If you follow any beauty bloggers or influencers, or maybe you are lucky enough to have that friend who ALWAYS knows what the best new skincare products are, you might have recently heard about a skincare ingredient called hypochlorous acid (HOCl).
Hypochlorous acid is an incredibly gentle antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory ingredient that’s super effective and non-toxic. It’s used in a range of applications where you need an effective antimicrobial that also has to be very gentle when directly applied to the skin – think veterinary care, eye care, and wound healing products.
Similar to when hyaluronic acid and glycolic acid burst onto the skincare scene, hypochlorous acid is having a moment in skincare. Here’s what you need to know about hypochlorous acid and how it’s being used in skincare products.
Hypochlorous Acid Spray For Skin: What Are the Benefits?
1. Hypochlorous acid is extremely gentle, even on sensitive skin.
Hypochlorous acid is created from just salt and water, where electricity is used to break apart the molecules and combine them into a new molecule which is hypochlorous acid (HOCl). It’s generally safe for all skin types and has no skin allergens or irritants as you’ll find in typical skincare ingredients (like fragrances and preservatives).
Fun fact – our immune systems naturally produce hypochlorous acid through our white blood cells to fight infection and promote healing. When you’re fighting off the flu, get a cut, or have an inflamed area of your skin, hypochlorous acid is produced by your immune system to fight off infection and inflammation. The gentleness of HOCl is what makes it commonly used in ophthalmology products, given how delicate eye tissue is.
2. It’s highly effective at killing microbes.
When it comes to killing bacteria and viruses, hypochlorous acid has been proven across multiple studies to have highly effective antimicrobial properties. In fact, it’s more effective at killing bacteria than bleach because it is better able to penetrate the cell walls of pathogens in order to disable them. The order of magnitude varies by microbe, but overall it’s much more efficient than bleach, so you don’t need nearly as much to kill the same germ. That’s why you need to use bleach (sodium hypochlorite) at such high and toxic concentrations in order to be effective.
So what does this mean for your skin? Take acne for example. Hypochlorous acid acne products fight the bacteria that clog pores and can lead to acne.
3. It’s used in dermatology for a broad range of skin conditions.
Hypochlorous acid sprays are being used in dermatology for a variety of inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, acne, rosacea, and psoriasis.
Hypochlorous acid sprays – sometimes described as hypochlorous spray or HOCl spray – are popping up in skincare products like facial mists and toners too. These can be pricey at $4 to $8 per ounce. They aim to reduce redness, irritation, acne, and promote healing for damaged skin.
What Are the Risks of Hypochlorous Acid Spray for Skincare?
Is hypochlorous acid safe for skin? Experts say there are minimal risks to using hypochlorous acid skin care products. However, it’s important to ensure that the products you are using are formulated correctly.
Hypochlorous acid at the wrong concentrations could irritate skin. Also, people with chlorine allergies may be allergic because hypochlorous acid is a type of chlorine.
Stick to using products that come with clear directions for use, like hypochlorous acid spray for acne. Properly formulated products can be used daily without significant risk.
We’re All About Better-For-You Products
At Force of Nature, we of course love hypochlorous acid! Our appliance uses electricity to convert tap water, plus a small capsule of salt, water & vinegar, into a multipurpose cleaner and EPA registered disinfectant containing hypochlorous acid and sodium hydroxide (a detergent used at different concentrations in everything from toothpaste to skincare to cleaning products).
Our multi-surface household cleaner & sanitizer has earned the highest possible rating by the Mayo Clinic’s SkinSAFE allergy rating system, the Clean Label Project Purity Award, and is recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation. We’re also Green Seal Certified for meeting the highest standards in protecting health, preserving the climate, and minimizing waste and certified Carbon Neutral by ClimatePartner. When it comes to cleaning effectiveness, our toxin-free formula is just as effective as Windex on glass, Formula 409 on grease, Scrubbing Bubbles on soap scum, Febreze on odors, and Resolve on rugs. You can see lab test results vs the leading brands here. Just as great?
We priced it to be affordable to anyone who wants to be more sustainable, so it costs up to 80% less per oz than the leading brands. It’s a super cost-effective way to make hypochlorous acid right on your countertop. Sound interesting? Learn more about our little appliance that allows you to make hypochlorous acid spray on your countertop to cleanse just about any surface without toxins – and save money too!
