New Data Sheds Light on Consumer Hand Sanitizer Trends During Pandemic

Since the pandemic began, the entire world has re-evaluated its relationship to physical health. It has impacted everyone's lives, no matter how close or how far the virus came to their lives, it has been in the front of our minds for close to two full years. The necessity and prevalence of personal hygiene have never been more of a global focal point.

As a result, many people have come to the conclusion that their previous practices for staying clean and germ-free were inadequate. This worldwide predicament has brought personal hygiene and everyday routines to the forefront of people’s minds.

Changes in Public Health Practice During Pandemic: More Hand Sanitizer Usage 

The best way to fight disease is to prevent getting it in the first place. However, prior to the vaccines being made available for public consumption, the key preventative measures were washing and sanitizing our hands. Regardless of whether you have been vaccinated, the virus and other less harmful pathogens can live on hands and hard surfaces.

The key to avoiding disease is practicing good hygiene. Thus, hand sanitizer can be your new best friend this season. In fact, many people have been stocking up on this precious solvent since the pandemic came into full swing. When you don't have time to wash your hands, the public knows a squirt of hand sanitizer will do the trick. 

According to polls, hand sanitizer use is elevated and has remained the same since the beginning of the pandemic. While relief measures and the vaccine have been publicly available, this elevated use of sanitizer comes with good reason. Many people are still at risk of contracting the virus even with vaccines circulating more and more in the past few months. For us adults, it is our duty to protect the most vulnerable amongst us, in this case, the elderly are the most susceptible. Along with cold and flu season coming into swing, it is a perfect time to understand what products you’ll need to stay stocked up on this winter.

Recent studies have shown the necessity for hand sanitizer in day-to-day life during the new normal: 

• 65% state that they use hand sanitizer as often now as they did during the beginning of the pandemic
• 33% use it more than once an hour
• 49% say they use it every couple of hours
• 14% use it infrequently

Many employers already provided hand sanitizer in the workplace, but now it is front and center in many places like grocery stores, hospitals, banks, and other places where the people frequent. Even places like movie theaters, bars, and casual restaurants have incorporated sanitizer in their displays. 

For cashiers and others who handle money, take movie tickets, and interact with the public, hand sanitizer is used frequently and helps workers feel safe. Currency has always been dirty and germ-covered. Luckily, many now have sanitizer available at their workstations, and brands like Muse are on the front lines of germ prevention. 

New Problems Arising and Being Resolved from Hand Sanitizer Usage

Even during a pandemic, recent reports revealed that the public did not entirely adopt hand sanitizer as a means of extra precaution. Sometimes, this could be explained by businesses that catered to an anti-mask populace, such as certain bars or venues where the majority of the public was opposed to preventative measures. Additionally, prior attitudes towards health, disease control, and educational background were also a factor. Yet, it is important to set aside the political stances and look at the data about the sanitizer itself. There are plenty of reasons why people avoid using hand sanitizer that have nothing to do with politics. 

The one apolitical element in this conversation revolves around things like convenience and consumer preferences. Of the people surveyed in the prior poll, not all the population uses hand sanitizer; and, it has nothing to do with their political opinions or favorite candidates' opinions. Muse has noticed that dry hands are the biggest complaint about hand sanitizers among consumers. However, it was not the only reason that individuals who did not like hand sanitizer mentioned.

Of those polled,

• 43% say hand sanitizer dries out their hands 
• 25% don't like its texture/ stickiness
• 11% don't like the price
• 12% dislike the smell
• 9% selected 'other'

Over the years, Muse has developed a brand that focuses on moisturizing the hands while delivering germ-killing agents. One of the biggest complaints about most hand sanitizers is that too much use of them dries out their hands. Hand sanitizer is typically alcohol-based. While this kills germs, like with acne products, too much alcohol in the serum will dry out the skin. Consequently, hand sanitizer developers have created products that address the dryness and combat it within the product itself. 

High-end ingredients like glycerin, vitamin E, and lime oil are what set apart conscience brands from profiteering brands.  Muse is one of the few brands on the market that encourages both community safety and community support with their moisturizing formula and buy-one-give-one promise. For every bottle purchased, they donate one to community members who do not have the resources for all the preventative measures they need during this time. Ditch that gas station-bought sanitizer, and give your hands the treatment they deserve! Check out Muse Health today!