Best Mosquito and Tick Skin Repellents: Picaridin, DEET and OLE

The best mosquito and tick repellent for skin is Sawyer's 20% picaridin lotion, which the maker lists for up to 12 hours against both mosquitoes and ticks, with no smell and no damage to plastics or gear. OFF! Deep Woods Dry is the 25% DEET aerosol for woods and fields, Repel Sportsmen Max is the 40% DEET pick for long days in heavy tick country, Murphy's Naturals is the plant-based oil of lemon eucalyptus option, and OFF! Clean Feel's 2-pack is the value picaridin spray. For ticks, pair any of them with permethrin-treated shoes, socks and pants.

What Repels Both Mosquitoes and Ticks

Mosquitoes fly to you and ticks wait for you. A mosquito follows your breath and body heat from a distance, while a tick sits on a grass stem or in leaf litter and grabs whatever brushes past, then crawls upward looking for thin skin. A good skin repellent has to work on both: a vapor layer that turns mosquitoes away before they land, and a surface that ticks find unpleasant enough to drop off rather than keep climbing.

Only a handful of ingredients have shown they do both. CDC's guidance on preventing tick bites recommends EPA-registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone, and tells you to look for the EPA registration number on the label. The same actives appear in CDC's mosquito advice, so a product chosen from this list covers both pests.

What changes between them is feel, smell and how long they last against ticks. Makers often list shorter protection against ticks than against mosquitoes, and OLE in particular is labeled for fewer hours against ticks. Read both numbers on the label, not just the larger one on the front.

Our guide to the best mosquito repellents covers patio devices and clothing sprays too, and the mosquito repellents section collects our guides for kids, travel and camping.

Mosquito and Tick Repellents Compared

We compared skin repellents on the active ingredient and its strength, the protection each maker lists against mosquitoes and ticks, how they feel and smell, and what buyers report about bites, ticks and value. Our sources were the makers' listings, Amazon's review digests and CDC guidance; we did not test the products.

Protection times in the table are the makers' claims under label conditions. Sweat, swimming and rubbing against brush shorten them, so treat them as a ceiling rather than a promise.

Best Mosquito and Tick Repellents for Skin

Sawyer Picaridin Lotion: Best Overall Mosquito and Tick Repellent

Sawyer's 4-ounce lotion uses 20% picaridin and is listed for up to 12 hours against mosquitoes and ticks, per the maker.

• The maker names ticks that can carry Lyme disease among the pests it repels, plus chiggers and biting flies.
• Buyers say it is nearly odorless, not greasy and that a little covers a lot of skin.
• Opinions on value are mixed.

Choose it for weekend hikes, dog walks along wooded paths and gardening near the lawn edge. Rub it well into ankles, the backs of the knees and the waistline, the spots where climbing ticks usually stop to bite.

OUR CHOICE

Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent 20% Picaridin Lotion 4 oz

20% picaridinLotion

Best for: Odorless protection from both mosquitoes and ticks

• ✓Up to 12 hours against mosquitoes and ticks, per the maker
• ✓Nearly odorless and not greasy, per buyers
• ✓Will not damage plastics or synthetics, per the maker
• −Mixed value opinions, per buyers
• −Lotion is slower to apply than a spray

Editor's Note

It covers hikes, dog walks and gardening. Work it into ankles and the waistline.

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Specifications (2)

Item Form

Lotion

Item Volume

4 fluid ounces

OFF! Deep Woods Dry: Best DEET Spray for Woods and Fields

OFF! Deep Woods Dry is a 2-pack of 4-ounce aerosols with 25% DEET, made to protect against mosquitoes and ticks that may cause Lyme disease, per the maker.

• It goes on powder-dry instead of oily and does not stain, per the maker.
• Buyers call it an effective bug spray against mosquitoes.
• Some buyers find the scent strong.

Choose it if you trust DEET's long record and spend time on trails, at hunting stands or along riverbanks. The aerosol coats legs quickly over socks and shoe tops; keep it off watch faces, sunglasses and technical fabrics.

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

25% DEETAerosol2 cans

Best for: A proven DEET spray on trails and riverbanks

• ✓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 coats legs and sock tops fast. Keep it off lenses and technical fabrics.

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Specifications (2)

Item Form

Aerosol

Size

4 Ounce (Pack of 2)

Repel Sportsmen Max: Best for Long Days in Tick Country

Repel Sportsmen Max comes as a 3-pack of 6.5-ounce aerosols with 40% DEET and lists ticks, gnats, biting flies, chiggers and fleas alongside mosquitoes, per the maker.

• Buyers find it effective, especially hiking in woods and fields, and like the high DEET content.
• Many call it good value for the price.
• Spray performance draws mostly negative reviews, and greasiness and scent are mixed.

Choose it for full days outdoors where reapplying is hard: turkey season, long trail runs or field work. A higher DEET strength mainly stretches the time between applications, so it suits people who would rather spray once in the morning than carry a bottle.

PREMIUM PICK

Repel Sportsmen Max 40% DEET Repellent 6.5 oz, 3 Pack

40% DEETAerosol3 cans

Best for: Long days where reapplying is hard

• ✓40% DEET, per the maker
• ✓Effective in woods and fields, per buyers
• ✓Good value, per buyers
• −Spray performance mostly negative, per buyers
• −Greasiness and scent mixed, per buyers

Editor's Note

It suits full days in tick country. Spray once and check the label for reapplying.

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Specifications (3)

Item Form

Aerosol

Size

6.5 Ounce (Pack of 3)

Scent Name

Unscented

Murphy's Naturals Mosquito and Tick Spray: Best Plant-Based Option

This plant-based pick is built on oil of lemon eucalyptus at 30%, sold as two 4-ounce pump bottles. Against ticks the maker claims up to 4 hours, shorter than the 6 hours it lists for mosquitoes.

