Avon Skin So Soft

vernonlevy · June 2007

I've used Avon Skin So Soft on my LEJOG and JOGLE rides to keep the Scottish Midges at bay. I found I totally avoided bites on all areas where it was applied.

Has anyone used it in other climates where mosquitoes are 'the foe' and how well did it work at avoiding being punctured by the six legged vampires?

BTW It's currently on special offer at around œ2 per bottle from your local Avon lady for those contemplating a LEJOG/JOGLE - it sells for œ5 - œ7 per bottle in camping shops in Scotland.

rgisme · June 2007

Where can I find my local Avon lady?

vernonlevy · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by rgisme

Where can I find my local Avon lady?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

In the absence of a local Avon lady you could go to the Avon online shop

http://avonshop.co.uk

john ponting · June 2007

I understand it's the anti-midge of choice for the Queen's Marine Commandos.

vernonlevy · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by john ponting

I understand it's the anti-midge of choice for the Queen's Marine Commandos.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
But is it the anti mosquito spray of choice?

Unknown · June 2007

Just checked the Avon website, there a loads of potions with the Skin so soft monicker, which is the midge deterrant?

Uncle Mort · June 2007

It works for midges for me in Scotland and NI (it rendered the Glens of Antrim sleepable!), but it wasn't much good against mossies elsewhere.

Aren't midges and mosquitos completely different insects with different likes/dislikes (apart from human blood of course)?

__________________
In his mid forties and still unusual

vernonlevy · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Uncle Mort

Aren't midges and mosquitos completely different insects with different likes/dislikes (apart from human blood of course)?__________________
In his mid forties and still unusual
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Which is why I have asked the question! [:o)]

vernonlevy · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pme

Just checked the Avon website, there a loads of potions with the Skin so soft monicker, which is the midge deterrant?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
http://avonshop.co.uk/avonshop/product. ... line_id=69

cycologist · June 2007

Have just returned from a week on Skye where the infamous West Highland Midge was the only downside to an otherwise memorable hoilday. We stocked up on Avon "Skin So Soft" at Nevis Sport in Fort Bill but it seemed to have little effect on the pesky varmints. My daughter and her boyfriend had loads of bites and whereas I only had one or two bites, the wee flying beasties nearly drove me mad on a couple of occaions.After all I had heard about Avon's wonder product I was rather disappointed to say the least.

Two wheels good,four wheels bad

sjcpcp · June 2007

I friend of mine lives in the north of Scotland, and works outdoors, so midges can be a problem. He says that Skinsoft does work, but has to be re-applied very reguarly, maybe every 1-2 hours depending on how hard you are working.
You know when it's time to re-apply it as the midges start to bite!

Tim Bennet · June 2007

Skin so Soft does seem to stop midges biting but it doesn't drive them away so you still have them around your face, eyes and ears.

Extensive testing in the Florida swamps proves its effectiveness is limited to midges and it does not work with mosquitos.

vernonlevy · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tim Bennet

Skin so Soft does seem to stop midges biting but it doesn't drive them away so you still have them around your face, eyes and ears.

Extensive testing in the Florida swamps proves its effectiveness is limited to midges and it does not work with mosquitos.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's the sort of answer that I was dreading.

Next question:

What keeps mosquitoes away?

cardinal guzman · June 2007

It Does work on mosquitos.

Mrs Guzman used to get bitten 20 times a day on average in Thailand (we used to count the golf-ball sized lumps![:0]

The last time we went, she wore skin-so-soft and got bitten 3 times in three weeks.

It may change from person to person (i never get bit by mossies but midges can't get enough of my eyelids) but it certainly worked for the mrs.

vernonlevy · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cardinal guzman

It Does work on mosquitos.

Mrs Guzman used to get bitten 20 times a day on average in Thailand (we used to count the golf-ball sized lumps![:0]

The last time we went, she wore skin-so-soft and got bitten 3 times in three weeks.

It may change from person to person (i never get bit by mossies but midges can't get enough of my eyelids) but it certainly worked for the mrs.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

An even better answer! [:)]

Unknown · June 2007

I think some people are more susceptible to being bitten, or taste nicer, or (more likely) react more to it.

