sunscreen and insect repellant

Celestrina wrote: On Saturday we are going to a family reunion and this area can have a large mosquito population. Will most repellants still be effective if a sunscreen is already being used? Which one would you recommend?

holley79 replied: I actually use the bug gaurd w/ repellant in it from Avon. Seems to work really well. You can also use plain SSS ove rthe sunscreen and that will work also. Have fun.

CantWait replied: You're actually not suppose to use a sunscreen and repellant together because it can cause a chemical reaction on the skin.

holley79 replied: That's why I mentioned the Skin So Soft. It's not chemical and no reaction. I think that is all in the bug gaurd/ sunscreen TBH.

coasterqueen replied: We do not use insect repellants on our children. We use the little wrist bands that have a citronella like smell, but are all natural to combat insects. They work really well.

My MIL uses a garlic/water mixture that works really well too, but you sorta smell like garlic. We spray that around our deck area so we do not need to use repellant.

You can also use dryer sheets as a repellant. A lot less dangerous than the repellant sprays.

CantWait replied:

I've never tried that, it's funny though since the little buggars are apparently attracted to scent. Cool.

coasterqueen replied: Marie,

I thought the garlic would be nasty too but it's really not that bad. I haven't tried it on my skin but we do spray it on our deck, etc. You can dilute it as much as you want so the smell of garlic can be strong or as weak as you want it to be. Actually the appeal of garlic is much better than the chemicals in the repellant. I've always hated repellants.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Natrapel. It's natural and it works better than others I have used that are not natural.

You can also use that insect/sunscreen combo that is all in one. Tanner is allergic to it so I am not sure how well it works. I think's it's called BugSun or something like that.

Kaitlin'smom replied: okay Karen is it just like fresh garlic ground up? how do we make this mixture? I love the smell of garlic....and use it often.....humm maybe thats why I dont get bit that often.

I do use the Avon one it works well and does NOT have deet the chemical that so bad.

redchief replied: Insect repellants and sunscreens work together. Remember to reapply the sunscreen every couple of hours.

Some of the other ideas floated out there look worthy of a try too!

C&K*s Mommie replied: We have some of that Bug n' Sun stuff. it smells awful! But it definitely works.

I am going to have to try some of the other ideas presented.

coasterqueen replied:
I will have to ask Dh or MIL because they were the ones that mixed it. My MIL made the first mixture for us and then DH replicated it at a bit less stronger of a mix. He sprayed it all over our wood deck, plants, cloth chairs, bushes around deck etc. Our land is too large to do it everywhere so we just did it in the area where we usually are. My MIL sprays her entire yard with it. She also puts it right on her skin, but she mixes it too strong IMO for the skin, it comes out pretty oily looking.

I'll find out the mix ratio as well as how often to spray and let you know. We plan to spray it around the garden next year.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
I have smelled it, and I agree, it's pretty gross smelling. Blah!

Brias3 replied: I heard the active ingredients in the two-in-one insect repellant/sunscreens cancel each other out or something? However, I'm not sure how that's different from applying both separately.

I usually use the OFF brand of repellant, we currently have that new "active" version that is supposed to sustain well with sweat or if the kids are out and about for a long time. It works decent I guess.

AlexsPajamaMama replied:
thats what we use too

CantWait replied:
Yes, and does it have to be fresh garlic, or can it be garlic powder. Might be something I have to try when we have our housewarming party.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
I've never heard that. I asked a friend of mine yesturday who uses it and she says it works great. Sometimes we hear information like that and it gets handed down as 4th, 5th, hand information, like a rumor. If this was true, I'm certain by now it would be taken off the shelves. But like Nicole said, it doesn't smell all that great, unless they have a new scent now.

coasterqueen replied:
Actually the only form I know that works really well is a liquid concentrated form of garlic. Just fresh garlic from what I understand isn't potent enough.

7thHeaven replied: Where can you find Bug n' Sun at? Right now we us sunscreen and we put Off on her.