Hand gels, sanitisers and soaps are selling out so rapidly amidst the viral epidemic, and the worry for those who aren’t able to get hold of these products isn’t lost on us. Certain beauty brands are working towards stepping up their efforts in this area, making these products more accessible. And there’s ways you can help too.

One organisation working particularly hard in this time of increased hygiene poverty is Beauty Banks. Headed up by industry heavyweights, Jo Jones and Sali Hughes, this initiative works to collect and distribute hygiene and personal care products to those in need around the UK. 

But as Coronavirus has led to product shortages, increased food bank dependency and even greater hygiene poverty, the duo have really stepped things up in the past week, launching a new campaign — #HelpingHands. 

Where Beauty Banks usually collects donated products, the increased pressure means they have started to call on their supporters to donate money that they can better utilise in this hectic time. When they first launched their Go Fund Me page, the aim was to raise £50,000 to spend on sanitiser, soap and other basic hygiene necessities to those in impoverished conditions.

Smashing that target, so far it has raised over £62,000 from 2800 donors. In fact, it’s the top trending page on Go Fund Me right now. 

Better still, donations are still being accepted and are very much necessary. The money raised will be spent on soap for adults and babies, body wash, hand wash, hand sanitiser, laundry detergent and tissues. 

Sali Hughes, co-founder of Beauty Banks said, “I think people feel much calmer and more in control when they are doing something useful in a crisis. I certainly do. The huge outpouring of support has certainly demonstrated that.” 

But Beauty Banks isn’t the only beauty organisation supporting those in need. 

Soap brand Nuddy has recently launched a brand new product that intends to help the cause without boosting their profits. Its Naked Super Rich Shea Butter Soap Bar in Pink Grapefruit costs £0, the only stipulation is a small contribution to cover the cost of postage and packaging. The free, unboxed soap bar is available for those in need and the idea came from a desire to offer a solution that doesn’t discriminate against those who can’t afford to stockpile.

Body and skincare brand, Sister & Co have launched a Neighbour in Need campaign. They’re giving out a free charcoal soap bar with every order for at least the next two months.

On a larger scale, French luxury goods group, LVMH, which owns and produces products for brands including Christian Dior, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany, have come up with a plan of their own. In the wake of the viral spread, they’ll be dedicating resources and pooling ingredients together to create hand sanitiser for French hospitals.

LVMH has promised to use three different sites to produce twelve tonnes of sanitiser in just this week alone. It won’t come at any cost, helping to alleviate the stress on the health care systems. The sanitiser will be given to French health authorities to distribute, however 39 hospitals in Paris will receive the majority of the products.

It’s a very strange time, but it’s really promising to see instances of the beauty industry stepping up to the plate.