SallyeAnder
SallyeAnder No-Bite-Me Bug Repellent Cream
Balm · FIFRA 25(b) minimum risk repellent product (exempt from EPA registration)
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Pros
- A cream you rub in by hand, with a strong herbal scent and a loyal following.
Cons
- No concentrations disclosed, so strength can't be verified, and there's no proven protection.
- A dense clove-and-lemongrass blend makes it fairly sensitizing.
The full review
This handmade botanical cream is soothing to wear and has a loyal following, but as a repellent it lands a clear not recommended, flagged for both an undisclosed formula and no proven mosquito protection. Because none of the active concentrations are published, our model cannot estimate any protection window, so the effectiveness pillar bottoms out. The evidence is thin, with only 1 of 5 audited claims rating strong and two coming back weak. Safety is the bigger problem, driven by lemongrass oil's high sensitization risk and clove oil's high irritation risk, plus a pregnancy caution. The actives do come from the EPA minimum-risk list, but with nothing quantified, transparency is very low and the formula simply cannot be verified to work.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%10Mosquitoes: protection cannot be modeled because the active concentration is undisclosed. Ticks: protection cannot be modeled because the active concentration is undisclosed. Protection times are modeled from the actives, concentration, and format (see methodology). Scored on a saturating curve (each added hour counts less than the last), 65% mosquito / 35% tick, with lower confidence.
Mosquitoes: protection cannot be modeled because the active concentration is undisclosed. Ticks: protection cannot be modeled because the active concentration is undisclosed. Protection times are modeled from the actives, concentration, and format (see methodology). Scored on a saturating curve (each added hour counts less than the last), 65% mosquito / 35% tick, with lower confidence.
Evidence & honest claims25%41Cedarwood oil is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 43). Of 5 marketing claims audited: 1 strong, 2 moderate, 2 weak, 0 unsupported (-2).
Cedarwood oil is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 43). Of 5 marketing claims audited: 1 strong, 2 moderate, 2 weak, 0 unsupported (-2).
Safety15%60From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: high skin-sensitization risk from Lemongrass oil (−18); high irritation risk from Clove oil (−12); caution advised in pregnancy (−6); moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: high skin-sensitization risk from Lemongrass oil (−18); high irritation risk from Clove oil (−12); caution advised in pregnancy (−6); moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
Transparency15%20This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 0% of active concentrations (+0); discloses 0% of all ingredient concentrations (+0); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 0% of active concentrations (+0); discloses 0% of all ingredient concentrations (+0); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
Every pillar is scored from published rules. Read how we score.
How long it protects
Complete protection ends when the first bite gets through; partial protection keeps reducing bites as repellency decays. EPA label times are verified; the rest are modeled from the actives, concentration, and format.
Mosquito estimate basis (low confidence)
No protection time estimated — this product's label doesn't disclose the active ingredient's concentration, and protection depends on both the ingredient and its strength.
Tick estimate basis (low confidence)
No protection time estimated — this product's label doesn't disclose the active ingredient's concentration, and protection depends on both the ingredient and its strength.
Ingredient disclosure
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 0% of active concentrations (+0); discloses 0% of all ingredient concentrations (+0); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
Only active ingredients are disclosed. The full ingredient list (inerts/carriers) is not published, so this may not be the complete formula.
Active ingredient concentrations are not published for this product.
- Cedarwood oilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Clove oilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Rosemary oilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Geranium oilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Thyme oilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- Lemongrass oilActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
- EugenolActive
Active repellent · concentration not disclosed
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“2-in-1 bug repellent and after-bite itch relief”
EfficacyWeakThe after-bite/itch-relief half rests on the same undisclosed essential-oil base (doseAdequacy 0.5) with no clinical support, and the repellent half is unverified.
“Safe for babies, kids, and pets”
Kid SafeModerateStated on brand page and Amazon listing title ('Safe for Kids, Infants & Adults'); marketing claim, not a regulatory determination.
“DEET-free, 100% natural formula”
Deet FreeStrongNo DEET; only plant and essential oils.
“Provides up to 4 hours of protection”
DurationModerateStated on official product page; manufacturer-provided, not EPA efficacy-tested.
“Repels mosquitoes, black flies, ticks, and fleas”
EfficacyWeakManufacturer claim; no EPA efficacy registration (FIFRA 25(b) exempt).
How to apply it
Dab thin fingerprint-size amounts of cream every 4 inches on exposed skin and rub in (arms, legs, ankles, behind ears, neck, and face), then rub any remaining cream over hair. Apply over sunscreen. Not waterproof or sweat-proof; reapply after water exposure.