Philosophy's Line of Moisturizers

Philosophy's website tells you that their product line is about living a better life by being better to yourself. Inside their containers are products that will give you the beautiful skin that has been hiding behind problems like dryness, age, or acne; on the outside of each container is a statement to inspire you. Philosophy founder, Cristina Carlino, started with a company that provided products to dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Her Philosophy line is to bring cutting edge skin treatments directly to you. With their cleansers and moisturizers, you can find your perfect skin. You can read about their six cleansers here; read on to learn about their moisturizers.

The first Philosophy moisturizer was the award-winning Hope in a Jar, a moisturizer for all skin types. It hydrates your skin without adding oil, reduces roughness and redness, and helps reduce wrinkles and other signs of aging with antioxidants. It brightens your skin's tone as it softens and smooths its texture. The cream is light and fluffy, and it goes on smoothly and is quickly absorbed by every skin. If you're under 35 and have skin with no serious problems, this is the product for you. The 2 oz. jar, that lasts about two months, is $38.

If you spend part of your day outside, even just walking from your car to your office, then consider Hope in a Jar SPF 20, a moisturizer and sun protector in one. It does everything that the original Hope in a Jar does, but adds a sunscreen for those of us who might otherwise forget to put one on. The addition of the sunscreen brings the price of a 2 oz. jar up to $45. Is it worth the price? That depends on how much time you're outside, and whether or not any of your other skin products, like your foundation, includes a sunscreen. Remember too that even a 20 SPF sunscreen isn't going to last 8 hours without reapplication.

A third Hope in a Jar is for dry, sensitive skin, skin that feels tight and is easily irritated. It provides more hydration than the original, and soothes your skin as you apply it. It's non-irritating, and ingredients like lavender oil and sage oil help to calm skin while smoothing its texture. It contains more antioxidants than the original as well, to repair and protect damaged sensitive skin. This is my personal choice. The price is the same as that of the original, $38 for a 2 oz. jar.

For older skin and skin damaged by sun, wind, or cold, Philosophy created When Hope is Not Enough replenishing cream. This thicker moisturizing emollient will bring new life into your skin with antioxidants, borago seed oil, and wild yam. It rehydrates, smooths, protects and restores your skin, and helps balance it when hormones are raging. This is an excellent night cream, and is also perfect for women who are peri-menopausal or menopausal. A 2 oz. jar costs $48.

Feeling like your skin is making you look older than your years? Then for you, Philosophy created Divine Illumination, "skin illuminating moisture for extraordinary ageless skin" (from the linked page). This award-winning product (Fitness Beauty Award 2009, Beauty at its Best Award 2009) promises to reduce age spots, plump up your skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, even your skin's tone and smooth its texture, and give you a "radiant, glowing complexion." It contains vitamins, peptides, anti-oxidants, botanicals, and firming agents. Reviews by readers say it works better than the $250 creams, and its cost is $85 for 1.6 oz. This is a serious product for mature women who really want a more youthful complexion.

If you're looking for a lightweight moisturizer that not only hydrates your skin but also locks that moisture in, look no farther than Miracle Worker. This newest moisturizer in the Philosophy family is loaded with ingredients like vitamin C and resveratrol (a collagen building compound) to firm your skin, more anti-oxidants than any other Philosophy moisturizer to both protect and repair your skin, and a heap of botanicals to moisturize, protect, and repair naturally. A patented complex provides a barrier that holds the moisture in your skin and rebuilds your skin's own moisture barrier. The price is $55 for a 2 oz. jar, and it's worth noting that this is the only one of Philosophy's moisturizers to get a solid 5 star rating from product users.

Philosophy knows that the skin around our eyes and on our lips is different from that on our faces, so it also offers Hope in a Tube for lips and eyes. It firms and plumps the skin, and reduces fine lines almost immediately. The 0.5 oz tube for $33 lasts for two to three months (remember, you're only using a tiny amount) and it really does make a visible difference if you have those lines, wrinkles, or puffiness.

If your current moisturizer isn't giving you the skin you want, maybe Philosophy is right for you. If you're fortunate enough to have a Philosophy counter near you, visit it and give the products a try before you buy. And have a beautiful day, every day!