Product Review: Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion & A Giveaway!

Today I'll be reviewing an innovative skin care lotion that I recently received from 21st Century Formulations, the manufacturer of Skin MD Natural. For all intents and purposes, this product acts as a moisturizer, but it acts differently than a moisturizer. When I used it the first time, I noticed that the bottle said "shielding lotion", meaning that "it not only adds moisture to the skin, but it also binds to the skin such that the environment is not allowed to penetrate and desiccate the skin, essentially forming an invisible shield around and throughout the skin. Shielding lotions are lotions that form a protective shield with the outer layer of skin and help keep out irritants and chemicals. They also allow the natural oils and moisture to remain in the skin so it can heal better."

Essentially, this lotion not only moisturizes your skin, it also protects it. It is recommended for use on the face, body and hands and although I was a little afraid to try it on my face, I did. I've been using this for 4 days now and I have had no problems or reactions whatsoever. The lotion is fairly thin in consistency, it absorbs quickly and evenly into the skin, and it has very little scent, which disappears completely after it's been applied. The first thing I noticed after using Skin MD is how silky soft my skin feels. That feeling lasts throughout the day, which I appreciate. I wash my hands quite a few time throughout the day, and I'm finding that my hands still feel hydrated after each time I wash them. I'm not applying lotion to my hands 3-4 times a day, because they simply don't look or feel like they need it. I don't have problems with my skin, but this product is recommended by many dermatologists as a way to treat certain skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis. I've been putting a little extra product on my elbows, knees and feet before I go to bed, and I am noticing a slight change in the feeling and appearance of the skin in these areas. They're softer, most definitely, and they appear to be less dry when I get out of the shower, before I've applied the product for the day. I don't know if I'm imagining it, but the skin on my face looks better to me...better as in younger, a more even skin tone, just overall healthy looking... dare I say dewy or glowing, especially when I'm not wearing makeup. I have an arsenal of facial products that I use, so obviously, if one product could replace those, as well as replace my hand and body lotions, that would certainly save me time and money! I'm not quite ready to call this a miracle product and replace all of my other products with it, but I do like the results I'm seeing so far.

Here are some details about the product itself:

-No animal products or testing
-Dermatology tested
-Fragrance and colorant free
-Hypoallergenic
-Paraben free
-Non-comedogenic

Their website is filled with information about the company, the products and testimonials. I spent quite a bit of time reading it and the skeptic in me was pretty impressed. Personally, I found this statement on their website to be very interesting, because I actually add glycerin to many of my lotions because of it's moisture retention properties. "Glycerin has been the standard against which all humectants are measured. Until now no other humectant drew in as much moisture from the air as glycerin. But the proprietary formulation in Skin MD Natural has a moisturizing factor of at least 6 times greater than glycerin. Combined with its protective properties and natural ingredients, this makes Skin MD Natural a truly unique product." This product is available in a regular formula as well as an SPF 15 formula. They retail for $18.00 (regular formula) and $25.00 (SPF formula) for a 4 oz. bottle, and there are several other options on their website for larger orders, such as case lots (great for gift giving!), gallon bottles, and so on. You can order samples and simply pay for the postage, if you're interested in trying out this lotion. They have a 100% unconditional money-back guarantee on their products, so if you're not happy with it, just return it for a full refund. They do offer International shipping at a very reasonable rate ($9.95), and they also have a store locator and International websites located on their main page.

If you'd like to win 2 full-sized bottles of Skin MD Natural, leave your e-mail in a comment below. I'll select one name as the winner, and you'll receive a bottle of their regular and their SPF 15 formula (a $43.00 value). All entries must be received by midnight, November 20. The winner will be announced on November 21. Followers only, please.

*Sponsored review, products furnished by Skin MD Natural/21st Century Formulations.