Summer brings warm waves of sunshine, lakeside dips, melting ice cream cones, and outdoor adventures with friends and family. But with all the joy comes one pesky downside: bug bites.
While a few of us admire bugs – the charm of bumblebees and the flicker of fireflies at dusk – it’s harder to love the itchy aftermath left by pesky mosquitoes. I often joke that I’m a mosquito magnet; no matter where I find myself, I’m always the first to feel the unforgiving welts on my skin. But over the years, I’ve discovered a few ways to both avoid those bites and soothe them when they inevitably happen.
Recently, I moved to Madison, WI and for the first time I encountered the fury of Midwestern mosquitoes in the sweltering humidity. Those vicious bites led me to two standout products at Green Life Trading Co.: Beat It Insect Repellent and Wound & Bite Balm from Blue Heron Botanicals — both of which have offered me immense relief.
Bug Defense in a Bottle
I was excited to recently fill my own bottle of our Beat It Insect Repellent – a local favorite for anyone who seems to attract mosquitoes from miles away. Made with essential oils like lemongrass, cedar, citronella, and mint, this spray is gentle, natural, and safe for the whole family (yes, even pets).
A fun fact: this insect repellent was originally tested in the hot, swampy climate of Florida. If it works there, it’ll work anywhere! As an avid traveler who hiked around Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia and Florida (a place teeming with mosquitos, as you can well imagine), I know how critical it is to have protection that’s both powerful and kind to your skin. Another fun fact: if you're already covered in bites? Don’t worry! Beat It also doubles as a bite soother.
The Balm That Calms the Itch
On the days I forgot to apply Beat it, I instead reach for Blue Heron Botanicals’ Wound & Bite Balm. This little paper tube has become a summer staple for me. I first bought it after a brutally buggy day of working on a farm, trapped in a greenhouse surrounded by standing water and swarms of mosquitos. Covered in itchy, painful bites, I was desperate for anything to soothe them; and within hours of applying the balm, the hot, throbbing welts had noticeably calmed down.
This balm is made from a powerful blend of skin-healing herbs like calendula, yarrow, and comfrey, combined with therapeutic essential oils. It’s designed to treat everything from insect bites to burns, bruises, sprains, fresh tattoos, and minor abrasions. While looking deeper into this product, I was enthused to learn that the creator of Blue Heron Botanicals started her plant-based skincare journey while interning with an herbalist at the University of Vermont. I imagined a remedy straight out of a fantasy nature novel, and honestly, it works like magic too! I have tried many different bite remedies over the years — hydrocortisone, calamine, aloe, even cold tea bags — but this balm stands out.
Enjoy the Outdoors, Bite-Free!
So if you're like me, outdoorsy but bug-prone, and maybe a little sensitive to conventional sprays, I can’t recommend these two products enough. Summer should be about adventures, not scratching. Whether you're heading to the park, camping under the stars, or just soaking in the last long days of the season, don’t let the bugs keep you indoors.
