famous brand Himalaya. This brand is reputed for its quality products that contain natural ingredients. Its skincare products are truly amazing and many teens in India start their beauty care products with Himalaya like face wash, scrub, and so on.
When it comes to hand sanitizers, the brand shines with its yet another product Himalaya PureHands Hand Sanitizer. It contains extracts from herbs like lime, neem, and coriander. As a result, it has the goodness of different natural ingredients to benefit your skin.
Germ-kill efficiency
During this coronavirus pandemic, when you are searching for hand sanitizers with high alcohol contents which are the best for killing germs, this hand sanitizer from Himalaya is another one of the best options you can choose. It contains about 70% alcohol. The alcohol-based sanitizer is effective in killing about 99.9% germs to give you superior protection.
If you are someone who is looking for Ayurvedic products containing natural ingredients, you can go for this product because it has natural ingredients plus alcohol to kill germs efficiently. Both of these parameters make it one of the best choices.
Is it safe?
Speaking of safety, this hand sanitizer is safe to use and protects the skin from drying out and against oxidative damage. With the power of natural ingredients, it moisturizes your skin. Additionally, this sanitizer does not cause any sort of allergic reactions and can be used by anyone of any age groups.
Packaging
The packaging of the product is also decent. It comes in a bottle with a pump dispenser as well. Therefore, it prevents the products from wastage.
Verdict
Concerning all these things, we found the product to be good in all different angles and is good for you in this grave situation as well.
#5. Savlon Hand Sanitizer Spray
|Type: Alcohol-based |Skin Types: All |Consistency: Spray |Potency: 99.99% |Packaging: Pump dispenser
Pros
+ Efficient germ-kill protection
+ Skin-friendly formulation
+ convenient to use
+ Leak-proof bottle
+ Refreshing fragrance
Cons
– A bit costly
About the brand
On the fifth spot, we have a hand sanitizer by another famous brand in India – Savlon. It is another good product to keep you safe from germs. The brand is famous for its different personal hygiene products including disinfectant liquid, soaps, and then hand sanitizers that can easily be found in the Indian homes.
This sanitizer is rather different from the rest of the above-mentioned products because it comes in spray form. In order to sanitize your hands, you just have to spray the solution into your hands and then rub them gently together and spread the solution evenly to all parts of your hands.
Germ-kill efficiency
The sanitizer spray by Savlon is effective in killing about 99.99% of microorganisms like viruses, germs, bacteria, mould, etc. It can give you superior protection against so many germ-spreading diseases. The formulation is made in accordance with antimicrobial actions conducted in the in-vitro environment.
Is it safe?
Savlon Hand Sanitizer Spray is alcohol-based to provide better germ protection. It is safe for all skin types and age groups. The product also has a good fragrance and can keep your skin refreshed for extended durations.
Packaging
The packaging of the product is also nice. Its bottle has pump spray which is convenient to use and does not cause any contamination. Additionally, its bottle is also made leak-proof to avoid product wastage.
Verdict
Although the product is a little expensive, given its effectiveness and safety and all the offerings, it is worth spending your hard-earned money. Hence, we highly recommend this product to you.
#6. Kaya Hand Sanitizer
|Type: Alcohol-based |Skin Types: All |Consistency: Gel |Packaging: Flip cover
Pros
+ Safe alcohol content
+ Gentle hand sanitizer
+ Moisturizes the skin
+ Decent packaging
+ Evaporates quickly
Cons
– Almost no odours
About the brand
Kaya is also a popular brand in India for so many different products for personal care. This hand sanitizer Kaya Hand Sanitizer is yet another quality product from the brand.
Germ-kill efficiency
The product is included in our list because it has good potential to kill germs. It contains a decent amount of alcohol so as to keep your skin harmless and safe. This alcohol-based hand sanitizer has a gel consistency and it contains agents that are anti-bacterial having the power to disinfect your hands effectively.
Speaking of its liquid texture, the hand sanitizer can easily evaporate as soon as you apply it evenly on your skin. But it does not leave so many odours. The way it provides a superior coating on your hand to safeguard your skin from germs is truly extraordinary and your skin feels refreshed as well.
Is it safe?
The hand sanitizer is safe to use for both adults as well as children and is also ideal for all skin types. It does not cause any harm to your skin even if it is oily, dry, or sensitive. Instead, it moisturizes your skin and is super gentle on your skin. As a result, you can feel your skin uber smooth.
Packaging
The packaging of this product is cute and travel-friendly. It uses a flip cover so that there is no wastage even when you carry it with you while travelling, of course after this pandemic!
Verdict
So, this alcohol-based hand sanitizer with its good formulation, safety on the skin, along with packaging makes it one of the best choices for hand sanitizers in India.
