Although I get horribly cracked hands in the winter, I’m probably not the best person to test lotions. I always forget to apply them regularly. That said, I was still excited to pit two natural lotions head to head on this:
Believe me, the photo doesn’t do it justice. My hands were cringefully, stingingly cracked on the very day that my mailbox coughed up both product samples at once, which I thought was rather appropriate.
I tried to do a very scientific test, putting Skin MD Natural on exactly half of this hand (my right hand was in far worse shape than my left) and MadeOn Hard Lotion on the remaining half. I was pretty good about it for five days or so, and then I started missing days.
Ultimately, using either paraben-free lotion did wonders for my poor hands. (Check out the carnival post today to learn what a paraben is, for goodness sake!) My judgment is total success either way. Your choice of what to buy, if you’re in the market for a paraben-free lotion, depends on some other factors:
- Your goal: heal, prevent, or both
- Ease of use
- Ingredients, beyond the parabens
Positive Attributes
| Skin MD Natural | MadeOn Hard Lotion | Both |
| “shielding lotion” – - protects from irritants | made of food | no parabens |
| easy to apply | 3 ingredients | absorbed quickly |
| sunscreen option | works on severely cracked skin | improves eczema |
| produced by a work-at-home-mom | for use on hands, body, and even face! |
I am just so impressed with all that both lotions can do. My kids have eczema from time to time, and I felt so good to be able to put a product on their skin that (a) worked and (b) was made of real ingredients.
The Other Side
I can think of one drawback to each product:
- The hard lotion is, obviously, hard. You have to rub it a bit between your hands to soften it and allow it to penetrate your skin well. Busy moms, tired and running off to bed, sometimes are too lazy for even 20 seconds.
- The Skin MD Natural’s ingredients list is longer than I like, although they describe each one in detail here.
Ingredients:
| Skin MD Natural | MadeOn Hard Lotion |
| 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 |
Beeswax Shea Butter Coconut Oil |
Dry Skin? Cracked Hands? You’ve come to the right place…
I bet all of us know someone who could benefit from a serious lotion, or perhaps you’re simply looking for a moisturizer made with natural ingredients. I really did like both of these options, although for myself anything with only 3 ingredients made by a work-at-home mom wins out over a long ingredient list and a bigger company.
I also did my Monday Mission and checked the EWG’s Cosmetic Safety Database, and MadeOn scores a ZERO – no hazard at all, while Skin MD is not listed. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a zero before! That is a serious recommendation.
You may want to take a minute or two to check into each lotion’s website, where you’ll find great information and amazing testimonials from people who used the products. MadeOn Hard Lotion and Skin MD Natural
GIVEAWAY: Win Paraben-Free, Natural Lotions
I get to share some of each product with TWO winners today.
From MadeOn: 3 Pack Dry Skin Care includes a pocket size bar, family size bar and lip balm ($15.75 value).
Renee has this to share with you:
MadeOn Hard Lotion Bars are made with three pure, healthy ingredients: coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter, to relieve extreme, dry skin
. It was these simple three ingredients that put a stop to my cracked fingers and my son’s seasonal eczema. Due to the success stories of how well the lotion worked to relieve cracked heels, finger cuts, and even psoriasis, we turned it into a family business. It’s a hard lotion that melts into your skin as you rub it in.
On my website you’ll see a video showing how to use the bar, and a couple “how-to” videos that show how you can make your own lotion bars and lip balms. It’s easy and fun!
Read my blog for information about the ingredients, check out my past newsletters, and sign up to receive my next newsletter to be entered in April’s drawing for a $30 gift certificate good for any product on my website. To find out what type of skin issues the hard lotion bar has helped, check out the testimonies page.
