We all pretty much know by now how much I hate bugs, and how much the bugs love me.
And though I do have the ultimate cure for them, having to constantly tend to those big ugly bites cropping up on every square inch of me whenever I’m out of the house gets to be a big pain.
I thought it was just a sacrifice I needed to make, though. Most natural insect repellents haven’t been too effective for me, and I sure as sheep poop aren’t going to be slathering on heaps of neurotoxins all over my skin any time soon. So, I just have to deal with it, right?
Nope!
Not any more!
I am so excited to share this with you guys. I now not only win the battle against bites, but I have the best preemptive strike against those dastardly bug attacks yet!
I now would like to introduce to you, MadeOn Hard Lotion’s Bug Block.
When I opened up the cute little tin of this solid, skeeter-fighting lotion, I was first surprised at how delicious it smelled! Most essential oils used in natural insect repellents just have a weird funkiness to them that screams “dirty hippie.” Citronella? Come on. That stuff reeks of camping and bug-corpse-laden candle wax.
Yet, somehow, the Bug Block was so pleasant! It does indeed contain citronella, as well as lavender (yum) and cedarwood. But the scent is not overpowering, and mixes delightfully with the mild aroma of coconut oil and shea butter. The only other ingredient is beeswax. That’s it! Doesn’t get much more simple and natural than that.
But of course the big question lingering on my mind was, would this actually work? I mean, I am a veritable mosquito magnet. It’s not uncommon for me to get 5 or 10 bites a day. And that’s avoiding being outdoors during peak biting hours.
I honestly wasn’t all that convinced that this would get the job done — because I’ve used products with all the “active” ingredients of the Bug Block — the essential oils that are used to repel the bugs. But, I knew I had to give it a shot anyway. I already was enjoying my lovely-smelling, cute little bug lotion, whether it would work mosquito wonders or not, but I sure hoped it would.
The Ultimate Test
I decided to put on my Block right before dusk — a time when I normally would never be caught outside unless wearing a long sleeve shirt and pants — and treaded out into our bug-filled property… in a BIKINI.
She-wore-an itsy, bitsy, teeny weenie...
I took out the bar, and started rubbing it into my skin. “Ooh, how creamy and delightful,” I thought! It glided right on and rubbed in easily, making my skin feel nice and soft and conditioned. My skin actually was “So Soft” — eat your heart out, Avon.
After covering my arms, legs, and tummy with my Block, I ventured outside and played with the sheeps for about a half hour.
Upon returning, I began inspecting things, fairly sure I would have at least a few bites that would need a GSE cure.
Arms? Nothing.
Legs? Nada.
Belly? Bite-free.
I felt around for any that might be hiding in more difficult-to-cover areas — and I did find one little lone bite right on the underside of my tushie. And I had not put the Block on that spot, I realized.
I was honestly shocked! One measly bite after spending the evening out in skeeter city wearing practically nothing!? I was instantly a Bug Block convert.
My theory as to why this stuff works so much better than other products with similar ingredients is that it has staying power due to the beeswax — it allows the lotion to be absorbed into your skin while creating a protective barrier to keep it there. I’ve tried sprays and stuff but I think maybe those just kind of evaporate off of you quickly, and that’s why they don’t always work very well.
But this, my friends, is something I can definitely recommend! And now, I get to give away a bar of Bug Block so that at least one of you can save your Grapefruit Seed Extract
Enter to Win!
Here’s the rules this time around for how you can be our Bug Block winner:
MadeOn Hard Lotion has all kinds of amazing goodies on their site to help out a variety of skincare needs — obviously including protection from biting bugs! There are different types of lotion bars, creams, soaps, even hair butter available at MadeOn!
So to enter this giveaway, visit the MadeOn site and check out all their stuff. Which products do you think would best help your skin type? Tell us about it in the comments below — and you’ll have just entered to win your very own bar of Bug Block!
More entries!
Once again, you’ll have more chances to win by doing extra things for extra entries:
- “Like” MadeOn Hard Lotion on Facebook and leave a comment here to telling us you did! (They are super fun to follow, by the way. Not just about lotion, you’ll find interesting discussions about natural living, and even some great how-to’s from Renee — she recently put up an awesome video tutorial for brewing kombucha!) (1 extra entry)
- Share this giveaway on Facebook, and leave a comment! (1 extra entry)
- “Like” B.B. on Facebook, and leave a comment! (1 extra entry)
- Follow B.B. on Twitter, and leave a comment! (1 extra entry)
- Tweet about this giveaway, and make sure you mention @HardLotion (and leave a comment!) (1 extra entry)
- Subscribe to B.B. via email, and leave a comment! (1 extra entry)
- Check out MadeOn’s blog (it’s awesome!), and leave a comment about which post(s) you read (would probably be nice if you left a comment on MadeOn’s blog as well!) (1 extra entry)
Already a Facebook liker, Twitter follower, or other subscriber? Awesome! Just comment on this post to tell me you are!
