More backpacking ??s - natural sunscreen & bug repellant???

[Minnie]

I read cacao butter is good for a sunscreen. Is that true? Is that the best choice for me? Will it attract bugs or bees? :eek:

I heard that lavender is good for a bug repellant, but I tried it and it just repelled my family! What is good for a bug repellant? I might give lavender a try again, after all even deet isnÂ’t perfect at repelling bugs either! Does lavender work for anyone here? :confused:

Do natural food stores have any acceptable products for these needs? I would like to hear many suggestions for sunscreens and bug repellants please, thanks. :D

IÂ’m sure IÂ’ll be asking more raw backpacking advice, so if someone has any suggestions outside of the things IÂ’ve already asked, please feel free to let me know! ;)

Minnie :)

[juliebove]

I've read that coconut oil both repels bugs and acts as a sunscreen. The book I read says you have to put it on head to toe.

[michigan roman]

I read cacao butter is good for a sunscreen. Is that true? Is that the best choice for me? Will it attract bugs or bees? :eek:

I heard that lavender is good for a bug repellant, but I tried it and it just repelled my family! What is good for a bug repellant? I might give lavender a try again, after all even deet isnÂ’t perfect at repelling bugs either! Does lavender work for anyone here? :confused:

Do natural food stores have any acceptable products for these needs? I would like to hear many suggestions for sunscreens and bug repellants please, thanks. :D

IÂ’m sure IÂ’ll be asking more raw backpacking advice, so if someone has any suggestions outside of the things IÂ’ve already asked, please feel free to let me know! ;)

Minnie :)

my brother tells me he took b12 suppliments and garlic capsules in an attempt to repel black flies biting in deep canadian woods and it worked , he took it for a month though before trip .

i believe ive also read that yarrow is a mosquito reppelent .

and theres something i remember from long ago about people in michigan u p using strawberry scented shampoo to repel mosquitos or the terrible black fly

[Pierre]

I think the best sunscreen is the one you eat! I wore no sunscreen in Brazil and ate lots of fresh fruit smoothies, and it was several days of walking in overhead sun before my skin even thought of turning red.

Neem oil lasts for over ten hours as a repellent. I don't know if any studies have been done on andiroba, its Brazilian relative which smells prettier, but I think it'll last pretty long too.

[eachpeachpearplum]

I traveled for over a year through Europe & Africa for my honeymoon and we used this great natural spray that was basically Eucaliptus oil. I will look up what it was called.

I bought it at the BA (British Airways)travel center in London.

OK I just rummeged through my old pack and found a pamphlet for it! The web site is:

http://www.mosiguard.com/

It's great stuff and smells really nice too!

[PATH301]

try white vinegar and a little of water in a spray bottle spray down you skin and your clothes. After a short time it will dry and you want smell it, but it works rather well. For a stronger effect don't dilute it at all use full strength, it will still dry and not smeel after a while - works even better :D

[asil]

Burt's Bees makes an insect repellant that smells very lemony. I use it sometimes when the mosquitos are swarming and as big as horses. :D It's oily but I don't mind that.