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.
My skin is so very cracked, especially around my fingernails ….very very painful.
I subscribed to Kitchen Stewardship!
1. I have rosacea, which I have trouble keeping under control. I’d love to find a more natural way to do it!
.-= Lenetta @ Nettacow´s last blog ..Spring Cleaning Carnival – Get the Parabens Out! =-.
I subscribed to your RSS feed.
4. I already subscribe.
.-= Lenetta @ Nettacow´s last blog ..Spring Cleaning Carnival – Get the Parabens Out! =-.
I followed you on twitter & tweeted about this giveaway.
6. I learned right off the bat the proper terminology for what I have: elephant elbows and alligator legs! :>) Seriously, I gave up applying lotion all over after each shower and, well, let’s say I would probably do well to exfoliate a bit more often.
.-= Lenetta @ Nettacow´s last blog ..Spring Cleaning Carnival – Get the Parabens Out! =-.
My hands were never as dry as they have been in the last few weeks since I picked up my newborn (adopted) son. I’ve been washing my hands way more frequently and now they are dry, flaky and beginning to crack. Ugh!
I tweeted!
.-= Lenetta @ Nettacow´s last blog ..Spring Cleaning Carnival – Get the Parabens Out! =-.
I subscribe to you by e-mail. Thanks!!
I learned that Renee just took delivery of a 30 lb. hunk of beeswax which can make 800 family sized bars of lotion. Cool!
I subscribe to your posts via email
I would love to win because my husband deals with eczema on his hands which can cause him to itch terribly. I also would love to be able to take something so portable with us when we go to Rwanda!
.-= lisa´s last blog ..Homemade Barbecue Sauce =-.
I just made up some MadeOn hard lotion and I love it. It really does feel like silk. I’m excited to be able to use something on my kids that won’t flair up their sensitive skin.
One of my sons had such horrible eczema when he was an infant and toddler that he had to wear pants and socks to bed every night. It has improved a lot as he has gotten older and as his food allergies have improved, but he still is prone to dry cracked skin, so I try to have him keep lotion on his hands regularly, but I hate the ingredients lists on even the natural products. I’m glad to see your review of these products and would love to one or both of them eventually, even if I don’t win
I subscribe via e-mail
I subscribe.
There is a much easier way to handle dry skin.
We live in a VERY dry climate & about 18 months ago NOTHING i tried, including lotion bars helped.
In desperation i did an online search & found this very simple recipe: 1 part vegetable glycerin, 4 parts distilled water. The lady said that this worked for her when nothing else, including Rx creams (which do have parabens & other nasties).
I lit on the idea of using aloe vera juice instead of the distilled water & i love it! (I sometimes add a few drops of Miessence essential oil for scent.) My sis prefers scented things, so she uses some rose water or other scented water.
This is, of course, very liquid. I put it in a spray bottle & spray it on. It is wonderful & such a difference. I use it all over. I’ve shared it with lots of people. I’d guess that about 70-80% of the women love it. Those that don’t seem to be the ones who would prefer a cream.
I don’t care, cream or spray, as long as it works & this does.
Not to hijack your post. The bar lotion is lovely. I do prefer the frugality of this liquid stuff that works so well.
.-= Kathryn´s last blog ..Hard to believe . . . =-.
I’ve tried several products in trying to prevent my fingertips from cracking in the winter. Sounds like one of these products may do the trick!
I’m an email subscriber.
At the MadeOn Hard Lotion site, I learned that shea butter comes from the nut of a shea tree – never heard of a shea tree!
I have tried so hard all winter to control my bleeding and cracked hands and is just miserable and painful. I have excema on my hands and they itch and and bleed and Im trying to the most natural thing I can do.
I am an email subscriber
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Courageous Parents, Confident Kids: Free E-book (Limited Time Offer) =-.
I have been getting your feeds through email for awhile now.
My skin need a good moisturizer because while I have very healthy nails, the skin around my nails has always been incredibly dry. I use coconut oil but it does not seem to be enough!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Courageous Parents, Confident Kids: Free E-book (Limited Time Offer) =-.
