Best Mosquito Repellents for Skin: Lotions, Body Sprays and OLE

The best mosquito repellent for skin is OFF!'s Adults & Kids picaridin lotion: it is unscented, goes on smoothly without an oily or sticky feel, and the maker labels it for children from six months up as well as adults. OFF! Clean Feel is the best body spray, with 20% picaridin in a fragrance-free aerosol, OFF! Deep Woods Dry is the 25% DEET choice for heavy mosquito areas, and Repel's lemon eucalyptus 4-pack is the plant-based option. Use any of them on exposed skin only, in a thin, even layer.

What Makes a Good Skin Repellent

A skin repellent has two jobs: keep mosquitoes from biting and be pleasant enough that you actually put it on every time. The first comes down to the active ingredient. CDC's advice on preventing mosquito bites points to EPA-registered products with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone, and notes that how well unregistered repellents work, including some natural ones, is unknown.

The second job is about feel. Picaridin is nearly odorless and light, which is why picaridin lotions and sprays suit daily use on arms, legs and neck. DEET protects just as well but has a noticeable smell and can soften plastics and synthetic fabrics. Oil of lemon eucalyptus smells strongly of citrus and needs reapplying sooner. A lotion lets you place repellent precisely on the face, ears and neck; a spray covers legs and arms faster.

Products that rely on citronella, peppermint, cedar or soybean oil without one of the registered actives tend to wear off quickly, and wristbands and patches protect only the skin right next to them. If you want a plant-derived ingredient, oil of lemon eucalyptus is the one with registration behind it.

Best Mosquito Repellent for Adults

Adults have the widest choice, since age limits on the label do not apply. For an evening on the porch or an hour in the garden, a picaridin lotion or spray at moderate strength is plenty. For a full day by the water or in the woods, a 20% picaridin product or a 25% DEET spray gives longer protection between applications. Higher DEET strengths mostly stretch the time before you reapply; they do not keep more mosquitoes away.

Think about what else touches your skin. Runners and cyclists usually prefer picaridin because it does not feel slick with sweat, while anglers and hunters often stick with DEET they already trust. If you wear technical clothing, sunglasses or a sport watch, picaridin will not mark them the way DEET can.

Sensitive Skin

Fragrance-free picaridin lotions are usually the gentlest option. Try a new product on a small area first, avoid applying over shaved or sunburned skin, and wash it off at the end of the day. Stop using any product that causes a rash, and talk to a doctor if a reaction spreads or does not fade.

Our guide to the best mosquito repellents also covers patio repellers and clothing treatments, and the mosquito repellents section has our guides for kids, camping and travel.

Skin Repellents Compared

We compared repellents for skin on the active ingredient and strength, registration status, labeled ages, how they feel and smell and what buyers report about bites, skin irritation and value. Our sources were the makers' listings, Amazon's review digests and CDC and EPA guidance; we did not test the products. We left out wristbands, unregistered botanical sprays and very high DEET strengths.

Best Mosquito Repellents for Skin

OFF! Adults & Kids Picaridin Lotion: Best Overall Mosquito Repellent for Skin

OFF!'s 3.8-ounce picaridin lotion is unscented and labeled for adults and children from 6 months up when used as directed, per the maker.

• The maker says it does not feel oily, greasy or sticky and spreads evenly.
• Buyers find it effective against mosquitoes, gentle on skin and long-lasting, and describe the texture as smooth and creamy.
• It dries quickly without residue, per buyers.

Choose it as the household bottle for faces, necks and children's arms. A lotion keeps repellent where you put it, with no spray drifting toward eyes or into the air a child breathes.

OUR CHOICE

OFF! Adults & Kids Insect & Mosquito Repellent Lotion 3.8 oz

PicaridinLotion6 months and up

Best for: Everyday family use on face, neck and arms

• ✓Labeled for ages 6 months and up, per the maker
• ✓Effective and long-lasting, per buyers
• ✓Smooth, non-greasy and odorless, per buyers
• −Lotion is slower than a spray on legs
• −Strength not stated on the listing

Editor's Note

It suits faces and children's arms. Spread a thin, even layer.

Check Price

Specifications (2)

Item Form

Lotion

Item Volume

3.8 fluid ounces

OFF! Clean Feel Picaridin Spray: Best Mosquito Spray for the Body

OFF! Clean Feel is a 5-ounce aerosol with 20% picaridin that is fragrance-free and DEET-free, per the maker.

• Buyers say it works well, keeps mosquitoes away and does not leave a greasy or sticky feel.
• Skin irritation, spray performance and value are mixed.
• Spray it on, then spread it with your hands, as the maker advises, for even coverage.

Choose it for quick coverage of arms, legs and shoulders before a walk, a game or yard work. Spray outdoors, away from your face, and use your palms for the face and neck.

BUDGET PICK

OFF! Clean Feel Picaridin Insect & Mosquito Repellent 5 oz

20% picaridinAerosol

Best for: Fast body coverage with no fragrance

• ✓20% picaridin, per the maker
• ✓Not sticky or smelly, per buyers
• ✓Fast coverage for arms and legs
• −Mixed skin reactions, per buyers
• −Spray performance mixed, per buyers

Editor's Note

It covers arms and legs before a walk. Use your palms for the face.

