Pessoa aplicando álcool gel nas mãos. O frasco não tem nenhum rótulo.

From afar, you’ve probably seen that strange-looking hand sanitizer bottle. The label says Asseptgel, but something feels off: the liquid is cloudy, and when you apply it to your hands, it’s really sticky. It feels like anything but hand sanitizer. Some even stick and resemble glue. So, what is it? How can you identify fake hand sanitizer?

And believe me: during the pandemic, many people profited off the health of others. Which is, without a doubt, outrageous. And counterfeit products mainly target Asseptgel. Take a look here at a complaint from someone who was duped.

Identifying fake hand sanitizer can be tricky. To be sure it’s fake, only a lab test will confirm it. But some signs strongly indicate the presence of adulterants and we’ll show you what they are right now.

Stay tuned!

How to identify fake alcohol gel?

Strange consistency. The hand sanitizer feels all sticky. Weird smell or a complete lack of scent. Coloration ranging from cloudy to other shades. All of these are signs that you might be dealing with fake or at least adulterated hand sanitizer.

It’s tough, isn’t it? But unfortunately, this was the reality for most Brazilians during the pandemic - and it’s still happening today. Many people think that hand sanitizer can be mixed with moisturizer, water or other products. Some even believe it can be mixed with regular 70% alcohol. But that’s not how it works.

Anything that’s factory-made loses its effectiveness when mixed with other substances. To be more specific, here’s how to identify fake hand sanitizer based on the issues mentioned above.

Sticky hand sanitizer: what could it be?

A sticky hand sanitizer could be a sign that it's either fake or adulterated. When the product feels sticky, it often indicates that it contains a higher percentage of thickeners than what the manufacturer recommends. These thickeners can be made of various substances.

In the case of fake hand sanitizers, the list of wrong thickeners used is extensive. Some common ingredients found by authorities during inspections include:

Cassava starch;
Gelatin powder;
Vegetable glycerin;
Carbogel;
Hand moisturizers.

Among others. If the hand sanitizer feels sticky, something is definitely off. It’s always safer to purchase your hand sanitizer from a trusted brand like Asseptgel.

Hand sanitizer with a strong smell: is it fake?

If you're already used to the smell of hand sanitizer, any strange odor is likely to raise some suspicion.

And you’re right: it’s better to be cautious than to end up using something that doesn’t protect you.

Here, police and partner laboratories have detected everything from gasoline-based alcohol to cachaça. Yes, cachaça. This is extremely problematic, as these substances can cause skin burns and allergic reactions.

But the most common adulteration involves mixing ethyl alcohol with water to create 70% alcohol spray or adding gelatin to make counterfeit hand sanitizer. These versions often have a much stronger smell than normal.

Be cautious with unscented hand sanitizers as well - this could be a sign that the product has been excessively diluted with water or other ingredients.

Pessoa aplicando álcool gel nas mãos. O frasco é de apertar e tem rótulo, ele só não está visível.

Gel alcohol cloudy or with strange color: is it fake?

In most cases, yes. If the gel alcohol is dark, cloudy, or has any color change, be suspicious right away. This is one of the easiest ways to identify fake hand sanitizer.

Most of the time, it's not 100% fake - it might have been hand sanitizer at some point. However, so many mixtures were added that it became more liquid, runny and lost the colorless crystal characteristic of the best brands.

Also, be careful: we never know what has been added to adulterated hand sanitizer. It's better to always carry yours with you and, if you suspect something, let others know and don't use it.

Is counterfeit hand sanitizer less effective than the original?

Frascos brancos ao lado de máscara facial azul

It is much less effective, and for several reasons. The main one is that, in most cases analyzed by experts, counterfeit hand sanitizer did not even reach 50% alcohol concentration. The recommended level is 70%.

This happens because the mixture is not made using industrial equipment, and the person producing it is far from being a chemist - not even an amateur one, for that matter. They have no knowledge of the technical aspects of hand sanitizer production.

To give you an idea, even the temperature of the environment where the bottling takes place needs to be controlled. If it's not, the alcohol evaporates, leaving only the gel behind. In other words, those looking to make quick money by selling counterfeit hand sanitizer are not paying attention to these details. In fact, they don't even care about anyone's health.

3 signs of counterfeit hand sanitizer

First, the packaging. If there's nothing written on it - no brand name, INMETRO seal, or batch number - be suspicious and stay away. Do not buy it.

Does it say "Asseptgel" on the label? Check the manufacturing batch and expiration date. If it's far from the current date, looks cloudy, feels sticky or has a strong odor, that's another reason to be cautious.

Second, the consistency. Apply everything mentioned earlier - smell it, check if it's sticky, and observe the color. If anything seems off, be suspicious.

Finally, consider where it's being sold. Is it in a pharmacy? If so, talk to the sellers or the owner to learn more about the brand. If buying on-line, choose authorized stores.

If purchasing from marketplaces like Mercado Livre, Americanas, or Magazine Luiza, check the seller's rating and avoid offers that seem too good to be true - that's often where the risk lies.

Stay alert!