Avon
Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535 Gentle Breeze SPF 30 Lotion
Lotion · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. #806-13)
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Pros
- The nicest of Avon's combos to wear: glycerin, aloe, and vitamin E give it a real moisturizing-lotion feel that rubs right in.
- IR3535 is gentle and well-studied, an easy active for sensitive skin.
Cons
- Still a sunscreen-repellent combo the CDC says to avoid, since sunscreen needs frequent reapplying and repellent doesn't.
- At 7.5% IR3535 it's a mild repellent, so don't expect heavy-duty protection.
The full review
A 2-in-1 lotion with 7.5% IR3535 and SPF 30 sunscreen, this one is not recommended for a structural reason rather than any flaw in the formula. It is a combination repellent and sunscreen, and the CDC advises applying those separately so you don't overuse or underuse one active. Safety is essentially perfect and Avon honestly labels reapplication at about every 2 hours, but the low 7.5% IR3535 keeps complete protection modest at 4 to 5 hours for mosquitoes, and the diluted active also softens the evidence base. Transparency is solid given full disclosure of the formula, though only a small share of it is quantified. It is the nicest of Avon's combos to wear, with glycerin, aloe, and vitamin E giving it a real moisturizing feel.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%90Mosquitoes: 4–5 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: 4–5 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%85IR3535 is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 69). Of 8 marketing claims audited: 3 strong, 5 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 69). Of 8 marketing claims audited: 3 strong, 5 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%87This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 16% of all ingredient concentrations (+2); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 16% of all ingredient concentrations (+2); 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 lotion (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.
Tick estimate basis (moderate confidence)
Estimated complete protection time from active ingredient + concentration; the source research used a spray-style formulation, matching this lotion (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 16% of all ingredient concentrations (+2); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
- IR3535Active
Active repellent · 7.5%
- Glyceryl stearate
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Stearic acid
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Vitamin E
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Xanthan gum
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Barium sulfate
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Benzyl alcohol
Inert / Preservative · concentration not disclosed
- Water
Inert / Carrier · concentration not disclosed
- Octinoxate
Active sunscreen (FDA OTC) · 7.5%
- Oxybenzone
Active sunscreen (FDA OTC) · 6%
- Octisalate
Active sunscreen (FDA OTC) · 5%
- Fragrance
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Aloe barbadensis extract
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Butylene glycol
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- VP/Eicosene copolymer
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Propylene glycol myristyl ether acetate
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Isostearic acid
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Magnesium aluminum silicate
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Cetyl alcohol
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Dimethicone
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Diglycol/CHDM/isophthalates/SIP copolymer
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- DEA-oleth-3 phosphate
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Imidazolidinyl urea
Inert / Preservative · concentration not disclosed
- Glycerin
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Disodium EDTA
Inert · concentration not disclosed
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“2-in-1 sunscreen and DEET-free insect repellent”
Deet FreeStrongEPA label 806-13
“Non-greasy, with vitamin E and aloe; non-comedogenic, dermatologist-tested and hypoallergenic”
OtherModerateBrand cosmetic/testing claims; not independently verified.
“Provides SPF 30 sunscreen protection”
OtherModerateFDA OTC sunscreen claim with three labeled actives. CDC/EPA generally advise against combination repellent-sunscreen products because reapplication needs differ.
“PABA-free and DEET-free”
Deet FreeStrongAccurate; the repellent active is IR3535.
“Repels mosquitoes that may transmit West Nile virus”
EfficacyModerateIR3535 at 7.5% is borderline-dosed (doseAdequacy 0.75, effective dose ~10%), giving only ~2 h complete protection per EPA data though the West Nile mosquito claim is EPA-registered.
“Repels deer ticks that may transmit Lyme disease”
EfficacyModerateIR3535 at 7.5% is borderline-dosed (doseAdequacy 0.75); EPA lists only ~2 h tick protection for registration 806-13.
“Repels black flies, sand flies, gnats, no-seeums, and biting midges”
EfficacyModerateIR3535 at 7.5% is borderline-dosed (doseAdequacy 0.75) though the black/sand flies, gnats, no-seeums, and midges are listed on the EPA-accepted label.
“IR3535 7.5%”
EfficacyStrongConfirmed by EPA registration data and Avon's published ingredient list.
How to apply it
Apply liberally and evenly to exposed skin 15 minutes before sun and insect exposure. An adult must apply this product to children under age 10; ask a doctor before use on children under 6 months. For insect protection, reapply about every 2 hours or sooner if effectiveness diminishes; for sunscreen protection, reapply immediately after towel drying, after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, and at least every 2 hours. Do not exceed 9 applications per day, and keep out of eyes and broken skin.