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Avon Skin So Soft (anti mosquito) Avon Skin So Soft (anti mosquito)
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  #1  
Old 15 Feb 2009
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Avon Skin So Soft (anti mosquito)
I've heard about Avon Skin So Soft being used by the British Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as an insect repellant and decided to take some (along with backup supplies of Deet and others) on a recent trip to India.

And... it works! It's extremely thin, so a little goes a long way. We took three bottles between two of us for two weeks and only used one and a half. Didn't get a single bite whilst protected. I feel much happier putting this on my skin than stuff like deet and of course it helps keep everything moisturised at the same time.

And it's also inexpensive. There's a two-for-one deal on the Avon webshop and to make the shipping charge of £3.50 worthwhile I ended up buying six bottles for a total of £18.50.

The only complaint is the spray bottle is poor quality so I will probably have a look in Superdrug for a better quality spray bottle which would withstand m'bike touring.

Tim
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Old 15 Feb 2009
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Brilliant - Ta!

(I was always uneasy about putting Deet on skin.)
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  #3  
Old 15 Feb 2009
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Sounds perfect - presumably it's safe with sleeping bags and plastics?(whereas eg Deet might take the colour off them and leave it on you!)
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  #4  
Old 15 Feb 2009
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I bought some from the Green Welly stop on the A82 on my way up north last year and it worked really well against those bloody midges. I'd recommend it too. If it's good enough for the SAS...
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  #5  
Old 15 Feb 2009
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I have used it for years and it works great.
It has sunblock in it also, I use SPF-30.
Most of the time we I am in a riding suit and put the cream on my face and neck.
Keep it away from you eyes, it stings.
When you stop and take off your gloves and helmet watch out the bug will be right on your hands and head.
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  #6  
Old 16 Feb 2009
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Good to hear that Skin So Soft works for at least some folks. I found it pretty ineffectual--- a short-lived effect against mosquitoes, none at all against blackflies (which may go by other names elsewhere: this is how they're called in the North American northern woodlands, and they're way worse than mosquitoes in my book). Maybe there are individual differences....? Or maybe expectations differ? I tried the stuff long ago in Maine or Labrador or Alaska or someplace similar and swore it off forever. Maybe it works better against tropical species? I suppose maybe I owe it another chance.

Forever questioning, forever in a state of suspense,

Mark
(from Guanajuato, where there appear to be neither mosquitoes nor blackflies, nor midges nor even cockroaches)
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  #7  
Old 25 Mar 2009
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Free delivery
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Cullis View Post
And it's also inexpensive. There's a two-for-one deal on the Avon webshop and to make the shipping charge of £3.50 worthwhile I ended up buying six bottles for a total of £18.50.

Tim
Visited the site today (March 25th) and they had a free delivery promotion going. Just got two bottles for £5.

Thanks for the tip.

Indoors.
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  #8  
Old 25 Mar 2009
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I don't know how effective it is against mozzies, but against midges it makes a serious difference. They still land on me but they don't seem to bite. Will be that time of year again before long
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  #9  
Old 27 Mar 2009
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It don't always work
I heard many good things about the Avon stuff although never tried it as always stick with Deet based products as found these to be very effective.

My poor Mum used it on holiday in Turkey last year and was eaten alive whilst we did not get bitten at all with our Lifesystems 50% Deet Insect Repellent. (The only issue with this is the metal containers is that they always seem to leak a little so keep mine in a bag normally and it does stink).

So would suggest you always take a backup with you just in case it may not work for you.

J
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  #10  
Old 28 Mar 2009
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Offers?
Without going into whether the product works or not, here is a good example of how marketing physcology works in relation to "offers"-

In the first post Tim took up a 2 for 1 offer. He bought 6 for a total of GBP18.50 (Sorry, Cyrilic keyboard with no pound sign)

Then 2 day ago Indoors quotes 6 bottles for 15.00 with free delivery. Not so sure about this - I have no other proof.

When I looked just now there was a discounted prce of 2.50 each plus, when you reach Checkout, a 3.50 delivery charge per order. So 6 items = 18.50

Now that seems a remarkably similar cost to the completely different offer that Tim saw.

Who do you think you are kidding, Mr Avon?
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  #11  
Old 31 Mar 2009
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Tony,

The day I visited the site, they were offering free delivery (postage and packing). So the bottles cost £2.50 each but I didn't have to pay the £3.50 postage charge. Perhaps I should have made it clearer that the offer seemed to be for one day only.

Sorry.

Indoors.
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  #12  
Old 16 Aug 2009
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reppelent..
sarsons red malt vinegar..
used it for years ..
only a few drops mind..
reminds you of the local chippy..
try it and see..
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  #13  
Old 13 Sep 2009
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I usually bring autan with me whenever I am on the road. I have been using Skin So Soft, but I was never aware it can be used as an insect repellent until I saw this thread. What I really like about it is that it really smells so good.
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  #14  
Old 13 Sep 2009
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Now, on my way back after 3 months in Siberia, I can report my findings of Avon So Soft.

It smelt nice-ish. Certainly better than the boots and GoreTex liners that had been worn continuously for many, hard working days without washing.

It did not keep the mozzies away. It only seemed to stop them landing. The buzzing noise was still the eternal distraction.

It was sticky and held track dust if riding after application. See Sibirsky Extreme » photos photo 37

Frankly, I wont bother again. The siberian mozzies, although in huge numbers, did not inflict a bad bite and there was no itching at the time, nor even a swelling next day.

Any offrs for some unused bottles of So Soft?
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