MOSQUITOES KILL THE VIBE, YOUR REPELLENT SHOULDN’T
The significance of TREK and TREK for Kids becoming the first ever topical products to receive the Seed Oil Free Certified status cannot be understated. Considering how prevalent seed oils are in other “natural” repellents, being water-based and 100% free of seed oils is a cornerstone of our innovation.
Do Some Insect Repellents Contain Seed Oils?
The truth is that most “natural” insect repellents are literally 96%+ seed oils, mostly soybean, corn, and solvent-refined walnut oil.
Although they employ essential oils as active ingredients similar to TREK, these products use seed oils as cost-effective “fillers” to carry the essential oils to the skin.
As seed oils stay a hot topic in health and wellness circles, more people than ever are actively avoiding them in their diets, and for good reason. Seed oils are among the most heavily processed ingredients in the food industry. In fact, once you learn the facts, it’s hard to see them as “natural.” However, no one is talking about seed oils on their most significant organ, your skin.
First, consider how seed oils are produced:
High-Heat & Chemical Extraction
- Seeds are usually crushed, then treated with solvents (commonly hexane, a petroleum byproduct).
- Oils are exposed to high heat during extraction and refining, which can cause oxidation of fatty acids and damage to delicate compounds.
- Residual solvent traces can remain, though typically at “regulated safe levels.”
Degumming, Bleaching, Deodorizing
- To make the oil look clear and taste neutral, it undergoes multiple refining steps.
- High-heat “deodorization” can create trans fats (small but measurable amounts).
- The process strips natural antioxidants (like vitamin E), leaving oils more prone to oxidation.
Oxidation & Rancidity
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are prevalent in seed oils, are chemically unstable.
- Heat, light, and oxygen exposure during processing lead to the formation of lipid peroxides and aldehydes, toxic byproducts associated with inflammation and cell damage.
YOUR SKIN IS YOUR SECOND MOUTH.
For millions of consumers, natural repellents are a more attractive option than pesticide-based repellents, such as DEET. The problem is, you're simply trading toxic pesticides for a greasy, rancid seed oil that would be better used cooking French fries. (But at least the French fries still taste good!)
But for a topical product that is 96% seed oil, the user experience is entirely dictated and dominated by it, an ongoing experience that leaves the skin greasy for hours. They can also disrupt your natural skin barrier, clog pores, and cause sunburn.
SEED OIL IS NOT SKINCARE.
The ONLY oils in TREK and TREK for Kids are the finest essential oils available on the market today. Becoming the first ever topical products to receive Seed Oil Free Certified status is a continued dedication to being the cleanest insect repellent on the market, because MOSQUITOES KILL THE VIBE, YOUR REPELLENT SHOULDN’T. Learn more about our natural insect repellents today!
