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I am a little peeved at Philosophy, within a week or two after ordering Philosophy Makeup Optional Kit for $78, Philosophy/Sephora released a bigger and better kit for just 7 dollars more. Whateveeeever
I got my Philosphy kit on Monday and first used it that night. So this kit comes with a cleanser, a serum, a moisturizer, eye and lip firming cream, and 3 samples of the microdelivery peel. It's Friday, so I have used the kit 4 times now and I already notice a difference. My skin is softer, smoother, and my hyperpigmentation marks are getting lighter. I am not sure about the skin under my eyes but I will get into that later. The products stink smell-wise!! Almost intolerable. I used to think that the fading creams I had used were bad (they smell like Nair), but the Philosophy kit is the king of bad smelling products!! I don't mind it too much because I am single, but for others this could be a big problem. Anyway, I will provide a short description for each of the products and the original value for each. This is my initial review, I will probably provide a review after couple of weeks of usage.
Purity Made Simple 8 oz. cleanser ($20):
This is the first step. The direction is to apply some to your dry or slightly damp face and massage for 30 - 60 seconds, and rinse. This is a really good cleanser, it doesn't dry out the skin and it does clean well. Cetaphil cleanser doesn't hold a candle to this and Cetaphil is a popular, much loved cleaner. Purity cleanser cleaned off my tinted moisturizer very well. However, don't think this can replace your eye makeup remover. Based on reviews I had read, I thought I could throw out my eye makeup remover but I was mistaken. However, I understand that I can't have my cake and eat it too (whatever the hell that means). There is no such thing as a cleanser that can cut through eyeliner and not dry the skin out. So overall, its cleaning power is effective. It has a decent smell especially compared to the other products in the kit. You can use this kit at morning or night but I think it is more beneficial at night since you will have the products working their magic undisturbed for hours. Plus your face can get dirty throughout the day so it it is best to wash your face at night then wait to the morning.
When Hope is not Enough facial firming and lifting serum 1 fl. oz ($38):
I can't say much about this product at this point. It is supposed to firm the skin that I guess it works if your skin is sagging or starting to sag. But as I am still 22 I may not see a big difference. I use it anyway because it came with the kit and it is a bonus for the eye area. So the directions is to place 5 to 6 drops on your skin after you have used the cleanser. It doesn't say whether the skin has to be dry or not, but I used common sense and placed it on when my skin was dried. The scent is awful - smells like a combo of soy sauce and a forest scents. But I really can't describe the smell, it is just something I have never smelled before. It does contain soy so that is why it has the hint of soy sauce. It is actually not the worse smelling product in the kit.
Hope in a Jar moisturizer 2 oz. ($38):
The foulest smelling cream ever!! But it works beautifully. It is not greasy, someone described it that way. That person is probably used to oil-free drying moisturizers and not to the good stuff like this. I like that this cream just melts into the skin. It leaves the skin so soft and glowing but not oily and shiny. It has not taken care of my flaking issue, but I think it is too soon to judge. You can use this cream 1 -2 times a day and apply it on top of the serum. They say to avoid the eye area. Overall, I like this product and I can't wait to see how it will change my skin after a couple of weeks. I like that it has lactic acid, which is a potent emollient. I think there is very few face creams with this underrated ingredient. I think you can use this cream on any rough spot, I myself am placing this on my eczema and elbows. I think the moisturizer is one of the best I have used but the smell is just not bearable - sour, woodsy, really hard to describe - worse than the serum.
Hope in a tube eye and lip firming cream 0.5 oz ($33):
I am not sure how I feel about this. At first, I noticed a dramatic difference in the texture and color of my eye area. The eye area that I put through so much trauma was beginning to smooth. But now, I feel that the little wrinkles are are still there but now are extending over to the top of my cheeks which where the eye cream usually hits. Perhaps it is the way I apply it? The directions for this is too massage the cream into the skin in a circular motion (not dab). Maybe I am too rough? I guess I am going to just place a lot of cream so to create lubrication between the finger and skin and once it is at least half absorbed, I will start dabbing. This would probably lead to less tugging. I wished the consistency was like that of the moisturizer. I need to give this a week or 2 before I can make a really sound judgment. It is recommended that you wear this in the morning and in the night. The cream is a bit greasy and shiny and I would not recommended wearing it in the sun unless you have sunscreen on. Like lip gloss, this may act like a magnifying glass. But yeah I don't think you will want to wear this in public unless it is well absorbed. How it affects the lips, I can't tell. I don't have wrinkles there. This could be of benefit for older women and ex-smokers (present smokers would have to quit before using this of course).The scent reminds me of foundation, subtle and not bad.
