We all got worried when we first received the news about the Zika outbreak in Singapore. This is especially so if you are pregnant, have babies and children within the family.

As a mother with a 3 years old daughter and planning for a second child anytime soon, I know that I have to be extra mindful by taking the appropriate precaution to prevent mosquito breeding and Zika virus within the family. Prior to the Zika outbreak in Singapore, I have tried a few mosquito repellent brands for my daughter. As her school is non air conditioned and she often have mosquito bites, she will often have mosquito repellent with her.

Sometimes, she will still come home with big red bites on her legs and arms and this can takes weeks to recover. This is when I know the product might not be as effective or best for her to use in school (I will explain this later). As a mum, seeing her suffering from the itch and scar is downhearted, so I have been buying and trying all sorts of mosquito repellent to see which one is most effective and best for her to use in her childcare center.
 

ZIKA SINGAPORE UPDATES

If you have not been following the news, here’s the updates of the Zika virus outbreak in Singapore.

7 Sep 2016: Total number of confirmed cases: 283 (+8)
6 Sep 2016: Total number of confirmed cases: 275 (+17)
5 Sep 2016: Total number of confirmed cases: 258 (+16)
4 Sep 2016: Total number of confirmed cases: 242 (+27)
3 Sep 2016: Total number of confirmed cases: 215 (+26)
2 Sep 2016: Total number of confirmed cases: 189 (+38)
1 Sep 2016: Total number of confirmed cases: 151 (+36)
31 Aug 2016: Total number of confirmed cases: 115 (+74)
29 Aug 2016: Total number of confirmed cases: 41
27 Aug 2016: A 47-year-old Malaysian woman: First reported case of locally-transmitted Zika virus infection.
13 May 2016: A 48-year-old man: First imported Zika case, he had travelled to Brazil from Mar 27 to May 7.

 

Pregnant Woman Diagnose with Zika Virus
2 Sep 2016: A 24 year-old pregnant woman diagnosed with Zika also has Dengue. It is unclear if she is among the two pregnant women Ministry of Health identified in its earlier press release.
1 Sep 2016: Second pregnant woman diagnose with Zika virus.
31 Aug: First pregnant woman diagnose with Zika virus.

 

Although Singapore did a great job in controlling the Zika outbreak within the nation as you can see that the number of reported cases has reduce. But still I rather be safe than sorry, and I rather be a little more Kiasu.

Right, since I have been using and testing many types and brands of mosquitoes repellent, I thought it will be a great idea to share with you on some of the products I have used.

 

 

 

 

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MOSQUITO REPELLENT FOR YOUR FAMILY

 

Before you head down to the local pharmacy and grab those mosquito repellent, here’s what you should know about the ingredient before buying for your family.

 

 

 

Types of Mosquito Repellent over the Pharmacy Counter

1. MOSQUITO REPELLENT PATCH

The easier types of mosquito repellent to use. All you need to do is to remove the protective film and paste the sticker on your clothing near skin.

 

 

 

Tiger Balm Mosquito Repellent Patch

Price: $8.50 for 10pcs or $15.50 for 20pcs
Ingredient: Natural- Citronella oil 10% w/w. DEET Free.
Ease of use: 4.5/5
Design: 3/5
Scent: 4/5
Made in: Singapore
Suitable for Adults and Children.

What I like about:
▪ The best smells so far for mosquito repellent patch and it is easy to peel off unlike some other brands patches I have used.
▪ The patches are packed individually for the “Freshness”. Very easy to keep them in your purse.

What I don’t like about:
▪ It will leave a sticky residue sometimes on the clothes after removing the patch.
▪ The smell fades away after 5-6 hours of usage.

 
Guardian Buzz Away Patch

Price: $6.5 for 12pcs
Ingredient: Natural- Specially Formulated Eucalyptus Oil. DEET Free.
Ease of use: 2/5
Design: 4.5/5
Scent: It’s nice!
Made in: China
Effective for: Long Lasting Effect Up To 3 Days
Suitable for Adults and Children above 3 years old.

What I like about:
▪ All the 12 patches comes with different design. Very nice and I think adults will like it because I paste this on my shoe like an accessory. My sister even thought it’s part of my shoe’ design. Just think crocs pins!

What I don’t like about:
▪ The patch is small which is why it state only suitable for children above 3 years old. You don’t want to find the patch ending up in their mouth if you have a child who always put things in theirs.
▪ It is not very lasting, I find that it can last up to 4-5 hours only. Maybe the patch is small with less surface for the scent to last that long.

 

 

 

Santecare Mosquito Repellent Patch

Price: $6.50 for 12pcs
Ingredient: Natural- Patented Wild Tomato Extract (IBI-246= Methyl Nonyl Ketone) 21% W/W, Eucalyptus Citriodora Oil 21% W/W. DEET Free.
Ease of use: 2/5
Design: 2/5
Scent: Terrible smells.
Made in: Italy
Effective for: 12 Hours
Suitable for Adults and Children.

