Avon
Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Picaridin Towelettes
Wipe · EPA-registered
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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 towelettes carry the same 10% picaridin 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 4 to 6 against ticks. Placement sits a touch below the sprays for two reasons, since the claim audit is a shade lighter and transparency loses a little where 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%93Mosquitoes: 4–6 h of complete protection. Ticks: 4–6 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: 4–6 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 7 marketing claims audited: 4 strong, 3 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 7 marketing claims audited: 4 strong, 3 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, 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 ~10 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 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)”
DurationModerateWithin the partial-protection window: complete (bite-free) protection is ~6 h, with reduced protection persisting to ~10 h. The claimed 12 h is optimistic but plausible as partial protection.
“Picaridin 10%”
EfficacyStrongConfirmed by EPA registration data.
“Repels mosquitoes that may transmit West Nile virus (up to 8 hours)”
DurationModerateWithin the partial-protection window: complete (bite-free) protection is ~6 h, with reduced protection persisting to ~10 h. The claimed 8 h is optimistic but plausible as partial protection.
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 →