Avon's original Skin So Soft Bath Oil is not an effective mosquito repellent. Independent tests, including those by Consumer Reports and the New England Journal of Medicine, show it provides very short-lived or negligible protection.
Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535® Gentle Breeze® SPF 30 Lotion by AVON. Effectively repels mosquitoes, deer ticks, black flies, sand flies, gnats, no-seeums and biting midges.
Avon's dedicated line for mosquito defense is Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus. These formulas are specifically formulated and EPA-registered to repel mosquitoes.
TIL the Royal Marines use Avon's "Skin So Soft" as an alternative to mosqueto repellents.
Avon Skin So Soft receives highly polarizing reviews. While the classic bath oil is popular for its moisturizing properties and pleasant scent, health agencies and consumer tests find it relatively ineffective as a standalone bug spray. However, Avon's dedicated Bug Guard Picaridin Aerosol line gets excellent ratings for safely and effectively repelling mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes rely heavily on smell to locate humans. They strongly dislike the intense aromas of citronella, lemongrass, lemon eucalyptus, lavender, and peppermint. These scents mask human carbon dioxide and confuse the mosquito's sensory receptors.
No, standard Avon Skin So Soft Original Bath Oil is not better than DEET. In fact, it is not an EPA-registered insect repellent and only provides short-term protection (usually 20 to 120 minutes) against mosquitoes.
Yes, Avon Skin So Soft does expire. Unopened, it has a typical shelf life of about 3 years. Once opened, it is best used within 6 to 12 months. For the Skin So Soft Bug Guard varieties, efficacy decreases over time.
When looking for a mosquito repellent oil, the most effective plant-based options rely on natural essential oils like citronella, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, and patchouli. These oils smell refreshing to humans but mask the body odors and carbon dioxide that attract mosquitoes.
Avon Skin So Soft with Citronella Which Repels Mosquito Fly & Midge Insects Mosquito - Original Dry Oil Body Spray - Plus Free Nail Varnish.
Mosquitoes hate lotions containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or IR3535. These ingredients disrupt a mosquito's sensory receptors, preventing them from landing and biting.
Effectively repels mosquitoes, deer ticks, black flies, sand flies, gnats, no-seeums and biting midges. PABA-free and DEET-free.
Skin So Soft Original Body Lotion will surround your skin in nourishing softness. This lightweight, fresh-scented body lotion with jojoba oil is ideal for normal to dry skin. It provides 24+ hour moisturization and instantly leaves skin looking and feeling nourished, conditioned and irresistible to touch.
The best and only truly effective mosquito repellents from Avon are part of the Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus line, which relies on EPA-approved active ingredients like Picaridin or IR3535 rather than the original bath oil.
I have used -Avon skin-so-soft mixed together with citronella oil for many years and it has always worked for me.
Description. Avon Skin So Soft Spray is a dry oil body spray that many people swear by for dealing with midges. It isn't intended for use as insect repellent in the UK but it does actually contain both Citronellol and Limonene which are used as ingredients in many insect repellents.
A: We first started hearing about military personnel using Avon Skin So Soft bath oil as an insect repellent more than 35 years ago. Not surprisingly, when scientists tested it, the bath oil was less effective than DEET (Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, March 1991).
To make yourself less attractive to mosquitoes, you need to hide the visual and chemical cues they use to hunt. Mosquitoes track targets by sensing heat, exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2sub 22), and unique skin odors.
Avon's primary mosquito repellent is the Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus line. These 2-in-1 formulas combine SPF 30 sunscreen with IR3535, a DEET-free ingredient that repels mosquitoes, ticks, and biting flies. The non-greasy, water-resistant lotions are enriched with vitamin E and aloe for everyday family use.
Native Americans repelled mosquitoes using a combination of plant-based remedies, animal fats, and environmental barriers. These traditional methods relied on the specific geography and flora available to different tribes.
Iceland is the only country in the world completely free of mosquitoes. (Antarctica is also mosquito-free, but it is a continent rather than a country.)
The Avon Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil Spray is the most widely reviewed and cult-favorite option for insect repellent. Famous for its citronellol/citronella properties and moisturizing jojoba oil, it is highly rated by gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts for deterring mosquitoes and midges, though independent tests suggest dedicated DEET or Picaridin sprays are more reliable.
While most 1970s Avon decanters are highly accessible, the most collectible and valuable Avon bottles are rare figural sets, limited-edition historical releases, and early 20th-century vanity pieces. Rarity and condition—especially having original boxes—dictate the highest resale values.
Avon's dedicated line for mosquito defense is the Skin So Soft Bug Guard collection. While the classic bath oil (Dry Oil Spray) is frequently used as a folk remedy, Avon’s EPA-registered Bug Guard Plus formulas utilize active ingredients like Picaridin or IR3535 to provide proven, long-lasting protection against mosquitoes, ticks, and gnats.
In August 2024, Avon Products filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to resolve lawsuits related to talc-based products. In September 2025, Natura announced that it would sell Avon International to Regent LP for £1. Avon International included the company's operations outside Latin America.