Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. NonToxicFinder (Solved Labs LLC) may earn commissions on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with the Environmental Working Group.
Bug repellent sits in an unusual category: it is a regulated pesticide under EPA jurisdiction, not a personal care product, which means the EWG VERIFIED® mark does not apply here. What EWG publishes instead is a consumer guide to insect repellents, rating active ingredients on their hazard profiles and effectiveness. For parents searching for a non-toxic bug repellent grounded in EWG's guidance, the answer centers on three active ingredients: Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), and IR3535. The five products below use those ingredients and were confirmed in stock on September 21, 2026.
Five EWG-recommended non-toxic bug repellents, verified in stock
1. Sawyer SP543 Picaridin 20% Pump Spray, 3 oz, $9.95
Picaridin is the active ingredient EWG's consumer guide recommends first for families. Sawyer's 20% pump spray is EPA-registered, odorless, and non-greasy. Unlike DEET, Picaridin does not have plasticizing properties, so it won't damage synthetic fabrics or gear. At 20% concentration, EWG references Picaridin providing up to 12-hour protection against mosquitoes and ticks. Suitable for children 2 months and older per label; always check the current label for age guidance. Subscribe & Save price $9.45.
View Sawyer SP543 Picaridin Spray on Amazon →
2. Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus, 4 oz Aerosol, $8.47
The lowest-price option on this list, using Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) at 30%. OLE is the only plant-derived ingredient EWG endorses for tick protection. A critical distinction applies here: this product uses processed OLE (model HG-94211), not raw lemon eucalyptus essential oil. Those are different products with different chemistries. Processed OLE is refined to concentrate PMD (p-menthane-3,8-diol), the active compound EPA registers as a repellent. Raw lemon eucalyptus essential oil is an unprocessed botanical that is not EPA-registered as a repellent, and neither EWG nor the CDC recommends it as primary protection. The Repel product here is the EPA-registered, EWG-referenced OLE formulation. Not for children under 3.
View Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Spray on Amazon →
3. Natrapel Picaridin 20% Wipes, 3-Pack (36 wipes total), $31.47
Individual-use wipes are a practical format for young children, travel bags, and active outings. Each wipe delivers a pre-measured Picaridin 20% application, the same EWG-recommended active ingredient and concentration as the Sawyer spray above. The 3-pack totals 36 wipes. Per-application cost is higher than spray format; the tradeoff is precise, no-overspray application for smaller children. EPA-registered. Suitable for children 2 months and older per label.
View Natrapel Wipes 3-Pack on Amazon →
4. Sawyer SP564 Picaridin 20% Lotion, 4 oz, $10.95
Lotion applies more precisely than aerosol spray, which is useful for application around children's faces: apply to adult hands first, then transfer to the child's skin and avoid hands, eyes, and mouth. Same 20% Picaridin concentration as the Sawyer spray above. Subscribe & Save price $10.40. Suitable for children 2 months and older per label. If you want both a spray and a lotion in a household kit, SP543 and SP564 use the same EWG-referenced active ingredient in complementary formats.
View Sawyer SP564 Picaridin Lotion on Amazon →
5. Avon SSS Bug Guard Plus IR3535 SPF 30 Lotion, 4.2 oz, $25.99
The only combination repellent-and-sunscreen on this list. The repellent ingredient is IR3535 at 7.5%, an amino acid-based active ingredient EWG rates as lower-concern for families. One important note on concentration: EWG's consumer guide cites 20% as the level for maximum IR3535 effectiveness. This product uses 7.5%, a lower concentration that provides approximately 2 to 3 hours of protection (not all-day coverage), compared to up to 12 hours from the 20% Picaridin options above. For high-risk tick environments or extended outdoor days, the 20% Picaridin products are the stronger choice per EWG's guidance. Where this product earns its place is outdoor activities where you would apply both sunscreen and repellent anyway: this combines both in a single DEET-free step. For EWG-rated sunscreen options used separately from repellent, see our guide to EWG VERIFIED® baby sunscreen.
