Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) are at the emerging stage of the fastest developing field of nanotechnology with many useful applications in drug delivery and research. Because of their unique nano size properties, solid lipid nanoparticles give the possibility to develop new therapeutics. The talent to incorporate drugs into nanocarriers gives a new thought in drug delivery that could be used for drug targeting. Therefore solid lipid nanoparticles hold great promise for achieving the goal of site specific drug delivery. This review presents a broad introduction of solid lipid nanoparticles discussing their aims, procedures for preparation, advantages, limitations, applications, patents related to the field and marketed products for skin developed as solid lipid nanoparticles.