Summer is a time of relaxation and fun, sunshine, fragrant barbecue and long walks in nature. Often a pleasant pastime is overshadowed by blood-sucking insects such as mosquitoes. Their annoying squeaks and painful bites, accompanied by unbearable itching and swelling, deprive them of rest and sleep. There are many different mosquito repellents designed to combat blood-sucking pests. But sometimes it happens that there is no anti-mosquito aerosol or cream at hand. Don’t despair; you can make your own mosquito repellent. Recipes for mosquito repellents made at home are very diverse.
Vodka spray
Aerosols and sprays with repellent properties are recognized as the most convenient to use. You can make a similar anti-mosquito liquid yourself by mixing vodka (100 ml) with essential oil (5-10 ml) of eucalyptus, lavender, cloves or basil. The thoroughly mixed mixture is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed onto bare skin, avoiding contact with the eyes. The protective properties of the spray prepared in this way are maintained for 2 hours, after which it is necessary to re-treat.
Application of the extract in cosmetology
Lavender essential oil is well-deservedly popular among cosmetologists: its benefits for hair and nails, skin of the face and neck, and body have been proven.
For the neck
A woman’s age is often revealed not by her face, but by the most vulnerable area of her neck and décolleté. A mask of oil and honey will help improve skin turgor and color. For 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 drops are enough. The mask can be kept on the skin for 30 minutes. Wash off with cool water.
For body
Lavender extract eliminates stretch marks and cellulite, rejuvenates the skin, and tightens contours. For this purpose, baths and massage are used (5 drops of ether per 10 ml of base). For cellulite, wraps with lavender oil are useful.
Lavender extract eliminates stretch marks and cellulite.
For nails
If you rub a drop of oil into the nail plate for 10 minutes, you can get rid of split nails, soften the cuticles, strengthen your nails and add a healthy shine to them.
Lavender hair oil
The product is relevant for pediculosis, as it eliminates not only adult individuals, but also parasite eggs. For treatment, just drop a few drops of oil into shampoo.
It is also used for alopecia (local hair loss), the product prevents hair loss, stimulates growth, improving blood supply and nutrition of hair follicles.
For dry, itchy scalp, fungal and bacterial diseases, and dandruff, the oil works as an antiseptic, moisturizes and nourishes the skin. Pour some oil on your fingers and massage your scalp.
Apply a little product to your hair and comb well, distributing it evenly.
You can prepare a hair mask. Mix 2 tablespoons of burdock oil with 3 drops of lavender extract. Distribute the product throughout your hair, rubbing it into the skin in the root growth area. Cover with film and a towel for 40 minutes. The mask should be washed off with a mild natural shampoo and the procedure should be repeated twice a week.
Lavender oil for facial skin
Cosmetologists love lavender, so there are always hygiene products with its extract on sale.
The antioxidant properties of the plant help fight the signs of skin aging, increase skin turgor, improve color, and eliminate pigmentation. For this purpose, compresses with lavender oil are made in the morning and evening.
Those with dry skin will benefit from this mask: mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil with 2 drops of lavender. Apply to cleansed facial skin and rinse with plain water after 20 minutes.
You cannot apply the oil in its pure form without a base - you can get chemical burns.
Alcohol-free spray
To prepare a non-alcoholic spray, combine 20-25 drops of essential oil or an oil mixture with 100 ml of water. It is preferable to use the resulting composition against mosquitoes during long periods of time under the open rays of the sun. The product works for a short time.
On a note!
The spray bottle should be shaken well before use. Otherwise, the liquid will have either a too low concentration of essential components, to which mosquitoes will not react, or, on the contrary, an excessively high concentration, which may result in skin irritation.
Vanilla ointment
Vanilla ointment against mosquitoes
It is also easy to prepare ointment against mosquitoes with your own hands. It is enough to mix vanillin with baby cream in a small amount. The cream is applied to bare areas of skin before each exit to the street. The composition is effective for several hours. Safety is another advantage of this cream.
On a note!
Vanilla ointment can be used even for children over one year old. The product is contraindicated only for children with sensitive skin, which may result in an allergic reaction.
What to use for children
For children under one year old, the same aromatic oils and herbal decoctions are used that are used for adults. But the condition for using these drugs on babies is a non-contact effect: a cotton swab or bottle with the product should not come into contact with the child’s skin.
For older children, use cream with vanilla powder or wheatgrass decoction. If folk recipes have not helped your child, it is worth studying the range of pharmaceutical drugs, which include products for babies up to one year old and anti-mosquito products for children over one year old.
Emulsion of shampoo, vinegar and oil
You can make your own mosquito and midge repellent using this recipe. It is necessary to mix the following ingredients taken in equal quantities:
- vegetable oil (olive, sunflower or corn);
- shampoo (shower gel or liquid soap);
- vinegar (vinegar essence diluted with water in a ratio of 1:7).
All components are mixed in a glass or plastic container until a homogeneous mass is obtained. The resulting viscous white liquid is applied to bare skin before going outside.
The shampoo and vinegar product can be stored for a long time if you use an airtight container.
Aloe cream
Aloe-based cream protects well against mosquitoes and midges. The active ingredient in it is the essential oil of clove, lemon balm or citronella. 2 tbsp. l. aloe juice is combined with 15-20 drops of any essential oil. Then olive or chamomile oil is added to the resulting mixture, serving as a base. Before going outside, the finished product is applied to areas of the body not protected by clothing, including the face area. The effective properties of the composition are maintained for several hours.
