The first beauty hack I learned in the late 1980s revolutionized my skincare routine, and that’s no exaggeration. I was a girl who spent a lot of summer time in the great outdoors, despite being extremely allergic to mosquitoes and biting flies. I can recall an instance in which my entire back was covered in mosquito bites that had swollen about thrice the typical size for most people. For some reason, the insect repellants back then didn’t repel a damn thing from me. But then, my mom learned Avon Skin-So-Soft body oil, a product we already used to moisturize, is an extremely effective mosquito repellant because they apparently detest the woodsy fragrance. Allergic reactions to insect bites ceased being an inevitable consequence of summers well-spent, from then. My mom not only kept me slathered in Skin-So-Soft, but also made sure my day camp backpack was fully stocked, so much so that the camp director knew to hit me up before we went exploring.
I’ve been thinking of this insect repellant beauty hack this summer because I think I’ve discovered another weapon in the fight against insect bites – glycolic acid.
What Had Happened Was…
In true fashion, I spent my last night of holiday in Barbuda, this past May, on my family’s back patio. I thought I had applied enough repellant, but spirits (wink, wink) were high, and the extremely obnoxious sand flies and mosquitoes ate me up. As I discovered each bite while scratching the next morning, I lamented the awful reaction and recovery that was ahead of me. But I was unaware of the simple remedy that awaited me in my shower.
You see, I showered using the Dove Glycolic Serum Wash the night of my arrival home. At the time, I just wanted to experience its extremely delightful fresh water lily fragrance. However, the next morning, I noticed that the bites had shrunken and quickly realized that the Glycolic Serum Wash was the only change in my skincare routine. Of course, I used it again that morning, and the bites had certainly decreased in size and itch, once again, by that evening.
Instead of the usual irritation, itch, swelling, and scarring, these bites healed completely in less than two days. I knew I was onto something that could change the game. But would the Dove Glycolic Serum Wash combat the extremely vile mosquitoes of NYC, I wondered.
I had the opportunity to test whether my experience was a fluke one Saturday evening, as I discovered the meal a mosquito had made of me earlier in the day. I showered with the serum wash and, once again, my skin was healing from the mosquito bites by the next morning, much to my relief.
Another Unlikely Soother
In addition to the serum wash, the Dove Deodorant Pads are a soothing and refreshing way to calm mosquito bites on-the-go. These pads come in a handy jar and dispense glycolic acid, which gently exfoliates skin and renews its texture. Both products are part of the Dove Women’s Wellness Collection.
Like Skin-So-Soft, Dove Glycolic Serum Wash has completely revolutionized my skincare routine, and I think it will benefit yours and your family’s too.
