We’re a family with a redheaded child, so I always make sure sunscreen is worn when we leave the house. We’re also a family that gets a lot of mosquito bites, so bug protection is important too. When I heard about Avon’s Skin So Soft Bug Guard Essentials line (remember that?) now offers products with bug and sun protection combined, I asked to test them out. While the sprays are easier to apply, our favorite is the lotion.
All of the Skin So Soft products are DEET-free. Skin and okay for the entire family to use. The line has the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval and contain one of two EPA-registered active ingredients, IR3535® or Picaridin.
The collection includes:
Bug Guard Plus IR3535® Expedition ™ SPF 30 Spray ($14-$16) – Combined sun and insect protection in one product and available in an Aerosol spray and Pump spray. Strong and long-lasting repellency against mosquitoes, deer ticks, sand flies, gnats, no-seeums and biting midges.
Bug Guard Plus IR3535® SPF 30 Lotions ($14) – Repel mosquitoes, deer ticks, black flies, sand flies, gnats, no-seeums and biting midges. Aloe and Vitamin E-enriched formulas are available as a Gentle Breeze Lotion and Cool ‘n Fabulous Disappearing Color Lotion. If you buy on Avon’s website, both lotions are on sale for $4.99 each.
Insect Protection only:
Bug Guard Plus Picaridin Spray ($14-$16) – Protection during dusk & dawn, which is when mosquitoes are more active. Repels deer ticks that may transmit Lyme disease and mosquitoes that may carry West Nile virus. Available as an Aerosol Spray, Pump Spray and travel-friendly Towelettes. This does not contain any sunscreen.
Thoughts:
We gravitated towards the Bug Guard Plus products that offered sun and bug protection (I think combining it was genius). We found that the Bug Guard Plus SPF 30 lotion worked really well for us. If you like sprays, never spray near your child’s face and make sure you’re in a ventilated area. If you are using the blue disappearing lotion, it may leave marks on your child’s clothes (until you can wash them), so either put on the lotion, let it dry and then get your child dressed; or use the regular white lotion. I put the blue disappearing lotion on my daughter the other day and wasn’t careful enough; so I had to change her bright pink shirt, because it looked like I dribbled toothpaste on it. We ended up using the white lotion and found the protection to be perfect for us.
When using any sunscreen or insect repellent, follow label directions & precautions.
Beyond just fighting off the bugs outdoors, Avon’s Skin So Soft Bug collection also helps you swat them away virtually with the first-ever Bug Guard game! Find it on their facebook page-–https://www.facebook.com/AvonProductsInc#!/AvonProductsInc/app_347144955322119
Thank you to Avon for sending samples of Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus. As always, all opinions are my own.
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