Avon
Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Picaridin Towelettes
Wipe · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. #806-30)
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Pros
- Mess-free and travel-ready: wiped on rather than sprayed, so no overspray and easy to use on your face or pack for a trip.
- Real protection in a wipe, 4 to 6 hours on mosquitoes from 10% picaridin, with none of DEET's greasiness.
Cons
- A wipe lays down less active than a full spray, so coverage on arms and legs can be patchy if you rush.
The full review
These individually wrapped picaridin towelettes carry the same 10% active as the sprays and land comfortably in recommended territory. The picaridin evidence base and clean safety profile keep those pillars high, and the wipe still delivers a useful 4 to 6 hours of complete mosquito protection and 3 to 5 against ticks. The placement sits a touch below the sprays for two reasons: one of the 7 audited claims rated weak, trimming the evidence pillar, and transparency loses a little since only the active is quantified. The label's reapply windows describe repellency, so expect the real bite-free interval to be shorter. Mess-free and travel-ready, a wipe lays down less active than a full spray, so be thorough on arms and legs.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%92Mosquitoes: 4–6 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: 4–6 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%93Picaridin is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 7 marketing claims audited: 4 strong, 2 moderate, 1 weak, 0 unsupported (+8).
Picaridin is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 7 marketing claims audited: 4 strong, 2 moderate, 1 weak, 0 unsupported (+8).
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, adjusted down for this wipe format (×0.80). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~10 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, adjusted down for this wipe format (×0.80). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~8 h as repellency decays.
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 deer ticks (Lyme, Powassan) up to 12 hours”
EfficacyStrongtowelette label 806-30
“Dermatologist tested”
OtherModerateBrand testing claim; not independently verified.
“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.
“Repels deer ticks that may transmit Lyme disease (up to 12 hours)”
DurationWeakRe-evaluated against our corrected complete-protection estimate (~5 h): the claimed 12 h is 2.4× our estimate, so this duration claim is thinly supported.
“Picaridin 10%”
EfficacyStrongConfirmed by EPA registration data.
“Repels mosquitoes that may transmit West Nile virus (up to 8 hours)”
DurationModerateRe-evaluated against our corrected complete-protection estimate (~6 h): the claimed 8 h is 1.3× our estimate, so this duration claim is optimistic but plausible (a label maximum).
How to apply it
Open the package, unfold the towelette, and wipe evenly and liberally over exposed skin before insect exposure; adults may need more than one towelette. Do not apply near eyes and mouth, apply sparingly around ears, and do not apply under clothing or on cuts, wounds, freshly shaved, excessively sunburned, or irritated skin. Do not allow children to handle the product or apply it to children's hands; ask a doctor before use on children under 6 months. Reapply after 12 hours for deer ticks, 8 hours for mosquitoes, and 6 hours for gnats, no-seeums, sand flies, and biting midges; do not exceed 2 applications per day, and wash off with soap and water when returning indoors.