Female No-See-Ums are drawn to 2 main things when looking for a blood meal in order to reproduce. These are Carbon Dioxide and Lactic Acid. This is what signals them that there is a host meal nearby. No-See-ums are actually a biting midge - there are over 4,000 species of these tiny gnat-like insects that inflict painful bites. These bites can lead to severe itching, bumps, hives and lesions that typically take several weeks for complete resolution to occur. With this information, education and research, Sea Anchored Secrets set out to allow those that live and play in these climates relief from these pesky little insects with an all-natural product. While we can’t stop emitting carbon dioxide, Sea Anchored Secrets has a solution for the rest. Our Bug Barrier Deterrent works in a few ways. First, the natural botanicas and actives we use drive them away. Our blend of ingredients is distasteful and malodorous to No-See-Ums. Secondly, it helps to mask the lactic acid humans emit naturally. These ingredients have a dual function, 1) to leave a topical layer on your skin to aid in the masking of the body’s natural odiferous emissions and 2) this layer acts as a barrier that No-See-Ums have difficulty penetrating. This isn’t the typical “bug spray” - there is no need to wipe this product off at the end of the day, in fact, leaving it on may help your skin.