Avon
Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Picaridin 4oz. Pump Spray
Spray · EPA-registered
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Pros
- A top all-rounder: 10% picaridin gives 5 to 7 hours on mosquitoes and 5 to 8 on ticks without DEET's greasy feel.
- Lighter to wear than heavy DEET, with aloe and vitamin E in the mix, though the alcohol base flashes off cool and a little sharp at first.
- Won't damage plastics or gear the way strong DEET can.
Cons
No significant downsides for its role.
The full review
Drop the sunscreen and Avon's picaridin line performs much better, with this 10% picaridin pump spray earning a clear recommended rating across the board. Picaridin is backed by definitive evidence, the safety read is clean apart from a minor aquatic-toxicity note, and 6 of 8 audited claims rate strong. Our model puts complete protection at 5 to 7 hours for mosquitoes and 5 to 8 for ticks, shorter than the label's reapply windows because those measure repellency rather than bite-free time. The only meaningful deduction is a small transparency ding, since only the 10% active is quantified even though the full formula is otherwise accounted for. It is a top all-rounder, lighter to wear than DEET, with aloe and vitamin E in the mix and no risk to plastics or gear.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%96Mosquitoes: 5–7 h of complete protection. Ticks: 5–8 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: 5–7 h of complete protection. Ticks: 5–8 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%97Picaridin is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 8 marketing claims audited: 6 strong, 2 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12).
Picaridin is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 8 marketing claims audited: 6 strong, 2 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12).
Safety15%96From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: no notable sensitization risk; low irritation; moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: no notable sensitization risk; low irritation; moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
Transparency15%87This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 11% 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 11% 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 spray (no format adjustment). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~12 h as repellency decays.
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 ~14 h as repellency decays. Buchel 2015: 10% picaridin tick CPT ~5 h (I. scapularis) to 8 h (I. ricinus), equal to or better than 20% DEET. Carroll 2010: 20% kept ticks off through the full 12 h test against the lone star tick; we cap at a defensible ~10 h.
Ingredient disclosure
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 11% of all ingredient concentrations (+2); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
- PicaridinActive
Active repellent · 10%
- Vitamin E
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 copolymer
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Fragrance
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Aloe barbadensis extract
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Acrylates/octylacrylamide copolymer
Inert · concentration not disclosed
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Repels gnats, no-seeums, sand flies, biting midges up to 6 hours”
DurationStrongConsistent with our complete-protection estimate (~8 h).
“Repels deer ticks (Lyme, Powassan) up to 12 hours”
EfficacyStrongtowelette label 806-30
“Dermatologist tested”
OtherModerateBrand testing claim; not independently verified.
“Repels deer ticks that may transmit Lyme disease for up to 12 hours”
DurationModerateWithin the partial-protection window: complete (bite-free) protection is ~8 h, with reduced protection persisting to ~14 h. The claimed 12 h is optimistic but plausible as partial protection.
“Repels a broad spectrum of biting insects (gnats, no-seeums, sand flies, biting midges)”
EfficacyStrongListed pests on the EPA-accepted label (reapply after 6 hours).
“DEET-free and oil-free, with low odor and a light, clean feel”
Deet FreeStrongAccurate; picaridin is the active and is widely characterized as low-odor.
“Repels mosquitoes that may transmit West Nile virus for up to 8 hours”
DurationStrongConsistent with our complete-protection estimate (~7 h).
“Picaridin 10%”
EfficacyStrongConfirmed on the EPA-accepted label and in the EPA registration database.
Safe around dogs & cats?
Worst case from this product’s active ingredients. Do not apply this or any human repellent to your pet.
Not veterinary advice. Full guide to repellents around pets →