Ben's
Ben's 30 Tick & Insect Repellent Wipes
Wipe · EPA-registered
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Pros
- Travel-perfect: pre-dosed 30% DEET wipes give 5 to 6 hours with no spray, no leaks, and easy face application.
Cons
- A wipe spreads less evenly than a spray, so be thorough on ankles and arms.
- It's still DEET, so wash your hands after and keep it off plastics.
The full review
Packaged as individually wrapped towelettes, this 30% DEET wipe is a confident recommended pick for travel and measured application. The fundamentals are strong: DEET's evidence is as settled as repellent science gets, the skin safety reads clean, and all 5 audited marketing claims hold up. Our model puts complete protection at 5 to 6 hours against mosquitoes and 4 to 6 against ticks, so the label's 'up to 7 hours' should be read as reduced biting rather than bite-free time. The only soft spot is a transparency ding, reflecting full active disclosure but a thin accounting of the inert formula. For face and neck use where controlled dosing matters, the pre-dosed wipes are a tidy, leak-free way to carry DEET.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%94Mosquitoes: 5–6 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: 5–6 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%97DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 5 marketing claims audited: 5 strong, 0 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12).
DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 5 marketing claims audited: 5 strong, 0 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%89This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 25% of all ingredient concentrations (+4); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 25% of all ingredient concentrations (+4); 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. Ticks only: estimated against Ixodes scapularis (the US Lyme vector). DEET is notably weaker against the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and some dog-tick (Dermacentor) populations, and weaker on ticks than on mosquitoes. Anchors: Burtis 2024 (CDC), 25% DEET held >=97% skin repellency through 6.5 h; Buchel 2015, 20% median tick CPT ~4-4.5 h.
Ingredient disclosure
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 25% of all ingredient concentrations (+4); the full formula including inerts is accounted for (+25).
- DEETActive
Active repellent · 30%
- Dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Propylene glycol
Inert · concentration not disclosed
- Water
Inert / Carrier · concentration not disclosed
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Fragrance-free formula”
SafetyStrongAmazon
“Repels ticks and mosquitoes that may carry Lyme disease, Zika, West Nile virus, and dengue fever”
EfficacyStrongDisease-vector claims appear on the EPA-accepted label.
“Water-based, alcohol-free formula”
OtherStrong'Contains No Alcohol' is approved label text; inerts are water, DPM ether, and propylene glycol.
“Up to 7 hours of protection”
DurationStrongConsistent with our complete-protection estimate (~6 h).
“DEET 30%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration confirmed on the EPA-accepted label (Reg. No. 56575-13).
Safe around dogs & cats?
Worst case from this product’s active ingredients. Do not apply this or any human repellent to your pet.
Mainly from DEET.
Mainly from DEET.
Not veterinary advice. Full guide to repellents around pets →