I recall being in a German forest and my wife was being bitten to hell whilst I went completely unscathed.

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by yello

I think some people are more susceptible to being bitten, or taste nicer, or (more likely) react more to it.

I recall being in a German forest and my wife was being bitten to hell whilst I went completely unscathed.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

vernon

I recommend taking Mrs Yello, seems like a good way of not getting bitten [}:)][}:)]

george[:D][:D]

_________________________________
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mazza · June 2007

ive heard citrenela is good for midges i have tried it but you to reaply quite regular

priory · June 2007

i am convinced that biting flies do not like oily or otherwise horrid stuff, so vaseline, hand creams and camo paint stop them biting.If you paint your face only you get bitten on the scalp and neck. Deet or similar are the most effective and were thus immensely popular when they came out and remain so, but they melt plastic, being solvents of the right sort to do that.So some clothes get spoiled, and bits of webbing and rucsacs also , and the butts and stocks of rifles get first roughened then ultimately holed by the stuff. That is the main reason for soldiers not liking deet.I suppose that Avon got into that niche because there is/was always an Avon lady among the families on a base.There is nothing about sss that could explain its supposedly unique effect so far as I am aware.
And now the punch line: I can't prove any of this .
Try plastering one side of yourself with petroleum jelly or any cheap oily stuff before a midgey experience and tell us what happens.
A netted bush hat tucked in is still the best, especially soaked in deet if it can stand it.
Also there are some who wonder whether deet and similar chemicals might be a bit carcinogenic.
that's my 2penn'orth
TJ

cardinal guzman · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by priory

There is nothing about sss that could explain its supposedly unique effect so far as I am aware.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hi TJ,

there have been some studies into this. It is thought that mosquitos home in on a mammal by flying along until they detect a fall in the concentration of co2, at which point, they make a left or right turn depending on their 'handedness'. In this way they follow the outpouring of a mammal's breath to it's scource. The molecules formed by the evaporation of SSS from the skin are thought to block the mosquitos co2 receptor, making it turn away from you before it makes visual contact. This is why reapplication is necessary.

I had to become a minor expert in the fight against Mossies - the mrs' moaning was getting a bit bothersome![;)]

vernonlevy · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cardinal guzman

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by priory

There is nothing about sss that could explain its supposedly unique effect so far as I am aware.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hi TJ,

there have been some studies into this. It is thought that mosquitos home in on a mammal by flying along until they detect a fall in the concentration of co2, at which point, they make a left or right turn depending on their 'handedness'. In this way they follow the outpouring of a mammal's breath to it's scource. The molecules formed by the evaporation of SSS from the skin are thought to block the mosquitos co2 receptor, making it turn away from you before it makes visual contact. This is why reapplication is necessary.

I had to become a minor expert in the fight against Mossies - the mrs' moaning was getting a bit bothersome![;)]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Now that contradicts my observations of midge bahaviour. They'd still land on you but take off again without biting.

Theories????

cardinal guzman · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by vernonlevy
Now that contradicts my observations of midge bahaviour. They'd still land on you but take off again without biting.
Theories????
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hi V,

I know nowt about midges or how they locate us and they attack me whatever I do. On me, midges regard citronella as a garnish and SSS as gravy - anyone know why they go for my eyes? The only thing I found works for me with the diminutive horrors is smearing grease/butter/etc over a flouro lamp (not tried it with an incandescent or led). A few still bite me but that's offset by the perverse pleasure of seeing the hundreds of their mates that get stuck in the goo![}:)]

Neither me or the mrs have ever found deet even remotely effective - even 90% deet and that's pretty toxic stuff - I'd avoid if possible.

priory · June 2007

http://www.webmd.com/news/20030408/best ... -repellent

''In their study for Consumer Reports, three medical entomologists judged insect repellents with a range of DEET concentrations from 7% to 100% -- as well as insect repellents without DEET. They exposed their repellent-treated arms to 200 mosquitoes for 3 minutes, then counted the number of bugs that bit them. If none bit, the testers repeated the test every half-hour until at least one mosquito bit during two successive exposures.

