Natural Insect Lotion or Non-Toxic Bug Spray? An Honest Guide to Outdoor Skin

If you have searched for a natural insect lotion or a non-toxic bug spray this season, you have probably found two kinds of products mixed: lotions made for your skin and registered insect products made for protection. They are not the same thing, and the difference matters. This guide explains what each one is, how to read the label, and where our CocoBugz Great Outdoors Lotion fits. It is a natural moisturizer, and it works in the outdoors.

Searching for a Natural Bug Repellent?

Many people type "natural bug repellent" or "natural mosquito repellent" when what they really want is something gentle to wear outdoors. It helps to know what those words mean on a label. In the United States, a repellent is an insect product regulated by the EPA. These by formulation have strong chemical components that many people prefer to avoid placing on the skin.  CocoBugz is not a technical repellent. It is a natural, water-based moisturizer scented with lemongrass, eucalyptus, lemon, and lavender oils, made for skin that spends its days outside.  These are the scents conventional wisdom selects for our outdoor product.

Natural Insect Lotion vs. Non-Toxic Bug Spray: What You Are Actually Buying

Registered insect products

In the United States, any product that says it keeps insects away has to be registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, or qualify for a narrow exemption. Those products are tested for that purpose and carry an EPA registration number on the label. If you need protection, look for that registration number.

Natural lotions with botanical oils

A natural lotion is skin care. It moisturizes, it carries a scent, and it should feel good to wear. Many outdoor-minded lotions, ours included, are scented with plant oils such as lemongrass, eucalyptus, lemon, and lavender. Those oils are chosen for how they smell and how they feel on skin, not because they are EPA-registered as insect products.

How to tell them apart on the shelf

• Look for an EPA registration number. If there is one, it is an insect product. If there is not, it is a cosmetic or lotion.
• Read the ingredient list, not the front label. A short list of oils, butters, and water tells you more than a name or a picture.
• Be wary of big promises. A lotion that makes strong insect claims without a registration number is saying more than it is allowed to.

What CocoBugz Great Outdoors Lotion Is

CocoBugz Great Outdoors Lotion is a 12 oz, water-based body lotion made for the hours you spend outside. Distilled water and aloe creme give it an easy, light feel, and mango butter, shea butter, jojoba, and coconut oil give it the richness to handle sun, wind and dry air. It is scented with lemongrass, eucalyptus, lemon, and lavender natural oils, and hand-crafted in small batches in Scottsdale, Arizona.

This is our best combination of common experiences and natural products for our outdoor lifestyle.  We use it and it works for our purposes.

The full ingredient list

Lemongrass Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Lemon Oil and Lavender Oil (natural oils), Mango Butter, Shea Butter, Jojoba, Aloe Creme, Coconut Oil, Vitamin E Oil, Optiphen Plus, Stearic Acid, Distilled Water.

That is the whole list. There are no harsh or toxic chemicals, no synthetic fragrance, and it contains no DEET. Optiphen Plus is a paraben-free preservative that keeps a water-based lotion fresh and safe to use.

Why lemongrass, eucalyptus, lemon and lavender

These are the plants gardeners have tucked along porches, patios, and vegetable beds for generations, and plenty of people will tell you that insects seem to steer clear of these scents. That is common experience and personal experience, and it is part of why the blend feels at home outdoors. We chose these oils because together they smell green, bright and clean, like a summer trail rather than a bathroom shelf.

Scent notes: cut lemongrass and lemon peel at the top, eucalyptus leaf at the heart, and a soft lavender base that settles in as the lotion works into your skin.

Why We Made CocoBugz

We live an active outdoor life in the West, with many days and nights out in the elements, from the mountains to the sea and through the forests and deserts in between. We wanted a lotion we would actually reach for ourselves out there, without the harsh, toxic ingredients found in so many commercial products. So we combined our best moisturizing lotion base with these quality natural oils.

We have worn it ourselves on the Arizona Trail, on Sebago Lake in Maine, at the beach in California, and in the mountains of Colorado. Those are the places it was made for: sun, wind, water, and dry mountain air, and for skin that still feels soft at the end of the day without the annoyances.

Where It Belongs: Outdoor Days From Late Summer Into Fall

In the garden on an Indian summer afternoon

Those warm, golden days at the end of September are the best gardening weather of the year, and the hardest on your hands and forearms. Soil, sun, and constant hand-washing strip skin fast. Work a little CocoBugz into your hands, arms and neck before you head out, and again when you come in. Wear your hat, too.

At the lake in early fall

Cool mornings, bright afternoons, and wind off the water make early fall at the lake beautiful, and quietly drying. Keep a bottle on the side table by the chairs or at the cabin door. The lemongrass and eucalyptus scent suits a slow evening with a warm mug and turning maples across the water.

On a Colorado mountain trail in late fall

Late fall in the Colorado high country brings golden aspens, fresh snow on the peaks and thin, dry air that pulls moisture from your skin with every mile. Pack CocoBugz in your daypack, and at the overlook take a minute to work some into your hands, face and neck. Light-colored layers and a good hat round out the kit.