Check Price

Specifications (2)

Item Form

Aerosol

Item Volume

5 fluid ounces

OFF! Deep Woods Dry: Best DEET Repellent for Skin

OFF! Deep Woods Dry pairs two 4-ounce aerosols of 25% DEET in a formula that goes on powder-dry rather than oily and does not stain, per the maker.

• The maker lists mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, gnats and chiggers.
• Buyers describe it as a great bug spray against mosquitoes.
• The scent splits buyers; some find it strong.

Choose it for adults heading into dense mosquito country, such as lakeshores, swamps and evening fishing. Wash it off once you are back indoors, and keep it away from eyeglass lenses and synthetic jackets.

OFF! Deep Woods Dry Insect & Mosquito Repellent 4 oz, 2 Pack

25% DEETAerosol2 cans

Best for: Adults in heavy mosquito areas

• ✓25% DEET, per the maker
• ✓Powder-dry, not oily, per the maker
• ✓Effective on mosquitoes, per buyers
• −Strong scent for some buyers
• −DEET can mark plastics and synthetics

Editor's Note

It suits lakeshores and evening fishing. Wash it off indoors.

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Specifications (2)

Item Form

Aerosol

Size

4 Ounce (Pack of 2)

Repel Lemon Eucalyptus: Best Plant-Based Repellent for Skin

Repel's plant-based pump spray, sold as a 4-pack of 4-ounce bottles, uses oil of lemon eucalyptus and lists up to 6 hours of protection, per the maker.

• It contains no DEET and does not feel sticky or greasy, per the maker.
• Buyers find it effective on mosquitoes and like its natural ingredients.
• Scent and value draw mixed reviews.

Choose it if you prefer a plant-derived active for gardening, porch evenings and short walks. Four bottles let you keep one in the car, the bag and by the door; skip it for children under three, as CDC advises for oil of lemon eucalyptus.

Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Repellent 4 oz, 4 Pack

Lemon eucalyptusAerosol4 cans

Best for: A plant-based registered option

• ✓Up to 6 hours, per the maker
• ✓Effective on mosquitoes, per buyers
• ✓Not sticky or greasy, per the maker
• −Scent and value mixed, per buyers
• −Not for children under 3

Editor's Note

It suits gardening and porch evenings. Reapply sooner than picaridin.

Check Price

Specifications (2)

Item Form

Aerosol

Size

4 Fl Oz (Pack of 4)

How to Apply Repellent to Skin

The EPA's guidance on using repellents safely and effectively comes down to a few habits:

1. Read the label first: it sets how much to use, how often to reapply and the youngest age allowed.
2. Exposed skin only: apply to bare skin and the outside of clothing, never under clothing.
3. Skip cuts and irritated skin: repellent stings and can irritate broken skin.
4. Use your hands for the face: spray your palms, then rub on, avoiding eyes and mouth.
5. Apply it for children: put it on your own hands first, and keep it off their hands.
6. Sunscreen first, repellent second: CDC advises this order.
7. Wash it off: use soap and water once you come inside for the night.

A thin layer that covers every bare patch works better than a heavy coat in a few places. Reapply when mosquitoes start landing again, after swimming or after a heavy sweat.

Lotion, Spray or Wipe?

Lotions suit faces, children and anyone who dislikes breathing spray. Aerosols and pump sprays are faster over legs and arms and reach the backs of shoulders. Wipes are handy in a bag but cover less skin per sheet. Many families keep a lotion and a spray: one for faces, one for everything below the collar.

How to Make Your Body Less Attractive to Mosquitoes

Repellent works best as part of a few simple habits. CDC recommends long-sleeved shirts and long pants when mosquitoes are active, and loose, light-colored clothing is harder for them to bite through and easier to see them on. Mosquitoes follow carbon dioxide, body heat and sweat, so a cool shower before an evening outside and a fan on the patio both help a little; mosquitoes are weak fliers in moving air.

At home, the bigger win is fewer mosquitoes. CDC advises tipping out, scrubbing or covering anything that holds water once a week and keeping window and door screens in good repair. A yard without standing water means less repellent on your skin every evening.

Some popular ideas do little: eating garlic or bananas, taking vitamin B, wearing citronella bracelets or using dryer sheets. None has good evidence of keeping mosquitoes off your skin.

Common Questions About Mosquito Repellents for Skin

Which One Should You Buy?

OFF!'s Adults & Kids picaridin lotion is the mosquito repellent to buy for skin. It is unscented and smooth, labeled for the whole family from six months up, and buyers report it lasting for hours without an oily feel.

Pick OFF! Clean Feel for a fast fragrance-free body spray, OFF! Deep Woods Dry for adults in heavy mosquito areas and Repel Lemon Eucalyptus for a plant-based option. Whatever you choose, cover every bare patch thinly and reapply after swimming or sweating.

Before you buy, check the label for an EPA registration number and the youngest age allowed if children will use it.