Badger Anti-Bug Balm

Even before I had four kids, I never was a tiny pocketbook girl. All about preparedness, I like a large tote so I can carry items that just might come in handy. In my last-minute packing for my best friend’s wedding in Hawaii, I threw in this small tin of Badger Anti-Bug Balm, figuring it might be useful for a tropical outdoor wedding. As the sun set, I passed around the bug balm – organic, non-DEET, smelling like a citronella candle – to skin-slapping guests. And reports back all said not only did the balm help prevent bites, it even helped soothe existing ones.

There’s no doubt that DEET, found in most commercial bug repellents – is effective, but it is also a neurotoxin. If you live or travel in a region with serious mosquito-borne illnesses, such as malaria, the benefit of prevention may well outweigh the risks of DEET. But for those of us for whom mosquito bites are primarily a nuisance, the citronella, cedar, rosemary and lemongrass oils in Badger’s product work well without the chemical risks. You may have to apply more frequently, but unlike DEET-based repellents, this is safe enough to use on young children. It also lasts – even with 50 guests at the wedding, there’s only a slight indent in my tin of balm.

You can find Badger Anti-Bug Balm in a 2 oz tin at Drugstore.com or in a 1.5 oz stick at Amazon.com. The tin is cheaper than the stick and contains 1/3 more balm, but some may find the stick application more convenient. iHerb.com, my favorite source for natural products online, sells both the 2 oz tin and the 1.5 oz stick. iHerb has free shipping for orders over $20, and if you are a new customer you can use code LIL330 for $5 off your first order.

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For the record – because I’m sounding like such a commercial today – I don’t have any sponsored posts here. Occasionally I’ll share a product I adore and find incredibly useful. But like everything I write here, it’s all for love, not shekels.