I Would Not Have Survived the Summer Without These Kinfield Mosquito-Repellent Wipes

Although I do consider myself a snack (sorry, not sorry), I loathe the fact that mosquitos do, too. I'm not talking about a bite here and there, either: I'm saying I almost ended up in the ER last summer because they went to town on my ankles. (Oh, and let me just tell you, it sucks cutting your dinner date short because you're writhing in pain from bug bites—especially when it's actually going well.) I was never going to let this experience happen again, which is precisely why my Kinfield Golden Hour mosquito-repellent wipes ($20) review came just in time.

These citronella wipes were my biggest defense against vicious New York mosquitos for the past two summers, and I simply would not have survived without them. So, of course, I plan on keeping them on deck for all my upcoming vacations, too.

These wipes are compact, biodegradable and come individually wrapped, which is handy for travel. But what makes them different from other mosquito repellents is the special formula, which has reportedly been tested (in two rounds) against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (the kind that spread disease) by an independent lab, and has been found to offer an average of three hours of protection, according to the brand.

They're formulated with lemongrass, clove bud, lauric acid, vanillin and a special strand of Indonesian citronella called Cymbopogon winterianus, which contains higher amounts of the compounds that repel insects. (BTW, cheaper mosquito-repellent products are formulated with a less effective strain called Cymbopogon nardus, per Kinfield.)

In other words, they're highly effective against mosquitos—a fact I can confirm based on my tests.

Tear the package open, take out the wipe and rub it evenly across exposed skin (including your face!). You can also use it on your toddler, but don't get it on their hands. Kinfield says to avoid using it on open skin and recommends that you do a patch test before using it all over your body.

If it works for you, you can reapply it every two to three hours or as often as needed to help you stay protected against mosquitos.

My Review

Mosquitos were my biggest enemy last summer. As I said, I almost went to the ER in July 2022 because my ankles were throbbing and swollen from bites for a couple of days. I would have tried anything to ensure this never happened again. The Kinfield wipes felt like just the right choice, especially since they're supposed to protect you for up to three hours, and I could stick them in my purse whenever I knew I would be outside.

Once my skin passed the patch test (I rubbed a little bit on my face and arm and waited for three hours to make sure I didn't experience any weird reactions, like swelling, tingling or a rash), I applied it all over my arms, legs, stomach, neck and face right before I went to tan at the pool.

My initial reaction? This stuff smells strong! Although some buyers have mentioned a strong vanilla scent, I thought it was more of a citronella and lemongrass overload. It's not exactly unpleasant, but these wipes are not for you if you're sensitive to essential oil-like smells. Even after the three-hour test, it still smelled like I had just rubbed it on. (No need for perfume because you will smell like the plants.)

After two hours of tanning and swimming in the pool, I noticed I didn't have one bite. My ankles were smooth, my skin was itch-free and I was so happy I didn't have to rush back home for some aloe vera. I even went back to the same restaurant where I had experienced those vicious outdoor mosquitos, and I still didn't get any bites.

Since then, I've been using the wipes every time I know I'm going to be outside for a couple of hours, and I've noticed that reapplying them every two to three hours does help to keep me protected throughout the day. 

While summer is coming to an end, I have some vacations lined up over the next few months, so you better believe I have the Golden Hour wipes ready to go, since I feel like they make me practically bulletproof. And that means I can finally live out the hot girl fall/winter I deserve...because hot girls shouldn’t have to visit the ER over bug bites!

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