The Microdelivery peel 3 sample sizes (value: ?):
Updated on 10/18/08:
I used my first sample of this peel on Friday night, and I had enough to share with my mother. The direction is to place a teaspoon of the resurfacing crystals (step 1) on a clean dry face avoiding the eye area (I used Purity to clean my face first) and to massage (not scrub) for 60 seconds. This feels like your average face exfoliator scrub but it contains vitamin c and peptide, ingredients not found in your average face scrub. So I massaged the crystals on my face and I tried hard not to scrub, but you can't help it because the texture is so grainy. So I placed slight pressure and avoided roughing up my skin. The next step is to place the activator gel on top of the scrub. This activator gel contains the beta hydroxy acid salicylic acid, a ingredient common in acne creams and cleansers. It also contains lactic acid which is an alpha hydroxy acid. Both ingredients are effective in making skin more smoother and even-toned.
You rub the clear gel with your fingertips and you place it on top of the scrub. It turns the scrub into a foam instantly and you feel a warming but not a burning sensation. You leave that on for 2 - 3 minutes. Rinse thoroughly. While I was rinsing this off, I felt my skin was the most smoothest I have ever felt it. After patting my face dry, I could see that my face was more even-toned, the texture of my skin was smoother, and my face looked bright. My mother who is 40 and never used any of the Philosophy products saw a major difference as well. Her skin was also more even toned and smoother and we both had this clean and fresh feeling. So the results are instant and it is definitely not a uncomfortable process that you might think a peel might be. I have used masks and exfoliators with acids and they usually irritate my face so it was nice to get the benefits of acids without the skin irritation.
You follow up the peel with the daily routine but I skipped the Purity and went on to the serum. This peel is not meant to be used daily, just once or twice a week. The other kit has full sized bottles of this peel and I would have purchased that kit had I waited a few days. <.<
So there you ago! My initial reaction! After 3 weeks, I will give another update.
Also, I wanted to mention that the reasons I got this was because the reviews for this was mostly positive, and a 4.7 out of 5 rating at sephora.com. What appealed to me is that it promises that makeup will become optional. I don't like coverage makeup so anything that will make my skin good enough to be bear is worth a try! Also, I want to mention that I am 22 and I have normal skin but sometimes I deal with flakiness and dryness on my cheeks and between the brows and sometimes breakouts in the t-zone. Also, I have olive skin with hyper pigmentation around the eyes and blemishes. So take into consideration your own skin type, you might not get the same results.
Another note, if you were to buy each product separately it would all amount to $129. So I saved $51 and got samples of the peel. Good deal.
I got my Philosphy kit on Monday and first used it that night. So this kit comes with a cleanser, a serum, a moisturizer, eye and lip firming cream, and 3 samples of the microdelivery peel. It's Friday, so I have used the kit 4 times now and I already notice a difference. My skin is softer, smoother, and my hyperpigmentation marks are getting lighter. I am not sure about the skin under my eyes but I will get into that later. The products stink smell-wise!! Almost intolerable. I used to think that the fading creams I had used were bad (they smell like Nair), but the Philosophy kit is the king of bad smelling products!! I don't mind it too much because I am single, but for others this could be a big problem. Anyway, I will provide a short description for each of the products and the original value for each. This is my initial review, I will probably provide a review after couple of weeks of usage.
Purity Made Simple 8 oz. cleanser ($20):
This is the first step. The direction is to apply some to your dry or slightly damp face and massage for 30 - 60 seconds, and rinse. This is a really good cleanser, it doesn't dry out the skin and it does clean well. Cetaphil cleanser doesn't hold a candle to this and Cetaphil is a popular, much loved cleaner. Purity cleanser cleaned off my tinted moisturizer very well. However, don't think this can replace your eye makeup remover. Based on reviews I had read, I thought I could throw out my eye makeup remover but I was mistaken. However, I understand that I can't have my cake and eat it too (whatever the hell that means). There is no such thing as a cleanser that can cut through eyeliner and not dry the skin out. So overall, its cleaning power is effective. It has a decent smell especially compared to the other products in the kit. You can use this kit at morning or night but I think it is more beneficial at night since you will have the products working their magic undisturbed for hours. Plus your face can get dirty throughout the day so it it is best to wash your face at night then wait to the morning.
When Hope is not Enough facial firming and lifting serum 1 fl. oz ($38):
I can't say much about this product at this point. It is supposed to firm the skin that I guess it works if your skin is sagging or starting to sag. But as I am still 22 I may not see a big difference. I use it anyway because it came with the kit and it is a bonus for the eye area. So the directions is to place 5 to 6 drops on your skin after you have used the cleanser. It doesn't say whether the skin has to be dry or not, but I used common sense and placed it on when my skin was dried. The scent is awful - smells like a combo of soy sauce and a forest scents. But I really can't describe the smell, it is just something I have never smelled before. It does contain soy so that is why it has the hint of soy sauce. It is actually not the worse smelling product in the kit.
