This is a very common question we get asked by folks interested in potentially purchasing a hypochlorous acid spray. We don't blame them for being cautious but there are very big differences when it comes to bleach vs. hypochlorous acid as an ingredient.
In this blog, we will break down what these two ingredients are, how they differ in their chemical makeup along with their use-cases!
What is Hypochlorous Acid?
Hypochlorous acid, or commonly shortened to HOCl, is a natural ingredient in a sense, because it is an ingredient that is made by our own bodies when fighting off bacteria, viruses or other infections. Both in our bodies and used as a spray, it calms inflammation, helps wound healing and is anti-bacterial! These days, hypochlorous acid is gaining traction in the skincare space as it is a soothing ingredient and safe for even the most sensitive of skin!
What is Bleach?
Bleach is very strong and has conventionally been used for cleaning surfaces, disinfecting and whitening clothes. The pH is super high therefore, it is great at killing germs and not skin-safe as it is way too harsh!
Now let's examine the differences between the two through a chart:
Bleach | Hypochlorous Acid |
Strong alkaline substance with a pH of 11-13, which can be corrosive and irritating. | Weak acid with a near-neutral pH (around 5.5-6.5), making it gentle and safe for skin. |
Designed for hard surfaces, disinfecting, and laundry—not for skincare! | Perfect for skincare and health—it cleanses, soothes irritation, and supports skin health. |
Can cause irritation, respiratory problems, and even burns if mishandled. | Non-toxic, gentle, and safe for all ages—even for babies and people with sensitive skin. |
Household bleach is much more concentrated (3-8%), which is why it’s so strong and not safe for direct contact with skin. | In products like Honeydew Labs Hypochlorous Acid Spray, the concentration is super low (about 0.015%), making it non-toxic and gentle. |
Then why do people often confuse the two?
They do have some similarities - first being that they are both effective at killing germs. In addition, hypochlorous acid does have a slight smell that can be mistaken for bleach (hint: read our blog on why does my hypochlorous acid spray smell like a swimming pool?)
However, the biggest and most important difference is that one is very skin-safe, the other.. not so much!
Benefits of Hypochlorous acid:
Gentle on Skin - skin-friendly pH
Anti-bacterial - kills bacteria, fungi and viruses without harming healthy cells! PS - it is even known to combat COVID viruses!
Versatile - use it on acne, redness, wound care, surface disinfectant, or even as a gentle cleanser!
Non-toxic and simple ingredients - read up on our full hypochlorous acid spray ingredients here - hint, we only have 3 ingredients in our spray!
Interested in trying a hypochlrous acid spray? Check out our variety of sizes in Honeydew Lab's Shop page along with Honeydew Labs Hypochlorous Acid Spray on Amazon US or Amazon Canada.
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