View Avon IR3535 SPF 30 Lotion on Amazon →
What EWG's consumer guide recommends, and what it doesn't
EWG publishes a consumer guide to insect repellents that evaluates active ingredients on hazard profiles and effectiveness data. This is an ingredient-hazard assessment by an independent nonprofit, not a product certification, and not a safety guarantee. With that framing, here is what EWG's current guidance identifies:
Picaridin (up to 20%): EWG's top recommendation for families. Low-concern in EWG's hazard assessment. Effective against mosquitoes and ticks. At 20%, EWG references protection lasting up to 12 hours. Appropriate from 2 months of age per EWG guidance.
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (processed OLE only, not raw essential oil): The only plant-derived ingredient EWG endorses for tick protection. Must be the EPA-registered, processed form refined to contain PMD. Raw lemon eucalyptus essential oil is a different product and is not recommended by EWG or the CDC as primary repellent. Not for children under 3.
IR3535 (up to 20%): An amino acid-based repellent EWG rates as lower-concern. Less widely distributed than Picaridin but effective against mosquitoes and ticks. EWG cites 20% for maximum effectiveness.
DEET at 10% or lower: EWG does not blanket-reject DEET. EWG's consumer guide rates low-concentration DEET (10% or lower) as low-concern when used per label. EWG's concerns increase at higher concentrations. Occasional use of a 7–10% DEET product per its label is not flagged as a high-concern choice in EWG's assessment.
Essential oil-only repellents (citronella, peppermint, cedar): EWG does not recommend these as primary protection in tick or high-mosquito-activity areas. Limited effectiveness and short duration per EWG's assessment.
For a broader look at EWG's repellent rating framework across more products and brands, see our EWG-rated bug spray guide for kids and families. See our 3 Moms Organics TickWise: The MADE SAFE Certified Insect Repellent Spotlight.
Age guidance for using repellent on children
EWG's consumer guide and CDC guidance include age considerations for insect repellent use. The table below reflects that guidance based on verified EWG sources:
| Child's age | EWG guidance |
|---|---|
| Under 2 months | No repellent recommended |
| 2 months to under 3 years | Picaridin and IR3535: OK per label. OLE: not recommended. |
| 3 years and older | All EWG-recommended ingredients (Picaridin, OLE, IR3535, low-concentration DEET) OK per label |
Always apply repellents per label instructions. For children, apply to your own hands first and then to the child's skin. Avoid hands, eyes, mouth, and broken or irritated skin. EWG's guidance reflects ingredient-hazard assessments; follow current product labels for application and age instructions, as those labels are the regulatory standard.
Frequently asked questions
Are these bug repellents EWG VERIFIED®?
No. EWG VERIFIED® is a certification mark for personal care and cleaning products that meet EWG's full ingredient-disclosure and manufacturing standards. It does not apply to insect repellents, which are EPA-regulated pesticides in a separate regulatory category. The products on this list are cited based on EWG's consumer guide to insect repellents, which rates active ingredient hazard profiles. That is a different standard from EWG VERIFIED®, and neither framing is a safety guarantee.
What is the difference between processed OLE and lemon eucalyptus essential oil?
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) is a processed, refined product concentrated to contain PMD (p-menthane-3,8-diol), the active compound EPA registers as a repellent. Raw lemon eucalyptus essential oil is an unprocessed botanical with a different chemical profile; it is not EPA-registered as a repellent and is not recommended by EWG or the CDC as primary protection. The Repel aerosol on this list (B084TM6XT1) uses processed OLE, the EPA-registered formulation EWG references in its consumer guide.
Is the Avon IR3535 product as effective as Picaridin at 20%?
Not at the same level. The Avon product uses IR3535 at 7.5%, which provides approximately 2 to 3 hours of protection per application (not all-day coverage). EWG's consumer guide cites 20% as the concentration for maximum IR3535 effectiveness, and the 20% Picaridin options on this list provide up to 12 hours. The 7.5% formulation is practical for shorter outdoor activities where you would apply both sunscreen and repellent anyway. For high-risk tick environments or full-day outings, the 20% Picaridin options are the stronger choice per EWG's guidance.
Can bug repellent and sunscreen be used at the same time?
Yes. Standard practice is to apply sunscreen first, allow it to absorb, then apply repellent on top. The Avon SSS product above combines both in one step, which means the reapplication intervals of sunscreen and repellent are tied together. EWG's guidance does not prohibit combining them; follow current product labels for reapplication timing on each product you use.
Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. NonToxicFinder (Solved Labs LLC) may earn commissions on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with the Environmental Working Group.
