Philosophy – Page 4 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Love Your Skin By Using The Clarisonic Mia!

I have finally found the secret to making my skin look better — The Clarisonic Mia!

What’s a Clarisonic, you ask? The Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to clean, soften and smooth skin. In just 60 seconds, the micro-massage action removes 6X more makeup and 2X more dirt and oil than cleansing with your hands alone. Removing more dirt and oil from your pores also helps products work more effectively.

The smallest Sonic Skin Cleansing System, the one-button, one-speed Mia comes in a variety of colors and fits the active lifestyle – offering beautiful skin at home or on-the-go. When you purchase a Mia you get:

Cordless Clarisonic Mia
Compact pLink® International Charger
Sensitive Brush Head
1 oz. trial size Gentle Hydro Cleanser

What I think: I LOVE my Mia! It only takes a minute every morning and night and skin is instantly smoother and so soft! I have been using it for a few weeks and notice that my pores look smaller and my fine lines are way less noticeable. I can tell that my skin is cleaner and that serums and moisturizesr are quickly absorbed into my skin. It is also a pleasure to use. Like a massaging spa treatment — very relaxing!

I have used it with lots of different cleansers including Clarisonic’s Gentle Hydro Cleanser (very moisturizing), but my favorite to use with it is Philosophy’s (www.philosophy.com) Purity Made Simple. It is the perfect companion for the Clarisonic as it quickly dissolves makeup and cleans skin without stripping it. I highly recommend this duo!

Visit www.clarisonic.com to learn more or to purchase. Enjoy cleaner, softer and smoother skin!

Philosophy Hope In A Tinted Moisturizer

This is the time of year that I start switching heavier foundations to a tinted moisturizer. When the weather gets warmer, I want a lighter product on my face. It just feels and looks better!

I was happy to test Hope in a Tinted Moisturizer ($38.00 USD) from Philosophy. This product claims to combine advanced moisture, sheer color and SPF 20 to hydrate, revive and protect skin, leaving it fresh, hydrated and radiant.

Now Hope in a Jar, the award-winning, lightweight daily moisturizer, can color your world beautiful with this tinted moisturizer. Its sheer, glowing color helps smooth and enhance the complexion. Broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sun protection and a blend of antioxidants protect your skin against wrinkles and environmental attack. Its unique souffle texture absorbs quickly, yet leaves behind long-wearing coverage with a weightless texture that all skin types will love.

features & benefits

4-in-1, multitasking formula combines sheer color + moisture + antioxidants + spf 20
lightweight texture glorifies all skin types
airless pump dispenses the perfect dose

What I think: This tinted moisturizer goes on smooth like Hope in a Jar, but provides almost full coverage like a foundation, but it does let the skin (including my freckles) shine through. I love the matte finish, which is important because a moisturizer can sometimes appear greasy on the skin right after application, but this doesn’t. The only minus for me is that the shade I have, light, is a little too warm for my skin tone. It’s not quite orangey, but it doesn’t match completely. I either need to tan or buy extra light the next time! But I really love that I get all of the goodness of Hope in a Jar with the added benefit of color.

To learn more and purchase this product visit www.philosophy.com.

Top 5 Favorite Products of 2008

It’s always fun to look back on the past year.My list of favorite products from 2008 includes not only new products, but items that have been around a while and I discovered them just this year. Here they are:

5. Almay Bright Eyes Eye Base + Concealer ($8.99 USD) — This concealer is fantastic! It not only covers my dark circles and blemishes, it brightens too. It contains white tea and marine extract as brighteners and goes on very smoothly.

4. L’Oreal Skin Genesis SPF 15 Lotion ($20.99 USD) — Once you apply this lotion it soaks right in and makes the skin glow. I find myself applying less concealer and foundation when I have this on.

3. Yes To Carrots C Me Smile Lip Butter ($3.69 USD) — This is the best lip balm I have ever tried! Not too hard, not too greasy, it slides on your lips and stays there! It instantly makes the lips soft and feels really natural on. This wonderful product is 95% organic and is paraben free and comes in carrot, berry, citrus, melon and mint.

2. L’Oreal Bare Naturale Mascara ($9.99 USD) — Don’t let the name fool you, there is nothing bare or natural about your lashes once you apply this fantastic lengthening and thickening mascara. L’Oreal does claim that “the innovative formula contains 86% natural-origin ingredients, shine-enhancing minerals and is both paraben- and fiber-free.”

