safe effective insect repellent

[cruiz2007]

My kids are getting ready to go to camp. I'm looking for a SAFE effective insect repellent. Any recommendations? I tried the dryer sheet thing last year, not really sure that was very effective.

Thanks

 

[hardingk]

I use the california baby bug spray. It is all natural and works...only thing is that it is expensive. Here is a link to it....it is actually on sale here. They have it at Target too.
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=144576&catid=10539

 

[Xcited4Disney]

What about the Skin So Soft products from Avon? They have some pretty good reviews.

http://shop.avon.com/shop/product_list.aspx?level1_id=300&level2_id=303&pdept_id=365&cat_type=C

 

[meandmytwogirls]

What about the Skin So Soft products from Avon? They have some pretty good reviews.

http://shop.avon.com/shop/product_list.aspx?level1_id=300&level2_id=303&pdept_id=365&cat_type=C

We use this and it's fantastic. I bought a case of it off ebay last year for the summer. The entire family has bite me written on our foreheads for mosquitos.

 

[Xcited4Disney]

We use this and it's fantastic. I bought a case of it off ebay last year for the summer. The entire family has bite me written on our foreheads for mosquitos.

I love that! I just ordered some last week to give it a try.

 

[dumbodame]

You're gonna think this is nuts, but here goes.....

I am highly allergic to mosquito bites. I have tried just about everything. I saw this on-line.....

Listerine. No kidding. It works. When I am outside on the deck or in the yard, I spray around the area and there are NO mosquitoes for HOURS. If I am out and about, I spray my clothes...just a little works.

It smells good, too. I like the citrus the best.

 

[mrsklamc]

Has anyone tried that new gadget by OFF that you clip to your clothes?

 

[dumbodame]

I did...my mom got me one to try. It was just okay, and I still got bit. I went back to the Listerine.

 

[disneymarie]

I like something that last, I can spray for the evening.THe Skin so soft products that were used in our family since the 1950's last on me not even an hour.

I need to have something like Off for family and also a citronella bucket and torche near by.

I have an allergic reaction to the histimine in the bites and gosh it is painful, swelling, burn itch til my ears burn. I have two nasty ones healing over from the drastic swelling and digging.

Also, we are in the pocono's so we are concerned for nats. ticks. deer flies, and west nile......
This year is the worst with the rain, did I say rain or monsoons....

But, I did get skin so soft lotion packets to rub my ankles legs, wrist and up the arms. Then a dose of the off on head, neck, shoulders where I get sweaty.

 

[LanaJae]

I have an autoimmune skin disease so try to be very careful about these types of products. My university dermatology clinic recommends a site called cosmeticdatabase.com.

I am sorry to say that Skin So Soft is not rated as safe as other products - products fall between 6-7 on a 10 point scale. Deep Woods Off! is safer and has a rating of 3. Off! Skintastic is rated 6-8, depending on the scent.

These products are the safest (0-2 rating) (although they are difficult to find):

Bug Off! wrist bands
Burt's Bees
Buzz Away

 

[BLUEJAY]

I didn't believe the Listerine talk either. I tried it and guess what it worked great lasted for a couple of hours. I carry it around in a small spray bottle. Give it a try.

 

[shortbun]

I didn't believe the Listerine talk either. I tried it and guess what it worked great lasted for a couple of hours. I carry it around in a small spray bottle. Give it a try.

Love the DIS, we're going to do this today. Mosquitos LOVE my son and me. No more. I hate putting deet on him and myself for that matter but I've done it because of all the other disease stuff associated with mosquitos. Listerine it is! He's always running and sweaty. I wonder if the Listerine will protect him if he's active like the deet. Most deet product are oily or have glue type stuff to attach to your skin. Spray it around the yard eh? Interesting.

 

[justintime]

I didn't believe the Listerine talk either. I tried it and guess what it worked great lasted for a couple of hours. I carry it around in a small spray bottle. Give it a try.

Will any listerine scent work? I have the mint flavor. I wonder what it is in the Liseterine that keeps them away.

 

[AlternateEgo]

My mom swears by bounce dryer sheets. When the kids go over there, she attaches a sheet to their belt loops and lets em play.

For the most part, they don't come home with mosquito bites.

 

[toledo13]

I have an autoimmune skin disease so try to be very careful about these types of products. My university dermatology clinic recommends a site called cosmeticdatabase.com.

I am sorry to say that Skin So Soft is not rated as safe as other products - products fall between 6-7 on a 10 point scale. Deep Woods Off! is safer and has a rating of 3. Off! Skintastic is rated 6-8, depending on the scent.

These products are the safest (0-2 rating) (although they are difficult to find):

Bug Off! wrist bands
Burt's Bees
Buzz Away

I WAS JUST GOING TO POST THIS!!!

 

[DisTwix]

I have gone really anti-chemical at my house, and have done the Listerine and it works (but I don't spray it on myself/dog/clothes)....

What is really working for me is lavendar essential oi... cedarwood essential oil.... lemongrass essential oil.... the lavendar is really enough, but I wanted the cedarwood for my dog (and any other males I know who don't want to smell like flowers)... I put in a spray bottle some distilled water, a teeny bit of jojoba oil (grapeseed would work too - TEENY bit), and the essential oils I want to use... shake and they are ready to use.

They have to be shook up every time, but they work like a charm. I've stopped putting the chemicals on my dog, and he's actually getting bitten less by black flies and everything (I put drops on his collar and spray a little on my hands and rub it on him).

My favorite current blend is lavendar, geranium (bugs HATE this smell - and it smells like HEAVEN), teeny bit of lemongrass, teeny bit of mint... it smells fabulous and no bugs. NONE.

 

[Lucille1963]

I love cosmeticdatabase.com

I just bought Buzz Away at our local Whole Foods. It kept my family and I bite free on our trip to Wisconsin.

 

[HGD24]

We haven't used them yet because the weather hasn't been great enough for us to be outdoors much, but we bought Teeny Towels Insect Repellent to use on our DD. They are DEET-Free; made of citronella, lemon grass, and rosemary oils.

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=442774

I bought them on clearance at Target last Fall.

 

[toledo13]

we haven't used them yet because the weather hasn't been great enough for us to be outdoors much, but we bought teeny towels insect repellent to use on our dd. They are deet-free; made of citronella, lemon grass, and rosemary oils.

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productid=442774

i bought them on clearance at target last fall.

nice!!

 

[dumbodame]

To whom ever asked about the Listerine flavors....

It doesn't matter which flavor you use. When I ran out of the mint flavor, I got the citrus. Works just as well.

I am one that DOES spray my dog with it as well. The bugs don't bother her, and she smells pretty nice, too.