These were our top 6 recommendations for choosing a hand sanitizer in India amid this pandemic giving our world a tough time. The only way to protect ourselves from the coronavirus is prevention. Maintaining hand hygiene with any of these above-mentioned products is good for you. You can choose any one of them depending upon your needs and preferences.
Hand sanitizers: 4 tips to follow
1. Application
While it is very easy to use hand sanitizers, many people still are confused about how to apply it effectively. The most common mistake that people make is to use the right quantity of hand sanitizers.
You can take a minimum of dime-sized quantity of the hand sanitizer on your palm and then rub both the hands together. While doing this, make sure you are covering all the sides and corners of your hands so that your hands can completely get sanitized.
2. Use it for hands ONLY
Use hand sanitizers only on your hands and not on any other parts of your body. Experimenting it with other body parts might lead to redness or unwanted irritation. As a precaution, do not touch your eyes immediately after application. Instead, let the product settle down and get dried on your skin to disinfect the area.
3. Wipe off dust or oil before applying
Hand sanitizers might not work that effectively if the hands are oily, dusty, or greasy. If this is the case, better wash your hands with soap and water.
So, when you are going to use sanitizer, it is better that you use it to wipe off grease, oil, or dust to experience effective disinfection.
4. On touching the hazardous substance
If you have touched hazardous substances, pesticides, or heavy metals; you must not rely on hand sanitizers completely. At this time, you can use sanitizers for temporary means if you do not have access to water. But make sure you do not touch things like eatables.
So, these were some of the tips you should follow if you are using hand sanitizers so as to achieve maximum effectiveness from your hand sanitizer.
What is the correct way of washing hands?
Even though you have chosen the best hand sanitizer for you, if you do not know how to apply it effectively, it is not going to completely provide you with the protection against infectious viruses, bacteria, and germs.
Hence, you need to make sure you are applying it evenly all over your hands. It is not only a safe practice that can save you in this pandemic but also in the future. Here’s the step-by-step procedure of how to apply hand sanitizers effectively. This also holds true when you are washing your hands with a hand-wash and water.
Step 1: If your hands are dusty, oily, or greasy, wipe off your hands. If it is not the case then you can directly use the sanitizer.
Step 2: Take hand sanitizer in an appropriate quantity. You can also take help from the instructions provided in the bottle regarding the quantity. You can also repeat the same procedure while using hand-wash or any soap.
Step 3: Now rub both your hands together and cover all the areas including your palms, in between your fingers and top of your nails.
Step 4: Do the above step for a minimum of 20 to 30 seconds.
Step 5: Let the sanitizer dry on your hands. If you are using hand wash, then rinse your hands with water thoroughly and then pat dry with a clean cloth or towel.
FAQs
1. Best hand sanitizer spray
Answer: If you want to buy the best sanitizer spray, you can go for the Savlon Hand Sanitizer. It has the potential to kill 99.99% of microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, viruses, mould, and so on.
The hand sanitizer is safe to use by both adults and children and does not cause any kind of skin irritation. It also has a good fragrance and your hands can be refreshed for an extended time.
2. Best hand sanitizer for kids
Answer: When you want to buy a hand sanitizer for kids and you are worried about the spread of germs and viruses, you can go for Himalaya PureHands Hand Sanitizer Lemon. It has the power to kill 99.9% of germs and it also contains natural extracts such as line, neem, and coriander.
Hence, it is very safe for your little one’s skin and it even moisturizes and gives pleasant fragrance as well.
To Sum Up
As they say – “Prevention is better than cure”, we should live by these words always and it is especially necessary during this coronavirus pandemic where there is no cure found yet. There is no vaccine, drug, or treatment available in the entire world to combat the virus and it is infecting thousands of people and taking lives every day.
In this grave situation, all we can do is social-distancing, maintaining hygiene especially hands, and eating immune-modulating foods to keep us healthy and safe. If we could manage to do these things, it would be a big contribution to the world.
And when it comes to maintaining hand hygiene, hand sanitizers are crucial for you to have. With the above mentioned 6 hand sanitizers, you can choose any one of them as all are good.
So, the time comes to announce the winner of this list and it is Dettol Instant Hand Sanitizer!
This hand sanitizer is by one of the trusted brands in India for personal hygiene. Dettol Instant Hand Sanitizer is certified by the Indian Medical Association and has the potential to kill almost 99.9% germs. It is formulated as a non-sticky as well as rinse-free liquid and is safe for your entire family.
This was our recommendation, but you are free to choose any one of them based on your preferences. However, keep in mind all the aspects as mentioned above before you buy a hand sanitizer so as to choose the best hand sanitizer for your family.
Maintain the health and hygiene of your entire family to contribute to stopping the spread of this deadly coronavirus taking lives every day. Do not panic, just relax in your home and be safe while practising self-quarantine!
