Breakouts? Blame Your Hands, Not Your Products

Palmtree UK Team
Jul 22
2 min read

Updated: Jul 28

Ever wonder why your fave influencer’s skincare routine just… doesn’t stick? The culprit isn’t your cleanser or serum—it’s your hands.

Why Your Hands Are the Sneaky Enemy

Hands touch everything—phones, mugs, door handles—and studies show we touch our faces around 23 times an hour, transferring oils, bacteria and dirt straight to skin. That build-up is prime for clogging pores and sparking breakouts. Even the American Academy of Dermatology warns that face-touching can flare acne.

The Fix: Clean First, Then Glow

Here’s a morning hack that honestly works:

Wash hands for 20 seconds with warm water and gentle soap.
Cleanse face using your fingertips on damp skin (not a dirty puff or towel).
Sanitise hands—more on that in a sec.
Continue with toner, serum, moisturiser, SPF using your clean hands.
Avoid touching your face during the day (deep breaths, distraction apps, whatever works!).

Sanitisers Matter (But Don’t Overuse Them)

Alcohol-based sanitisers (> 60%) are proven effective at killing germs CDC. But standard ones can dry your hands and irritate your skin barrier. Emollients like glycerin, aloe or palm tree sap added to hand sanitisers reduce dryness and irritation.

And it’s not just anecdotal—clinical trials show moisturising hand sanitisers cause far less irritation than detergents.

Bonus Tips

Keep pillowcases and phone screens clean—oil build‑up is real.
Choose non-comedogenic, alcohol-free skincare to avoid irritation.
Support your skin barrier with hydration, stress‑management and a low-GI diet.

Why It Works

Clean hands = clean face = plump, clear, fresh skin. A simple tweak, huge impact.

Final Call to Action

Boost your routine with a natural sanitiser that’s as kind to your hands as it is to the planet. 🌿

Palmtree Hygiene’s foaming hand sanitiser uses ethanol from palm sap—no palm oil, no damage to trees—led by UK scientists. It’s WHO-compliant, EN1276 tested, vegan and super moisturising. Learn more at Palmtree Hygiene.