Skip to main content

HappySprout may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

8 eco-friendly bug sprays that are good for your skin and the environment

Options that use biodegradable ingredients to keep bugs away

Nothing can ruin a cozy night around the campfire like mosquitoes. With options like candles or chemical sprays that make your skin itch, you might decide to stay indoors — it’s also not great to think about the possible damage these sprays cause to the environment. Luckily, there are now eco-friendly bug sprays that are good for your skin and the world around you. Biodegradable and DEET-free, these options can keep the bugs away and save the planet

Hiking with bug spray

Benefits of biodegradable insect repellant

There have been countless studies showing the damaging effects of chemicals, such as DEET, pyrethroids, permethrin, and cyfluthrin. All of these can be found in most commercial bug sprays. Unfortunately, many of these can cause or worsen health issues, like headaches, seizures, asthma, skin irritation, neurotoxicity, and more. 

With natural insect repellent, you can keep the bugs away without ruining your skin or the environment. Many can be made at home, but more and more are coming on the market and can be conveniently purchased online or in stores. These bug repellents use ingredients you can pronounce and recognize, like rosemary, baking soda, mineral oil, peppermint, or citronella. 

We’re going to tell you about some of the best eco-friendly and skin-friendly options you can buy online. 

Hand holding a spray bottle

Eco-friendly bug sprays

Before jumping in, remember always to read the labels to ensure there are no ingredients used that you or other family members may be allergic to. 

Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent

For trips within a tropical environment, this bug spray will keep mosquitoes, ticks, flies, gnats, and chiggers away for up to 12 hours. It’s comfortable on the skin, and its non-greasy formula makes it safe to use on backpacks, clothing, watches, and other outdoor items. It’s also a good option for those with sensitive noses since it does not have a fragrance. 

Natrapel Picaridin Insect Repellent

This spray gives you 12 hours of protection from mosquitoes and ticks. It’s even safe for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers and children over 2 months. The 3.4-ounce container is the maximum size allowed on a plane in a carry-on bag. This spray is also safe on gear and won’t ruin items such as fishing lines, clothes, or backpacks. 

Murphy’s Naturals Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Insect Repellent

With natural ingredients like lemon eucalyptus oil and deionized water, you can rest easy knowing this bug spray won’t leave nasty and harmful chemicals on the skin. Use it to repel mosquitoes for up to six hours. It doesn’t leave you feeling greasy or itchy and can keep the bugs away while you’re gardening, hiking, camping, or playing outside with the kids. 

Babyganics Travel Size Bug Spray

When it comes to our kids, we want to make sure anything going onto or into their little bodies is healthy and safe. This bug spray is free of DEET, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial fragrances, and dyes. All the ingredients are derived from plants like citronella, peppermint, rosemary, lemongrass, and geranium. It’s never been tested on animals and won’t leave you or your kids feeling greasy. 

Quantum Health Buzz Away Extreme

This bug spray has no artificial preservatives, toxins, or harsh chemicals. It uses essential oils like lemongrass, cedarwood, peppermint, citronella, and more to keep annoying bugs away. These ingredients are carried in purified water and plant-based preservatives. For weekend camping trips or outdoor sports games, this repellent will keep mosquitoes and ticks away. 

Mosquito

Badger – Anti-Bug Shake & Spray

Not only does this bug spray have an adorable badger on the label, but it also does an incredible job at protecting you and your family from disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes. The aluminum bottle is durable and lightweight, making it ideal for carrying it in a backpack or a purse. It’s also recyclable. It uses ingredients like citronella, rosemary, and lemongrass. 

Sallyeander No-Bite-Me Organic Bug Repellent & Anti Itch Cream

While this isn’t a spray, it’s still an excellent option for keeping off bugs. It’s useful on black flies, mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. Not only will it keep these bugs away, but it will also heal and protect bites that have already happened. With 16 essential oils in its ingredient list, this cream is gentle on the skin and is even safe for infants. However, it is only effective for four hours. 

Lastly, another non-spray option is these towelettes, which are effective against mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, no-see-ums, and more. They have been proven to work for up to six hours and are sealed in a leakproof package. These wipes use ingredients like soybean oil, spearmint oil, and geranium oil to keep away those pesky bugs. There is no harmful DEET in these wipes. 

Don’t let those bugs get to you; use one of these natural insect deterrents to keep your skin, health, and planet safe. However, many insects such as mosquitoes can carry deadly diseases. If you’re traveling to locations where these illnesses are common and a threat, it might be a good idea to invest in a more robust solution to keep yourself and your family extra safe. 

Editors' Recommendations

Rebecca Wolken
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Rebecca's has written for Bob Villa and a Cincinnati based remodeling company. When she's not writing about home remodeling…
Gorgeous ways to get the natural garden of your dreams
A wildflower garden full of colorful flowers

There are many types of gardens to choose from. When listing types of gardens, you might think of flower, vegetable, or herb gardens. One type of garden that often goes overlooked is the natural garden. If you’ve never heard of natural gardening or natural landscaping, or aren’t sure what a natural garden entails, then you’re in the right place! We’ve compiled several great tips to help you design your own fantastic natural garden.
What is a natural garden?
Natural gardens, also sometimes referred to as natural landscaping or native gardens, are gardens made up of native plants. They make use of organic gardening principles, such as avoiding pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and they strive to mimic nature.

By growing plants that are naturally suited to your local climate and soil, you greatly reduce the amount of work needed to maintain the garden. Since the plants are accustomed to the amount of rainfall you receive, the soil type and pH, and the local insects, you’re less likely to have to modify the soil, protect them from the elements, or give them supplemental water.

Read more
Add color and interest to your zone 8 garden with these gorgeous perennials
stargazer lily

Have you walked outside in your garden recently and thought it could use some more color but didn't want to deal with the headache of planting annuals over and over again? Well, here we'll be going over our favorite flowering perennials for climate zone 8! It won't matter if you add all or just one of these beautiful plants; your garden will look amazing with any of these zone 8 friendly perennials.

Tall garden phlox
Also known as phlox paniculata, this zone 8 friendly perennial is a long-blooming perennial that displays its stunning flower from mid-summer to fall. This plant grows a simply show-stopping display of bright flowers that appear on a 24 to 36-inch tall stalk. The flowers come in a wide variety of colors, including purple, red, white, lavender, pink, rose, and coral. And while they prefer partial shade, they can also do well in full sun.

Read more
Need some shade in your warm zone 8 garden? Consider these shade plants
 Ajuga flower

It can be challenging to know what types of plants you can grow in the shade in zone 8 — knowing which kinds of plants like zone 8 and like the shade will help you fill in those darker corners of the garden. So here is a list of some of our favorite and more unique options for shade-loving zone 8 friendly plants.

Itea Sweetspire
Native to the United States, this plant will do well in zone 8 and is a lovely addition to any flower garden. The Itea Sweetspire, also known as Virginia sweetspire or Virginia willow, is a shrub that can grow up to six feet tall and six feet wide in the wild. However, when cultivated and grown in our landscaping, they typically only reach about 18 inches tall and 3 feet wide. Their green leaves are about 4 inches long and turn beautiful yellow, orange, and red shades during the fall. The tube-shaped blooms attract butterflies and the berries it produces provide food for the birds.

Read more