• The formula is EPA-registered and free of DEET and picaridin, per the maker.
• Buyers find it very effective and like its plant-based ingredients.
• Scent and skin feel are mixed; some find the lemon smell too strong.

Choose it for shorter outings, such as an hour of yard work or a walk at dusk, if you prefer a plant-derived ingredient. Its shorter tick protection means reapplying sooner on longer walks, and CDC advises against OLE for children under three.

Murphy's Naturals Mosquito & Tick Repellent Spray 4 oz, 2 Pack

30% oil of lemon eucalyptusSpray

Best for: A registered plant-based option on short outings

• ✓Up to 6 hours against mosquitoes, per the maker
• ✓EPA-registered plant-based active, per the maker
• ✓Very effective, per buyers
• −Scent too strong for some buyers
• −Not for young children

Editor's Note

It suits yard work and dusk walks. Reapply sooner for ticks.

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Specifications (3)

Size

4 Fl Oz (Pack of 2)

Scent Name

Lemon

Target Species

Mosquito

OFF! Clean Feel Picaridin 2-Pack: Best Value Spray

This 2-pack of 5-ounce aerosols holds 20% picaridin and lists up to 8 hours of protection, per the maker, which names mosquitoes and ticks.

• Buyers find it effective on mosquitoes, fragrance-free and quick to dry.
• It does not feel sticky or tacky, per buyers.
• Some cans fail to dispense properly, and value is mixed.

Choose it to keep one can in the car and one by the door for the whole family. Spray it on, then spread it evenly with your hands so no strip of ankle is left bare.

BUDGET PICK

OFF! Clean Feel Picaridin Insect & Mosquito Repellent 5 oz, 2 Pack

PicaridinAerosol2 cans

Best for: A value picaridin spray for the household

• ✓Up to 8 hours, per the maker
• ✓Fragrance-free and quick-drying, per buyers
• ✓Not sticky, per buyers
• −Some cans fail to dispense, per buyers
• −Value mixed, per buyers

Editor's Note

Keep one can in the car and one by the door. Spread it with your hands.

Check Price

Specifications (2)

Item Form

Aerosol

Size

5 Ounce (Pack of 2)

For more lotions, wipes and sprays chosen for skin feel rather than ticks, see our guide to the best mosquito repellents for skin.

How to Avoid Tick Bites Beyond Repellent

Skin repellent is one layer. CDC frames reducing exposure as the best defense against tickborne disease, and most of that is about clothing, where you walk and what you do when you get home.

Treat Your Clothes With Permethrin

Permethrin is an insecticide for fabric, not skin. CDC recommends treating boots, clothing and camping gear with permethrin. Products for this contain 0.5% permethrin and stay protective through several washings. Treated shoes and socks matter most, because that is where ticks first make contact. Spray clothes outdoors, let them dry completely and keep cats away from wet fabric.

On the Trail

• Walk in the middle: CDC advises staying in the center of trails and avoiding high grass and leaf litter.
• Wear light colors: dark ticks stand out on light pants and socks.
• Check as you go: glance at your legs at every rest stop and brush off anything crawling.
• Reapply after water: a stream crossing or a heavy sweat wipes repellent from your lower legs first.

When You Get Home

1. Dry your clothes on high heat: CDC says ten minutes on high kills ticks on dry clothing; damp clothes need longer.
2. Wash in hot water if needed: cold and medium temperatures will not kill ticks.
3. Shower soon: CDC notes that showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce the risk of Lyme disease.
4. Check your whole body: under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, in the hair, between the legs and around the waist.
5. Check children, pets and gear: ticks ride in on backpacks, coats and dogs.

If you find an attached tick, remove it with fine-tipped tweezers by gripping close to the skin and pulling straight up with steady pressure, then clean the spot. Watch for a rash or fever over the following weeks and see a doctor if either appears.

How to Apply Repellent for Ticks and Mosquitoes

Most bites come from the patches people miss. For mosquitoes those are the neck, ears and wrists; for ticks they are the ankles, the backs of the knees and the waistband. Apply a thin, even layer to every exposed area instead of a heavy coat on the arms.

• Sunscreen goes first: CDC advises applying sunscreen, letting it set, then repellent on top; combination products make it hard to reapply each on its own schedule.
• Face from your hands: spray or squeeze repellent onto your palms and rub it on, keeping it away from eyes and mouth.
• Over clothing, not under: repellent goes on exposed skin and the outside of clothing, never beneath it.
• Children: an adult should put repellent on their own hands and apply it, avoiding the child's hands.
• Wash off at the end of the day: soap and water removes what you no longer need.

A lotion is easier to place precisely around the face and ears, while a spray is faster on legs and over socks. Many families keep one of each: a lotion for faces and a spray for legs and shoes.

Common Questions About Mosquito and Tick Repellents

Which One Should You Buy?

Sawyer's picaridin lotion is the mosquito and tick repellent to buy for skin. It lists the longest protection against both pests among our picks, has no smell and does not harm gear, which makes it easy to use every time you go out.

Choose OFF! Deep Woods Dry for a familiar DEET spray, Repel Sportsmen Max for long days in heavy tick areas, Murphy's Naturals for a plant-based option on short outings and the OFF! Clean Feel 2-pack for a low-cost household spray. In tick country, add permethrin-treated shoes and socks, and finish every outing with a shower and a tick check.

Before you buy, look for the EPA registration number and check the hours listed against ticks, which are often shorter than those listed for mosquitoes.