How to avoid insect bites on holiday image
  • Sun & travel

How to avoid insect bites on holiday

Wondering how to avoid getting bitten on your next holiday? Read our natural tips.

By Lucy Thorpe

7 Minute read

Holidays are meant for exploring new places, taking time to relax and enjoying your surroundings - not for the constant itch of insect bites while you travel.

As our climate warms, more and more mosquitoes are being found in popular European destinations such as Italy, France, Spain, Greece and Croatia. They are also being found across more of Europe, with one particular type moving north through France at 10-40km per year[i].

While you can’t avoid every single insect, there are a few steps you can take to reduce your chances of being bitten so you can enjoy your holiday. Read on to discover our tips plus natural sun creams and after suns with insect repellent to help you stay comfortable.

At a glance

  • Exfoliate before you travel to remove bacteria, sweat and oils that can attract mosquitoes
  • Use natural sun cream with insect repellent like Green People’s SPF15 Sun Cream with Insect Repellent.
  • Pack an after sun with insect repellent to keep up protection
  • Avoid perfumes, wear long sleeves and trousers and choose lightweight, natural fabrics
  • No single measure guarantees zero bites these measures can help reduce the risk

How exfoliating can help to reduce mosquito bites

Wondering how to avoid getting bitten on holiday? One of the easiest ways to prepare your skin for a holiday free of unwanted bites is to exfoliate. Exfoliating isn’t just about smoothing rough patches and getting holiday-ready, it can also make your skin a less attractive target for mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes are drawn to certain skin odours produced by bacteria and debris in your pores[ii]. By gently exfoliating before you travel, you remove these odour-producing elements, helping make your skin a little less appealing to insects.

Exfoliation also helps wash away sweat and oils, which mosquitoes and other biting insects often use to find their targets. Plus, when your skin is smooth and free from dead skin cells, natural repellents can absorb into your skin more evenly and perform better.

Green People Exfoliating Hand & Body Scrub

Gently buff away dead skin cells with our Exfoliating Hand & Body Scrub, formulated with natural exfoliants to smooth and refresh your skin.

“What a wonderful product lovely and smooth to apply with gentle exfoliation. Leaves yiur skin silky soft with a beautiful fragrance . A must have for for summer skin. Will definitely make this part of my skin routine.” Victoria

Exfoliating Mitt

Alternatively, our Exfoliating Mitt helps to sweep away build-up and boost skin clarity, leaving your skin feeling clean, smooth and ready for your holiday routine.

What to pack to keep insects at bay while you’re on holiday

What you pack can also make a big difference if you’re thinking about how to avoid insect bites on holiday.

Green People SPF15 Sun Cream with Natural Insect Repellent

Start with a natural sun cream with insect repellent, like our SPF15 Sun Cream with Natural Insect Repellent. This organic, mineral sunscreen helps to protect your skin from UV rays while DEET-free Citrepel®75 provides protection against biting insects. 

“The perfect cream to wear in the sun while also keeping insects away. Smooth on skin, very happy with this product.” Sue

Green People Scent Free 24-Hour Cream

Something else to think about is a scent-free face cream to keep your skin naturally nourished and hydrated without any added fragrance that might attract mosquitoes or other insects.

Our Scent Free 24-Hour Cream is a skin barrier-boosting moisturiser that can be used all day and is clinically proven to be kind to sensitive skin.

“Love this moisturiser. Great for my sensitive skin, it keeps it hydrated and comfortable without any irritation or redness.” Jacqueline

Green People Moisturising After Sun with Insect Repellent

After a day in the sun, our Moisturising After Sun with Insect Repellent helps to hydrate, protect and moisturise all while being gentle on all skin types.

Formulated with Citrepel®75 (derived from Java Citronella), this clinically tested active protects against mosquitoes, midges, ticks and more.

“Fantastic products first time travelling and having no skin issues (rashes/inflammation/prickly heat).. Totally transformed my travelling experience, absolute game changer.. 5 stars 100% Used in conjunction with the sun cream” Mikael

More tips on how to avoid getting bitten on holiday

There’s no single tip that completely eliminates insect bites, but by layering up your protection by exfoliating and using the right products you can reduce the risk of getting bitten. Think of it as a holistic approach to avoid being bitten.

Leaving perfume at home can also be an effective way to keep mosquitoes and insects at bay. Some strong scents can actually attract mosquitoes from a distance - so if you’re thinking of giving yourself a spritz before you head out, you might want to think again.

Covering up with long sleeves and trousers can also help to provide a physical barrier between your skin and any insects that might be lurking. Choose lightweight, natural fabrics to keep cool but keep sleeves and trousers long if you want to avoid bites.

 

Would you like help choosing the right sun care products with insect repellent for your holidays? Our friendly UK customer care team is happy to help with any questions about ingredients and can be contacted on 01403 740350

If you wish to republish this content, please credit Green People as the original creator with a link to 'How to Avoid Insect Bites on Holiday.' Please do not use an affiliate link.

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