DEET-Free Bug Guard
Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard: DEET-Free Mosquito and Tick Protection
The Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard line uses Picaridin and IR3535 instead of DEET. Up to 8 hours of protection against mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, and biting flies. Family-safe, light feel, and built for the outdoors.
Picaridin Aerosol
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DEET-Free
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Picaridin or IR3535
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Up to 8 Hours
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Sun + Bug In One
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Family-Safe
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With Vitamin E
Choose your trail
Find the best Avon Bug Guard for your outdoor plans
Mosquitoes love early mornings and golden hour. Ticks live wherever there's grass. Sun is everywhere. Bug Guard has a formula for each of them.
Sunscreen and insect repellent in one
SPF 28 or 30 plus IR3535 in one bottle. For lakes, beaches, and full sun days outside.
See SPF formulasMosquito protection for dusk and evening
20% Picaridin gives 8 hours of DEET-free protection through cookouts and campfires.
See PicaridinBug spray for hiking, camping, and lake days
Aerosols, pumps, and towelettes for paddling, hiking, and life away from the dock.
Outdoor formulasAfter-bite itch relief
1% hydrocortisone spray for fast, cool relief on the bites that get through.
See Anti-Itch
Most loved by Avon shoppers
Popular Avon Bug Guard products
From an Avon scientific advisor
"Picaridin and IR3535 are two of the most studied DEET-alternatives in the world. They give the same protection people expect from DEET, without the heavy, oily feel."
Dan Strickman, M.S., Ph.D — Public Health Entomologist
What's in the bottle
DEET-free active ingredients: Picaridin and IR3535
Bug Guard is built around the two most-recommended DEET alternatives in the world. Here's the difference at a glance.
Picaridin
Used in Bug Guard's purple-cap aerosol, pump sprays, and towelettes. 20% concentration gives up to 8 hours of mosquito and tick protection. Light feel, low odor, won't damage gear or plastics.
In: Aerosol, Pump, Family Size, TowelettesIR3535
Pairs naturally with sunscreen, which is why it's in the SPF 28 Expedition Aerosol and SPF 30 Gentle Breeze Lotion. CDC-recommended, registered with the EPA, and gentle enough for daily wear.
In: SPF 28 Aerosol, SPF 30 Lotion, Expedition 4ozDEET-free protection
Every Bug Guard formula is DEET-free. No melted plastic on watch faces. No greasy residue on jackets. Lighter on skin and on gear, with the same protection people came to DEET for in the first place.
In: Every Bug Guard product
Common questions
Avon Bug Guard FAQs
Picaridin and DEET are both EPA-registered and considered safe when used as directed. Picaridin is generally preferred for comfort: it's odorless, won't damage plastics or fabrics, and feels light on skin. The CDC lists Picaridin as one of its recommended repellents for protection against mosquitoes and ticks.
For everyday outdoor use, yes. IR3535 has been used in Europe for over 30 years and is registered with the EPA. It pairs cleanly with sunscreen, which is why Bug Guard uses it in the SPF 28 Expedition Aerosol and SPF 30 Gentle Breeze Lotion.
Bug Guard is family-safe when used as directed on the label. Many parents reach for the Gentle Breeze SPF 30 Lotion for kids because it goes on as a lotion and combines sun and bug protection in one step. Always avoid the eyes, mouth, and any cuts, and apply thinly to children's hands so they don't transfer it.
Up to 8 hours for mosquito and tick protection in the Picaridin and IR3535 formulas. The SPF formulas should be reapplied every 2 hours for sunscreen efficacy, even though the bug protection itself lasts longer.
The Picaridin formulas are EPA-registered for use against mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, and biting flies. For tick country, pair Picaridin on skin with a permethrin-treated outer layer for full coverage.
That came from generations of fans noticing fewer bites after using the Original Bath Oil. It is not an EPA-registered repellent, so for serious mosquito or tick protection, choose one of the Bug Guard products. Many longtime fans still buy the Original Bath Oil for the scent and the soft skin it's known for.