Ben's
Ben's 30 Tick & Insect Repellent Wipes
Wipe · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. #56575-13)
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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 controlled application. The same fundamentals carry it as the spray version: a definitive DEET evidence base, a clean safety read, and all 5 marketing claims auditing as strong. The wipe format trims the window slightly, with our model showing 5 to 6 hours of complete mosquito protection and 2 to 4 against ticks, so the label's 'up to 7 hours' should be read as reduced biting rather than bite-free time. Transparency is the only soft spot, reflecting full active disclosure but an incomplete inert accounting. For face and neck use where measured application 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%91Mosquitoes: 5–6 h of complete protection. Ticks: 2–4 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: 2–4 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 ~7 h as repellency decays.
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”
DurationStrongApproved on the 2022 EPA-amended label; some retail copy says '8 hours', but 7 hours is the label-approved figure found.
“DEET 30%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration confirmed on the EPA-accepted label (Reg. No. 56575-13).
How to apply it
Tear open the sachet, unfold the wipe, and apply to all exposed skin, applying sparingly around the ears; wash hands after applying. Do not use under clothing, do not apply to eyes or mouth, and do not apply to the hands of young children — do not allow children to handle the product; apply it to your child yourself. Frequent reapplication and saturation are unnecessary; reapply as needed (after roughly 7 hours) or after swimming or showering. If using with sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and the repellent second, and wash treated skin with soap and water after returning indoors.