FAQ - Frequently asked questions

Yes. Laboratory tests carried out for DuoLife Antibacterical Clean Hands Gel proved its effectiveness for bacteria strains Erscherichia Coli at the level of 99.75% after 1-minute contact and 99.99% after 5-minute exposure. Regarding aerobe groups of commensal and pathogenic bacteria isolated from the skin surface of the volunteer probants, the preparation reduced on average 93% aerobic bacteria after 5 minuts from applying on the skin.

The antiviral effect of DuoLife Antibacterical Clean Hands Gel is based on scientifically evidenced, test proven biological activity of the essential oils which it contains: lavena, citronella, geranium, tea and rosemary oils, as well as their active ingredients: terpenoids, polyphenols and many others. The action is boosted by menthol contained in the preparation. It has been irrefutably proven that active substances contained in the oils (sesquiterpenes) hinder cytomegalovirus, CORONAVIRUS of acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS-CoV-1) and rhinovirus. Antiviral effect of sesquiterpenes against capsid viruses - HSV cytomegalovirus, measles morbillivirus and influenza virus. In the case of tea tree oil, its effectiveness was undisputably proven in treatment of recurrent herpes simplex. Below is a list of publications regarding this issue. 1. Adorjan, B., & Buchbauer, G. (2010). Biological properties of essential oils: an updated review. Flavour and fragrance journal, 25(6), 407-426. 2. Setzer, W. N. (2016). Essential oils as complementary and alternative medicines for the treatment of influenza. American Journal of Essential Oils and Natural Products, 4(4), 16-22. 3. Garozzo, A., Timpanaro, R., Stivala, A., Bisignano, G., & Castro, A. (2011). Activity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil on Influenza virus A/PR/8: study on the mechanism of action. Antiviral research, 89(1), 83-88. 4. Bigos, M., Wasiela, M., Kalemba, D., & Sienkiewicz, M. (2012). Antimicrobial activity of geranium oil against clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Molecules, 17(9), 10276-10291. 5. Vimalanathan, S., & Hudson, J. (2014). Anti-influenza virus activity of essential oils and vapors. American Journal of Essential Oils and Natural Products, 2(1), 47-53. 6. Sharma, R., Rao, R., Kumar, S., Mahant, S., & Khatkar, S. (2019). Therapeutic potential of citronella essential oil: a review. Current drug discovery technologies, 16(4), 330-339. 7. Reichling, J., Schnitzler, P., Suschke, U., & Saller, R. (2009). Essential oils of aromatic plants with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and cytotoxic properties–an overview. Complementary Medicine Research, 16(2), 79-90. 8. Orhan, İ. E., ÖZÇELİK, B., Kartal, M., & Kan, Y. (2012). Antimicrobial and antiviral effects of essential oils from selected Umbelliferae and Labiatae plants and individual essential oil components. Turkish Journal of Biology, 36(3), 239-246. 9. Gavanji, S., Sayedipour, S. S., Larki, B., & Bakhtari, A. (2015). Antiviral activity of some plant oils against herpes simplex virus type 1 in Vero cell culture. Journal of Acute Medicine, 5(3), 62-68. 10. Schnitzler, P., Astani, A., & Reichling, J. (2011). Antiviral effects of plant-derived essential oils and pure oil components. Lipids and Essential Oils, 239. 11. Schelz, Z., Molnar, J., & Hohmann, J. (2006). Antimicrobial and antiplasmid activities of essential oils. Fitoterapia, 77(4), 279-285. 12. Mathur, A., Prasad, G. B. K. S., Rao, N., Babu, P., & Dua, V. K. (2011). Isolation and identification of antimicrobial compound from Mentha piperita L. Rasayan J, 4, 36-42.

Yes, it has the capacity to destroy bacteria. Its biocidal effect was proven against bacteria strand Erscherichia Coli as well as pathogenic and commensal aerobe bacteria present on the human hand skin.

