10 DEET-FREE NATURAL BUG REPELLENTS TO HELP KEEP YOU BITE-FREE ALL SUMMER LONG
Got 99 problems but a mosquito bite ain’t one. 😎
One downside to warmer weather? Bug bites. Waking up covered with those itchy red welts is enough to make you wish winter lasted all year (OK, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but still). Unfortunately, a lot of bug repellents give us that sticky, I-just-doused-myself-in-chemicals feeling.
Many parents are leery of the ingredient DEET that can be found in some mainstream bug repellents, as they are worried about the potential dangers and side effects. To learn more about this controversial ingredient, we spoke with Dr. Jeannette Graf, board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
She tells Best Products, “Bug sprays that contain DEET have been considered the most effective repellents for years, and endorsed by the World Health Organization. The ingredient is safe and long-lasting.” Unfortunately, however, sprays containing DEET can be oily and irritating to people with very sensitive skin, and children are sometimes turned off by sprays with this ingredient, according to Graf.
DEET-FREE INSECT REPELLENTS
Easy Application: Squito Ban Spray
Customer Favorite: Off! Botanicals
Best Organic: Hello Bello Bug Repellent
Most Affordable: Repel Lemon-Eucalyptus Insect Repellent
Best Smell: All Terrain Kids Spray
Best Incense: Murphy's Natural Incense
Best Candles: Large Citronella Candles
Unique Formula: Medella Naturals Spray
Picaridin Choice: Sawyer Insect Repellent
Continue reading about the best DEET- free bug repellents, written by Cat Bowen here.
December 3, 2023
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Media Mentions
This repellent is easy to apply and effective without staining clothes.
Media Mentions
Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent uses 20 percent picaridin to protect against ticks, mosquitoes, black flies, gnats, and other biting insects. It provides up to 12 hours of protection, so a little bit goes a long way.
Media Mentions
Sawyer’s 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent delivers long-lasting protection against pesky insects like mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and gnats. Formulated with 20% picaridin — an odorless, non-greasy alternative to DEET — you can count on this spray to provide up to 12 hours of protection against mosquitos and eight hours against other bugs.
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