Best sanitizer ever? Why Touchland is the only hand sanitizer worth using

Hand sanitizers are rarely glamorous, unless you have one from Touchland. The brand’s chic packaging, hydrating formula and delicious scents have completely turned traditional hand sanitizers on their head, especially in a market that seems dominated by drying gel formulas (and as someone who grew up with a germaphobe mom and had hand sanitizers attached to my hip, the heavy alcohol scent still haunts me to this day).

My mom introduced me to Touchland’s buzzy hand sanitizers a few years back, and now everyone I know uses them (its widespread popularity doesn’t come as a surprise considering the brand reached $100 million in sales last year). These $10 mists have become status symbols among teens and adults alike: My siblings, who are 8, 10 and 13 years old, have multiple in their backpacks, and so do most of their classmates. The more you have, the higher your “cool” factor, according to my Gen-Z and Gen Alpha siblings.

Keep reading to learn more about why I and everyone else are obsessed with these pocket-sized hand sanitizers right now.

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Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer

The spray hand sanitizers are made with alcohol, aloe vera and radish root ferment filtrate to kill bacteria, hydrate your skin and retain moisture so your hand stays soft, according to the brand. What makes these hand sanitizers stand out is their pleasant yet subtle scents (each of which has its own correlating color). The current Power Mist lineup has 14 scents and one fragrance-free version.

A button on the sanitizer’s small, square packaging (roughly the size of your palm) triggers a fine mist that, unlike the gel consistency of a typical hand sanitizer, doesn’t feel goopy or messy. It takes about 20 seconds to dry, so application is quick and easy.

The Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizers are sold individually and available in packs and sets. Touchland also collaborates with other brands (like Hello Kitty) and has limited-edition seasonal scents, including Peppermint Mocha and Spiced Pumpkin-Tini, throughout the year. The brand also has specialty versions, including Glow Mist (to sanitize, hydrate and improve tone and texture) and Gentle Mist (to sanitize, hydrate and soothe skin). These are usually more expensive at $16 each.

I can't leave home without my Touchland hand sanitizers, and for good reason: They're easy to apply, smell great and leave my hands feeling soft and hydrated.

What stands out to me about these hand sanitizers is that they don’t have a cap (which, in my experience with traditional hand sanitizers, create a liquid mess). Instead, it comes in a small spray bottle, so a gentle mist activates at the press of a button. This packaging makes it easy to spray and disinfect with just one hand. It was also easier for my siblings to use when they were younger, and it’s still a more convenient option for my grandparents and anyone with dexterity issues.

Unlike other hand sanitizers, which traditionally have a cylinder shape, these are flat, slim and compact. Their size is comparable to that of a cardholder, and the width is similar to an iPhone. This makes them perfect for slipping into my pockets and my purse. I can toss them into my luggage without taking up much room (plus, they’re under three ounces, so they meet TSA standards).

You can also secure the sanitizer using the Hand Mist Case or its pouch, The Touchette. At school pick-up, I notice my siblings and their friends have one attached to each of their backpacks, and my aunts and uncles have it on their diaper bags at family functions.

Last week, I smelled something rosy and fragrant, and thought one of my coworkers sprayed perfume. But when I turned to her and asked what the smell was, it turns out that all she did was spray her Touchland hand sanitizer. While many hand sanitizers on the market are on opposite sides of the spectrum in terms of scent (some are too fragrant, while others smell like chemicals), Touchland found the perfect balance between fragrant and effective.

The scents aren’t overwhelming to the point where you get a headache or feel nauseous, and they mask the smell of alcohol in the formula. While most hand sanitizers leave an intense, chemical-heavy smell on my hands several minutes after I apply them, Touchland’s scented versions leave a pleasant aroma that subtly lingers.

Even the fragrance-free option (which I often use because I have sensitive skin) doesn’t have that rubbing alcohol smell. Plus, each scent is brightly dyed, making it fun to look at and hold. All three generations of my family found multiple Power Mists that they love and alternate between regularly.

You might find that many common sanitizers leave an uncomfortable residue that’s sticky or greasy, regardless of whether it’s in spray or gel form. Thankfully, the Touchland sprays are the complete opposite.

Because the mist is so incredibly fine and lightweight, it takes only seconds to absorb, and it doesn’t leave a trace on my hands (besides a pleasant scent). Usually, I would have to run to apply hand cream after applying a typical hand sanitizer, but despite having alcohol in the formula, Touchland’s sanitizers are hydrating enough on their own. Plus, neither the scented or unscented versions trigger or irritate my sensitive, eczema-prone skin.

The Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer is around the same price as similar sprays like the Noshinku Refillable Natural Hand Sanitizer ($9), and it falls in the middle range of popular options like the Bath & Body Works Spray ($3.95) and Primally Pure Hand Sanitizer ($16). Touchland is more expensive than your everyday sanitizers, like the Purell Hand Sanitizer ($2.50), but they don’t have that drying, smelly and messy gel formula, which makes them worth the higher price tag, in my opinion.

What makes Touchland stand out from most of its competitors is its packaging — most spray and gel options have caps you have to mess with and are bulkier, so they take up more room in my pockets and bags. Plus, with so many scents and accessories to choose from, there’s an option for everyone.

I’m an associate reporter, and I write about new product launches and beauty and wellness topics, including recent stories on the best body serums and eye creams. For this story, I shared my experience using Touchland Hand Sanitizer for five years.

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