BUGGINS
BUGGINS Insect Repellent X 20% Picaridin
Spray · EPA-registered
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Pros
- Long, heavy-duty protection without DEET, 8 to 10 hours on mosquitoes and 8 to 10 on ticks from 20% picaridin.
- Picaridin's light, low-odor feel plus full ingredient disclosure make this an easy daily pick.
Cons
No significant downsides for its role.
The full review
A DEET-free 20% picaridin pump spray, this earns a recommended, maximum-protection placement. The effectiveness pillar is outstanding on modeled complete protection of 8 to 10 hours against mosquitoes and 8 to 10 against ticks, so the label's 'up to 12 hours' is measuring reduced biting, not a bite-free window. Picaridin's evidence underpins a strong showing, safety reads clean, and 5 of 6 audited claims hold up strong. The clear weak point is transparency: the active and its concentration are disclosed, but the inert formula is left unaccounted for, which pulls that pillar down hard. With a light scent and a two-applications-per-day label limit, it is a capable all-day option for anyone avoiding DEET, light and low-odor to wear.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%100Mosquitoes: 8–10 h of complete protection. Ticks: 8–10 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: 8–10 h of complete protection. Ticks: 8–10 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 6 marketing claims audited: 5 strong, 1 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 6 marketing claims audited: 5 strong, 1 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%75This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
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 ~18 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 ~18 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 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
Only active ingredients are disclosed. The full ingredient list (inerts/carriers) is not published, so this may not be the complete formula.
- PicaridinActive
Active repellent · 20%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Citrus Green Tea scent”
EfficacyStrongbrand
“Nice, pleasant scent”
OtherModerateSubjective sensory claim from the brand page.
“DEET-free formula”
Deet FreeStrongActive is picaridin; contains no DEET.
“Repels mosquitoes and ticks for up to 12 hours”
DurationStrongConsistent with our complete-protection estimate (~10 h).
“Repels biting flies, stable flies, black flies, gnats, chiggers, sand flies, biting midges, and no-see-ums for up to 8 hours”
DurationStrongConsistent with our complete-protection estimate (~10 h).
“Picaridin 20%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient declaration from the EPA-registered label (Reg. No. 67867-8).
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 →
The label
Ingredients, warnings, and directions from the package label. Read it before you buy.
