Where To Find Key COVID-19 Readiness Supplies — From Face Masks To Hand Sanitizer
The nation’s general unpreparedness for what has proven to be the biggest health crisis of our time, combined with the chaos unleashed by panic buying and hoarding, has led to a shortage of many of the items authorities have listed as essential in order for the public to protect itself (and, in turn, the community as a whole) from COVID-19. Hand sanitizer, as we all know, was one of the first items to seemingly vanish without a trace. Who would’ve thought all those bottles of Purell we sent off to school with our little ones (along with an ever-expanding list of classroom supplies that also included now-elusive goods such as toilet paper, paper towels, and disinfectant wipes) would now feel as valuable as liquid gold? Nowadays, finding a bottle of Purell would feel like discovering a new planet in the galaxy.
And then , of course, there’s the face mask issue. While we the public was initially told not to bother with face coverings, the CDC now recommends that all citizens wear a fabric face mask whenever venturing outside the home. Yet, given that disposable, single-use masks are nearly impossible to find (and that those available should be directed towards medical professionals, first responders, and others on the front lines of this battle), us regular folks have been left to wonder how we can fashion appropriate face coverings using materials at home. As someone who can’t even sew a button onto a shirt, I have zero faith in my ability to craft a fabric face mask — much less one that will actually prove functional.
But don’t panic: there are options for those of us who manage to fail at every DIY project! A number of beauty and fashion brands have taken the initiative to fill the void on the supply side of our current supply-demand conundrum, tasking their teams with manufacturing much-needed items such as — you guessed it! — hand sanitizer and face masks. Here are a few resources for those of you searching for these items — hopefully you’ll be able to get the supplies you need (sans hoarding, please!) and feel better equipped during these anxiety-ridden times.
WHERE TO FIND FACE MASKS
Now that the CDC has officially recommended that we all use cloth face coverings when out in public, many folks are scrambling to make their own using whatever tools are at their disposal. And if, like me, you are hardly the crafty type, it can seem like a daunting feat. The good news: while disposable medical face masks are as elusive as a Wonka Golden Ticket, there are some fashion brands that are stepping up to the plate and using their sewing skills to manufacture reusable, washable, fabric face masks that we can wear when venturing to the supermarket, to check the mail, or to get some exercise outdoors. While none of these are surgical or procedural, they should help to lessen person-to-person transmission of the virus. That said, continue to practice social distancing and to stay home whenever possible — these should merely be used when it’s necessary to venture outdoors for essential purposes.
Here are some of the companies helping to give your face the necessary coverage.
ALICE + OLIVIA
Alice + Olivia Staceface Protective Face Mask, $10. Available at AliceAndOlivia.com
Through her fashion-forward apparel, footwear, and accessories line Alice + Olivia, New York-based designer and all-around cool girl Stacey Bendet is offering customers the chance to mask themselves in style. This whimsical fabric mask features an all-over print of the brand’s iconic “Stace Face” image: a Bendet-inspired illustration of a chic brunette’s head, her hair in a top bun, her eyes covered by oversize black sunglasses, and cherry red lipstick accentuating her pout.
8 OTHER REASONS
8 Other Reasons Masks, $21.95 for 3-Pack. Available at 8OtherReasons.com
While 8 Other Reasons is known for its statement-making costume jewelry and hair accessories, the brand is now using fabric as its medium of choice in order to create face masks for its consumers. These washable and reusable masks are meant to protect wearers by helping them avoid touching their faces (and by shielding them from airborne particles). Each mask is made from70% viscose filaments and 30% nylon filaments that, together, yield an elastic fabric that covers the nose, mouth and face, providing a snug fit.
HEDLEY & BENNETT
Hedley & Bennett Face Mask, $22. Available at HedleyandBennett.com
Those immersed in the culinary world probably associate Hedley & Bennett with colorful and functional aprons, smocks, and chef apparel, but the brand’s California-based factory is now churning out non-surgical face masks in response to the COVID-19 crisis. This washable, reusable cotton fabric face mask was designed in association with Dr. Robert Cho, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at a local children’s hospital.
Not only are these sturdy and durable, but there’s a give-back element to them: for each mask you purchase, one will be donated to a nurse, doctor, grocery store employee, restaurant worker, or first responser working on the front lines during this turbulent time.
DANIEL PATRICK
Daniel Patrick Face Mask, $25. Available at DanielPatrick.us
Los Angeles-based Australian designer Daniel Patrick is known for a sporty aesthetic that fuses together hip-hop influences and military motifs, resulting in pieces that are as unapologetically bold as they are laid-back and cool. This vibe shines through in the Daniel Patrick Face Masks, which feature graphic motifs ranging from a camo print to an acid wash design. Constructed from 100% nylon and featuring two elastic bands at the sides that function as ear loops, each mask is machine-washable and reusable.
CHRISTINE ALCALAY
Christine Alcalay Printed Face Mask, $29. Available at ChristineAlcalay.com
The team at Christine Alcalay is hard at work sewing masks to donate to health professionals across the United States, and they’ve manages to create 700 for this purpose alone thanks to the public’s support. Every week, the brand is also producing a small amount of masks which can be purchased by the general public, the sale of which helps to offset the costs involved with manufacturing and shipping the donated masks to first responders. In other words, while you might be paying $29 for this particular mask, part of those funds are being funneled to the larger initiative: making sure those on the front lines of this fight have the necessary weaponry and armor.
Each Christine Alcalay mask has a linen or cotton shell featuring one of the brand’s seasonal prints and is equipped with a 100% cotton inner lining. The brand is currently accepting pre-orders, which will ship from April 29th through May 8th.
WHERE TO FIND HAND SANITIZER
By now, you’ve probably made several visits to your grocery store and found no trace of Purell anywhere. You’ve likely spent hours scouring the Internet for what now feels like a magical elixir, searching your way through Amazon, Ebay, Target, Bath & Body Works, and every other retailer imaginable. You might even have declared defeat and decided to manufacture your own hand sanitizer — only to discover that rubbing alcohol is now an equally scarce commodity. It’s exhausting, I know! But don’t fret: there are brands manufacturing hand sanitizer. Just check out a few options below:
JABONERIA MARIANELLA
Jabonería Marianella Hydrating Hand Sanitizer, $16 at Jaboneria.co
Featuring a 70% concentration of alcohol to zap any germs, the new Jabonería Marianella Hydrating Hand Sanitizer Gel is infused with 100% pure essential oils like lavender, spruce and aloe, so that it softens and conditions your skin while disinfecting them. A percentage of sales will be donated to God’s Love We Deliver, a non-sectarian organization that cooks and delivers nutritious meals to the homes of those too ill to shop or cook for themselves.
ARTNATURALS
artnaturals Unscented Hand Sanitizer, $19.98 for 2-pack. Available at artnaturals.com
The CDC recommends hand sanitizer that contain at least 60% alcohol, and the options available from plant-based brand artnaturals hit the mark, containing 62.5% ethyl alcohol. This vegan, sulfate- and paraben-free formula is formulated with botanical extracts such as aloe, jojoba and vitamin E to moisturize and condition skin. You can purchase the two-pack shown above for just under $20 or buy any number of other varieties — from multi-packs to gallon-sized bottles.
Yes, the brand that makes your favorite flat iron is now in the hand sanitizer game! CHI recently unveiled its new Organic Gardens Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer, a 92% natural formula that’s packed with 77% v/v (volume per volume) ethyl alcohol to fulfill your antimicrobial needs as well as organically grown aloe vera to nourish skin and seal in moisture.
