CVS
CVS Insect Repellent
Spray · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. #498-154-22946)
Pros
- A dependable drugstore 15% DEET spray, about 3 hours of cover with both audited claims holding up.
- EPA-registered and fully disclosed at a budget price.
Cons
- Mid-strength, so plan to reapply, and keep it off plastics like any DEET.
The full review
This drugstore 15% DEET spray lands a clean recommended, an easy budget pick when you do not need all-day coverage. The science behind DEET is about as settled as repellent evidence gets, the skin safety reads nearly spotless, and both audited marketing claims hold up, with the brand honestly labeling reapplication around every 3 hours in step with what it delivers. Per its EPA-registered label (Reg. #498-154-22946), expect roughly 3 hours of complete mosquito protection and 2 to 3 against ticks, an honest, modest figure rather than an overpromise. The mid strength and that shorter window keep it from the top tier, and a small transparency ding reflects the undisclosed inert list. Plan to reapply, and keep it off plastics like any DEET.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%81Mosquitoes: 3 h of complete protection. Ticks: 2–3 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: 3 h of complete protection. Ticks: 2–3 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%97DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 2 marketing claims audited: 2 strong, 0 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+8). Honestly labels reapplication (~every 3 h) in line with its measured protection (+4).
DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 2 marketing claims audited: 2 strong, 0 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+8). Honestly labels reapplication (~every 3 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 ~5 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 ~5 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.
- DEETActive
Active repellent · 15%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“DEET 15%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration from EPA registration database.
“Up to 3 hours of protection against mosquitoes”
DurationStrongEPA label-approved protection time based on efficacy data submitted by the manufacturer.
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 3 hours for mosquitoes.