The essentials of Omy hand sanitizer gel

In this time of crisis and uncertainty, Omy Laboratoires' hand sanitizer gel , designed in collaboration with Brilliant Matters , is here to effectively protect you against the coronavirus (COVID-19). With its antiseptic action, it kills bacteria, fungi and viruses or prevents their growth on external surfaces of the body. Here is a little more information on its modus operandi as well as the ingredients that make it up.

Ethanol: majority ingredient responsible for the effectiveness of the gel

Like all Omy products, the composition of the gel is minimalist: in fact, it only contains the ingredients necessary for its formulation and is devoid of perfume. The secret of its effectiveness? It is composed of 70% ethyl alcohol (or ethanol), which has antiseptic power at this concentration without being harmful to the skin. This ingredient is also responsible for the feeling of freshness felt when applying the hydroalcoholic gel to the hands.

What is the superpower of ethanol and its mechanism of action to effectively destroy unwanted micro-organisms on the surface of the skin? It alters the proteins that compose them and dissolves the lipids (or fatty acids), which have a certain affinity with alcohol and water. This is why this hand sanitizer gel is effective against most bacteria and fungi as well as many viruses.

Soap vs. disinfectant gel

We observe a similar mechanism of action for soap, the manufacture of which generates molecules having both a hydrophilic character (which likes water) and hydrophobic (which does not like water, you will have understood! ). The part of the molecule that fears water has an affinity for fatty acids, of which the protective layer of viruses is made up, and therefore clings to them. This has the effect of unbalancing this membrane and altering it. A virus generally protected by a shield that finds itself “exposed” then loses its infectious power and is no longer to be feared. When rinsing the hands, the other part of the molecule which has an affinity for water then takes the inactivated virus with it.

It can be said that disinfectant gel is as effective as soap when it comes to antiseptic power. On the other hand, the gel does not clean the hands. It is undoubtedly an essential ally to avoid any risk of contamination when a person is on the move, but proper hand washing when returning home will eliminate all traces of residual micro-organisms and dirt.

Other Ingredients in the Equation

The second ingredient that makes up the disinfectant gel is water, because ethanol needs a certain amount of it to effectively denature the proteins that make up the unwanted microorganisms. He is therefore considered his right arm, one not acting without the other.

The penultimate ingredient is glycerin, which acts as a hydrating agent by retaining water molecules on the skin's surface. This component is responsible for keeping your hands well hydrated, despite repeated use of gel which tends to dry them out.

The fourth and final ingredient is ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP copolymer, a texturizing agent that is credited with, you guessed it, the pleasant texture of hand sanitizer gel .

120 ml given for 120 ml purchased

Protect yourself and help your community by purchasing this essential product from May 4, when new units of hand sanitizer will be on sale. For each 120 ml or 250 ml unit sold, the equivalent of hydroalcoholic solution will be donated to a health establishment in the Quebec region. A small gesture for you, a big gesture for the health professionals who have been on the front lines since the start of the crisis to take care of the population!

Get Omy's disinfectant gel now!