Young Living Thieves Waterless Hand Sanitizer
Important note on hand sanitizers
When choosing hand sanitizers, I look for formulas containing at least 60% alcohol and pay close attention to the inactive ingredients. I avoid benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, triclosan, chloroxylenol, artificial dyes, undisclosed fragrance blends, parabens, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, and ethoxylated ingredients.
I also look for ingredient transparency and moisturizing ingredients that help offset alcohol's drying effects. Soap and water are still my first choice, but hand sanitizer is useful when washing isn't an option.
Product description
Young Living Thieves Waterless Hand Sanitizer is an alcohol-based sanitizer made with aloe vera and glycerin to help moisturize the skin.
The formula contains Young Living's Thieves essential oil blend, including clove, lemon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and cinnamon bark, along with peppermint essential oil. It has a warm, spicy scent and contains ingredients derived from corn, coconut, or palm.
Ingredients
Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Powder, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil†, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Bud Oil†, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil†, Eucalyptus Radiata Leaf Oil†, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil†, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon) Bark Oil†.
† Young Living Premium Essential Oil
Additional ingredient information: Contains corn and coconut/palm-derived ingredients.
EWG Rating: 2/10 (Fair), based on the submitted ingredient report.
What I like
I like that Young Living uses a relatively straightforward formula without artificial dyes, parabens, or undisclosed fragrance blends. The essential oils are individually listed, making it easier to research potential sensitivities.
I also appreciate the addition of aloe vera and glycerin to help offset some of alcohol's drying effects.
Another detail worth noting is that Young Living states peppermint essential oil is used to denature the alcohol. This is useful information because the term Alcohol Denat. doesn't identify which ingredient was added to make the alcohol unsuitable for drinking.
Things to keep in mind
Although the essential oils are disclosed, this formula contains several that can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions, particularly clove and cinnamon bark oils. These ingredients may be more concerning for people with sensitive skin or fragrance allergies.
Another consideration with essential oils is how they're sourced, processed, and tested. Independent testing has found phthalate contamination in some essential oils, including peppermint oils. This doesn't mean Thieves Hand Sanitizer contains phthalates, but I consider it when researching products that rely heavily on essential oils.
EWG's custom ingredient report gives the submitted formula a rating of 2.
As with other alcohol-based hand sanitizers, frequent use can dry out the skin. Young children should use alcohol-based sanitizers with adult supervision.