1x 150ml SKIN so SOFT ® AVON Dry Oil Body Spray ORIGINAL® +jojoba insect repellent

Product Information

First and foremost, this stuff smells great and it blows all other midge repellents out of the water when it comes to making your skin feel soft (the clue’s in the name I guess) plus it dries into your skin without leaving it feeling oily, and it doesn’t leave any marks on your clothes as opposed to DEET which can bleach clothes and plastics. Using Avon’s “Bug Guard” is a good solution for a (relatively) cheap repellent that also aids your skin. Regular Avon Skin-So-Soft will work too, but only for a fraction of the time, it seems. Though, it’s better than using other items around your house, such as Listerine.

The male midge usually emerges in early May. Shortly after the females join the party. They then get it on and then the male midge dies... ah, nature. Scotland is famous for it's the weather. One such forecast you don't hear many other places is 'midge weather'. Midge weather is overcast, humid, mild, and still. DOES A MIDGE BITE HURT? If you don't mind chilly temperatures, take a winter adventure to the Highlands and stay bite-free, well maybe not frostbite-free. Long sleeves are your friends Midges have been around for thousands of years but with climate change, they are increasing their range and extending their season.Avon Skin So Soft is a beauty product that has been recommended as a midge repellent for years, which I always thought was an old wives tale until I tried it myself. All you need to do is spray your exposed areas. The spray should last long enough to ward off any potential mosquitoes. If you’re using a non-spray Avon product, you can rub the product over the exposed areas. Although midges, clegs and the like might be a nuisance, they definitely shouldn't put you off exploring the rugged wilderness that is the Scottish Highlands. Trust us – the views of misty Loch Katrine from the rugged Ben A'an are more than worth a midge bite or two. Avon could have real money-makers on their hands if they opted to use DEET in their Bug Guard brand. However, some people claim that DEET is dangerous to the nervous system, though no study has found this to be true. 5 Sure, bad reactions can happen, but that’s with every product.

Midges don't like hot and dry weather. They also love dawn and dusk. They prefer mild temperatures and wet conditions, which is what makes bonny (code for rainy) Scotland during the summer such a perfect habitat for them. Equally, midges aren't a big fan of the cold, and can't survive frost. For the rest of the summer, they then inflict midge mayhem on us. Sometimes there's a second generation or even a third generation. Their life cycle usually comes to an end as the weather become colder, or, hopefully, when they fly onto your Avon Skin so Soft laden forearms. HOW DO YOU STOP MIDGES? If you're keen to get out and about why not join us on one of our Scottish adventures? How about summit Ben Nevis and learn winter mountain skills? Given the time of year this trip runs, there's not a midge in sight. Leave your Skin so Soft at home and bring your ice axe instead (or you can just borrow one for the weekend). MIDGES IN SCOTLAND FAQ WHEN IS THE SCOTTISHMIDGE SEASON? Avon’s Skin So Soft This moisturiser was not created as a midge fighter but for some reason, someone realised it works against the beasties. Many people swear by this pleasant smelling body cream as an anti-midge defender. You can buy it online from Avon and many outdoor stores.You can buy Avon products at any grocery store like Target or Walmart , but if you can’t find it in your area, you can easily shop for some online. I have to start this review by saying I’ve used Mosi-Guard natural repellent before and while it works, in my opinion, it’s not quite as good as Smidge or any product that uses DEET. Still, if you want to give midges the elbow this is one of the best products to buy and the fact it doesn’t use DEET or indeed any nasty chemicals is a massive bonus. It’s also the cheapest of the bunch, has a manual pump dispenser, and is infused with natural oils so it’s virtually free of chemicals. The herbal component of this spray is Citriodol which is a 100% plant-based product that is biodegradable, and to date, there is no known accumulation of Citriodol in any public waterways. Midges are found in the Highlands of Scotland because they like to lay their eggs in wet soil. All the damp moss and rushes in the Highlands, therefore, makes it a paradise for midge egg-laying. Only half of them bite – male midges prefer chilling and eating – but the females need the protein in their blood to help grow her eggs. And that's where you come in.

Due to their tiny jaw-span, midges aren't very adept at biting through clothing. It's a good idea to opt for full-length trousers and long-sleeved tops. Your very own midge trap. Keep materials lightweight and breathable if you're hiking in the summer. Get up high A cheeky ascent of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, should keep you midge free. Stay indoors during dawn and dusk The Royal Marines are said to swear by its midge-repelling powers when training or based in and around the west coast.

Best protection against midges

You bet they do. Midges, like us, find some people irresistible and others to be just a bit meh...Midges base most of their decision on the way you smell and body temperature. IS IT ENOUGH TO PUT PEOPLE OFF GOING TO SCOTLAND IN SUMMER? Midge bites are very unpleasant and they have been known to bring grown men to tears, mainly because the resulting swelling is maddeningly itchy and can last for several days. Midges are said to enjoy the smell of our natural body odour and sweat which is where using certain scents can come in handy. This product couldn’t come more highly recommended – it does the job and it is very affordable to boot.

Mozzies are more often found in warm climates and make a distinctive and loud buzzing noise. Scottish midges, on the other hand, are only about 1-3mm, and often grey in colour (unless they've just been guzzling blood, in which case they turn red. Lovely). Verdict: A brilliant product that kept me midge-free. It also helped soothe redness on existing bites. You can also choose to go for a 'stronger' alternative to Smidge with DEET. DEET comes in different strengths - 25% (the standard), 50%, and 100%. Whilst we're not scientists (far from it) and aren't offering an opinion, just note that there have been worries about DEET being carcinogenic so probably best not to bathe in it.

Sure, for some anti-midge hikers it is a deal-breaker. But Scotland and the highlands has so much to offer that it would seem a shame to let those beastly midges get the better of us. If you really want to explore Scotland, try go out of midge season (September to April) when the weather is cold and windy (yep, this is the trade-off sadly!) and the biting insects are hiding!