Years ago, when chemical soaps, cosmetics and other skin care products became all the rage, there were only a few natural skin care products on the market. Although they were available, they weren’t as popular as the new ‘beauty bars’ and ‘moisturizers’ hitting the shelves. The few natural products you could find invariably contained glycerin, a by-product of soap making, largely valued for its humectant properties – the ability to retain moisture. As many of us are now out of the chemical phase and looking for natural products, glycerin is becoming a popular ingredient. However, it does have its drawbacks. Fortunately, we now have a new skin care product that does a better job - without glycerin’s disadvantages.

What are the drawbacks of glycerin? Primarily, although it is clear and colorless and looks like it would wash off easily, it leaves a heavy, greasy layer on the skin – the last thing you want in a skin care product. That layer of grease clogs the pores, making them larger and more susceptible to absorption of bacteria, chemicals and other toxic environmental substances. Contact with and absorption of these toxins has been found to be a primary cause of skin problems like dry skin and eczema.

So, if you’re wondering why you’re using glycerin soaps and moisturizers and your skin problems still aren’t clearing up, that could be the reason.

What are your other options? Thousands of doctors are now recommending a shielding lotion. A good shielding lotion bonds with the outer layer of the skin to form a protective layer than locks in natural moisture and keeps out chemicals without clogging pores and, best of all, its humecant properties give it a moisturizing factor at least 6 times greater than that of glycerin.

Dr. Peter Helton, a board certified dermatologist practicing in Newport Beach, California, explains how shielding lotion works.

"Shielding lotion forms a natural barrier, a sealant on the skin, keeping its own natural moisture inside. This obviates the need for having to put on external moisturizer several times during the day, as it lasts a good portion of 8 hours with one application. This is important, because it decreases your need for applying excess moisturizer and allows the body to take care of its own moisture needs.

"Previously all other moisturizers used glycerin as a humectant - an ingredient that draws in moisture from the air and allows moisture to be maintained within the body. Skin MD Natural shielding lotion has a proprietary new ingredient that is proven to be six times more effective than glycerin. That is, as far as I know, the only product on the market that has this ingredient."

If you’re one of the many people looking for a natural skin care product that helps retain natural moisture, draws moisture from the air, and protects against environmental toxins and chemical, give shielding lotion a try.