the essential
The magazine 60 million consumers tested the effectiveness of several mosquito repellents. Several creams, lotions and sprays protect well against bites, others much less. Good to know as the summer holidays approach.
Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat… not forgetting mosquito repellent. It has become essential in your vacation suitcase. What’s more annoying than a mosquito circling around you and, worse, biting you all over your body? The mosquito repellent product has become essential when we know that the tiger mosquito is present in 78 departments and that 1,679 cases of dengue fever were recorded in mainland France between January 1 and April 19, 2024.
Sprays not recommended
To protect your skin, there is a choice of brands sold in supermarkets and pharmacies/parapharmacies and various formulas: spray, cream or lotion. The products sold can be adapted to children or adults, to your vacation destination (temperate or tropical zone), and be with or without odor.
You should know that the High Council for Public Health preferably recommends mosquito repellents in lotion or cream. Spray products are less easy to apply and there is a risk of inhalation.
15 products tested
To find out which mosquito repellent was the most effective, the magazine 60 million consumers tested fifteen products from the Cinq sur cinq, Insect Ecran, Autan, Puressentiel and Moustifluid brands. A majority were sold in sprays. Some contain synthetic molecules (IR3535 and DEET*), others products of natural origin. Products based on IR3535 have no odor, products based on DEET and natural origin may have an odor.
A variable duration of protection
The duration of protection varies. All products based on IR3535 protect for more than 8 hours. Of two products based on IR3535 concentrated at 20%, the first protects for a little more than 11 hours, the second 8.5 hours. As 60 million consumers points out, “the difference is probably in the rest of the formula”. But it is a secret.
The magazine’s test shows that we must be wary of labels. One product promises 16 hours of protection. Reading an asterisk on the label label, we read that it is valid in two applications. Another label promises 8 hours of protection in “high risk areas”. The small print specifies that the protection is 8 hours in temperate zones but… 7 hours in tropical zones.
The duration of protection is much more variable with products based on active ingredients of natural origin.
Avoid high concentrations for children and pregnant women
If the active ingredients in mosquito repellent products do not present “any worrying risk” according to 60 million consumers, they are not trivial. Products with too high a dose of IR3535 or DEET are not recommended for young children and pregnant women. It is important to follow the instructions on the labels.
A risk for plastic
It is strongly recommended to wash your hands after applying a mosquito repellent product to your body. The greatest caution is recommended for contact lens wearers. You should know that DEET has the disadvantage of melting plastic. So be careful with your watch strap, your glasses arms or your synthetic clothing.
Recommended and Avoidable Products
Verdict of the test 60 million consumers : the best result is obtained by the product Cinq sur cinq family spray in 100 ml rated 16.8/20. Moustifluid high protection spray for risk areas obtains a score of 16.4/20. The podium is completed by Mousti KO with 15.5/20. Two brands do not achieve the average: MoustiCare and NeoBulle. As the magazine points out, the best protection against mosquitoes remains clothing, fans or mosquito nets.