 

What I like about:
▪ I’m not quite sure how effective this is but I am bought over when I saw: “CLINICALLY TESTED” and it is not made in China where it is chemically synthesized.
▪ It is easy to remove without leaving any sticky residue.
What I don’t like about:

▪ Note: Although it has a Hello Kitty picture on the box, the patches design are not Hello Kitty! I feel a bit cheated thinking my daughter will like it.
▪ It has a terrible smell (Not my liking) and the patch is square shape in bright yellow, which is pretty unattractive.
▪ You need to scratch the patch with your finger on the entire surface and it state for best result, squeeze or rub the patch EACH hour to release additional active ingredient- How troublesome was that and how do you expect kids will do that when they use this in school? Moreover, you need to wash your hand after doing the scratch.
▪ The sheets of patches are packed in one plastic packing and is non-resealable. This means after opening, you need to get your own zip lock bag to keep the “Freshness” of the patches.

 

 

Simba Natural Mosquito Repellent Patch

Price: $9.90 for 16pcs
Ingredient: Natural- Citronella & Lemon Essential Oil. DEET Free.
Ease of use: 4/5
Design: 4.5/5
Scent: Nice smells
Made in: Italy
Effective for: Up to 72 hours
Suitable for Adults and Children.

What I like about:
▪ Re-usable zipper foil lock bag is provided for easy storage.
▪ 3M back glue without leaving sticky residues.
▪ Adorable lion cartoon patch printed in eco-friendly soy inked.
▪  The patch is 33% larger than other brands

What I don’t like about:
▪ It mentioned that the effectiveness can last up to 72 hours but I feel that it can last for only a day.

 Where can you get this: www.redmart.com or www.totsworld.com.sg

 

 

 

2. MOSQUITO REPELLENT SPRAY

 

Simba Natural Mosquito Repellent Spray

Price: $13.90 for 60ml
Ingredient: Natural- Citronella essence, Lavender extract, Juniper oil, eucalyptus oil, Aloe essential oil, humectant and aqua. DEET Free.
Ease of use: 3/5.
Scent: 4/5
Made in: China
Suitable for Adults and Children.

What I like about:
▪ Non-sticky.
▪ Small bottle design, easy for travel.

What I don’t like about:
▪ Difficult to spray it evenly.

Where can you get this: www.redmart.com or www.totsworld.com.sg

 

 

 

Tiger Balm Mosquito Repellent Aerosol

Price: $8.20 for 120ml
Ingredient: Natural- Lemon Eucalyptus Oil 18%, Lemongrass oil 2%. DEET Free.
Ease of use: 3/5.
Scent: 4/5
Made in: Malaysia
Pregnant, nursing women and children below 3 years old to consult doctor before use.

What I like about:
▪ Loves the smell. Smells like lemongrass essential oil.
▪ Spray evenly when apply correctly. 
▪ Icy cold when sprayed: Makes my daughter awake if she is still sleepy to go school *Evil laugh.
▪ Fine mist and non greasy.
▪ Can be spray directly on clothes or skin.

What I don’t like about:
▪ A little pungent if you spray too much. But it may be more effective?
▪ It wrote repeat spraying after every 2-3 hours, which means the effect last for 2-3 hours which is true.
A little disadvantage because you can’t expect your teacher to remember and spray it for your child.

 

 

OFF! Insect Repellent Spray

Price: $8.80 for 170ml
Ingredient: Deet (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) 15% w/w. Other ingredients 85% w/w
Ease of use: 3/5
Scent: 2/5
Made in: Philippines
Not suitable for people with sensitive skin.
Pregnant, nursing women and children below 3 years old are better advice to consult doctor before use.

What I like about:
▪ A trust-able brand that I’ve used it before since young.
▪ It contains deet which is said to be the most effective mosquito repellent.1 of the 2 mosquitoes repellent product that contains deet ingredient which is sold.

What I don’t like about:
▪ I don’t really like the smell.
▪ Too bulky to bring it out.

 

Moz Away Natural Spray

Price: $9.60 for 75ml
Ingredient: Natural- Citronella 15% v/v and Neem oil 2% DEET Free.
Ease of use: 3/5.
Scent: 4/5
Made in: Malaysia
Safe even for BABIES and nursing mothers.

What I like about:
▪ The only spray that said is safe even for babies.
▪ It contains picaridin, a synthetic compound first made to resemble the natural compound piperine, which is found in the group of plants used to produce black pepper. Picaridin has a low acute oral, dermal and inhalation toxicity, making it safe for pregnant and nursing mothers to use. Extract from here.
▪ It has pH of 5.5, which is gentle on the skin.
▪ Non-toxic and safe for children.

