Sticky, sweaty, muggy, and buggy. Ah, the telltale signs of summer! Mosquitos are an unfortunate reality of my favorite season and, apparently, they are getting worse. Increasing temperatures across the globe are creating ideal habitats for mosquitos to breed and hatch (gross), so a foolproof strategy to repelling them is more important than ever. The good news? Safe and effective strategies exist – and we’re diving into them below.
Before we get to the harder hitting repellants (i.e. DEET), here are some chemical-free tips that help keep mosquitos at bay.
Remove Mosquito Habitats. Do this by eliminating standing water and puddles (think: rain gutters, buckets, plastic covers, toys, or any other container where mosquitoes can breed).
Coffee Grounds. Turns out, mosquitos hate coffee (their loss), which means sprinkling coffee grounds strategically around your porch, pool, or potted plants helps stave them off. Any form of coffee will work (fresh, ground, or burnt). To kick it up a notch, burn coffee grounds to intensify the smell and repellant effect.
Garlic. Another things mosquitos hate? Garlic. (My dad and mosquitos have this in common). You can buy garlic oil or make your own.
Coconut Oil. Leave it to Martha Stewart to figure out a two ingredient DIY insect repellant. All you need? Coconut oil and peppermint oil. Per Martha, mix around 1/3 cup of coconut oil with 15 drops of peppermint essential oil and store in an air-tight jar.
Cinnamon. Apparently, mosquitos aren’t fans of cinnamon either. Mix two teaspoons of cinnamon into 4 cups of warm water and let it steep (like tea!). Add to spray bottle and mix in 1/2 a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol, 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap. Shake it up and voila! Thank you, Babs!
Source: Better Report
Layers. This one is obvious, but if you’re heading somewhere buggy, layer up. Long sleeves and long pants will protect you when heading into areas with high mosquito populations (think: golf courses, swampy yards, or marshes).
Essential Oil can go a long way. Lemongrass, thyme, chamomile, cedarwood, rosemary, citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, and lavender all miraculously repel mosquitos! Mix drops of these oils in water for a DIY spray. Better yet, look for already-made, gentler bug sprays (a la below) that put essential oils to work.
Golden Hour Deet-Free Bug Repellant by Kinfield.
I discovered this at Erewhon originally (was later thrilled to realize it was sold out most other places). Kinfield’s formula is DEET-free, handcrafted in California, and smells light and refreshing.
Ingredients: Citronella Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Clove Oil, Isopropyl Alcohol, Lauric Acid, Water, & Vanillin
Golden Hour Wipes by Kinfield
A great solution for traveling (and kids), this is Kinfield’s Golden Hour formula in wipe form! Throw a few in your bag on your way to a (potentially buggy) dinner party and you’re golden (no pun intended).
Ingredients: Citronella Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Clove Oil, Isopropyl Alcohol, Lauric Acid, Water, Vanillin
Anti-Bug Shake & Spray by Badger
Light and easy to toss in your bag, this is another to keep handy all summer. The “woody citrus” fragrance is just as described and I feel good knowing the ingredients are organic!
Ingredients: Organic Soybean Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Organic Citronella Oil, Organic Cedar Oil, Organic Lemongrass Oil, Organic Rosemary Oil, Organic Geranium Oil, Organic Peppermint Oil, Water, & Organic Wintergreen Oil.
Anti-Bug Balm by Badger
Citronella, cedarwood, and lemongrass are the stars in this formula and the castor oil helps keep skin soft and hydrated. I’ve quickly become loyal to Badger’s sunscreen for babies, too.
Ingredients: Organic Castor Oil, Organic Citronella Oil, Organic Cedar Oil, Organic Lemongrass Oil, Organic Rosemary Oil, Organic Geranium Oil, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Organic Beeswax.
Natural, DEET-Free Bug Repellent by Nantucket Spider
Formulated without any chemical dispersants, Nantucket Spider’s Repellent “for humans” truly does have a light, not greasy feel when applied to skin. The same brand also makes an extra strength deer tick spray and, brilliantly, a bug spray for dogs. Like Badger, they use organic ingredients!
