Camping Essentials

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a The deal on DEET is that it is not good for you. 
Although people are still using it and it is still being promoted as safe and effective, I'm out. I'm working to reduce the environmental toxins that myself and family are being exposed to, so for that reason, I'm a no go-er. 

Although Health Canada does support DEET as a safe option for kids older than 12, they also support ESSENTIAL OILS to use as an effective option in the fight against bug bites. 

 https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/about-pesticides/insect-repellents.html

This week we went camping and had our own run in with some pretty mean mosquitos. At campsite number one, I used a combination of a Terra Shield spray and Geranium. Other members of the party used DEET. I don't think there was a clear winner there as the mosquitos outnumbered us 1,000 to one. BUT i didn't get any on my arms, face, neck, or ears, as this is where the product was applied. They were just buzzing around my head and making the campsite unbearable for about an hour.

I must have missed putting the produce on my feet because this is where the majority of the bit showed up. 

At campsite number two, I was left untouched. I had applied the cream to my entire exposed skin areas and was relatively pleased with not having any bites or being bothered at all. And, to my surprise, other people were devoured. 

I also enjoyed how using a cream as a carrier helped to moisturize my skin after a day in the sun and the river. I will be following the same routine in the future to stay bite free!