Bug Guard Plus: It Repels Bugs and More

Avon Bug Guard Plus comes in several varieties. It doesn't slice or dice, but offers plenty of other options. It is available with Picaridin, an alternative to DEET. It comes with sunscreen in different strengths, and in pump spray, aerosol spray or lotion. It can be scented or unscented. It even comes in blue, which fades after kids rub it in and make sure they didn't miss any spots.

The Bug Guard Plus I tried was a lotion with SPF 30 sunscreen. It had a Gentle Breeze scent, which was nice but not too strong. It kept working after I swam, something I definitely appreciated. Having to smear on another coat of lotion after swimming always brings up the question of how dry you need to be before doing so. One coat of Bug Guard Plus seems to do the trick. It doesn't feel at all sticky or greasy, and it has Vitamin E and aloe, both of which are good for skin.

A tube or bottle or jar of Bug Guard Plus is usually about $10 or $12, but Avon often has it on sale, sometimes for half price. A little goes a long way too, so a four-ounce (118 ml) bottle can last a long time.

One of my favorite things about the Bug Guard Plus I tried is that it repels so many kinds of bugs. The list includes mosquitoes, flies, deer ticks, even gnats. Shortly before I tried it, I had accidentally inhaled a gnat when I opened my mouth to say something. Why gnats hover around people's mouths I don't know, but they're usually too small to see, especially at dusk. When someone is about to say something, and does the usual opening of the mouth and inhaling, that tiny insect is sort of vacuumed into the throat, where it tends to get stuck, regardless of how much food or drink pass it. A day or two later, the thing has finally been washed down. Bug Guard Plus can keep this from happening.

The sunscreen was effective and lasted for hours, as did the insect repellent, so instead of ending the day with a bunch of red and itchy bumps from mosquito bites on top of an even redder and painful sunburn, I ended it by relaxing comfortably in the yard and watching lightning bugs. They don't seem to be affected by Bug Guard Plus.