I’m a subscriber!
I don’t have a lotion story, but my fight to find a natural deodorant has been torture! I of course want to cut out the aluminium anti-perspirants which are so bad for us, however I have tried at least 4 natural (some organic) deodorants only to break out from all of them! Even another option of just baking soda broke me out! Many of them also didn’t work without FREQUENT application.
I’m so frustrated! For now, I’ve gone back to Dove because it’s the only one that doesn’t break me out, but I won’t give up!
Kathryn Reply:
April 21st, 2010 at 12:23 am
I had this problem too. What I used for a long time was just diaper cream. I like Little Twig. Eventualy I made my own deodorant that works well. You can check my blog or email me for details.
BTW, the spray I mentioned before is great for all dry skin, cracking, edema, & problem skin. It is gentle & non-greasy. Works butter than prescription creams for problem skin.
The only hand cream I can use for my severe cracks is Neutrogena Hand Cream. I would really like to find something that is all natural. I don’t like the parabens in it, but I don’t like my hands cracked and bleeding either. UGH!
the back of my hands get so dry they hurt. I wash my hands so much throughout the day that they don’t get a chance to moisturize. I was discouraged in my search for a lotion without nasty stuff that I gave up and use coconut oil. It works great on my face, but anywhere else and the dog follows me around and licks me!
I went to HardOn’s website and learned how to make my own bars! I had no idea what shea butter looked like.
My 14 yr old daughter gets eczema and I get red, cracked hands from washing dishes, so we could both use a nice, soothing SAFE lotion. I am a subscriber to kitchenstewardship.
I do not have exema but two of my boys do…. I try to use the most chemical free stuff on them so this would be great!!
I subscribe!
I subscribe via google reader.
During the winter the skin on my knees and elbows looks like a dried-up lizard!
I just learned how to make my own lotion bars. So easy! I have to try this!
I am retired and trying to keep up with my ec0-friendly green daughter-in-laws. I am making making conscious changes in diet, cleaning products, natural outside surroundings. I would love to try these products to see if they can outmatch my purchased greenless products.
I have very dry elbows that look dark from the dryness, not pretty.
My hands are ALWAYS dried out. I am constantly doing dishes, cleaning toilets, washing floors, etc. When not cleaning, I help out @ my husband’s place of business by handling numerous pieces of papers causing my to be CONSTANTLY dry. I could really use these products. Along with dry hands…I have constant dry lips! SOS!!!
I am a subscriber!
Hmm. Well, right now my biggest worry is dry skin from pregnancy – especially belly, hands and feet – and staying as natural as I can to moisturize it. I’ve been meaning to try Skin MD Natural, actually, just heard of it recently. My kids’ hands are actually worse than mine a lot of the time, I think because they don’t dry them well and they get chapped, so I’ve been looking for something that works well for them, too. My hands get chapped too but I usually catch it sooner.
1st entry: I don’t have skin problems myself, but my daughter has mild eczema and I am trying to switch out her conventional skincare products for more natural versions. I have switched to a natural sunscreen, and have ordered some MadeOn lotion for her as well. My brother also has terrible eczema and I ordered a bar for him as well!
2nd entry: I am an email subscriber
3rd entry: At MadeOn’s website, I learned about the complementary moisturizing properties of each of the 3 components of her lotion bars. I also ordered a couple of them!
I have severe cracking, bleeding skin on my fingers of both hands due to eczema and it continues up both my arms with a 6″ break and then all across my shoulders, upper chest and neck. I’ve been thinking of trying the MadeOn Hard lotion. I’d love to win!
I subscribe in a reader.
I visited the MadeOn hard lotion site and bookmarked how to make the lotion bars. I’m thinking of making some for gifts this year.
I have had very bad dry skin and eczema all my life, in the winter my skin will crack and burn all over. I’ve tried just about every convention al lotion out there and none of them have helped much. I was actually looking at ordering some of the MadeOn bars the other day. My baby boy also has eczema and dry skin and I like the fact that I can use this on him without worrying about it.
I’m a subscriber
dry, red…with cuts and burns from working in kitchen.