The ingredients in the hard lotion bar are safe enough to eat and my product carries a hazard rating of “zero” in the Environmental Working Group’s Safe Cosmetic Database, which means the ingredients are the safest possible ingredients for your skin. Best of all, my customers are happy to have a lotion that not only feels soothing after applying it, but provides long-lasting relief without the greasy feel of a pump lotion. Check your own cosmetic, soap and lotion products in the database and you may be surprised at how hazardous they are.PLUS, any Kitchen Stewardship readers who purchase during the week of the giveaway will receive a free peppermint lip balm. After completing your Paypal purchase, you will be taken to a “thank you” page with the option to note how you found my site. Simply click the Kitchen Stewardship option so I know to include the free lip balm.
From Skin MD Natural: a bottle of their shielding lotion ($18.95 value).
from Skin MD’s “How and Why it Works” page:
Have you ever started using a conventional lotion (artificial moisturizer) as a dry skin care treatment only to find that when you stopped using that artificial moisturizer your dry skin condition became worse – not better?
“By using a shielding lotion that bonds with the outer layer of your skin you can keep irritants out and moisture in. Because most moisturizers do not seal in the body’s own moisture, they artificially lubricate the outer layers of skin. When they wear off, the lubrication is gone and the original dryness remains. Sometimes this process will draw out the body’s natural moisture and contribute to the dehydration process,” writes Dr. Peter Helton, a board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic dermatology.
ENTER HERE
Lots of ways to win today, just leave separate comments for each, please. THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED; THANKS FOR ENTERING!
- Leave a comment at this post with your best description of your painful skin that needs a good moisturizer OR your experience with seeking natural personal products.
- Link up to the carnival at Mindful Momma.
- Leave a comment (follow Micaela’s directions) at the carnival post. This is an awesome two-fer, because Micaela is giving away a prize, too! (you don’t have to leave a comment here for this one)
- Subscribe in a reader or via email to Kitchen Stewardship (or tell me if you already do).
- Email 5 friends (who don’t already read KS) about this giveaway or any other favorite post you think they should see.
- Visit either lotion’s website and tell me something you learned there.
- Follow me on Twitter AND Tweet about the giveaway (just click the button at the top of this post).
- Stumble or Digg your favorite post or recipe at Kitchen Stewardship. (What is Stumble?)
(If you receive KS via email, you will need to click over to the site to leave a comment.) Please leave all your entries in separate comments so it’s easier for me to count.
I will use random.org’s integer generator to choose the winners. The first draw will get their choice of lotion, with the other given to the second winner. The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, April 25th, and I’ll post the winners by the following Tuesday.
———————————————
I’d love to see more of you! Sign up for a free email subscription or grab my reader feed. You can also follow me on Twitter or get KS for Kindle.
If you missed the last Monday Mission, click here.
Kitchen Stewardship is dedicated to balancing God’s gifts of time, health, earth and money. If you feel called to such a mission, read more at Mission, Method, and Mary and Martha Moments.
Disclosure: I received free samples of both products, but I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The companies provided samples for the giveaway as well. MadeOn is a sponsor and affiliate, but I tried really hard to be unbiased in this review for the benefit of my readers! 
This post is entered in Works for Me Wednesday and Things I Love Thursday.
I work in the garden constantly in the summer, so my skin always needs lotion in the summer.
Hmmm, my worst skin problems are on my feet. My heels are hard and a bit cracked from this winter. My hands are dry, but not cracked. I have tried lotion bars in the past and do like using them before bed. My other natural moisturizers I use are just natural oils. Coconut oil, anyone? It smells great! I was just discourages with the “natural” lotions out there and how much junk they still had in them. I do agree that handmade is the best!
.-= Stacy´s last blog ..Have you checked out the new Simple Living Media sites? =-.
I would love to try either one! My husband has really dry and sensitive skin and I am always looking for a more natural option for him to try and maybe like
Me? I just love new lotions and would love to try a new one.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Thoughts for Today =-.
I subscribe
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Thoughts for Today =-.
My son has the worst skin problems in our family – his elbows are always chapped and occasionally bleeding. I’d love to try natural products on him!