"[DEET] does not kill bugs, but the vapors discourage them from landing or climbing on you," the story states. "Deet is generally acknowledged as the most effective mosquito repellent there is. ... Generally, products with about 30% deet have proven most effective for the longest periods, and they are considered safe for adults and children age 2 months and older."

Of the insect repellents tested, here's how long they fought off mosquitoes:

Product

Mosquito Protection

3M Ultrathon 13 hours

Off! Deep Woods for Sportsmen 13 hours

Muskol Ultra 6 Hours 8 hours

BugOut

7 hours

Sawyer Controlled Release 6 hours

Cutter Unscented 5 hours

Off! Skintastic with Sunscreen SPF 30 4 hours

Cutter Skinsations

2 hours

Avon Skin So-Soft Bug Guard/ Sunblock 1 hour (contains no DEET)

Insect repellents using plant oils such as citronella, soybean, coconut, and geranium "provided little if any protection," the report states.

ransos · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cycologist

Have just returned from a week on Skye where the infamous West Highland Midge was the only downside to an otherwise memorable hoilday. We stocked up on Avon "Skin So Soft" at Nevis Sport in Fort Bill but it seemed to have little effect on the pesky varmints. My daughter and her boyfriend had loads of bites and whereas I only had one or two bites, the wee flying beasties nearly drove me mad on a couple of occaions.After all I had heard about Avon's wonder product I was rather disappointed to say the least.

Two wheels good,four wheels bad
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

How odd. I've also just come back from Skye and the Avon work3e3d brilliantly - was getting chewed up in the hills, applied the spray and the midges literally started dying on my arms. As someone else said, it does seem to need reapplying every hour or two if your working up a sweat.

carlstone · June 2007

I get eaten alive by midges in this country and the bites get really sore and itchy. I go abroad and while others get bitten by Mossies, I get the odd bite which doesn't flare up and doesn't itch at all. How do you explain that?

I can't stand skin so soft as it makes my skin feel greasy so I just use Boots spray on Jungle formula spray which isn't as greasy and seems to work ok and also keep as covered up as possible. This isn't a problem in this country as the weather is so p1ss poor.

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Zonc Hastings · June 2007

I use SSS when things get too bad and a midge net too. I teach in the outdoors (Wilderness Living Skills and nature watching) on Islay - a Hebridean Island. A good campfire is also good. As to smothering yourself with chemicals that melt plastic - not too sure about that one....?

Sweet Gale otherwise know as Bog Mystle also works well - you gather the plant leaves and rub them on...mmmm - very bushcrafty!

Zonc

priory · June 2007

Do you think that being exposed to these bites a lot reduces the reaction to them?
It was my impression that after getting extremely covered in swollen bites aged 10yrs I had no problem at all for about 5 years then it gradually returned.Farmers and other professional outdoor types do not seem to be so bothered as city types, as one could see at the Derbyshire county show last Sunday.
I wonder if this is because people who react do not go into farming or whether it is suppressed response.
Does a year or two of sitting in an Hebridean bog make you react less to the bites?
TJ

Jaded · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by carlstone

I can't stand skin so soft as it makes my skin feel greasy so I just use Boots spray on Jungle formula spray which isn't as greasy and seems to work ok and also keep as covered up as possible.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I think SSS works because the midges drown in it, so the greasiness is important! [:D]

--
[Warning] This post may contain a baby elephant or traces of one

ransos · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by priory

Do you think that being exposed to these bites a lot reduces the reaction to them?
It was my impression that after getting extremely covered in swollen bites aged 10yrs I had no problem at all for about 5 years then it gradually returned.Farmers and other professional outdoor types do not seem to be so bothered as city types, as one could see at the Derbyshire county show last Sunday.
I wonder if this is because people who react do not go into farming or whether it is suppressed response.
Does a year or two of sitting in an Hebridean bog make you react less to the bites?
TJ
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I think you're right. If I recall, the Sami of northern Scandinavia deliberately seek out midges in order to reduce reaction to them for the rest of the season. I should imagine Finland is even worse than Scotland for midges.

Avon Skin So Soft

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