Germaphobes Rejoice, Hand Sanitizers May Be The Year’s Biggest Trend

Move aside over the knee boots and trendy plaid shirts, nifty hand sanitizers are set to be this season’s hottest item. According to a leading resource for data on global trade, hand sanitizer shipments to the U.S. more than doubled in 2009. Experts say this is all due to a heightened fear of catching swine flu this winter. Whatever the reason, everyone and their mother is releasing instant antiseptics right now – and luckily the choices range from eco-friendly botanical products to kid-proof sanitizers that don’t smell like sanitizers. We’re all for avoiding the flu, so we’ve come up with some useful tactics of our own that will surely help you avoid swine in style.

Tired of that stinky Purell smell? Try Burt’s Bees Hand Sanitizer (it combines aloe and witch hazel for a soothing effect) or a bottle of EO’s Organic Lemon disinfectant.

Now that you’re clean, let’s get beautiful. Shop our picks to the best mascara, bath products, concealers and eye creams.