What I don’t like about:
▪ Evaporate quite easily after application which means the smells fades away easily.
▪ A little sticky.
▪ A little hassle as you need to wash your hand after application.

 

 

 

Ultrathon Insect Repellent 8 Spray

Price: $10.90 for 170g
Ingredient: Deem 25%. Other ingredients 75%
Ease of use: 3/5.
Scent: 2/5
Made in: USA
Not suitable for people with sensitive skin.
Pregnant, nursing women and children below 3 years old are better advice to consult doctor before use.

What I like about:
▪It has time release protection meaning it is slower to evaporate which provides protection after others have dissipated – up to 12 hours of protection against mosquitoes.
▪ Advanced 3M formulation creates an effective barrier that repels mosquitoes that may carry West Nile Virus.
▪ Ultrathon™ has been tested in the harshest environments in the world.
▪ Splash & Sweat resistant which ensures consistent protection through all your outdoor activities, so you don’t have to be afraid when your child is sweating hard. Your child will still be protected.
What I don’t like about:
▪ Not the nicest smell.
▪ Not suitable for people with sensitive skins ans deet may cause rashes to some people.
▪ Can is bulky, a little hassle to keep it within your bag.

http://www.guardian.com.sg/ultrathon-insect-repel-170g/p/123763

 

 

 

3. MOSQUITO REPELLENT BAND

 

Mos Repel Mosquito Repellent Band

Price: $6.35 for 2 kids band or $13 for 2 adults band.
Ingredient: Citronella Oil 30%. Inert: LDPE 70%. Deet Free.
Ease of use: 4.5/5
Scent: 4.5/5
Made in: Hong Kong
Suitable for family used.

What I like about:
▪ It has many colour choices to choose from.
▪ It can also be worn on belt loops, attached to baby carriages or applied to other areas.
▪ Kids will love them as they can wear is like a bracelet because my daughter love it.
▪ It’s effective for up to 180 hours and it’s reusable.
▪ A re-usable plastic pod is provided for easy storage.
▪ It’s sweat-proof and waterproof. I don’t have to worry if the childcare teacher at my daughter school has forgotten to put on a mosquito repellent each time after her shower time in school.

What I don’t like about:
▪ Younger children will tend to remove them, so it’s not a good idea if your child is too young. You don’t want them to end up biting it instead.
▪ Personally I feel that it is less effective after 3-5days.
▪ A little pricey.

 

 

 

 

Frozen Mosquito Repellent Wristband

Price: $5.60 for 1 band
Ingredient: Clove and Citronella Oil. Deet Free.
Ease of use: 4/5
Scent: 4/5
Made in: Korea
Safe for the whole family but I guess only kids will wear it.

What I like about:
▪ It’s frozen and girls will love wearing it.
▪ It’s glow in the dark
▪ I don’t think this is waterproof as the smells fade off  quite easily if my daughter shower with this on.

What I don’t like about:
▪ In my opinion, this can last for about 4-5 days when it state it can last for up to 7 days.
▪ It does not provide a sipper bag for storage.
▪ Not as effective.

 

 

 

Simba Natural Mosquito Repellent Bracelet

Price: $16.90 for 3 bands
Ingredient: Citronella Oil and Essential oil. Deet Free.
Ease of use: 4/5
Scent: 4/5
Made in: Korea
Safe for the whole family.

What I like about:
▪ I like the design and it’s comfortable to wear.
▪ Comes with a reusable zip lock bag for easy storage
▪ The soft strap comes with snap button for adjusting bracelet to optimal length.
▪ Suitable use for both adults and children as the strap is 1 meter adjustable length.
▪ It can last for 168 hours.

What I don’t like about:
▪ It’s not waterproof and it’s not sweat-proof.
▪ Stain easily if you use wear it on your wrist.

 

 

 

Santecare Mosquito Repellent Bracelet

Price: $6.50 for 2 bands
Ingredient: Natural Wild Tomato Extract (IBI-246). Deet Free.
Ease of use: 4/5
Scent: 2.5/5
Made in: Italy
Safe for the whole family.

What I like about:
▪ It’s clinically Tested.
▪ Comes with hello kitty rubber accessories
▪ This product is approved in Singapore, Hong Kong, EC and USA.
▪ It’s PROVEN that natural IBI-246 is more effective than the other anti-mosquito repellents.
▪ According to the product, it state that the natural ingredient found in wild tomato can confuse mosquitoes in recognizing human being, thus protect us from mosquito bites.

What I don’t like about:
▪ Only protects effectively for up to 24 hours
▪ I don’t really like the smells.

 

 

 

Share this post with your friends and family if you find this useful.
One pieces of advice, stock up a few in case it’s out of stock again. Just like when you need the mask during haze period and this time ZIKA!