lifelogicI’m that woman at the grocery store who won’t touch a cart or basket until it’s been doused with an anti-bacterial agent. The one who keeps anti-bacterial hand lotion on my desk, and always has a bottle in my car.  Some may say I’m paranoid, I say that because I have an auto-immune disorder, I’m just lessening my chances of picking up rogue germs left behind by others.

But keeping germs at bay isn’t just for those who know they’re ill.  Hand washing is the number one way to avoid sharing germs, but sometimes washing isn’t an option, so thankfully there’s another way to protect yourself and your family.

I’ve been using Bath and Body’s antibiotic creams and gels for years. I like their fragrances and the hand lotion, but I never cared for the gel.  It’s messy and if it’s left in a car, the warmth of the day turns it into liquid, making it even more difficult to work with.  The active ingredient in the Bath and Body line is Triclosan.  Unfortunately, the “August 6, 1998, issue of Nature warned that triclosan’s overuse could cause resistant strains of bacteria to develop”1.  This is something I didn’t know; however, now that I’m informed I’ll avoid sanitizers with this chemical in it.

I was sent a travel size bottle of Remi-D Hand Sanitizing Mist, a new type of hand sanitizer that works naturally. I’m all for that!  I used it on the way to the grocery store (I still used the stores wipes for the cart), just before eating the fast food meal I picked up on the way home, and again before I started eating a snack before bedtime.  It’s convenient, smells fabulous, and non-sticky.

Remi-D, proudly made in the USA, comes in three fragrances (Seaside Mineral Spa, Mountain Stream, and Cucumber Tea Tree). I received the Cucumber Tea Tree – it’s very lightly scented and dries quickly.  It’s the perfect scent for me.   The ingredients are:  Purified Water, Glycerine, Benzalkonium Chloride, Fragrance.  It doesn’t contain alcohol (a drying agent), Triclosan or Paraben.  There are some studies that have raised concerns over the long-term use of Benzalkonium Chloride, but those have generally been in eye and nose drops.  Additionally, the chemical is an allergen so use with care.2

Safe for Kids and 99.9% Effective
Safe for Kids and 99.9% Effective

Remi-D kills 99.99% of germs including Staph and MERSA but it does it without drying your skin or using chemicals which can be harmful. It’s inexpensive – a travel size bottle is $3.99 and available online at CVS (it’s on sale right now for $2.99 – there’s a larger size as well as foaming cleanser also available).  The .5 oz size is perfect for a pocket, purse, or backpack. I’ll definitely be taking it on my next trip to the airport or ATM – two places ripe with nastiness.

I recommend Remi-D for your daily anti-bacterial needs. It sprays on lightly, smells fabulously, and travels perfectly.  I’m thrilled to have found a healthier option!  I love it’s parent company, LifeLogic’s motto, “Making ordinary products extraordinary.”  Remi-D is their first step in “making product better for people and the planet.”  I for one support them in their efforts.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Warnings:  External use only.
  • Remi-D’s claims have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.)

1Triclosan – From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2Basketter DA, Marriott M, Gilmour NJ, White IR (2004). “Strong irritants masquerading as skin allergens: the case of benzalkonium chloride”. Contact Derm. 50 (4): 213–7. doi:10.1111/j.0105-1873.2004.00331.x. PMID 15186375.

Updated 2/18/09 to correct the active ingredient.

Enjoy!