The literature data regarding test-proven antiviral effect of the essential oils contained in the preparation confirm that those oils effectively kill viruses. It has been irrefutably proven that active substances contained in the oils (sesquiterpenes) hinder cytomegalovirus, CORONAVIRUS of acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS-CoV-1) and rhinovirus. Antiviral effect of sesquiterpenes against capsid viruses - HSV cytomegalovirus, measles morbillivirus and influenza virus. In the case of tea tree oil, its effectiveness was undisputably proven in treatment of recurrent herpes simplex. At present, no microbiologic laboratory runs tests on effectiveness of cosmetic preparations directly on coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Our aim is to inform you in a responsible manner about the effectiveness of the materials which we used, thus we tried to show you that they were already used earlier during the epidemics in an effective way, reducing mortality among population of medical doctors who were soaking their face masks with oils. Moreover, in the scientific literature on the subject, the effect of essential oils on the viruses was clearly proven. The mechanisms of effect of the oils vary, but they always lead to reduction (inactivation) of viruses and bacteria. Some ois directly inactivate the virus through disrupting the structure of virion capsid, or they mask viral structures which are necessary for adsorption (and entering) into the host cells. 

In the present epidemiologic situation, DuoLife Antibacterical Clean Hands Gel should be treated as a preparation to be applied every time after washing hands, at least every 2 h, as a hand care cosmetic which maintains the hands optimum microbiological cleanliness until the next contact with surfaces potentially contaminated with the pathogen. Every time after contact with potentially contaminated surface, it is recommended to use the cosmetic or wash your hands again. The preparation does not contain alcohol, thus it is hand skin friendly. The preparation stays on the skin up to 8 h thanks to the physico-chemical properties of its ingredients.

The preparation has the status of a cosmetic. However, the citronella and lavenda oils contained in the preparation are entered on the List of Biocidal Products pursuant to art. 7 sec. 1 of the biocidal products act, published on the website of Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products. Therefore, the product can be registered as biocidal.

Apply a thin layer to the skin of your hands and spread thoroughly. Wait until the product is completely absorbed. Do not wash off!

The preparation stays on the skin up to 8 h thanks to the physico-chemical properties of its ingredients. This means that thanks to lipophillic properties of essential oils* it can stay ont he skin (similarly to e.g. hand cream) for several hours. Hand disinfectants based on highly concentrated ethanol (spirit) have a strong, but short-term effect- for only several dozen seconds, until the spirit evaporates from the hand surface. DuoLife Antibacterical Clean Hands Gel can be successfully treated as a way to ‘extend’ the antibacterial effect of the soap and disinfectants, and it can be used every time after washing or disinfecting your hands. *Adaszyńska, M., & Swarcewicz, M. (2012). Essential oils as active or preserving substances in cosmetics. Wiadomości Chemiczne, 139-158.

The preparation can be used by children over 10 years old. It is not to be used for infants.

DuoLife intent was to create a preparation which while maintaining its antibacterial properties will at the same time be gentle for the skin of the hands. Washing and disinfecting hands many times during the day, which we practice now due to epidemiologic reasons, seriously irritates and dries the skin of the hands. The result is redness and cracking (even micro-bleeding) of the skin, which if that bareer is broken, becomes directly exposed to bacteria which may quickly get to the blood. DuoLife Antibacterical Clean Hands Gel does not dry the hands and is friendly for the skin, protecting it from bacteria, cracking and micro-damages caused by excessive skin dryness.

The gel contain natural ingredients such as essential oil and methol. However, considering its purpose, it also contains synthetic ingredients to ensure proper microbiological cleanle of the preparation and prevent its ‘contamination’. For example, phenoxyethanol serves an important function: it is a substance which prevents development and survival of microorganisms during the product storage. It also protects the cosmetic against bacterial and viral ‘contamination’, which we may cause by introducing bacteria inside the packaging while using the product daily (e.g. by applying the gel on the hands). The cosmetic has a low concentration of that ingredient, not exceeding any admissible standards. In the situation of epidemic threat, efficiency of the product should be put first, before its solely natural properties. Certainly, in this case the priority is to keep the microbiologic cleanliness of the preparation. 

Yes, it has and it is safe for the hands.

No. Simarly to all the other cosmetics available on the EU market, the gel has not been tested on animals. Since 2004 testing on animals is forbidden in the EU, and since 2009 it is also forbidden to use in cosmetics any ingredients tested on animals. It is a legal misuse to use declarations ‘not tested on animals’ on packaging of cosmetic products.

Due to appropriately selected composition and no alcohol (spirit), the gel does not dry the hand skin, but it has a handcare effect. Therefore, DuoLife Antibacterical Clean Hands Gel is registered as a handcare cosmetic with antibacterial action.

The gel composition, defined as INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) is as follows: Aqua/Water, Propylene Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustofolia Herb Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Cymbopogon Winterianus Oil, Menthol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Parfum/Fragrance, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide