Eaten Alive! Not anymore, thankyou Avon. (Avon Skin-So-Soft Original Dry Oil Spray)

Member Name: Rhiana

Product:	Avon Skin-So-Soft Original Dry Oil Spray
Date:	26/04/09 (672 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A nice light moisturising oil wich repels biting insects

Disadvantages: Doesn't do anything for them devil spawn wasps.

I love Summer (when we are lucky enough to have one!) I like being outdoors, and living near the Lake District, a couple of really nice ponds and a beautifully scenic river, we spend quite a lot of time near water. Of course the downside to this is Midgies. These pesky little flies, who serve no purpose other than to annoy, love me. Or rather the taste of me. I am prone to be bitten.

Now you may be wondering what this has to do with Avon Skin So Soft Dry Oil Body Spray. Well, last year while flicking through an Avon catalogue in the staff room at work, a colleague walked in and said ' Oh good Avon, I must get some skin so soft for the horses'.

Yes, you read right, the horses. I knew my colleague was a huge animal lover, and owned a couple of horses she cared very much about, but pampering them with Avon products seemed a bit OTT. Until she explained that fleas and midgies HATE the stuff with a passion, and it's the best thing she has come across to alleviate the horses long suffering from the teeth of these horrible little critters.

I'm not animal crazy myself, and don't own any horses. But I immediately ordered some for myself on her recommendation. Aside being Midgies favourite snack, I am very wasp phobic (and like cats, they can sense fear and sadistically home in) so hoped this might repel those as well.

~ The Product ~

My Avon order was delivered a couple of weeks later, and there in my bag was my Skin So Soft Dry Oil Spray. The bottle is pretty basic, being a mint pearlised green with a spray pump and holding 150 ml of product. There's not a lot of information given about the product on the bottle other than telling me it has 'Softness delivery system' and should be sprayed on after a bath or shower gel to lock in moisture (in 7 different languages). There is also an extensive ingredients list, which apart from aqua means nothing to me. I am advised the bottle has a 2 year shelf life and is recyclable.

~Using The Product~

The product is designed to be used on damp skin after bathing or showering, much like a baby oil (I use it anytime though direct onto dry skin). It sprays out in a very fine mist, which is very easy to use and prevents greasy spills and potential slippery accidents. One thing I love about this product is that despite being an oil, it isn't very greasy, like baby oil. Its very light, and sinks into my skin wonderfully, giving me a shimmery glisten without looking like a greasy chip. I'll also point out that i found it very tan enhancing! It has a very mild floral/soapy smell which is quite pleasant and does stay on my skin for quite a long while after application. It's not overly feminine, so the males of the species might be OK about using it too. My skin does feel very soft and supple after using this product, so impresses me on it's moisturising use. I have also used this on my 4 year old daughter, who has ever so slightly sensitive skin, and she suffered no ill effects from it.

But what about the midgies? Yes! They definitely hate this stuff as I never noticed any bites when using this stuff. Unfortunately I don't think it made any difference to wasp's. I think it must be the taste that repels biting insects, and not the scent.

~ Overall ~

Avon Skin So Soft Dry Oil Spray is a really nice oil to begin with, but of course it's insect repelling properties are what attracts me to the product and I would highly recommend it to anyone plagued by midgies or fleas from their pets (although my colleague used it on her pets I wouldn't recommend trying that without first gaining advice from a qualified vet).

It costs £5 from Avon usually, although I just noticed it's half price at the moment for anyone who is interested. There are other products available in the range, such as bubble baths, body washes, shaving gels etc. I haven't used any of these, as I really only want the oil to use as a spray to repel insects.

Avon do not promote this range as an insect repellent, but you will find testimonials every where on the Internet championing it for this purpose. However Avon have created a Bug Guard Skin so soft product that also has SPF 30. It is of course more expensive than the dry oil spray.

Summary: A handy little product for the summer months.