Customer Reviews

Philosophy Makeup Optional Skin Care Kit, Congested Skin

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had the opportunity to preview this product in philosophy's Radiant Face In A Box kit(available at Sephora.com). It is wonderful, but very high priced...that is my only concern. Two

steps are involved-a vitamin C exfoliator that goes on like a

cream but becomes a massaging scrub, and a white cream activator

that becomes a tingling rinse off mask when applied to the C complex. It is invigorating but in no way harsh, and has a tingling but soothing citrus smell and feel. My skin was still

baby soft the next day! An increbible product to use with purity

made simple and hope in a jar, if you can afford it!

These products are the best I've used. The purity cleanser is luscious and I feel like if I used only it, it would be sufficient. Following with when hope is not enough drops is invigorating and luxurious and I love the evergreen scent. I use hope in a jar sparingly on my face because I tend to be oily and this does seem to add to it if I overdo. I use the eye and lip firming tube only at night for the same reason. The peel - free samples included - is fantastic! I try to use it twice a week and I LOVE it. When the samples are gone, I plan to buy more, even though it is more than I would normally spend. I have seen smoother skin with a lovelier tone and a reduction in pore size. I've received compliments on my skin, which is unheard of for me. This is my first experience with philosophy. Had to try it after "Oprah" and I'm very glad I did. I'm 46 and have used cheap products all my life. Now's the time for a little pampering, and this is the stuff to make yourself feel pampered!

No miracle for me, not even for $78. The peel made my skin flake for two weeks and then break out for almost a month. Bad, bad, bad. Lots of hype surrounding these products, which most of my friends have tried, and most think are just average. My skin can have its moments, but it's not extremely reactive or dry...It should be remembered that no beauty product is for everyone.

Microdelivery Peel: Um, no thanks. It is common for peels to make your skin flake, but afterwards your skin should feel soft, smooth, and renewed. This just made my skin break out in a way that it has never done before, and this went on for more than a month. Six weeks later, I still have the dark red marks to show for it, and my skin is MORE congested than before. Makeup is anything but optional right now, since without it I look like a have some sort of disease.

Hope In a Jar: A lot of people love it, a lot of people hate it. I kept using this after the other products, and while I liked the scent and the way it felt on my skin, it gave me zits on the side of my face on which I continued using it. If you ever break out or have had an allergic reaction, stay away. The formulation has preservatives in it (diazolidinyl urea/imadazolidinyl urea) that can cause the allergic reaction reported by so many users, and the vitamin E is not in an active form that will do anything for your skin long term. Does give some people a "healthy glow" but this is the result of some unhealthy chemicals.

When Hope Is Not Enough: You can get cheaper and equally effective products with better ingredients, for example Avon's Vitamin C Serum (I think it's under $15, especially when they have a sale). It has been established by science for many years that the one topical product that will really diminish fine lines and wrinkles is Retin A. You can get it with a prescription from your doctor, or you can find it at 60 and 30 concentrations from La Roche Posee (around $40).

Purity: Just an average cleanser. I liked the smell, but comes no where near cetophil, neutrogena, la roche posay, or most of the other pharmacy brands that are regularly recommended by my 5th Aveenue dermatologist. Save your money.

My dermatologist was horrified that I had tried this kit, and unsurprised with the results. I am horrified at what it did to my face, as well as at the $78 down the drain. A lot of hype surrounding these products, but not much in the way of science. stick with something with active and pure ingredients that backs up its claims (and just because it markets itself as "pure" does not mean it is).

I love all of these products!! I can tell a big difference in the texture of my skin after using the kit.

I'm 44 and I am a minimalist when it comes to skin-care regimens and makeup. My sister had given me a sample of the Hope in a Jar and I'd loved the light feel and the texture of my skin when wearing it. So, I ordered the "Makeup Optional" only because it was a better deal than the cream alone. It seemed so pricey that I thought of sending it back for the first week, but that was too much work :) Thank goodness! I tried it and LOVED the way my skin looked and felt IMMEDIATELY. Over the weeks, my skin has improved soooooo much. I have ruddy skin that flakes a lot. It simply doesn't do it anymore with this regimen. I HIGHLY recommend it. I don't feel the least bit guilty for the cost. VERY much worth it and the set has lasted nearly 8 months and I'm reordering today, just because I'm out of the serum (which BIG BONUS...slows facial hair growth!) The scent is a bit different, but you come to love that too. I'd give it 10 stars (and I'm NOT a fan of skin-care stuff) if you had 10!

I hate to be the only one writing a less than happy review, but this product didn't live up to my expectations. It did improve my skin a little (I was using Proactiv before and it DID NOT work at all for me.) I really liked the cleanser, it has a great feel and smell to it. The other products didn't really seem to do much. It cleared my skin up a bit, but left my skin with a rather rough feel to it. I think that maybe I just have exceptionally difficult adult acne.

I highly reccomend this kit. I am an esthetician that has lots of trouble with hormonal breakouts on my chin, jawline and neck. I had been using a system with benzoyl peroxide that was just too drying, even though I do have an oily skin type. This kit is great. All of the products are full size (except the samples of the peels). The products are very concentrated, so I expect that this kit will last around 3 months. I noticed an immediate difference in my skin - brighter, firmer, healthier glow. I've now been using it for two weeks. I've had a few hormonal breakouts (right before my period) but they are very small and clear up much faster. It is really getting rid of red scarring left over from previous breakouts and my fine lines around my eyes are certainly decreasing too. The sample peels in the kit are awesome. You can get 2 peels out of each sample set - so about a total of 6 treatments. I reccomend using the peels 2X week to get you started - it really kicks up the results.

It took a few days for me to see results, but after like the 4th day of use I woke up, looked in the mirror and was dumbfounded! I was very suprised to see that the product claims were true. My skin was definitely smoother & more pores were hardly noticeable. I have to admit that I was skeptical & hesitant to spend this much money. The only complaint I have is the smell of the Hope in a Jar moisturizer. It has lactic acid in it so the smell isn't that pleasant, but it doesn't keep me from using it daily.

I have been having trouble with my skin ever since I had my daughter at 40. It seems suddenly I have some combination or dry skin compared to oily skin before! I've tried several different things in the last few years, but this is the first skin care that has really made a difference. My husband is always a skeptic, but he even can tell the difference. He said it made my skin look younger! Gotta love this stuff!

I love everything about these products. Their result is obviously the most import thing, but I also love the way they smell, the "philosophical print" speaks to me, the bottles and tubes are all comfortable sizes with easy to use lids (in the shower). All my senses are indulged.