£8 hydrating body oil is the ‘best repellant' for insects and mosquito bites
We might look forward to the warm sunny weather every year, but one thing we're less excited about returning is the insects that come with it. Every summer it becomes a minefield of avoiding being bitten from horse flies, midges and mosquitoes, and this only gets worse when you're travelling somewhere hot and exotic.
Although there's plenty of insect repellent sprays on the market, not only do they not always work effectively, but they also often have a harsh, chemical smell that's less than appealing. However, it turns out there's one beauty product that's notorious for stopping insect bites from happening – and it's less than £8 on Amazon.
Yes, it turns out that Avon's Skin So Soft Dry Oil Spray, which you can pick up for £7.93, is not only great at keeping your skin soft and hydrated – it also doubles as a super effective bug spray, too. In fact it's supposedly so good at keeping insects from biting you, that the SAS are said to use it, especially whilst in the jungle.
Whilst this has never been officially confirmed, anecdotal stories suggest they rely on it to keep them from getting bitten whilst in the tropical climates. However plenty of other reviewers also confirm that it works well for preventing insect bites.
One Amazon shopper called it the 'Best repellent', whilst another said: 'No longer bitten to pieces! Amazing!'
One happy customer wrote: 'Having suffered from some quite large mosquito bites and having tried lots of different repellants (which mostly smell awful), a friend recommended the Avon Skin So Soft Dry Oil Body Spray and having read all of the reviews, I thought I'd give it a try.
The product arrived very quickly and was well packaged and since I have been using it every day, I haven't suffered with anymore mosquito bites. In addition to this, my skin is soft and the smell of the product is fresh and light and the spray is non greasy so it's quick to use. I know that this isn't advertised as a mosquito repellant, but the ingredients obviously keep the mosquitos at bay.I will definitely be ordering a further supply.'
It's worth noting that whilst it does have the added bonus of being a mosquito repellent for many users, the Avon Skin So Soft is not touted as being an insect repellent. It is however also excellent for keeping your skin soft and hydrated, with the dry oil finish meaning you can apply it without leaving a greasy sheen on your skin.
Others who had less success with it said: 'Nice enough as a body moisturiser, but it didn't work for me as a gnat/midge/mosquito repellent. However, it was recommended to me by someone for whom it does work, and I really do attract the nasty biting little beasties, so please don't be put off by my own experience. It certainly feels lovely on the skin – or rather the skin feels lovely with this product applied to it.'
And another agreed: 'If you are buying this as an anti insect bite product then I can tell you I have been away camping for the weekend and have 15 bites, probably from horseflies. However the product smells amazing and it is great for the skin without being greasy.'
If you are looking for something specifically designed to repel insects whilst also smelling great, this Mrs White's Unstung Hero Mosquito Repellent (£20) checks all the boxes. Created with a refreshing and pleasant smell, it still helps to deter any unwanted critters from biting you, giving you the best of both worlds.
Another that has great reviews is Neal's Yard Remedies Citronella Formula, which is £14 for a 100ml bottle. The citronella scent is said to be great at keeping flies and insects away, without having a nasty chemical smell.
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