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Important public service bulletin

21 replies

custardlover · 13/07/2025 08:50

The results are in and it’s been confirmed - the whole ‘Avon Skin So Soft dry oil repels insects bites’ is a load of old lies and nonsense. You actually need proper insect repellent.

Love from (Gullible)CustardLover, live from my itchy bed on holiday in France.

OP posts:
custardlover · 13/07/2025 09:12

Aaagaggghhhhwhy do I believe things on the internet!?! What a clown. My ankles are a mosquito’s all-you-can-eat-buffet.

OP posts:
Magicality · 13/07/2025 09:16

Ouch! Try Sudocrem or equivalent on your insect bites.

I used to love a browse through the Avon catalogue back in the days when there was always a work colleague or two 'doing Avon' but the products rarely lived up to their own hype.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/07/2025 09:17

I think possibly it used to have some effect but they changed the formulation for some reason.
This is good for what works and what doesnt
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001np5v

Sliced Bread - Mosquito Repellents - BBC Sounds

Are mosquito repellents 'the best thing since sliced bread'? Which ones really work?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001np5v

ErrolTheDragon · 13/07/2025 09:20

Magicality · 13/07/2025 09:16

Ouch! Try Sudocrem or equivalent on your insect bites.

I used to love a browse through the Avon catalogue back in the days when there was always a work colleague or two 'doing Avon' but the products rarely lived up to their own hype.

maybe Sudocreme soothes but antihistamine cream is what you need.

custardlover · 13/07/2025 09:22

Yes, I’m on the proper stuff now. I am delicious to these beasts to I really should have learned my lesson but the idea of something which doesn’t make my eyes water and smell like napalm was seductive

OP posts:
BSky4 · 13/07/2025 09:23

Antihistamine cream with a steroid & antihistamine tablets. Mosquitos are the worst. I feel your pain.

ssd · 13/07/2025 09:23

Smidge insect repellent is great

Not much use to you now right enough. You poor soul. I get bitten if I even look outside. That's in Scotland with midges.. mozzies are no fun either.

MyCalmRoseHelper · 13/07/2025 09:26

It works for me taken alongside an antihistamine (loritadine as the main ingredient).

EveryKneeShallBow · 13/07/2025 09:26

Anyone got any idea why my daughter only has to walk from the house to her car and gets bitten, where I can sit all day in the garden unbothered? Is it marmite? Garlic? Skin like an old raisin?

BSky4 · 13/07/2025 09:33

Might be too late now but incognito has a range of sun /insect repellent products. This did seem to work. They do sun cream shower gel & room refreshers which I will be trying this year. The whole family get bitten & I spend a small fortune trying to find something that helps deter the evil buggers. I’ve used smidge but this worked better for us.
https://www.biggreensmile.com/products/incognito-natural-aftersun-and-moisturiser/lmsun.aspx?productid=lmsun&srsltid=AfmBOorSzk78lTWYX65xcfkRXU2QyV2cek73sW4INfoyC6JH-X9EsC3j

Incognito Natural Aftersun and Moisturiser

Incognito , also protects against insects and is an excellent insect repellent.

https://www.biggreensmile.com/products/incognito-natural-aftersun-and-moisturiser/lmsun.aspx?productid=lmsun&srsltid=AfmBOorSzk78lTWYX65xcfkRXU2QyV2cek73sW4INfoyC6JH-X9EsC3j

birdling · 13/07/2025 09:37

EveryKneeShallBow · 13/07/2025 09:26

Anyone got any idea why my daughter only has to walk from the house to her car and gets bitten, where I can sit all day in the garden unbothered? Is it marmite? Garlic? Skin like an old raisin?

I was always bitten loads as a child, but rarely now.
Perhaps it is to do with old skin?
Or maybe we are less juicy now 😂

Vitrolinsanity · 13/07/2025 09:44

And it has an odd smell

Vitrolinsanity · 13/07/2025 09:45

Although I didn’t realise it supposedly had insect repellent capability.

custardlover · 13/07/2025 09:51

Great podcast thank you - I’m off to buy some Deet!

OP posts:
custardlover · 13/07/2025 09:54

EveryKneeShallBow · 13/07/2025 09:26

Anyone got any idea why my daughter only has to walk from the house to her car and gets bitten, where I can sit all day in the garden unbothered? Is it marmite? Garlic? Skin like an old raisin?

I just listened to the BBC Sliced Bread episode a PP linked to above (thank you!) and it said that essentially it’s to do with our immune response which is more vehement when newer (eg younger) and calms TF down as we get more used to being bitten (eg older). So maybe I should be flattered by the mozzie reaction which is the insect equivalent of calling me Mademoiselle.

OP posts:
unsync · 13/07/2025 10:08

Go to the Pharmacie and get some cinq/cinq tropic.

Important public service bulletin
ErrolTheDragon · 13/07/2025 10:09

DEET is the one which smells vile - the newer ones based on icaridin aka picaridin are also effective but don’t smell. This is what’s in Boots Repel spray and they also do a sunscreen with it in which we’re finding convenient (DH is a magnet for horseflies!)

SaintGermain · 13/07/2025 10:10

I never get bitten, it could be my blood type or that I eat a lot of garlic!

I do spray Turkish cologne on me, on bedding and in the air and biting insects run a mile.

JessicaTookMyLunch · 13/07/2025 10:13

I usually get bitten to death but Avon Skin So Soft worked for me, isn't one of their boasts that the army use it? I used it in Florida, repeatedly, year after year around mosquitos and never got bit.

But that was a few years ago so if they have now changed the formula it may not be as effective. Sorry you got bit.

Iloveonlyitaliantoastedbread · 13/07/2025 14:45

I first heard this load of BS about Avon's Skin So Soft back in 2003!
Long before people were passing along fake news on the internet!

yonem · 13/07/2025 14:51

BSky4 · 13/07/2025 09:33

Might be too late now but incognito has a range of sun /insect repellent products. This did seem to work. They do sun cream shower gel & room refreshers which I will be trying this year. The whole family get bitten & I spend a small fortune trying to find something that helps deter the evil buggers. I’ve used smidge but this worked better for us.
https://www.biggreensmile.com/products/incognito-natural-aftersun-and-moisturiser/lmsun.aspx?productid=lmsun&srsltid=AfmBOorSzk78lTWYX65xcfkRXU2QyV2cek73sW4INfoyC6JH-X9EsC3j

I second incognito, I am a magnet for mosquitoes and react really badly to bites but incognito is my saviour! We usually get the spray and roll on, and use the soap in tropical destinations as well.

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