I am an email subscriber!
Thank you for your wonderful blog. I am subscribed in a reader and your newsletter. Thanks again!
I found a new product, Keys- http://www.keys-soap.com. They do not use parabens AND they are 100% chemical free. They products really work and they can be used on kids, parents and pets.
I am already a subscriber.
.-= Stacy´s last blog ..Have you checked out the new Simple Living Media sites? =-.
I subscribe via RSS. thanks!
my arms are what gets the most dry, especially my elbows. I’ve tried lots of things including scrubs and lotions but like shea butter the best!
i am seeking and seeking…..its tricky to find in stores, you definitely have to do your research before you go to the lotion aisle. i’m excited about all the skincare info this week – additionally as soon as i run out of face soap and shampoo i am trying both the oil cleansing method for my face and the shampoo-free (baking soda + vinegar) method on my hair – an experiment i’m doing with my best friend during her 2 week long visit.
would love to be able to try out these great products from a great giveaway!
.-= talesofahummingbird´s last blog ..growing vocabulary and understanding each other =-.
Oh! after visiting hardlotion.com, I learned that coconut oil isn’t just for baking! I’ve never seen it in a skincare ingredient list
Visit the MadeOn Hard Lotion Bars website and be sure to watch the DIY video. You get a code for 5% off your purchase! They also have chocolate lotion bars which sound really yummy!
.-= Stacy´s last blog ..Have you checked out the new Simple Living Media sites? =-.
Thanks for a great giveaway!!! I would love either one, but especially the MadeOn products. I’ve used lotion bars before and really like them. I don’t have very dry skin except in the winter, but my son gets dry patches on his skin in the winter and I would love to see if it works for that.
My skin gets so dry it itches – terribly. I’m trying to green my health and beauty aid and lotion is on the list.
.-= Condo Blues´s last blog ..Six Ways to Use Leftover Shampoo =-.
I subscribe via RSS to your blog feed.
.-= Condo Blues´s last blog ..Six Ways to Use Leftover Shampoo =-.
winter is always wrecking havoc on my hands, and the more i try to cook from scratch i find i have more dishes to do and my hands only get worse.
i’m constantly washing my hands and then applying lotion.
I work in a children’s hospital, and probably wash my hands 100+ times a day on a busy day, which leads to dry, red, cracked skin just like your photo. It’s definately hard to find natural products (of any type) where I live, so samples are great!
I subscribe to Kitchen Stewardship via RSS.
This series has me evaluating everything I buy, do or use. Although incredibly overwhelming…it’s good to have my eyes opened.
I saw a recipe for a lotion bar on another blog earlier this year and was completely captivated. I love the idea of only three (!) ingredients, all of which can be pronounced!
However, I’m also of the nature of using up what I have, so we will hopefully be switching soon. It will be interesting to see how the lotion bar tackles my always dry, cracked hands.
I subscribe in Google Reader.
First entry: I wouldn’t say my hands are painfully dry, but they are dry due to all the hand washing that accompanies caring for a baby. Even though I only use water half the time I rinse my hands, they get dry…so I’d love to win some natural lotion to apply as needed, especially before bed.
I subscribe via Bloglines
I follow you on Twitter and tweeted this giveaway
I watched the video about using MadeOn and thought it was very well done – great idea to show us that your hands aren’t too slippery to use a pen after you apply the lotion!
I am allergic to lanolin so sometimes that is a barrier to finding a good product, but this one looks great!
I’m a subscriber in google reader.
4. I subscribe!
Thanks,
Heather
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Moral Dilemmas =-.
1. My husband has bad, really bad, I feel terrible for him bad psorasis. I would do anything if I knew it would help him not itch, not have the flaking skin all over the house and not have to have skin that is not pleasing to touch. I want a day to come that I can rub my hand on his arm, or leg, or back, or wherever and have it be a little smooth. It would make me so happy and would literally change his life!
