3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent Lotion, 2-Ounce (2-Tubes)

Product Information

In terms of efficacy, we recorded six-hour periods of protection during testing, though on occasion we noticed a few bites a couple of hours after application. We’d recommend reapplying semi-regularly in mosquito-prone areas. But given the ease of application, a little extra spray now and then is hardly a chore. Mosquitoes are repelled by a variety of scents like those found in repellents (lemon eucalyptus oil, permethrin, DEET, and picaridin) as well as smoke, says Abby Lehner, BSc, entomologist. Campfires are thought to be a cheap and easy way to repel mosquitoes. “Some mosquito species do not react to smoke, while others are easily repelled,” Lehner says. “Smoke mixed with particular mosquito repelling compounds like lemon eucalyptus oil are effective against a variety of species and will help protect you from mosquitoes.”

OLE is often marketed as a “natural” insect repellent, but may still cause skin irritation or toxicity if swallowed. It is not an "essential oil". It’s happened to us all: a pleasant moment outdoors is dive-bombed by that all-too-familiar high-pitched buzz of mosquitoes. Or worse still, you miss the sound altogether and find your your arms and legs ravaged the next day. To help you enjoy your time outdoors without feeling itchy and full of regret, we’ve rounded up the best mosquito repellents by trying them out ourselves. Other Occasions & Loved Ones Gift Guides All Other Occasions & Loved Ones For Teens For Grandparents For Bridal Shower For New Parents For Any Occasion Health Wellness All Health Meal Kit Delivery Gluten-Free Meal Kit Delivery KN95 Masks N95 Masks Disposable Face Masks Air Purifiers Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents Natural Deodorants Period UnderwearKitchen Appliances & Tools Home & Kitchen All Kitchen Appliances & Tools Coffee Makers Cookware Air Fryers Mixers Kitchen Gadgets Make sure to reapply based on the individual product’s recommendations. Brown also points out that mosquito repellent should be reapplied more frequently if you’re sweating. “If you’re sweating, that removes the repellant off your skin,” she says. “That would play into how often you need to reapply.” Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or toxic to Reproduction (CMR), Reapplication after six hours will be necessary. Researchers have reported that catnip oil is about 10 times more effective than DEET. This repellent comes in an aerosol spray can that disperses the product from a nozzle. The repellent was easy to use, and the nozzle evenly distributed the spray, even when the bottle was turned upside down. We also appreciated how simple it was to control how much or how little product we sprayed.

Unfortunately, the smell is a chemically mix of sunscreen and repellent. It’s not nausea or headache inducing, but fairly unpleasant, though it definitely dissipated over time. And it’s worth noting that the smell seeped into our clothing, too—though not in any permanent kind of way. Still, it’s waterproof for 80 minutes, and the two-in-one factor makes it a great option for traveling or shorter outings close to home.

Oral Care Wellness All Oral Care Electric Toothbrushes Toothpastes Whiteners Floss Mouthwashes Water Flossers DEET is considered the 'gold standard' of insect repellents. It's available in concentrations ranging from 5% to 100%, but concentrations above 30% have not been shown to be more effective. A higher concentration does not mean DEET will work better; it means that it will be effective for a longer period of time. There are a handful of common ingredients that are found in most bug repellents on the market. The most common ingredient is DEET. The yellow liquid is the best at keeping away flies and pests and, although it was originally tested as a pesticide in the 1970s, it has been deemed safe for human use in small quantities. Sawyer Products Controlled Release Insect Repellent (20% DEET): This mosquito repellent is an easy-to-use lotion that limits the amount of bug spray you get on your clothes. Unfortunately, despite the fact that it’s marketed as an odorless repellent, we found the lotion had an oily, chemical smell that diminished the experience for us.

Most experts we consulted agreed that DEET is the most effective active ingredient in an insect repellent. While DEET has gotten a bad reputation as being unsafe, experts told us there are no health risks associated with using it. “DEET is a controversial ingredient, largely because of misinformation. Some folks confuse it with DDT, an unrelated and banned compound in the United States, and others worry about reported neurological issues associated with DEET use that have been disproven by the medical community,” noted Erika T. Machtinger, an assistant professor of entomology at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. The most effective mosquito repellent depends on a few factors. “How well they repel or for how long will be based upon the percentage of active ingredient, what mosquito species, a person's location, and activity level,” Brown says. While we love the blooming flowers, chirping birds, and rainy afternoons, there’s one part of warmer weather we could do without: mosquitos. DEET is an effective repellent against mosquitoes, and when used a higher percentage, is ideal for camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Brown states that DEET performs well and can help protect you from mosquitos—especially in heavily wooded areas.As far as lotion mosquito repellents go, the Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent is at the top of our list. Not only does it last 14 hours, but it also doesn’t fade or sweat off with use, making it a great choice for long days outside. Because it’s a lotion, it was easy for us to tell if we missed a spot when we were applying it. to 4.7 stars: These mosquito repellents are excellent—they might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them. While these mosquito repellents didn’t top any of our categories, they may still be of interest to you. Ultrathon was developed by 3M for the military. It features Advanced Time Release Protection which gives the user a balanced mix between concentration of DEET and long lasting protection. This technology means the DEET ingredient is slower to evaporate and provides protection after others have dissipated – up to 12 hours of protection against mosquitoes. With the added benefit of being splash and sweat resistant, the need for re-application is reduced.

DEET and picaridin are synthetic chemicals commonly found as the active ingredient in insect repellents. When compared to DEET, picaridin offers similar protection against mosquito bites but has less odor. In addition, picaridin is a better choice for use on clothing and gear than DEET, since it’s safer on more types of materials, including synthetics, plastics, and leather. It also has a reputation for being more effective against biting flies than DEET. In fact, the only downside to this repellent is that it needs to be reapplied after getting wet or sweating. This was somewhat disappointing since the manufacturer's instructions indicate not to exceed two applications a day. But for general outdoor activities that do not involve water or short hikes, this mosquito repellent will meet your needs.I think the key to choosing a proper insect repellent is to get something that you can do some research on and see effective scientific data that shows it works,” said Daniel Markowski, a technical advisor for the American Mosquito Control Association. “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.” Outdoor Home & Kitchen All Outdoor Raised Garden Boxes Garden Hoses Gas Grills Beach Towels Solar Pool Covers Grilling Accessories