A common synthetic ingredient used in commercial insect repellents is DEET - N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide. DEET is the current “gold-standard” for insect repellents and is effectively used to repel flies, mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. However, a common concern for DEET is that at high concentrations, it has been shown to disrupt our body’s natural responses.

Too much exposure to DEET has been shown to result in dizziness/vertigo, headache, and drowsiness/lethargy. It is important to note that DEET has not been shown to had adverse effects for children, pregnant women, nor is it classified as a carcinogen (cancer-causing).

However, the main issue with DEET is the environmental effects. Although it can be broken down in soil, it is often found in water and wastewater due to its high use by humans. DEET can be toxic for marine life at high concentrations.

At Re{me}dy, we try to use ingredients derived from nature as far as possible as they can break down completely, and leave less lasting effects on the environment than synthetic ingredients. They are also gentler on the skin

While natural insect repellents have a slightly lower efficacy at repelling insects than synthetic ingredients such as DEET, they are still effective at repelling insects and are a better choice for those who are conscious about their skin/ health and the environment.

We recommend re-applying Debugged often (every 2-4 hours) as the effectiveness of the essential oil as a repellent decreases as it gets broken down.

Simply spray it onto any exposed skin and let it air dry.

Do not rub it as the ingredients used in Debugged are designed to spread the essential oils evenly without the need to rub it in.

Reapply every 2- 4 hours.

Reapply every 2 - 4 hours, or as needed.

The blend of essential oils used in Debugged are known as “hot” oils, as they can heat up or cause inflammation in some skin types. Although this essential oil blend is diluted using the carrier oils (castor oil and sunflower oil), the oils can still cause irritation in those with sensitive skin.

This product is also designed to stay on the skin and is only rinsed off after a few hours, which may also contribute to the possibility of irritation.

Therefore, we strongly recommend a patch test on a small part of your body before applying all over.

This insect repellent contains active essential oils such as lemongrass, citronella, and cinnamon. While they are used at cosmetic levels in a rinse-off formula, we generally recommend that pregnant or breastfeeding women consult their healthcare professional before use.

For young children, we suggest using products specifically formulated for children, as their skin can be more delicate and sensitive.

When in doubt, a patch test is always recommended.

No, this is not formulated with babies in mind. Babies (<1Y) have very permeable, highly reactive skin; so we do not recommend products with any essential oils or fragrances in them, even at low cosmetic levels.

This insect repellent does not use any synthetic fragrances. Its scent comes naturally from the essential oils used in the formula (lemongrass, citronella, cinnamon), each selected for their insect-repelling properties rather than purely for aroma.

No, this product does not contain DEET or other harmful insect repelling ingredients.