Very important: For each of these actions to count as an entry, you must leave a comment here on this post telling me you did them! Each new comment entry counts as number to be drawn — so your number cannot be drawn unless it’s in there!
Please be sure to complete your required entry (leaving a comment about which MadeOn products you think your skin would love) before you put in extra ones!
This giveaway will run until Sunday, 9/11/11, ending at 9:00 AM PST. I will announce the winner that afternoon!
Good luck everyone! And have fun drooling over all those delicious products at MadeOn! 😉
As far as which helps my skin type most, they’re all amazing and based around the same ingredients. I love the Au Chocolat Hard Lotion bar and keep it on my desk at work. My hands get dry working with paper all day but I manage to keep them paper-cut free when I remember to use my hard lotion!
-Rissa
I’m a fan of MadeOn Lotion on the FB.
I am now a fan of Butter Believer on the FB.
Giveaway shared on the FB.
Just posted about the giveaway on FB.
Already subscribed to BB! Yay!
I already subscribe to the MadeOn blog and my favorite post in the last while was about her kids barefoot challenge! I thought it was cute that Renee made him wear his shoes to church. 🙂
I would absolutely love some of that bug block, I’m always covered in bites when I go outside even for a few minutes. The other natural products on their site are fabulous too =)
I like Made on on facebook
I would love to try the chocolate lotion bar. I have tried the regular before and love it!
I like BB on facebook
I subscribe to BB newsletter
This Bug block looks amazing! I wonder if I could use it on my horse’s face?
Oh I also shared on FB.
Oh and I liked the Made On page!
I liked MadeOn Handlotion on facebook.
I’m a fan of Butter Believer on facebook.
I absolutely adore MadeOn’s hard lotion. (Au Chocolat is my favorite.) I have a mild case of Keratosis Pilaris (ugly little red bumps) on my upper arms and started treating the affected area with hard lotion 1-2xs a day. The bumps are barely visible now! I no longer need tons of chemical laden lotions and scrubs!
I already liked MadeOn Hard Lotion on Facebook!
I posted about the giveaway on facebook.
Shared the giveaway on Facebook!
Already liked Butter Believer on facebook!
Already subscribe to Butter Believer via email!
Love their goats milk soap! Great for my winter skin.
Liked on facebook…funny, thought I already had 🙂
“Liked” BB on fb…I agree with baking bacon vs. pan frying 🙂
Subscribed to the email thanks!
Visited MadeOn’s blog…I even remembered the barefoot boy test 🙂
My favorite entry on MadeOn’s blog is “From Jungle to Skin – the Cocoa Bean”. Now I want to try the homemade sweetened chocolate recipe!
I would be interested in trying the Bug Block. We camp a lot, so it would be very helpful. 🙂
I follow Butter Believer on Twitter.
We have lots of bugs where I live so I would love to try this.
I am also a bug magnet. Bug Block would be best for my skin type. I would also be interested in the honey goat milk soap.
I <3 this stuff!! I just recently bought one of MadeOn's DIY kits, and have been having a balling making my own. I love Renee's recipes, but it's fun to experiment on your own. I just recently made a bar with a little Jojoba oil and scented with Ylang Ylang and Sweet Orange oils, it is simply heavenly!
I am subscribed for BB’s emails
We would definately use the Bug Block at our house where the bugs abound. The Bee Silk also looked interesting because everyone in our family gets dry, cracked skin in the winter.
I read the Cilantro and Bare Foot Challenge Posts on the MadeOn blog.
I’m lucky enough to live somewhere where I don’t really need it but it was a neat article nonetheless and I thank you for sharing it.
I would love trying the Bug Block. I have to go to the library to check my mail and won’t be back until Wednesday…so if I win, I hope I have more than 48 hours to reply. 😉
I liked them on facebook.
I follow you by e-mail.
I would love to try her Honey Goat Milk lotion!
wow! those products look great! such simple ingredients! I would love to try a lotion bar as I have had lotion explosions before and they are messy!!
I like madeon on facebook!
I like you on facebook!
I subscribe to your blog!!
I checked out the madeon blog… awesome! The article about homemade sunscreen was perfect for me!
Definitely the Bug Block. I checked out her Second Life Hair Butter, but guessing beeswax might build up over time, since I no-poo (“wash” with conditioner instead of shampoo).
I’d like to try out the Bug Block. My poor hubby is often eaten alive by mosquitoes!
I liked MadeOn on Facebook.
I shared this giveaway on facebook.
I liked your facebook page.
I’m following you on twitter.
Definitely the bug block is the thing my family can use. 3 of my 4 seem to be walking bug bites!
I liked made on skin care on facebook
I’m not following Made On Skin Care Products on Twitter!
I like B.B. on facebook.
I’m following B.B. on twitter.
I already liked MadeOn Hard Lotion on Facebook! Already liked Butter Believer on facebook!