Additional therapeutic benefits of repellent essential oils
By purchasing essential oil to repel mosquitoes, you can get an additional therapeutic effect from the purchased product, because in addition to the repellent properties, these products also have other therapeutic capabilities.
Citronella
This essential oil:
- stimulates the brain and has an invigorating and refreshing effect;
- normalizes blood circulation;
- rejuvenates the skin;
- eliminates inflammatory elements on the skin;
- cleanses pores.
Sassafras
This essential oil:
- has an anti-pediculosis effect;
- used to treat rheumatism, gout or arthritis;
- stabilizes the menstrual cycle;
- used for the treatment of skin diseases;
- has an antiviral effect;
- has diuretic properties;
- used to relieve fever;
- eliminates flatulence.
Palmarosa
This essential oil:
- eliminates stress;
- helps cope with fatigue;
- promotes wound healing;
- has antimicrobial properties.
Lavender
This oil:
- promotes calm and normalizes the process of falling asleep;
- accelerates wound healing;
- has antiviral and antimicrobial effects;
- accelerates skin regeneration in wounds and burns;
- has an anticonvulsant effect.
Thyme
This oil:
- fights insomnia;
- eliminates headaches;
- has an antispasmodic effect;
- helps eliminate depression and stress;
- stimulates appetite;
- normalizes intestinal function during intestinal spasms.
Rosemary
This oil:
- normalizes sleep;
- has an analgesic effect;
- eliminate muscle strain;
- has a relaxing effect when tired.
Carnation
This oil:
- has an invigorating and refreshing effect;
- has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects;
- promotes faster healing of wounds;
- has a general strengthening effect;
- helps normalize the menstrual cycle.
This oil:
- has a disinfectant effect;
- has a hypotonic effect;
- eliminates muscle weakness.
This oil:
- can be used to treat migraines;
- helps stabilize blood pressure.
This oil:
- normalizes the functioning of the nervous system;
- stabilizes the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.
Tea tree
This oil:
- has a pronounced antiviral, antimicrobial and antifungal effect;
- stimulates the immune system;
- accelerates wound healing;
- helps cleanse wounds.
This oil:
- has bactericidal properties;
- helps moisturize and soften the skin;
- strengthens the immune system.
Peppermint
This oil:
- stimulates the secretion of glands of the digestive organs;
- helps eliminate headaches;
- eliminates nervous excitement;
- has an antispasmodic effect.
Oil beat
This oil:
- has a warming effect;
- has antifungal, antiparasitic, antiviral and antimicrobial effects;
- can be used as an antiseptic.
Orange
This oil:
- helps normalize blood pressure;
- used to treat skin diseases;
- used to eliminate cellulite.
Neem oil
This oil:
- has antifungal, antiparasitic, antiviral, antibacterial effects;
- used to treat cough in respiratory diseases;
- has an antitumor effect.
Citrus juice
DIY remedies for midges and mosquitoes
For children under one year old, as well as people with sensitive skin, to protect against mosquitoes, you can use napkins moistened with orange, lemon or lime juice. After all, the smell of citrus fruits is poorly tolerated by mosquitoes. It is enough to place them in the baby’s crib, stroller or clothes and the insects will not disturb him.
On a note!
Napkins moistened with 2-3 drops of clove or eucalyptus oil are used in a similar way.
Chamomile tea
This herbal decoction is useful not only when taken orally. It turns out that this is an excellent cosmetic product. Apply chamomile tea with a cotton pad to the surface of the skin and it will become smooth and silky. But this is not the only property of the decoction. Chamomile tea is an excellent mosquito repellent, so you kill two birds with one stone when you use it: you both save yourself from bloodsuckers and take care of your skin.
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Repellent candles
Excellent protection against mosquitoes - homemade repellent candles. They will create comfort and a romantic atmosphere at a party or during evening tea in a summer gazebo.
To make them, you will need several ordinary candles, which must be placed in a tin can or other container. The container is placed in a pan of water, thus creating a water bath. As the paraffin melts, add 20 drops of citronella essential oil to it, after first removing the wick from the liquid mass.
The freed wick is tied to a thin strip, which is placed over the neck of a suitable jar. Then melted paraffin is poured into the container in a thin stream. Repellent candles will be ready once they have completely hardened.
On a note!
Citronella essential oil can be replaced with clove, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, mint, basil or geranium oil. The aroma of these concentrates can repel mosquitoes, midges, mosquitoes, blood-sucking flies and other annoying insects.
Precautionary measures
When using folk life hacks, you should take the simplest precautions:
- You can verify the safety of a repellent after conducting a sensitivity test.
- Women during pregnancy and lactation should use homemade repellents with extreme caution. It would be helpful to consult a doctor about this.
- Concentrated solutions should not be used by young children; such products should first be diluted with water.
- When making repellent from essential oils, use dark glass containers. It is better to store the finished product in a dark and cool place.
Mosquito repellents
Mosquito repellents
If you don’t want to bother with preparing folk remedies, then you can simply place so-called repellers around the house. They will have the same effect on bloodsuckers as chemical and man-made repellents, and the bugs will fly around your house.
So:
- Herbs - wheatgrass, elderberry, peppermint, Caucasian chamomile, valerian
- Spices - natural cinnamon, vanillin, anise
- Indoor flowers - geranium, plectranthus
