It’s hot. It’s humid. It’s sticky. It’s basically hell on earth. Okay, so maybe you don’t hate summer as much as I do. But wherever you are, it’s hard to escape the nagging critters that love to make us feel itchy and awful all over during these few months. And those of you who enjoy the out-of-doors can especially relate, so there’s no question that bug spray is a summer essential. EXCEPT we don’t want to douse themselves in chemicals, toxins, and DEET, do we? That’s why we dug up some of the best all-natural insect repellents for you to beat the ‘squits with and feel less like a hot (literally) mess.
This repellent is full-fledged organic goodness, right down to its biodegradable label! It contains plant-based essential oils and natural skin toners so you can mist your skin, clothes, and hair with this stuff and keep those pesky bugs at bay.
If you’re looking to avoid DEET, this Herbal Armor is mos def for you. The strong, oil-filled formula is 100% effective for over two hours and it won’t muss up your cute outfit. Plus it’s proven to repel gnats, mosquitos, ticks, black flies, and ants. Fo’ real.
Try this spray if you want flies and ‘squitoes to get up out yo’ face. Chock-full of organic goodies, Bite Blocker is even better at repelling mosquitoes than DEET and black flies will stay away for about 3 hours!
The natural ingredients in Buzz Away combine for a long-lasting, non-greasy repellent that tells annoying pests to GTFO of your face. This nifty solution works against mosquitoes for up to four hours and ticks for up to two and a half!
What’s better than an herbal insect repellent that’s hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and DEET-free? One that doubles as a bug bite soother, of course! California Baby’s sustainably-grown oil formula can be applied to existing bites, plus it’s a safe, gentle alternative to those harsh, chemical sprays.
Not only is this balm made up of all the finest herbal treats for your skin like organic citronella, cedar, and lemongrass essential oils, but it smells pretty nice, too! No petrolatum or chemicals in sight here. Just 4 relaxing hours of bug-free bliss.
This 100% organic spray is preservative-free, GMO-free, gluten-free, and just totally bad-stuff-free! Did I mention it’s vegan and the company doesn’t test on animals! Talk about a win-win! (Or maybe even throw a few more wins in there, just for kicks.)
We all love Burt’s Bees for it’s moisturizing chapsticks and awesome-smelling lotions, but who knew they made a great herbal bug repeller, too? This citronella oil-based spray tells those troublesome bugs, “Shoo, fly, don’t bother me! But seriously, back the fuck off.”
Photos via Meow Meow Tweet, REI, Homs, Quantum Health, California Baby, Badger Balm, Bubble And Bee, and Burt’s Bees