Ingredients: Organic Rosemary Oil, Organic Geranium Oil, Organic Cedarwood Oil, Organic Peppermint Oil, Organic Spearmint Oil, Organic Lemongrass Oil, Organic Clove Oil and Organic Citronella Oil, Water & Glycerin.
Stay Away Spray by Eir NYC
The name alone has my attention. I wonder if this works on exes too? ;)
Ingredients: Organic Soybean Oil*, Rosemary Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Sweet Basil Oil, Cedarleaf Oil, Eucalyptus Citriodora Essential Oil, Litsea Cubeba Oil, Citronella Oil, Peppermint Oil, Geranium Oil, Lavender Oil, & Clove Flower Oil
Sometimes, you need to up the ante. Mosquito-borne illnesses (West Nile, Dengue Fever) are on the rise this year, and experts point to climate change as the likely culprit. Mosquitos aren’t the only problem! Tick-borne diseases (like Lyme) have surged in the past fifteen years, up 357 % in rural areas and 65% in urban areas. If spending considerable time outside in bug-heavy terrain, consider an EPA-registered insect repellant. No bug spray will work against every type of critter so EWG suggests looking into your risk of possible illness via mosquitoes, ticks, etc. in the area you’re planning to spend time. Interactive maps exist (not to be a hypochondriac) and can be helpful in gauging your risk for West Nile, Lyme Disease, and Zika.
Thankfully, bug spray works. Also thankfully, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a comprehensive guide. Below are a few highlights and specifics to keep in mind.
Active ingredients. According to EWG, there are three key active ingredients that effectively reduce our risk from these potentially pest-born diseases. They are:
IR3535. Studies have found IR3535 to be similar or slightly less effective than DEET and picaridin against mosquitoes. Against deer ticks, though, IR3535 provided over twice the mean protection time of DEET, picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
Picaridin. Best of these three for sensitive skin.
Diethyltoluamide, otherwise known as DEET, is an insect repellent originally developed in 1946 by the U.S. Army with the intention of protecting soldiers in insect-infested areas. Yikes. Intensity. (I try to avoid this personally but EWG says it’s safe at low concentrations).
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is a chemical-free active ingredient that provides similar protection to the harder hitting actives above. For those of us needing bug protection for shorter stretches of time (< four hours), this is a good option (but so are the essential oil based solutions above). Important to note: botanicals can still irritate your skin (rashes and/ or dryness) so be mindful to follow application instructions and wash it off at the end of the day.
Concentration.
The concentration of each active ingredient matters. EWG recommends using products with the lowest effective concentration of repellent chemicals, especially when applying on children. Contrary to popular belief, bug sprays with higher concentrations (think: old-school 100% DEET) are not more effective.
IR3535: look for 10% to 30%.
Picaridin: look for 5% to 20%.
DEET: look for 20% to 30%, 10% or less for children.
Application.
The actives in bug spray are chemicals, and staying vigilant when applying them is critical. Follow the directions on the label carefully (and don’t apply on babies younger than six months old). Too much and they can be toxic.
Per EWG, it’s best to avoid products that combine sunscreen and insect repellent.
On a final, non-bug related note, I’m trying something new this week — a footer section dedicated to worth-sharing links from the last week. Let me know if you’re into it (or not!)?
A self-tanner with a glowing Yuka score. A swedish eyelash serum that I’m pretty sure is actually working. Hailey Bieber’s new pocket blush. A use-anywhere moisturizer for sensitive skin. Striped shorts for every day. A versatile white skirt with pockets (and no, it’s not Dôen). A very cute summer bag shaped like a fish.
And boom, that’s a wrap. Wishing you a mosquito-free week!
Until next Sunday.
This is quickly becoming my favorite Substack for real tips and links I NEED, now. Thank you Lacey, you are a lifesaver.