Avon Skin So Soft, in its original bath oil and lotion forms, is not toxic for normal skin use. The ingredients are standard cosmetic compounds found across the skincare industry. The bug repellent versions carry a few more precautions, but they’re EPA-registered and considered safe when used as directed. That said, a couple of ingredients deserve a closer look if you have sensitive skin or specific health concerns.
What’s in the Original Lotion
The Skin So Soft Original Body Lotion is built on a base of water, glycerin, mineral oil, and petrolatum, which are among the most common moisturizing ingredients in skincare. It also contains dimethicone (a silicone that smooths skin), jojoba seed oil, vitamin E, and several emulsifiers that hold the formula together. None of these ingredients are classified as toxic by any major regulatory body.
The preservative system includes phenoxyethanol and imidazolidinyl urea. Phenoxyethanol is widely used and generally well tolerated. Imidazolidinyl urea is a formaldehyde-releasing preservative, meaning it slowly releases tiny amounts of formaldehyde to prevent bacterial growth. The levels are far below what would cause harm, but people with formaldehyde sensitivity can develop contact dermatitis from products containing it. If you’ve ever reacted to certain cosmetics or nail products, this ingredient is worth noting.
The Fragrance Question
The most scrutinized ingredient in the original formula is simply listed as “fragrance.” Under U.S. labeling rules, companies aren’t required to disclose the individual chemicals that make up a fragrance blend, so this single word can represent dozens of compounds. The Environmental Working Group flags fragrance broadly for concerns including allergies, skin irritation, and potential endocrine disruption.
This doesn’t mean the fragrance in Skin So Soft is uniquely dangerous. Fragrance is flagged across the entire cosmetics industry because undisclosed blends can contain known allergens and sensitizers. For most people, it causes no issues. But if you’re prone to contact allergies, respiratory sensitivity, or have eczema, fragrance-heavy products like Skin So Soft (which has a notably strong scent) are more likely to trigger a reaction than fragrance-free alternatives.
The Bug Repellent Versions
Avon sells separate “Bug Guard” products under the Skin So Soft name, and these are a different category entirely. They contain active insect-repelling ingredients and are regulated as pesticides by the EPA, not just as cosmetics.
The Bug Guard Plus line has used IR3535, a synthetic repellent. The EPA’s toxicity testing found no harmful effects when IR3535 is ingested, inhaled, or applied to skin. It can cause eye irritation on direct contact, but it carries no systemic toxicity concerns. Another version uses picaridin, a well-established repellent also considered safe for skin application. The EPA most recently accepted the picaridin spray’s label in October 2021 under registration number 806-31.
The repellent products do carry precautionary language that the original lotion does not. The picaridin spray, for example, warns that it causes temporary eye injury if it gets in your eyes, is harmful if swallowed, and is flammable. It should not be applied over cuts, wounds, sunburned skin, or under clothing. For children, the label instructs adults to spray it on their own hands first, then apply it to the child, rather than letting kids handle the product directly.
Is It Safe Around Pets
One reason people search for toxicity information is concern about pets, particularly cats. The original Skin So Soft lotion is a cosmetic product, not a veterinary treatment, and Avon does not market it for use on animals. Some pet owners have historically applied it as a home remedy for fleas, but cats in particular are sensitive to essential oils, fragrances, and certain preservatives that are harmless to humans. If your pet licks treated fur or skin, the ingested ingredients could cause gastrointestinal upset. The bug repellent versions pose a greater concern for animals because they contain active pesticide compounds.
The Bottom Line on Daily Use
For the average person using the original lotion or bath oil on intact skin, Skin So Soft poses no meaningful toxicity risk. The ingredients are conventional, and the product has been sold since 1961 without regulatory action. The two ingredients most worth your attention are the undisclosed fragrance blend (a potential allergen and irritant for sensitive individuals) and imidazolidinyl urea (a concern only if you have a known formaldehyde sensitivity).
The bug repellent products are slightly more complex because they contain active pesticide ingredients, but both IR3535 and picaridin have strong safety profiles when used on skin as directed. The key precautions are avoiding eye contact, keeping the products away from young children’s hands, and not applying them to broken or irritated skin.