EmailBest Reviewed
Insect Repellent
- Best insect repellent overall Cutter Advanced *Est. $6
- DEET repellent for long periods or extreme conditions 3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent 12 Lotion *Est. $8
- Best natural mosquito repellent Repel Lemon Eucalyptus *Est. $7
- Safest insect repellent for kids Bite Blocker *Est. $8
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Best natural mosquito repellent
- Long-lasting protection
- Won't damage plastics or synthetics
- Plant-based ingredients
- Inconsistent effectiveness
- Limited usage (twice a day)
- Can stain leather
- Not for use with children under 3
Repel Lemon Eucalyptus insect repellent protects against gnats, mosquitoes and ticks. This all-natural repellent has a protection time of more than four hours, which is comparable to repellent containing 25 percent DEET (though results vary depending on the species of mosquito). Compared with Bite Blocker (*est. $8.50 for 4.7 oz.), another highly rated natural insect repellent, experts find that Repel Lemon Eucalyptus offers more effective, longer-lasting protection. On the downside, Repel Lemon Eucalyptus is not recommended for children under 3 years old, and should not be applied more than twice a day. It is also found to be more effective for some people than it is for others.
Both ConsumerReports.org and the Journal of Medical Entomology compare many insect repellents but use a minimal amount of testers. An older report from The New England Journal of Medicine uses more testers and is very thorough but doesn't contain the most recent information. User reviews, like those found at Drugstore.com, provide useful information on scent and the feel of repellents on the skin.
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Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Consumer Reports uses four volunteers to test 18 insect repellents, including Repel Lemon Eucalyptus. Effectiveness is measured by the average length of time until the second bite.
Review: Insect Repellents: Which Keep Bugs at Bay?, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, June 2006
2. Journal of Medical Entomology
Twelve insect repellents, including Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, are tested in this study. Results show that some insect repellents protect as long as seven or eight hours for one tester, but only four hours for another.
Review: Laboratory Evaluation of Mosquito Repellents, Donald R. Barnard and Rui-De Xue, July 2004
Dermatology professor Mark Fradin summarizes information on insect repellents, including eucalyptus-based Repel Lemon Eucalyptus.
Review: Insect Repellents, Mark S. Fradin, Updated May 5, 2009
This review, based on 2006 tests and ratings at Consumer Reports, is free without a subscription. Three types of DEET-free insect repellents, including Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, are discussed.
Review: DEET-Free Insect Repellents, Editors of GreenerChoices.org, June 2007
5. The New England Journal of Medicine
Researchers enlist 15 volunteers to test 16 insect repellents of various formulas. The researchers' results suggest that oil-of-eucalyptus products offer longer-lasting protection than other plant-based repellents.
Review: Comparative Efficacy of Insect Repellents against Mosquito Bites, Mark S. Fradin and John F. Day, July 4, 2002
6. Slate.com
Andria Lisle and friends test nine mosquito repellents. Testing is informal, at backyard cookouts and on the bluffs of the Mississippi. Repel Lemon Eucalyptus spray is the second pick.
Review: Bug Off! Which Mosquito Repellents Work Best?, Andria Lisle, July 26, 2005
Drugstore.com publishes ratings and reviews of insect repellents that are submitted by users. Repel Lemon Eucalyptus spray gets above-average reviews from more than 20 users.
Review: Repel Plant Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent, Contributors to Drugstore.com
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