1. Philosophy Amazing Grace ($40.00 USD for 2 oz)– When I first tried this perfume earlier this year, I didn’t care much for it. But the longer I wore it the more I grew to love it. It’s a soft floral with a undertone of musk. I think this would smell lovely on any woman!

What is your favorite product from this year? Leave me a comment. Also, if there are any products you think I should try in 2009, let me know. I am always on the look out for new products!

Have a fun — and safe — New Year’s Eve and a fantastic 2009!

My Christmas List Part 3 — Bath Bliss

I love receiving bath sets as gifts. This is because of my great love for taking baths. I use bubble bath, body scrubs, any sorts of lotions and butters. I don’t have one favorite scent, either. I enjoy new fragrant experiences each time I take a bath.

I believe you can find fun bath products anywhere, from Target and Walgreens to Sephora and Ulta, there are many different price ranges to choose from.

But since this is my wish list, I am going to review three sets that may not be the cheapest (or most expensive), but that I would love to receive!

The first is Philosophy’s Warm By The Fire ($25.00 USD). This set includes a 4.0 oz Double Rich Hot Cocoa Shampoo, Shower Gel, & Bubble Bath; a 2.0 oz Melting Marshmallow Cream Body Soufflé and a 0.5 oz Ooey Gooey S’mores Flavored Lip Shine. I love chocolate and marshmallows and the thought of bathing in this delicious sweetness…mmm mmm good! Sounds like a cozy evening to me!

Next is The Body Shop’s Warm Amber Joyful Times (sale price online $17.50 USD). This collection includes 1.7 oz Warm Amber Body Butter, 8.4 fl oz Warm Amber Shower Gel, 2.5 fl oz Warm Amber Body Scrub, Warm Amber Mini Votive, and a two-tone Orange Bath Lily. The Warm Amber notes are citrus, pear, orange blossom, ginger, amber, sandalwood and myrrh. Such a warm, winter fragrance, with a little spice. Very nice!

Last but not least is Bliss The Big ‘Orange’ ($28.00 USD). In this set you get 3.4 oz Orange + White Pepper Shower Gel and 4.2 oz Orange + White Pepper Body Butter. This fragrance contains blood orange, spicy white pepper top notes, and nuances of coriander and white musk. Sweet and spicy, just like us, ladies!

They say it’s better to give than receive. Whatever. Either way, you can never go wrong with seasonal bath gifts!

FFF’s Skin Care Musts — Hydration and Protection

Luckily, I have been blessed with pretty good skin. But as I get older (40!), I have noticed my skin looking a bit dull. So I have turned to — gulp — anti-aging moisturizers.

This is new to me. In the past I have only worried about SPF in my moisturizer, but now I’m looking for ingredients that will keep my skin looking fresh and slow the onset of wrinkles. Yes, I am vain.

Oh, well.

So to begin my quest I am reviewing two anti-aging products with sunscreen. Philosophy’s Hope In A Jar SPF 20 ($45.00 USD) and L’Oreal Skin Genesis SPF 15 Lotion (20.99 USD).

I really like the classic Hope In A Jar. It is a heavy cream, but it makes the skin very soft and glowing. So I was really excited to hear of the Hope In A Jar SPF 20. But would it be the same wonderful cream, with the added benefit of SPF? Not really. It does have a little of the lavender scent of the original, but with a slight sunscreen smell to it. When I first put it on, it is very greasy and it never really sinks it, just gets less greasy over time. My skin is combination and still breaks out sometimes. This has not helped and I seem to be getting more breakouts.

As much as I wanted to like the Hope In A Jar SPF 20, I don’t agree with the claims that it “hydrates the skin, provides a gentle exfoliation, and helps improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, texture, and tone.” If it didn’t make my skin so oily, I might over time find that it does all it claims. But I will not be continuing using this product to find out.

With this next product, the L’Oreal Skin Genesis SPF 15, I did something crazy. I bought it without trying it first. I was hoping that it would be a light lotion that would soften my skin, make it glow and protect it. Tall order, yes, but this product delivers.

This lotion claims that it “reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, combats the signs of aging, helps to even skin tone and texture, helps to firm and tone skin, helps moisturize dry skin”. I don’t really have wrinkles yet (knock on wood), but this lotion does reduce my pores and makes my skin glowy, without leaving it greasy.

I think the best advice I can give while looking for a skin product is to keep your skin type in mind. Having combination skin, I shouldn’t be looking for heavy creams. But as I’m aging, I do need to look for skin brighteners, pore minimizers and especially, SPF.