Bug Off! Shoosha the Bugs Away

Is anyone else a target for vampire bugs? I think I have unknowingly put out some sort of invisible welcome mat because if I am outside, it’s a given that I will get nibbled on. As someone who hikes a lot, it’s a real concern. Even just being in my own yard makes me susceptible to red, swollen, itchy welts. Ugh. And, I LOATHE commercial bug repellent – the ingredients carry a very heavy toxin load. Instead, I ‘shoosha’ the bugs away.

Shoosha really should be a verb but it’s a clean product that I use to ward off biting insects, particularly mosquitoes and blackflies. Besides the fact that it works, here is why I like it:

• Smells really nice: lemongrass, rose geranium, cedar wood, peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils
• 100% certified organic ingredients, non-GMO
• Vegan and free from nuts and gluten
• Contains no petrochemicals or any other synthetic elements
• Gentle enough for baby,adult and/or sensitive skin, hypo-allergenic
• Safe to use on skin and fabrics (clothing, curtains, bedding)
• Non-drying formula that actually moisturizes
• Doesn’t sit heavy or greasy on the skin
• Environmentally safe and in a BPA-free bottle

This company actually uses food-grade ingredients in their products. You literally could eat it, if you wanted to. I have no idea why you would want to and I am not advocating that one does, but it shows the quality and care taken to create this spray.

While we likely think more about organic food, organic skincare is as valid a consideration. Research is showing a link between illness and chemical loads our bodies carry. It is important to work to reduce this burden on our system if we want to function optimally. This means ditching synthetics and reaching for products that use ingredients that most reflect nature, ones that are plant-based and naturally occurring; even better, ones that are grown organically without the application of pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, or grown as GMOs. Yes, it will require more room in the budget as such products tend to be more pricey but commercial grade ones will uptick our toxin load, smother our skin, and increase dehydration. Quite simply, organics are better for us and the environment. Hey, I am not preaching here. I don’t live a 100% purely organic life, but when I can, I do. Shoosha Summer Spray, for me, is one of those times that I choose to live better. (Hint: Always look for the symbol that verifies the product is truly organic. In this case, Shoosha is the first complete USDA certified skincare line in North America.)

I shake and spray every 2-3 hours when I am outside. I sometimes even give a few sprays onto the tablecloth on my outdoor patio table and gazebo curtains. It is so easy to apply from the pump spray bottle.

[ Caution: DO NOT use around cats as they have livers that cannot metabolize some of the compounds in many essential oils, lemon and eucalyptus being two of them. Both cats and dogs have a hyper sense of smell. PLEASE take this into consideration before exposing them to any such products. ]