Hope in a Jar moisturizer 2 oz. ($38):
The foulest smelling cream ever!! But it works beautifully. It is not greasy, someone described it that way. That person is probably used to oil-free drying moisturizers and not to the good stuff like this. I like that this cream just melts into the skin. It leaves the skin so soft and glowing but not oily and shiny. It has not taken care of my flaking issue, but I think it is too soon to judge. You can use this cream 1 -2 times a day and apply it on top of the serum. They say to avoid the eye area. Overall, I like this product and I can't wait to see how it will change my skin after a couple of weeks. I like that it has lactic acid, which is a potent emollient. I think there is very few face creams with this underrated ingredient. I think you can use this cream on any rough spot, I myself am placing this on my eczema and elbows. I think the moisturizer is one of the best I have used but the smell is just not bearable - sour, woodsy, really hard to describe - worse than the serum.
Hope in a tube eye and lip firming cream 0.5 oz ($33):
I am not sure how I feel about this. At first, I noticed a dramatic difference in the texture and color of my eye area. The eye area that I put through so much trauma was beginning to smooth. But now, I feel that the little wrinkles are are still there but now are extending over to the top of my cheeks which where the eye cream usually hits. Perhaps it is the way I apply it? The directions for this is too massage the cream into the skin in a circular motion (not dab). Maybe I am too rough? I guess I am going to just place a lot of cream so to create lubrication between the finger and skin and once it is at least half absorbed, I will start dabbing. This would probably lead to less tugging. I wished the consistency was like that of the moisturizer. I need to give this a week or 2 before I can make a really sound judgment. It is recommended that you wear this in the morning and in the night. The cream is a bit greasy and shiny and I would not recommended wearing it in the sun unless you have sunscreen on. Like lip gloss, this may act like a magnifying glass. But yeah I don't think you will want to wear this in public unless it is well absorbed. How it affects the lips, I can't tell. I don't have wrinkles there. This could be of benefit for older women and ex-smokers (present smokers would have to quit before using this of course).The scent reminds me of foundation, subtle and not bad.
The Microdelivery peel 3 sample sizes (value: ?):
Updated on 10/18/08:
I used my first sample of this peel on Friday night, and I had enough to share with my mother. The direction is to place a teaspoon of the resurfacing crystals (step 1) on a clean dry face avoiding the eye area (I used Purity to clean my face first) and to massage (not scrub) for 60 seconds. This feels like your average face exfoliator scrub but it contains vitamin c and peptide, ingredients not found in your average face scrub. So I massaged the crystals on my face and I tried hard not to scrub, but you can't help it because the texture is so grainy. So I placed slight pressure and avoided roughing up my skin. The next step is to place the activator gel on top of the scrub. This activator gel contains the beta hydroxy acid salicylic acid, a ingredient common in acne creams and cleansers. It also contains lactic acid which is an alpha hydroxy acid. Both ingredients are effective in making skin more smoother and even-toned.
You rub the clear gel with your fingertips and you place it on top of the scrub. It turns the scrub into a foam instantly and you feel a warming but not a burning sensation. You leave that on for 2 - 3 minutes. Rinse thoroughly. While I was rinsing this off, I felt my skin was the most smoothest I have ever felt it. After patting my face dry, I could see that my face was more even-toned, the texture of my skin was smoother, and my face looked bright. My mother who is 40 and never used any of the Philosophy products saw a major difference as well. Her skin was also more even toned and smoother and we both had this clean and fresh feeling. So the results are instant and it is definitely not a uncomfortable process that you might think a peel might be. I have used masks and exfoliators with acids and they usually irritate my face so it was nice to get the benefits of acids without the skin irritation.
You follow up the peel with the daily routine but I skipped the Purity and went on to the serum. This peel is not meant to be used daily, just once or twice a week. The other kit has full sized bottles of this peel and I would have purchased that kit had I waited a few days. <.<
So there you ago! My initial reaction! After 3 weeks, I will give another update.
Also, I wanted to mention that the reasons I got this was because the reviews for this was mostly positive, and a 4.7 out of 5 rating at sephora.com. What appealed to me is that it promises that makeup will become optional. I don't like coverage makeup so anything that will make my skin good enough to be bear is worth a try! Also, I want to mention that I am 22 and I have normal skin but sometimes I deal with flakiness and dryness on my cheeks and between the brows and sometimes breakouts in the t-zone. Also, I have olive skin with hyper pigmentation around the eyes and blemishes. So take into consideration your own skin type, you might not get the same results.
Another note, if you were to buy each product separately it would all amount to $129. So I saved $51 and got samples of the peel. Good deal.
