Walgreens
Walgreens Light & Clean Insect Repellent
Spray · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. #121-89-9688)
Pros
- Surprising value: an EPA-label 8 hours from just 7% picaridin, with a light, clean feel.
- Fully disclosed and EPA-registered.
Cons
- Lower 7% picaridin, so real-world wear may fall short of the label on a hot, sweaty day.
The full review
This Walgreens store-brand spray earns a recommended verdict in our maximum protection tier, carried by its 7% picaridin formula. Picaridin rests on definitive published evidence, all three audited marketing claims hold up strong, and the skin safety reads close to perfect with no notable sensitization or irritation. The EPA-registered label (Reg. #121-89-9688) cites up to 8 hours against mosquitoes and 5 against ticks; those figures describe reduced biting rather than bite-free time, and the maker labels reapplication honestly at roughly the same interval. What costs it a little is transparency: active concentrations are fully disclosed, but the inert ingredients are never accounted for. A mild aquatic-toxicity note trims the safety pillar slightly, and at the lower 7% strength real-world wear may fall a bit short of the label on a hot, sweaty day.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%98Mosquitoes: 8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 5 h of complete protection. Protection times come from the product's EPA-registered label (a manufacturer maximum, capped to a defensible ceiling). Scored on a saturating curve (each added hour counts less than the last), 65% mosquito / 35% tick, with reasonable confidence.
Mosquitoes: 8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 5 h of complete protection. Protection times come from the product's EPA-registered label (a manufacturer maximum, capped to a defensible ceiling). Scored on a saturating curve (each added hour counts less than the last), 65% mosquito / 35% tick, with reasonable confidence.
Evidence & honest claims25%82Picaridin is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 66). Of 3 marketing claims audited: 3 strong, 0 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12). Honestly labels reapplication (~every 8 h) in line with its measured protection (+4).
Picaridin is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 66). Of 3 marketing claims audited: 3 strong, 0 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12). Honestly labels reapplication (~every 8 h) in line with its measured protection (+4).
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)
From the product's EPA-registered label (manufacturer maximum against mosquitos, treated as an upper bound). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~14 h as repellency decays.
Tick estimate basis (moderate confidence)
From the product's EPA-registered label (manufacturer maximum against ticks, treated as an upper bound). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~9 h as repellency decays.
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 · 7%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Picaridin 7%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration from EPA registration database.
“Up to 5 hours of protection against ticks”
DurationStrongEPA label-approved protection time based on efficacy data submitted by the manufacturer.
“DEET-free formula”
Deet FreeStrongWell supported by published evidence
How to apply it
Apply to exposed skin per product label directions. Reapply when protection time expires or after swimming, sweating, or toweling off. EPA-approved reapplication interval: approximately every 8 hours for mosquitoes.