Review: Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

Last month, I received a bottle of the SKIN MD Natural Shielding Lotion, which was perfect timing since I'd finished my DHC Q10 set. I was excited to try it after seeing the website and reviews from both Mona and Diana.


Just a quick background on why I'm such a moisture freak: My skin type is sensitive and very dry in the winter. Somehow, my skin just doesn't seem to maintain moisture well and the weather/humidity in Southern California can get very dry, which doesn't help and makes my skin vary from dry to combination, depending on the seasons (due to varying humidity levels).

Here's some information taken from the Skin MD Natural website.

Description

Skin MD Natural is a shielding lotion, a very special type of lotion helping the skin restore its integrity, enhance its protective functions so that the skin is able to heal naturally and regain its youthful appearance. Skin MD Natural works by bonding with cells of the skin's outermost layer to form what works as an invisible shield. This layer of protection prevents environmental irritants and pollutants from penetrating the skin, while sealing in the skin's own natural oils and moisture, helping resolve the dry skin condition.

Skin MD Natural uses only the finest natural ingredients, and is focused on urging the skin to be active, and to use its own moisture to effectively heal itself. It is not oily or sticky, doesn't sit on top of your skin leaving a greasy residue on everything you touch, it doesn't rub or wash off easily, is hypoallergenic, fragrance, colorant and paraben free and dermatology tested.

Ingredients

Deionized water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (Aloe Vera), Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Arnica Montana Flower Extract (Arnica), Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract (Comfrey), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract (Chamomile), Achillea Millefolium Extract (Yarrow), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2 Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol

You can view the webite for a description of each ingredient.

Price:

$18 for a 4 oz bottle

Pros:

♥ affordable
♥ 93% all natural; free of parabens and other controversial ingredients
♥ gentle and non-greasy formula
♥ Hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic
♥ fragrance-free

Cons:

♥ packaging is not ideal if used only as a facial moisturizer (harder to control for small amounts)

My Thoughts

It sounded very promising, and two qualities that immediately attracted me were that it's made of natural ingredients (over 93% all natural), and the price is very affordable, especially if you were to use it only as a face moisturizer (it'd be equivalent to $4.5 per ounce, compared to say Boscia which would be equivalent to $27 per ounce, and the DHC Q10 Milk would be about $10.90 per ounce). I have an affinity for natural products because they promise the benefits of nature and are usually more gentle on sensitive skin; also they are sometimes (but not always) more effective since they don't have any or as many of the chemical "fillers" (ingredients that don't actually benefit your skin) you might typically find and therefore there is the added promise of higher quality.

The Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion can be used three ways: hands, body, and face. I used it on my face as I found it worked best for me there.

What made it best for my face? The texture is lightweight, comparable to DHC Q10 Milk (like a very fluid gel). It absorbs quickly and does not leave a greasy residue, so it does not cause breakouts.

However, since my skin has been dry due to the lack of humidity and seasonal weather, on days when my face was very dry (like when I was dehydrated because I was sick), it did not work as well for me as I would have liked. I think this will be a better moisturizer for me in warmer seasons when my skin is less dry and more combination, and I would recommended it for sensitive and normal-to-oily skin, but not for very dry skin. I have read reviews that it's great for eczema but I can't attest to that since I don't have eczema, just very dry skin.

Interested in trying it yourself? You can get two free samples either by sending a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) or order online and pay $2.00 for shipping and handling.

*This item was sent to me for review on my blog.