Review and Giveaway: Infectiguard Hand Sanitizer CLOSED

Once upon a time, I had beautiful, soft, smooth hands. But now that I have a family, the endless dishwashing, laundry, baths and diaper changes have really dried them out. For only being in my mid-to-late twenties, I am simply too young for rough, alligator skin! But with cold and flu season in full swing (and H1N1 now widespread in my region), it's more important than ever to keep my hands clean, with or without water. I just wish I didn't have to sacrifice my youthful appearance to stay germ-free.

Thanks to Infectiguard, I no longer have to.

Infectiguard is a new, pH-neutral, hypo-allergenic, waterless hand sanitizer from Dr. Fresh. The most effective hand sanitizer brands contain alcohol, which effectively kills germs but naturally dries out your hands. What sets Infectiguard apart from the other brands is that it counterbalances this harsh drying effect with generous helpings of Vitamin E, Aloe and other moisturizers. But just because it's friendly to your skin doesn't mean it sacrifices bacteria-stomping power. Infectiguard actually contains 62% alcohol, slightly more than competitive products on the market, and wipes out 99.9% of germs. Even the U.S. Military uses Infectiguard!

Did you know that 75% of infectious diseases are spread by hand-to-mouth or hand-to-eye transmission? Kind of scary! And with our busy lifestyles, we may not always have access to soap and water, which makes gel or liquid hand sanitizers so useful. Many people avoid using these sanitizers because of the drying effects. This product has the ability to increase frequency of usage and overall consumption. Less germs = less viruses = less sick days!

I must admit I use waterless hand sanitizer like it's going out of style. Particularly after all diaper changes, bathroom trips and visits to the grocery store or other common public places. I have two pump bottles of Purell in our house (one upstairs in the nursery and one downstairs in the kitchen) and I also carry a small flip-top bottle of Germ-X in the diaper bag. So, when I was contacted by Megan at Light Years Ahead to review Infectiguard, I was happy to compare and see how it performed against the brands I owned.

I was sent an 8 oz. pump bottle to review. The bottle itself was very simple. The red and white design reminded me of "first aid", which I personally like. It catches my eye and reminds me to wash my hands everytime I walk by. The construction seemed a little narrower and less bulky than other brands I've tried so it was easier to handle.



The sanitizer itself resembles a watery lotion. It is white in color, unlike the traditional clear gels I'm accustomed to.



After rubbing it in and letting it air dry, my hands felt instantly soft. I was surprised there was no stickiness. The roughness just disappeared. I've used the product for about 2 weeks now and I've noticed an improvement in the feel of my skin over my Purell with Aloe.

The only disadvantage to this product is the smell. All sanitizers are a bit on the strong side to me (perhaps I'm particularly sensitive to smells), but I think Infectiguard's higher alcohol content causes a more potent fragrance than some other brands. It nearly took my breath away and burned the hairs in my nose the first time I used it, and I only used one pump. But it does fade quickly and once I rubbed it in and let it settle, it actually smelled nice. Considering it makes my hands feel so smooth afterward, I can deal with the initial alcohol smell.

Bottom line: If you use hand sanitizer regularly, or if you don't (and you should!), I would recommend using Infectiguard as a way to combat germs without drying out your hands. If you can get past the initial smell, I think it works wonderfully.

BUY IT: Infectiguard is available for purchase on their website and on Amazon, as well as Safeway, Walgreens, and AAFES. It comes in a variety of sizes and packages, including sprays, pumps, flip-top bottles (some with a convenient travel clip-on to always keep on hand - literally!) and individually-wrapped wipes (ARV $2.49-2.99).

WIN IT: Not one - but two lucky winners will win their very own 8 oz. bottle of Infectiguard!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): All you've got to do is leave a comment here telling me why you want to win or what you like most about Infectiguard. It's that simple! Be sure to leave your email address in your comment if it is not listed on your profile!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count!

1.) Follow my blog or subscribe via reader or email. Comment telling me which method you chose. If you already follow or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry)

2.) Follow me on Twitter (see sidebar) and tweet about the contest. Just leave me a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry)

3.) Enter any of my other current giveaways and leave a comment telling me which one(s) you entered. (1 entry each)

Giveaway will end on October 20, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. Open to US only. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: As mentioned above, I received an 8 oz. bottle of Infectiguard from Light Years Ahead to facilitate my candid review. I was not compensated in any other way for my post. The opinions expressed in this review are purely the blog owner's. You may have a different experience with this product.