Friday, November 21
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS

7 Natural Insect Repellents

Battle Pesky Bugs Without Questionable DEET

By Brian Clark Howard
loading
e-mail
print
rss
widget

Discover Natural Bug Repellents

california baby, bug spray, insect repellent natural bug spray insect repellent from california baby

To many, biting insects are the very definition of annoying. Plus, mosquitoes and ticks can sometimes carry diseases, from Lyme disease to West Nile virus. Long clothes can certainly help, but that\'s not always an option in the heat of summer.

\r\n\r\n

The active ingredient in most bug sprays, N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or DEET, has been shown to be effective, but it has also come under fire in recent years by health researchers. DEET has been found to impede cognition in some animal studies. Plus, some people find that DEET-based repellents have a harsh, chemical smell and feel.

\r\n\r\n

Many families are looking for more natural alternatives, which can be made from plant oils like citronella, lemongrass, peppermint and cedarwood. For example, California Baby\'s sprays are designed to soothe existing bites while repelling fleas, mosquitoes, ticks and biting flies -- all with pleasant smelling (and sustainably harvested) essential plant oils. Learn more at www.californiababy.com.

\r\n\r\n

Do note that most natural bug repellents must be refreshed more often than DEET-based products, because they aren\'t quite as long lasting.

\r\n

Aubrey Organics

aubrey, bug spray, insect repellent gone natural bug spray from aubrey organics

Natural products pioneer Aubrey Organics offers an herbal, DEET-free bug spray that also includes SPF protection. Learn more at www.aubrey-organics.com.

Badger Balm

badger balm, insect repellent, bug spray badger balm anti-bug balms insect repellent

Not all bug protection must come in the form of sprays. Available in tins and a push-up stick, Badger Balm\'s Anti-Bug formula is soothing to dry skin, and repels pests with oils of citronella, rosemary, cedar and geranium. Learn more at www.badgerbalm.com.

Kiss My Face Swy Flotter

kiss my face, swy flotter, bug spray, insect repellent swy flotter natural insect repellent from kiss my face

The playfully named Swy Flotter insect repellent from natural products company Kiss My Face offers DEET-free protection from mosquitoes, ticks and other pests. Learn more at www.kissmyface.com.

\r\n\r\n

Ingredients include isopropyl palmitate (from coconut oil), cyclomethicone (from silica) and essential oils. The most recent formulations of Swy Flotter no longer contain parabens, which the Environmental Working Group points out have been linked to allergies, harm in animal studies and possibly endocrine disruption. Parabens are still found in many conventional personal care products, and their safety is now being debated.

Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Repellent

repel, bug spray, insect repellent, spectrum brands plant-based repel lemon eucalyptus insect repellent

Repel Lemon Eucalyptus insect repellent from Spectrum Brands is said to be proven effective against mosquitoes, deer ticks and no-see-ums for up to six hours. Oil of lemon eucalyptus has been listed by the CDC as effective protection against mosquitoes that may carry West Nile virus. Learn more at www.repel.com.

Bite Blocker

bug spray, insect repellent, bite blocker bite blocker natural insect repellent, sport

Billing itself as America\'s most popular DEET-free insect repellent, HOMS LLC\'s Bite Blocker comes in a variety of formulas, including an SPF 20 sunscreen. The company uses organic herbal ingredients, and says independent lab tests have shown its products to be as effective as DEET 7%. Learn more at www.biteblocker.com.

Bite Blocker Herbal Wipes

bite blocker, insect repellent, wipes, bug spray package of herbal wipes insect repellent from bite blocker

Designed especially for applying insect repellent to children without getting product in their eyes or mouths, Bite Blocker\'s herbal wipes make protection easy.

\r\n\r\n

Towelettes are made of soybean and coconut oil, glycerin, geranium oil, sodium bicarbonate and vanillin. Bile Blocker also makes repellents for pets and clothing.

Comments  |  Add a comment

so far..
loading.. please wait
e-mail
print
rss
widget

ADVERTISEMENT

The 10 Most Fuel Efficient 2008 Vehicles
10 Tips: Save 20% on Gas Everyday
9 Toxin-Free Baby Bottles
Calculate Your Impact
Search for a location:
Enter your city or zip code to get your local temperature and air quality and find local green food and recycling resources near you.

ADVERTISEMENT
Hearst Digital Media