After the pool next summer

Chlorine and hours of sun leave skin feeling tight. A water-based lotion with shea and mango butter is a good way to finish a swim. Keep CocoBugz poolside with the towels, and use it once you are dry.

Simple Ways to Keep Insects Away From Your Outdoor Day

Some of the best habits for fewer bites have nothing to do with what you put on your skin. These are the everyday tips we follow ourselves on the trail, at the lake and in the backyard:

• Wear light-colored clothing. Mosquitoes and many biting flies are drawn to dark colors, and ticks are much easier to spot on light fabric.
• Cover up with loose, long layers. Lightweight long sleeves and long pants in a breathable, tightly woven fabric leave less skin exposed and keep you cooler in the sun.
• Wear a hat. A wide-brimmed hat shades your face and neck, and in buggy country a hat with a mesh head net is the simplest protection there is.
• Tuck in when you walk through tall grass. Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants, and stay in the center of the trail, away from brush and leaf litter.
• Plan around dawn and dusk. Many mosquitoes are most active in the early morning and evening, so that is the time to cover up or move indoors.
• Use a breeze. Mosquitoes are weak fliers. A fan on the porch or a spot in the wind by the water makes a real difference.
• Empty standing water. Tip out buckets, saucers, birdbaths, and kiddie pools every few days so mosquitoes have nowhere to breed near your home.
• Check for ticks when you come in. Look over your whole body, your children and your pets after time outdoors, and put your clothes in a hot dryer for a few minutes.
• Skip heavy perfumes outdoors. Strong, sweet fragrances can draw attention from flying insects, which is one more reason we keep our outdoor lotion fresh and green.

When You Need Total Insect Protection

We would rather you trust us than overbuy from us. If you are headed into tick country, such as the woods and tall grass of New England and the Upper Midwest, or anywhere mosquito-borne illness is a concern, the CDC recommends EPA-registered insect products. The EPA's search tool helps you find one that fits your needs. Apply it as the label directs, and enjoy CocoBugz for your skin the rest of the time. If you prefer a non-toxic lotion for your outdoor days, CocoBugz is for you.

How to Use CocoBugz

• Work into hands, arms, and legs before you head outside, and again whenever your skin wants it. A little goes a long way.
• It is rich but absorbs well, so use less than you think you need.
• It is made for the body. As with any new product, patch-test on a small area first.

Good to know: Essential oils are naturally volatile, meaning their scent fades faster than synthetic fragrances. Plan on reapplying a plant-based lotion every two hours outdoors, and sooner if you have been sweating or in water.

Summary

A natural insect lotion and a non-toxic bug spray are different products. Registered insect products are made and tested for protection. CocoBugz Great Outdoors Lotion is a natural, water-based moisturizer with shea butter, mango butter, jojoba and coconut oil, scented with lemongrass, eucalyptus, lemon and lavender oils, with no harsh or toxic chemicals. It is for the garden, the lake, the mountain trail and the pool, and for the skin you bring home afterward. For more on what goes into a good lotion, read our guides to natural body lotion ingredients and non-toxic lotions for dry, sensitive skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a natural insect lotion and a non-toxic bug product?

A product sold to keep insects away must be registered with the EPA and will carry a registration number. A natural lotion is skin care: it moisturizes and carries a scent. Check the label for a registration number to tell them apart.

What is in CocoBugz?

The full ingredient list is lemongrass oil, eucalyptus oil, lemon oil, and lavender oil (natural oils), mango butter, shea butter, jojoba, aloe creme, coconut oil, vitamin E oil, Optiphen Plus, stearic acid, and distilled water. No harsh or toxic chemicals and no synthetic fragrance.

How can I avoid insects outdoors without harsh chemicals?

Wear light-colored, loose long sleeves and pants, add a wide-brimmed hat, avoid dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, sit in a breeze, empty standing water around your home and check for ticks when you come in. If you need insect protection, choose an EPA-registered product.

How often should I reapply CocoBugz outdoors?

Essential oils are naturally volatile, meaning their scent fades faster than synthetic fragrances. Plan on reapplying a plant-based lotion every two hours outdoors, and sooner if you have been sweating or in water.

Is CocoBugz water-based?

Yes. Distilled water is its base, combined with aloe creme, plant butters and natural oils, so it feels lighter than a body butter while still being rich enough for dry, sunny days.

What does CocoBugz smell like?

Green and citrus-forward at first, with cut lemongrass and lemon peel, then eucalyptus, settling into a soft lavender base.

Where is it made?

Hand-crafted in small batches in Scottsdale, Arizona.

For Your Outdoor Days

CocoBugz is our outdoor lotion. These are the Harmonie pieces that go with it, from the garden to the porch:

→ Shop the full Skin & Body Care collection

Free shipping on orders $50+ · Use code 89-A for 15% off
Shop CocoBugz Great Outdoors Lotion →