Bullfrog
Bullfrog Mosquito Coast Sunscreen + Insect Repellent SPF 50
Spray · EPA-registered
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Pros
- Strong evidence behind its 20% IR3535, with 7 of 8 audited claims holding up and aloe and vitamin E in the base.
- Genuinely long wear for a milder active, 4 to 8 hours against mosquitoes.
Cons
- It's a sunscreen-repellent combo the CDC advises against, since SPF 50 needs frequent reapplying and repellent doesn't.
- Packing a heavy sunscreen and a repellent in one bottle means overapplying one active to get enough of the other.
The full review
On the pillars alone this SPF 50 two-in-one spray looks excellent, with top marks for evidence and safety and a nearly complete accounting behind its 20% IR3535. We still mark it not recommended, and the reason is structural: it is a combination sunscreen and repellent, and the CDC advises applying the two separately. Sunscreen needs frequent reapplication while repellent does not, so one bottle pushes you to overuse one active or underuse the other. The repellent side is genuinely solid, with modeled complete protection of 4 to 8 hours against mosquitoes and 5 to 8 against ticks, 7 of 8 claims auditing strong, and honest reapplication labeling. IR3535 is also milder than DEET or picaridin, so even setting the combo issue aside it is not the strongest protection here.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%96Mosquitoes: 4–8 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: 4–8 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%100IR3535 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: 7 strong, 1 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 85). Of 8 marketing claims audited: 7 strong, 1 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%94This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 62% of all ingredient concentrations (+9); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 62% of all ingredient concentrations (+9); 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 ~14 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 (low 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 (EPA protocol): 10% IR3535 gave ~3.5-4 h against Ixodes, the weakest of the major actives. Higher figures (Carroll 2008/2010) come from uncontrolled trials, so concentrations above 15% are LOW confidence.
Ingredient disclosure
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 62% of all ingredient concentrations (+9); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
- AvobenzoneActive
Sunscreen active · 3%
- HomosalateActive
Sunscreen active · 10%
- OctinoxateActive
Sunscreen active · 7.5%
- OctisalateActive
Sunscreen active · 5%
- IR3535Active
Active repellent · 20%
- OctocryleneActive
Sunscreen active · 5%
- Vitamin E
Inactive ingredient (skin conditioner) · concentration not disclosed
- C12-15 alkyl benzoate
Inactive ingredient (emollient) · concentration not disclosed
- Fragrance
Inactive ingredient · concentration not disclosed
- Acrylates/octylacrylamide copolymer
Inactive ingredient · concentration not disclosed
- Octyl methoxycinnamate
Sunscreen active (FDA drug) · 7.5%
- SD Alcohol 40
Inactive ingredient (carrier/solvent) · 47%
- Aloe barbadensis leaf oil
Inactive ingredient (skin conditioner) · concentration not disclosed
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Repels mosquitoes that may carry/transmit Zika and Dengue fever”
EfficacyStrongIR3535 at 20% (doseAdequacy 1.0) is an EPA-registered active giving 4-8 h complete mosquito protection, and the Zika/Dengue vector claim appears on the EPA-accepted label.
“Water resistant up to 80 minutes”
EfficacyStrongDrug Facts on EPA label.
“Suitable for the entire family”
Kid SafeModerateEPA-accepted optional label claim, but label restricts: adult must apply to children under 10; under 6 months only with physician advice; max 3 applications/day for children.
“Water resistant (80 minutes)”
OtherStrongStandard FDA sunscreen water-resistance claim on the label.
“DEET-free and picaridin-free formula”
Deet FreeStrongSole repellent active is IR3535.
“Broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen plus insect repellent in one”
OtherStrongCombination FDA OTC sunscreen drug facts panel plus EPA-registered repellent on the same label.
“Repels mosquitoes for up to 8 hours”
DurationStrongConsistent with our complete-protection estimate (~8 h).
“Contains 20% IR3535 insect repellent”
EfficacyStrongConfirmed by EPA registration 99262-3 and the EPA-accepted master label.
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 →