Natural bug repellents for the skin are great for protecting the skin from insects. Bugs are more than just annoying: their bites swell and itch, which is so persistent you can’t focus on other things! Aside from that, scratching their bites leaves wounds, which can be infected or leave dark spots when healed. Even worse, bugs are also carriers of disease! The deadly dengue, malaria, and yellow fever are just a few to name. How can we prevent getting bit by insects and other bugs?
Insect repellents are very important yet most of the time people ignore them. There are many options out there to begin with, but not all of them are created equal. Many contain harsh chemicals that may cause skin irritation or other side effects. Some people are allergic to certain ingredients in insect repellents as well. But we have the solution for that. Natural ingredients like essential oils are powerful in repelling bugs. Lemongrass essential oil, tea tree essential oil, and cinnamon essential oil are some of them.
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What can lemongrass essential oil repel?
Lemongrass essential oil (LGEO) is a great addition to your bug repellent skin care because science proves that it repels several species of mosquitoes. One of the said species is Anopheles dirus, a vector for the Plasmodium falciparum parasite that causes malaria, which is a serious disease that can lead to death. A person with malaria will have a high fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms.
This essential oil also protects the skin from the mosquito Aedes aegypti which carries organisms that cause dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika fever, and Mayaro virus. Dengue can have no to severe symptoms, including fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle pain, joint pain, and fatigue. It can also lead to death if left untreated. Yellow fever, meanwhile, causes the same but milder symptoms as dengue. Chikungunya, on the other hand, also causes the same symptoms as dengue, but with severe and debilitating joint pain, joint swelling, and rashes on the face, limbs, palms, and feet. Zika fever and Mayaro virus also has similar symptoms to dengue, but dengue causes bleeding and lasts longer, and Mayaro virus has milder symptoms.
LGEO also effectively keeps away the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes, which are vectors for lymphatic filariasis, Saint Louis encephalitis, Zika virus, and West Nile virus. Lymphatic filariasis or elephantiasis can lead to the swelling of body parts like the limbs, breasts, and genitals. Meanwhile, Saint Louis encephalitis and West Nile virus also causes flu-like symptoms, caused by viruses of the same family.
There is also scientific proof that lemongrass essential oil is a natural repellent against Anopheles darlingi and Mansonia spp. mosquitoes. A. darlingi is a South American species of mosquito that is a vector for the malarial parasite.
On the other hand, Mansonia is a species of mosquito that is a vector for the filarial nematodes, causing lymphatic filariasis. LGEO contains the insecticidal and insect-repellent compound citral. This chemical compound is toxic to mosquitoes and flies, and it also possesses antimicrobial properties so your skin will also be protected from infections!
How can cinnamon essential oil help?
If you’re worried about getting mosquito bites, cinnamon essential oil (CEO) may be the solution you’re looking for. It is excellent for fighting the mosquitoes Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles tessellatus and Aedes aegypti, which are known to carry diseases like Japanese encephalitis (a viral infection of the brain), malaria, and dengue, respectively. We may attribute this repellent activity to its cinnamaldehyde and eugenol content. Cinnamaldehyde also has strong antibacterial properties, and CEO itself fights fungi and inflammation. Just like the other plants mentioned, you will get more than insect repellent properties from cinnamon!
Is tea tree essential oil effective?
Another effective natural ingredient is tea tree oil (TTO). It is a powerful natural insect repellent and tea tree-based repellent products are now available commercially. Bug repellents based on this plant are effective in holding off mosquitoes, bush flies, and biting midges. A field study found tea-tree products as great repellents against the Aedes vigilax (polyarthritis vector) and Verrallina carmenti mosquitoes, Musca vetustissima fly, and the biting midges Culicoides ornatus and Culicoides immaculatus (vectors of bacteria, viruses, and parasites).
Protecting the skin with TTO also protects you from bacterial and fungal infections and helps heal wounds. This natural mosquito repellent is an excellent choice for skin care whether or not you need these benefits!
All of these in Waters Mist
You won’t need to look for products containing all the mentioned ingredients as CANhaveTODAY has what you need! Keep the bugs at bay with Waters Mist, a soothing salve that has essential oils from lemongrass, cinnamon, and more! It also contains the highest concentration of tea tree oil among all CANhaveTODAY products, making it more effective in repelling bugs. This salve boasts strong insecticidal, insect repellent, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Repel mosquitoes, protect your skin from infection, and nourish it with Waters Mist!
Learn more about Waters Mist by reading this table.
| Waters Mist | ||||
| Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) | Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) | Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) | ||
| Antibacterial | Mild to Strong [1,2] | Strong [25] | Strong [42] | |
| – Acne | Mild to Moderate [3] | Strong [26] | Strong [42] | |
| – Cellulitis | Mild to Strong [1,2,4] | – | Strong [42] | |
| – Itch | Mild to Strong [1,2,3] | – | Strong [42] | |
| – Skin infections | Mild to Strong [1,2,3] | Mild to Strong [27] | Strong [42] | |
| Anti-inflammatory | Strong [5] | Strong [28] | Moderate to Strong [43] | |
| – Acne | Mild to Moderate [3] | Strong [26] | Strong [42] | |
| – Swelling | Strong [5] | Strong [28] | Strong [44] | |
| Antifungal | Strong [5,6] | Mild to Strong [29] | Moderate to Strong [45] | |
| – Athlete’s foot (Foot itch) | Strong [7,8] | Strong [29] | Moderate to Strong [46] | |
| – Itch | Strong [9,10] | – | Moderate to Strong [42] | |
| Antimicrobial | Mild to Strong [1,2] | Strong [30,25,31] | Strong [42] | |
| Antioxidant (fights skin damage and aging) | Strong [11,2] | Strong [32,33,25] | Moderate to Strong [47] | |
| Antiparasitic | Strong [12,13] | Mild to Moderate [34] | Strong [48] | |
| Antispasmodic (relieves muscle spasms) | Strong [14] | Mild to Moderate [35] | – | |
| Insecticidal (Kills insects) | Strong [15] | Strong [36] | Strong [49] | |
| Moisturizing (for dry and/or cracked skin) | Moderate to Strong [16] | – | Moderate to Strong [50] | |
| Reduces bruising | Moderate to Strong [17] | Strong | Strong [51] | |
| Reduces cellulite | Strong [18] | – | – | |
| Reduces hyperpigmentation | Moderate to Strong [19] | Mild to Moderate [37] | Strong [52] | |
| Reduces or relieves pain | Strong [20] | Strong [28,38] | – | |
| Repels Insects | Strong [21,22,23] | Moderate to Strong [39,40] | Strong [49] | |
| Treats cramps | – | – | – | |
| Wound Healing | Strong [24] | Strong [41] | Moderate to Strong [53] | |
