I remember that when I was a kid, Avon’s Skin So Soft was used as the mosquito repellent of choice. I don’t know if it was the oily formula or the distinctive scent that kept the bugs from biting, but it worked. I developed a strong aversion to the scent as a child and swore never to touch the stuff again.

So, imagine me recommending a Skin So Soft product here on Beauty on a Budget. Avon’s new formula Skin So Soft products are nothing like the Skin So Soft your mother bought from the local Avon lady.

My sister gave me some Skin So Soft Fusions Dual Softening Body Wash in Light & Lush. I politely put it in the bathroom, but I was wary of trying it.

I was out of my usual shower gel the other day so in desperation I grabbed the tube of SSS. I didn’t realize how much I would love this stuff.

This body wash does it all, from exfoliating to moisturizing. There’s no need to use a body scrub first and then apply lotion for softening skin. The product contains “smoothbrasion” beads that exfoliate dry and dead skin plus an ultra conditioning formula that hydrates and protects skin with jojoba oils.

I could definitely feel the beads doing the scrub work but I was amazed by the silky softness of my skin when I rinsed off. The fragrance is light and barely there, not at all like the heavy scent of the Skin So Soft I knew as a child.

The body wash comes in three fragrances: Light & Lush, Soft & Sensual and Renew & Refresh.

It’s definitely too early in the season to spend a day at the beach or in the tanning booth (not good for your skin, either) and probably a bit early for self-tanning products unless you’re gearing up your color for a special event or a cruise. With no base color your trusty bronzer may not look as healthy and blended as you’d like. Plus, your skin is still recovering from winter’s harsh weather (even this spring is cooler than usual).

How about a moisturizer, sunscreen and skin tint all in one? Sephora’s Tinted Moisturizer is sheer with just a hint of color. It leaves a satin finish to your skin, so you never see or feel anything heavy or caky. On top of that it nourishes your skin with Vitamins A, C and E. The perfect foundation for the transition into spring. Comes in 5 shades from light to deep and bronze.

Avon’s Beyond Color Lip Recovery Cream promises softer lips with allantoin, vitamins, jojoba oil and beta carotene in a formula with a “Moisture Lock System” that even contains a sunscreen.

The lipcolor delivery system is something like the one they used on a liquid eyeliner that “exploded” on me, so I was a bit wary of that. This twist-up color works a bit more smoothly so perhaps they have ironed out the kinks in the system. The color is dispensed via a brush at the end of the tube through which it seeps as you twist the wand. The two remaining difficulties with this delivery system is that you don’t know how much product is in the brush until it comes through in a large blob and that the product remaining on the brush gets hardened bits in it after a time of no usage. You do get used to the wand and after a few applications you will no longer get either too little product or a goopy blob.

This lip cream does have very intense color for a liquid formula and it is creamy and smooth-feeling on your lips, much thicker than I expected. I tried Creamy Nude which was a lovely neutral but not invisible. The color wears a decent length of time, making the need for reapplication less frequent. It has a nice, fresh scent reminiscent of cucumber and melon, which lasts a short time after application.

I noticed a bit of exfoliation of dry skin the first time I used it, which worried me about getting into a cycle of use such as you get with medicated lip balms, but this dissipated with each use until it was no longer noticeable. The allantoin in the formula promotes new, healthy skin growth and this may have been a by-product of that process.

After three days my lips definitely feel softer but I think I would continue wearing this just for the color, which I love. It comes in a host of shades, so finding one you like is not a difficult task. One caution is that I would definitely recommend that you apply lip liner first to keep the color where you want it.

Overall, I liked this product and will continue to use it. I have added it to my little bag of essential neutrals.

I have been wearing my Glazewear Liquid Lip Color by Avon for a few days now. Overall, I am pretty pleased with the depth of color and the infrequent need for reapplication.

Everyone likes the feel of a lip gloss, they naturally feel more moisturizing and application is a breeze. The only trouble is that it tends to wear off quickly and needs constant reapplication.

I figured the best way to test a liquid lip color was to go for a deep, rich color. What better test of its staying power? So I tried Real Red. The product feels a little thicker than some lip glosses but it’s very smooth and very moisturizing. I like the fact that it contains Vitamins A, E and C, all of which have great benefits for your skin.

If you are used to sheer color in a gloss, then you will be surprised by how rich this color is and how much coverage you get. I won’t say that it lasted all day, I did need to reapply once or twice but not too often. The color was a real red but not harsh, just rich and bright. My lips felt great with this on, and the softness lasted for a long time afterward. I felt this product was very protective for the lips as well as providing great color and coverage.

As Avon currently has Glazewear on sale for 1/3 of the normal price, I recommend you pick up a couple. It comes in 27 shades!