Dealing with bugs in the summer is inevitable, especially mosquitos. These little insects love to eat me up all spring and summer. That is why I decided to make my own DIY bug repellent lotion. When using this lotion, I notice a significant reduction in the number of mosquito bites I get when I’m outside, it has been a life saver!

How Do You Make DIY Bug Repellent Lotion?

You might be wondering, what can I put on my skin to keep bugs away? The key to this DIY bug repellent lotion is the essential oils, this is what will help repel the mosquitoes, as well as other bugs. There are a few different essential oils you can use to repel certain bugs, for example, citronella is a great oil to use when you want to repel mosquitoes.

Essential Oils for Bugs

Citronella

Citronella essential oil is great for repelling mosquitoes. If you have ever purchased a “bug-off” spray from the store, this usually contains artificial citronella fragrance.

Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil is truly one of the most versatile essential oils, especially when it comes to pests. It is one of the strongest natural insect repellents. This essential oil can be effective at repelling ticks, mosquitoes, moths, spiders, you name it.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus essential oil is great for repelling mosquitoes. There was a study done in 2014 that showed eucalyptus oil provided more than 95% of protection from mosquitoes for up to 3 hours. *not recommended for use in children under the age of 7.

Shoo Fly Blend

Shoo Fly is a great all-in-one blend to have on hand. This blend combines the citronella and eucalyptus essential oils plus a few others, making it very effective at repelling mosquitoes.

Kid Safe Shoo Fly Blend

If you plan to use this DIY mosquito repellent lotion on little kids, I recommend using the Shoo Fly ‘Ok for Kids’ Blend because it is has been diluted enough to be deemed kid-safe.

Shea Butter Mosquito Repellent Lotion

Shea butter is my favorite ingredient to use in my homemade lotion recipes. Once melted and solidified, shea butter truly feels like butter on your skin. Although shea butter might feel a bit oily, it is extremely moisturizing for the skin. You can purchase the shea butter I use right here.

Coconut Oil for Skin

Coconut oil is a versatile ingredient, having benefits when used in the kitchen and your skincare. According to this article, “There are different mechanical and chemical processes that are used to manufacture coconut oil—for use in skincare, unrefined (virgin or extra-virgin) cold-pressed coconut oil is what’s recommended.” This is because when coconut oil is cold-pressed, meaning the oil is removed without the use of heat, the process is thought to retain more of the oil’s nutrients compared to other processing methods.

How to Use DIY Bug Repellent Lotion

Using this lotion is simple, just apply the lotion to areas you find mosquitoes bite you the most. Me, I am often a bit on my legs and arms therefore I always apply the lotion in those places before going outside during the spring and summer.

DIY Bug Repellent Lotion Recipe:

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Set up a double boiler on the stove, this is a pot filled 1/3 of the way up with boiling water and a heat-safe bowl placed on top.
Once the double boiler is hot, add your shea butter and coconut oil into the heat-safe bowl. Stir continuously until both have melted completely.
When the shea butter and coconut oil are melted, turn off the heat.
Add the essential oils and stir until combined.
Working quickly, pour the hot mixture into your lotion container, I like using mason jars since they are heat-safe.
Allow the DIY mosquito repellent lotion to set completely on the counter, this will take a few hours if it is hot inside your house. You can also put it in the fridge to set up quickly.
Once completely set, take a small dime-size amount of lotion and apply it to your body. A little goes a long way!
**Eucalyptus is not recommended to be used on children under the age of 7.

DIY Bug Repellent Lotion

Materials

Instructions

Set up a double boiler on the stove, this is a pot filled 1/3 of the way up with boiling water and a heat-safe bowl placed on top.
Once the double boiler is hot, add your shea butter and coconut oil into the heat-safe bowl. Stir continuously until both have melted completely.
When the shea butter and coconut oil are melted, turn off the heat.
Add the arrowroot powder and essential oils, and stir until combined.
Working quickly, pour the hot mixture into your lotion container, I like using mason jars since they are heat-safe.
Allow the DIY mosquito repellent lotion to set completely on the counter, this will take a few hours if it is hot inside your house. You can also put it in the fridge to set up quickly.
Once completely set, take a small dime-size amount of lotion and apply it to your body. A little goes a long way!

Notes

**Eucalyptus is not recommended for use on children under the age of 7

Natural Insect Repellent for Kids

Want to make a bug repellent candle for your home? Check out this recipe!

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DIY Bug Repellent Lotion