Skin Free Skincare, local skin care you should be using

   Local DC company, Skin Free Skin Care

Located down in Shipman, Virgina is a local company determined to make a big impact on the skin care industry: Skin Free Skin Care: A New Direction in Skin Care.

Founded by pharmacist Julie Hilton, Skin Free skin products were "specifically formulated...to be used by people with extremely sensitive skin, allergies or those with disease states which cause the skin to break down", and each product has been painstakingly engineered to have no fragrance, colorants, petrolatum, steroids, preservatives, or harmful chemicals. In addition, the line is cruelty-free and not tested on animals. When Ms. Hilton graciously offered me the opportunity to test out her new line, I eagerly said yes and so for the past week, have had the pleasure of adding several Skin Free products into my daily regimen. They have been a wonderful addition, especially the Niaouli Butter Stick, which I can't get enough of - it smells incredible! But more on that later.

According to the company, anyone with extremely dry or sensitive skin especially psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis sufferers, are ideally suited to the products as they offer superior hydration without unnecessary chemicals or additives. Using natural vegetable oils and plant extracts instead of chemicals or petrolatum gives Skin Free products a unique texture and effectivness. Rather then a product that only contains a small percentage of essential active ingredients, Skin Free skin care products contain an incredible 100% of the butters and oils used to craft formulas.  What does that mean to the skin? Intense, long-lasting hydration and protection from irritants, dryness, flakiness or itching. And, the line is already starting to receive rave reviews.  The Environmental Working Group has awarded the products a toxicity rating of "O-1" (which is the lowest rating in toxicity) and the soap has received the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance.

Currently there are 15 products in the line including body butters, lotions, soap, facial serum and moisturizer, a moisturizing body spritz, sugar scrub and an amazing solid butter for use on very dry areas like hands, feet and elbows.  And, the entire line is very affordable. Most items are priced below $20, and nothing is over $50. Ready to check it out? The the line may be purchased locally at CVS pharmacy, select Walgreens, and online at Skinfree.net and drugstore.com.

The products I tested included:

Extra Moisturizing Soap & Shampoo Bar: No scent and a rich lather, perfect for anyone who hates that tight, dry feeling deodorant or heavily-scented bar soaps sometimes leave behind.  According to the company, this soap may also double as a shampoo. And although I didn't try it on my hair, I can see where this soap would be an excellent  shampoo for babies and children.

Super Moisture Body Balm: Thick, rich, dense and unbelievably hydrating, this body balm is like the mack daddy of all the lotions I have ever tried.  Absolutely no scent, and the texture was rich enough to lock in moisture for the entire day.

After Shower Moisture Spritz: When I saw the name, I was actually expecting this to be a water-based spritz, and was therefore surprised when a hydrating oil landed on my skin instead, but what a happy surprise.  As with the Body Balm, this product is 100% unscented, absorbed quickly and left my skin silky and hydrated. The texture reminded me very much of a dry oil spray, only slightly thicker and honestly, much more hydrating.

Niaouli Butter Stick: The Niaouli Butter stick is my personal favorite. Lightweight, solid moisturizer crafted from shea butter and olive oil for very dry areas of the skin such as feet and elbows, with a soft smell of niaouli and madagascar vanilla. Niaouli is a member of the Melaleuca family (Tea Tree), prized for it's beneficial uses in the treatment of psoriasis and eczema.  This handy little product also works great on nails and cuticles.

Now that you know the abc's of Skin Free Skin Care, wouldn't you like the chance to try it for yourself? Courtesy of Julie Hilton and Skin Free Skin Care, I have a $30 gift certificate, redeemable in Skin Free products, for one lucky reader!! To enter, simply tell me your vacation plans for the summer (don't forget to leave your email address) by Wednesday, July 1st, 9pm (EST) in the comment section, below.  Please, only one entry per person and good luck!