Like the world and his wife, I first came across Philosophy after Oprah mentioned the moisturiser a couple of years ago. The Philosophy skincare range is not too readily available in Ireland so my chances to experiment have been relatively limited but I was keen to give it Hope in a Jar a go and see how my more mature skin would respond to it.
I am already a fan of the hot salt body scrub in Pure Grace from the Philosophy range which is effective at smoothing out the skin and polishing it so that it is ready to absorb your body lotion or moisturiser. I like this product so much that I buy a couple of tubs every time I come across it. The instructions say you should apply it to dry skin but that doesn’t work for me as it’s too abrasive on dry, sensitive perimenopausal skin. It also wastes product. Intead, I apply to damp skin for a really good scrubbing. It leaves the skin soft and smooth and followed by a nice moisturising body lotion it is a nice way to care for your skin at home without the costs of a salon treatment.
I also like Philosophy’s body lotion in Pure Grace which is rich, easy to apply and doesn’t leave a tacky residue on the skin. This is sometimes available in TK Maxx and is worth watching out for. Scent is a factor with these products and you’ll have to make up your own mind. I like the clean smell of the Pure Grace range but scent is a personal thing and it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I absolutely do not understand some of the other scents that Philosophy does. I tried a hand cream and found that having my hands smell of lemon meringue pie was pretty nauseating and I’ve no desire to try any of the other food scented options.
This weekend, I came across some more products from the Philosophy range inTK Maxx and so have had the chance to sample two products I’ve been wanting to try for a while – the buffing body wash and the ultra rich hair conditioner. I like the body wash – it’s gritty but not too abrasive and left the skin feeling really clean. The hair conditioner has also turned out to be a good purchase – effectively smoothed out the tangles and seems quite rich and nourishing on the hair. I bought both in Pure Grace.
I admit to being a bit fanatical about skincare products — more so since I have been going through perimenopause and noticing that my skin is much drier — particularly my arms and legs. I know that you can buy effective moisturisers for a couple of euro and I’ve even tried a few. But if, like me, your skin is sensitive as a result of hormonal changes and if you like your skincare products to have a feel-good factor as well as value for money, sometimes it’s worth treating yourself. Philosophy is one of my treats.
