"Repellents Applied to the Skin via Spray or Lotion Will Always Be More Effective. They Are Putting a Protection Layer Directly on the Skin from the Biting...
"Repellents applied to the skin via spray or lotion will always be more effective. They are putting a protection layer directly on the skin from the biting mosquitoes," said Sonja L. Swiger, an entomology expert at Texas A&M University.
What kind of lotion keeps mosquitoes away?
After DEET, picaridin is the next most effective chemical the CDC endorses for repelling mosquitoes. I find picaridin products to be less effective than DEET, but gentler on my skin and more consistently odor-free. Sawyer's Picaridin is almost completely odor-free.
Many natural scents that are appealing to humans actually repel mosquitoes, including lavender, peppermint, basil, and eucalyptus. Many of these scents can be worn as an essential oil on your skin to help keep these pesky pests from biting you.
Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.