How handcare and skincare intensify after COVID-19

Hand washing is a proposed solution against viruses

Strict hand hygiene and regular, prolonged washing have never been more important than it is at the moment especially with the current variants of coronavirus.

Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid illness and the spreading of germs. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. But why is this a preferred solution?

Government bodies such as The NHS (National Health Service, UK) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA) recommend washing hands with soap and water whenever possible as it protects us from and the further spreading of viruses, germs, etc. But if soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol helps too.

Hand hygiene has been a major part of the global response to the international emergence of COVID-19. Practising hand hygiene, which includes mainly using soap and alternatively alcohol-based hand rub is a simple yet effective way to prevent the spread of pathogens and infections. Here is a great video that explains the science of soap in dismantling the virus and cleansing it out using water.

Hand Sanitiser vs. Hand Soap and Water

Alcohol-based hand sanitisers are a quick and convenient solution to reduce the number of microbes on hands. However, in some situations, they do not eliminate all types of germs. Soap and water are more effective than hand sanitisers at removing certain kinds of germs, like Cryptosporidium, Norovirus and Clostridium Difficile. Although alcohol-based hand sanitisers can inactivate many types of microbes very effectively when used correctly, there is scope for ineffectiveness as people may not use enough sanitiser or may even wipe it off before it has dried and had a chance to work.

Many studies have found that hand sanitisers with an alcohol concentration between 60–95% are more effective at killing germs than those with a lower alcohol concentration. Hand sanitisers without 60-95% alcohol may not work equally well for many types of germs and merely reduce the growth of germs rather than kill them completely.

Waterless antibacterial hand sanitisers are marketed to the public as an effective way to cleanse hands when traditional soap and water is unavailable. Some manufacturers claim that sanitisers kill 99.9% of germs, although research studies suggest that this is not necessarily the case.

In relation to procedures for food services, the Food and Drug Administration recommends that hand sanitisers not be used in place of hand soap and water but in conjunction with it. If hand sanitisers are used, it is generally best to wipe hands with a towel or cloth before applying the sanitiser to remove as much dirt and oil as possible.

Stephenson offers high-quality cleansing products for tackling coronavirus. Our range includes Crystal (melt & pour soaps), Extruded (soap noodles), liquid soaps & surfactant-based products which are ionic in nature. All our soap-based products Crystal, Extruded, and Liquid soaps are anionic and provide effective cleansing. Our surfactant-based products Syndopal, body washes and concentrates are effective as well with milder properties.

Moisturising importance for effective handcare

Prolonged hand washing and sanitising has never been more important than it is at the moment especially with most of the world in lockdown as a result of the spread of coronavirus. With an increased focus on hygiene and cleanliness, a greater demand for handcare and skincare cleansing and moisturising products are on the rise.

Moisturising hands is important and reducing microbial shedding from the skin is a part of good hand hygiene, which will protect people from picking up viruses and reduce the likelihood of transmission.

Importance of sensory and moisturising benefits in handcare

Many respected physicians as Craig Shapiro agree that “Keeping skin moisturised is important and if the skin is dry, breaking down or raw, then soap and alcohol disinfectants will not work as well”.

Thus, handcare is not only about cleansing hands safely, but also about offering moisturising products associated with a better sensorial profile and addressing skin dryness. According to Mintel, addressing these concerns are of importance in the coming months and beyond.

Clean beauty and sustainability in handcare and skincare

A clean beauty evolution intensifies around the globe, with Asian regions picking up the pace and a strong presence in North America, Europe and Pacific regions.

Driven by natural ingredient trends and combined with claims addressing ingredients safety, transparency, sourcing and manufacturing practices etc. to offer more benefits to evolving customer needs.

During the pandemic safety concerns increased and customers purchased effective and safe products. Recent Mintel research showed that more than 1 in 10 adults agreed that clean beauty products expired too quickly. However, with the easing measures of the pandemic, we will see consumers returning their focus from safety and prolonged-shelf life to naturalness and sustainability of skincare products.

Wellness and self-care are top of mind for consumers

Skincare is one of the fastest-growing segments in beauty, supported by the greater demand for clean formulations and growing interest in self-care,” according to CB Insights in The Future Of Self-Care report.

And there has been a lot of focus on mental health and emotional wellbeing during the past years, brought even more forward by the pandemic. These themes are more important than ever as self-care is brought to home settings with face masks, serums and other self-treat product applications, all of which are on the rise now.

Moisturising solutions by Stephenson

Stephenson offers a variety of moisturising bases for skincare, bodycare and handcare from body butter to creams and lotions. Our Lotion base, is Soil Association certified with 89.84% organic ingredients providing nice texture and feel on the skin.

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