The Best Insect Repellent

Neil and I are very picky when it comes to rubbing our skin with chemicals. Keeping ourselves free from the bites of mosquitoes and other unpleasant insects is a top priority, but we don’t want to poison ourselves in the process.

It is a well documented fact (see Consumer Reports, May 2015) that most “natural” repellents are ineffective. It is also proven that products with DEET work. But DEET has been shown to be dangerous to use.

When we have traveled unprepared, to prevent us from getting bitten and the potential for serious diseases, have used products with DEET, primarily because that is the only type of repellent that can be found in most foreign pharmacies and grocery stores.

We were very excited to find an insect repellent that has the effectiveness of DEET without the dangers. The active ingredient is Picardin. We like to pack a spray bottle of Tender Natrapel 8 Hour Pump and also a box of convenient insect wipes.

The wipes fit easily in your pocket or purse so that you always have them ready, and they make it easy to apply the repellent wherever you are. Nothing spoils a delicious meal in a charming outdoor restaurant like being swarmed by biting insects!

Not Just Any Baby Powder

Have you ever tried to wiggle your hot and sweaty body into your one-piece swimsuit or sports bra? Traveling in hotter climates means lots of clothes changes and they can be challenging because of the way that clothing sticks to you.

Whether I was changing in and out of my yoga outfit in Ubud, putting on my swimsuit for a dip in the Caribbean in Costa Rica, or just getting ready for bed in a room without A/C in Ko Lanta, I learned that a light dusting of powder made it much easier to slip into my clothes.

And I was able to be much more comfortable in bed during the heat of the night if I used powder to keep dry. I have regularly used a moisturizing lotion in drier climates, but I have found that I never need lotion in places with high humidity. Instead, I use powder to keep myself comfortable.

I have learned that powders that contain talc may be unhealthy. In fact, talc has been linked to cancer.

There are body dusting powders that can increase comfort without talc. Ora’s Amazing Herbal Pure and Simple Body Powder is a great choice. It is suitable for the whole family and has skin-healing properties as well.

Best Travel Deodorant

The best deodorant for travelers would be the one that takes up the least amount of space and weight in our luggage, keeps us odor free, has no harmful chemicals, and only needs to be used about once a week. This fantastic product actually exists!

Both Neil and I have been using Lavilin Underarm Deodorant Cream for years. Even in the hottest climates, it usually keeps us odor free for four to seven days.

Since you only use a tiny amount for each application, we can pack one 12.5g container, which easily lasts for three months for us both! Note that Lavilin is a deodorant, not an antiperspirant which is the choice of health-conscious folks like ourselves.

This also means it is less likely to cause allergic reactions. At first, you might think that the Lavillin deodorant is expensive, but when you figure into the cost how little you use and how long it lasts, it is actually a good deal. We are both really happy with it.

Here’s our tip to maximize the effectiveness of this product. It works best if there is a minimum of armpit hair. If you don’t shave that area, keep it short so it can work better.

We hope that soon you too will travel to a spectacular tropical locale. Keep this list of tropical travel essentials in mind when you go.

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