Thanks for the giveaway.
Heather
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Moral Dilemmas =-.
6. Shea butter in chocolate? Seriously had no idea. Really liking what I’m learning/seeing on the MadeOn Hard lotion site. My husband may need to be getting one of these even if we don’t win!
Thanks again,
Heather
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Moral Dilemmas =-.
I just signed up for your emails.
I am interested in the MadeOn Hard lotion. I love that there are only 3 ingredients. My skin is REALLY dry in the winter, and my hands & feet crack. I have a hard time finding good lotion to help that.
I subscribe.
ooohhhh… my hands and feet are so dry and cracked especially this time of year. i have some eczema and it’s really flaring up. thank you.
My hands are very dry and the older I get the worse it is. It used to just be a problem during the winter, but now I notice my hands are dry pretty much all year long. If I don’t put some kind of lotion on constantly my hands get cracked and I even get little cuts. It doesn’t seem to matter what lotion I use. It would be great to find out if these lotions work. I’m tired of my “old lady” hands.
I get horribly ashy skin on my legs and my hands get really dry because I deal with paper all day at my job.
I already subscribe via e-mail
I follow you on Twitter and tweeted the giveaway.
I learned that the MadeOn Hard Lotion can also be used on chapped/dry lips. That is cool to me because I get dehydrated easy right now (hyperemesis) and my lips get really bad.
I’ve been using the oil cleansing method for about two weeks and it is fantastic. I’m so happy to have found it. In addition I have extremely dry skin and especially on my feet. I started using just shea butter but switched to Coconut oil because it’s cheaper. I don’t use Coconut oil bottled up for cosmetic purposes…just put some refined CO from the kitchen into a jar in the bathroom. It works like nothing I’ve EVER used. My skin is incredibly soft and my feet are like they haven’t been in at least 30 years (I’m 44). And it begins to melt as soon as it touches your skin so not hard to use. Then with it still on my hands I run them through my really dry hair. My skin and hair are much improved!
.-= Jill´s last blog .. =-.
I am a subscriber and am new to finding natural products. I keep learning new things from sites like yours and really would like to try the Hard Lotion whether I win or not. Thanks for your informative site!
I already subscribe
I would love to try these products because I break out in a rash all the time with beauty / hygiene products. When I think I have found one that will work for me, I have to test it for several weeks to make sure. However, the dry skin issue is actually my husband’s and I would like for him to try the lotion. Since he returned from an Army deployment (almost 3yrs now) one of his hands has looked like raw meat constantly. He has gone to several doctors about it. They give him this steroid lotion kinda stuff and have him put it on before bed with a glove over it. They don’t have any answers for why or what caused this, and their first diagnosis is always severely dry skin, though he has never had that problem before, and it isn’t anywhere else on his body. The steroid cream slightly reduces the rash, but then it comes back with a vengence, then the docs say, ‘oh, must be more than dry skin, lets soak you for a bunch of money to do tests that so many other docs have already done but we refuse to look at those test results because there is a reason you are getting a 19th opinion.’ We have tried so many types of lotions and scrubs and blah blah blah. I just want to help him. Oh yeah, and he works construction so there is really no time when he doesn’t have cuts and bruises on top of it. So anyway, I know, long sob story, but this would be awesome if it would help.
Dry hands are my worst nightmare in the winter time. But like you, I forget to put them on regularly (thankfully since the lotion I use has parabens in it)!
I subscribe!
Coconut Oil is all we have found thatreally works, I am a subscriber.
My dry hands would so appreciate one of these lovely products.
i am a loyal subscriber and i need thins. the soles of my feet are soo dry and painful but maybe im not using the right cream although i have tried many.
My worst skin problem is actually my lips. They are constantly chapped. I ALWAYS put chapstick on, which I know, perpetuates the problem. But it’s so painful otherwise. Maybe the MadeOn Hard lip balm would help!