Every once in a while, I am really impressed with a product not so much for the ingredients, but for the way the ingredients come together to make a truly great formulation. That is the case with Gloves in a Bottle ($9.99, Amazon.com). Designed as a shielding lotion, Gloves in a Bottle works by forming a delicate protective barrier on the skin that keeps oils and moisture sealed into the skin.
The secret of Gloves in a Bottle is mainly dimethicone, a silicone that has been proven to seal moisture into the skin. Dimethicone has also been found to prevent certain bacteria from infecting the skin, as reported in this 2002 study in the Journal of Parasitology. I know that it seems almost outrageous that a skin lotion would be able to protect the skin from bacteria, but the claim appears to be sound, making Gloves in a Bottle particularly desirable for those in the healthcare professions, in which frequent hand washing strips the hands of moisture and in which keeping levels of bacteria low is a must.
After my mother and I used Gloves in a Bottle for two weeks, we both thought that it made our skin softer. My mother said that it made her skin less dry after washing her hands. I actually started to keep Gloves in a Bottle in a dispenser by the bathroom sink. I also used Gloves in a Bottle as a foot cream, and found that it made my feet softer, smoother, and more hydrated.
Of course, I am not saying Gloves in a Bottle is a miracle anti-aging product: it has no antioxidants, retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids, or sunscreen to protect against signs of aging. However, if dry skin is your primary concern, I highly recommend Gloves in a Bottle anyway – it truly is very effective in treating dry skin! 
Product rating: 9/10 (High concentration of proven ingredients: 3/3. New technology or formulation: 3/3. Value for the money: 3/3. Sunscreen: 0/1).
For LOTS more about Gloves in a Bottle, please visit www.GlovesInABottle.com!
Ingredients in Gloves in a Bottle
Purified Water, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Stearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Hypromellose, PVP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Steareth 21, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben
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I use dish-washing time to give my hands a nice moisture treatment. Before I scrub the pots, I moisturize my hands and put on rubber gloves. I’m saving my hands from the chemicals in the soap and the harshness of the hot water, all while making my hands super soft.
So that’s how dimethicone works. I used to get really oily skin with mineral makeup and tried to combat it with mattifying lotions. When I finally tried a normal moisturizer in conjunction with a primer, I stopped getting oily! I guess because the moisture was sealed in and my skin no longer needed to produce as much oil? It’s great to know about dimethicone preventing certain bacteria from infecting the skin as well. I love learning all this new stuff!
yeah, dimethicone is the key to primers as well. This product isn’t that expensive which is good. I know people who actually use Monistat Soothing Care as a primer because of the dimethicone. Wonder how it would feel on hands? You could probably put on a nice lotion then layer on a dimethicone product, too. Nice find and good price.
Hi Nicki. Have you ever reviewed Skin MD, and if so, is it the same?
I’m actually one of those individuals sofi76 mentioned that use Monistat Chafing Relief powder-gel as a makeup primer. The gel is meant to prevent irritation for areas that get a lot of friction by smoothing with dimethicone.I used to have awful skin and after it got better, I tried many things to cover up all the pigmentation left behind by inflammation. Anyway, having tried urban decay primer lotion, smashbox photo finish, MAC primer, and Bare escentual vitamin primer, I’d say that the the monistat gel does not pale in comparison by any means of measure. My foundation stays put longer, smoother, and it’s so much cheaper!
I’d just tried what sofi76 suggested, lotion and then the monistat gel- it feels pretty nice:).
Denise- so glad you tried it. I haven’t myself just because I have other primers to use up, but I will buy some for my hands now over some lotion.
I have GOT to get some of this. I just graduated nursing school, and between the frequent handwashing and the products I use on my face (retinal, Vit C), my hands and finger tips are cracking. LOL– my fingerprints are worn down!! I start work in a month and I’m bringing a bottle of this to work with me.
This is a cool product. I wash my hands frequently and get dryer skin there. However, my face and body are oily, so my hands seem normal. Maybe, I can look for other products with dimethicone. Don’t shampoos and conditioners contain dimethicone as well?