Avon
Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535 Expedition SPF 30 Pump Spray
Spray · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. #806-33)
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Pros
- Genuinely gentle and well-studied, with the full formula on the label plus aloe and vitamin E in the base.
- Decent staying power for a milder active, roughly 4 to 8 hours against mosquitoes.
Cons
- The sunscreen combo is the dealbreaker: the CDC says apply sunscreen and repellent separately, since sunscreen needs frequent reapplying and repellent doesn't.
- IR3535 is milder than DEET or picaridin, so you aren't getting top-tier protection either.
The full review
This SPF 30 pump pairs 19.6% IR3535 with four sunscreen actives, and its underlying pillars are excellent: near-perfect safety, top-tier evidence, and high transparency for a fully accounted formula. It even earns credit for labeling reapplication honestly, roughly every 2 hours in line with its measured protection. Despite all that it remains not recommended, because combining repellent with sunscreen runs against CDC guidance to apply the two separately and forces you to overuse or underuse one active. IR3535 is also gentler than DEET or picaridin, and the label's 8-hour mosquito claim describes reduced biting, not complete protection. As a wear it is pleasant, with aloe and vitamin E in the base, but the combo format is the dealbreaker.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%94Mosquitoes: 4–8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 3–5 h of complete protection. 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 reasonable confidence.
Mosquitoes: 4–8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 3–5 h of complete protection. 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 reasonable confidence.
Evidence & honest claims25%100IR3535 is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 6 marketing claims audited: 4 strong, 2 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12). Honestly labels reapplication (~every 2 h) in line with its measured protection (+4).
IR3535 is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 6 marketing claims audited: 4 strong, 2 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12). Honestly labels reapplication (~every 2 h) in line with its measured protection (+4).
Safety15%100From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: no notable sensitization risk; low irritation.
From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: no notable sensitization risk; low irritation.
Transparency15%91This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 42% of all ingredient concentrations (+6); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 42% of all ingredient concentrations (+6); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
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 (moderate confidence)
Estimated complete protection time from active ingredient + concentration; the source research used a spray-style formulation, matching this spray (no format adjustment). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~14 h as repellency decays. IR3535's protection is species-variable: ~9–10 h against Aedes/Culex in the lab but only ~4 h against Anopheles (Thavara 2001), and it needed ~2× the DEET dose for equal protection (Costantini 2004). The Ghana 2025 ~9 h figure is percentage efficacy, not a measured complete-protection time. Hence the wide 4–8 h band.
Tick estimate basis (moderate confidence)
Estimated complete protection time from active ingredient + concentration; the source research used a spray-style formulation, matching this spray (no format adjustment). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~9 h as repellency decays. IR3535's protection is species-variable: ~9–10 h against Aedes/Culex in the lab but only ~4 h against Anopheles (Thavara 2001), and it needed ~2× the DEET dose for equal protection (Costantini 2004). The Ghana 2025 ~9 h figure is percentage efficacy, not a measured complete-protection time. Hence the wide 4–8 h band.
Ingredient disclosure
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 42% of all ingredient concentrations (+6); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
- OctisalateActive
Sunscreen active · 5%
- IR3535Active
Active repellent · 19.6%
- OctocryleneActive
Sunscreen active · 10%
- OctinoxateActive
Sunscreen active · 7.5%
- OxybenzoneActive
Sunscreen active · 6%
- Fragrance
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Vitamin E
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Aloe barbadensis extract
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Hexylene glycol
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Water
Inert / Carrier · concentration not disclosed
- SD Alcohol 40-B
Inert / Carrier · concentration not disclosed
- Polyurethane-1
Inert · concentration not disclosed
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“DEET-free”
Deet FreeStrongAccurate; the repellent active is IR3535.
“Protects against gnats, no-seeums, sand flies, and biting midges”
EfficacyStrongListed pests on the EPA-accepted label (reapply after 6 hours).
“Provides SPF 30 sunscreen protection, very water resistant”
OtherModerateFDA OTC sunscreen claim with four labeled actives. CDC/EPA generally advise against combination repellent-sunscreen products because reapplication needs differ.
“IR3535 19.7%”
EfficacyStrongConfirmed by EPA registration data and the EPA-accepted label.
“8 hours of protection against mosquitoes”
DurationStrongEPA-listed protection time; label directs mosquito reapplication after 8 hours.
“Up to 10 hours of protection against deer ticks”
DurationModerateRe-evaluated against our corrected complete-protection estimate (~5 h): the claimed 10 h is 2.0× our estimate, so this duration claim is optimistic but plausible (a label maximum).
How to apply it
Spray liberally and rub on evenly 15 minutes before sun and insect exposure; to apply to the face, spray your palm and rub on, avoiding the eye area. Do not apply over wounds, freshly shaved, or irritated skin. An adult must apply this product to children under age 10; ask a doctor before use on children under 6 months. Per the label, reapply after 10 hours for deer ticks, 8 hours for mosquitoes, and 6 hours for gnats, no-seeums, sand flies, and biting midges; for sunscreen protection, reapply immediately after towel drying, after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, and at least every 2 hours. Do not exceed 3 applications per day.