Hey there, beauty lover! If you‘re like me, you‘re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest in skincare. So when I finally got my hands on some Philosophy products after hearing the brand hyped up for years, I knew I had to share my honest thoughts with you!
In this ultra-thorough Philosophy skin care review, I‘m dishing all the deets on:
- The brand‘s background and mission
- My in-depth take on their bestselling products (I tried them all!)
- What the ingredients lists and clinical studies really tell us
- How Philosophy stacks up to other prestige skincare lines
- What other customers are saying about their holy grail products
- My final verdict on if Philosophy is truly worth the $$$
I‘m holding nothing back, so by the end, you‘ll know exactly what to expect from Philosophy‘s "miraculous" formulas and if they‘re right for your unique skin needs and budget. Let‘s dive in, girlfriend!
The Scoop On Philosophy Skincare
Philosophy is all about blending cutting-edge skincare science with feel-good vibes to get you glowing inside and out. Founded way back in 1996, they were one of the first brands to bridge "serious" dermatological active ingredients with yummy scents and inspirational packaging.
The woman behind it all is Christina Carlino, who dreamed up Philosophy after having a life-changing experience of "pure grace and gratitude" on a hike in Arizona. She set out to bottle up that feeling and infuse it into skincare that transforms your routine into a mood-boosting self-care ritual.
I love that Philosophy puts their money where their heart is by donating 1% of all sales to mental health organizations. They‘ve given over $5 million to date! And every product features an uplifting quote that makes you pause and reflect as you pamper your skin.
Philosophy has since expanded well beyond skincare into fragrance, bath and body, and even makeup. But gentle, effective, clinically-proven formulas designed to make you look and feel your best remain the heart and soul of the brand.
Philosophy‘s Bestselling Skincare Standouts
As a certified skincare junkie, you know I had to put Philosophy‘s top rated products to the test. Here‘s my two cents on the brand‘s holy grail heroes:
Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price: $36 for 16 oz
Key ingredients: meadowfoam seed oil, natural oil extracts
This is Philosophy‘s #1 bestselling product of all time and I totally see why. The milky, silky formula magically melts away every last trace of dirt, oil, and stubborn makeup without stripping your skin. It‘s honestly the closest thing to a "miracle cleanser" I‘ve tried!
The star ingredients are meadowfoam seed oil, which is rich in fatty acids to help repair your skin‘s protective barrier, and a blend of natural oils to dissolve grime while moisturizing. After rinsing, my face felt so soft, clean, and totally balanced – no tightness or irritation, just a cozy clean feeling.
I also love that it has a subtle, refreshing scent from essential oils. Nothing artificial or perfumey. Over 8,000 Philosophy customers gave Purity 4.7/5 stars, calling it their "holy grail" and "best cleanser ever." I have to agree! It‘s a total sink-side staple for me now.
Renewed Hope In A Jar Water Cream Hyaluronic Glow Moisturizer
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price: $52 for 2 oz
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, pineapple extract, alpha hydroxy acids
On days when my skin‘s feeling parched and dull, I‘ve been reaching for Philosophy‘s Renewed Hope water cream to bring back the dew. The bouncy, gel-like texture sinks in instantly and floods your skin with non-sticky moisture that lasts all day.
The MVP hydrator is hyaluronic acid, which holds 1000x its weight in water to instantly plump fine lines and restore suppleness. A cool mix of pineapple extract and alpha hydroxy acids gently resurfaces to smooth texture, fade dark spots, and dial up glow.
In a clinical study, 100% of women showed significant improvements in skin moisture levels and radiance after 1 week of using Renewed Hope. And 93% of Influenster reviewers would recommend it to a friend.
It plays nice under makeup too – no pilling or greasy residue. While $52 is definitely a skincare splurge, I think it‘s worth it for the juicy glass-skin effect it gives lackluster complexions like mine.
Microdelivery Resurfacing Solution
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price: $72 for 4 oz
Key ingredients: lactic acid, peptides, vitamin C
Whenever my skin‘s looking rough and bumpy, I call on Philosophy‘s Microdelivery Resurfacing Solution to smooth things over. This potent peel tones, brightens, and clarifies in one glow-inducing step.
The 11% lactic acid (an AHA) and pumpkin enzyme duo deeply exfoliates to clear out gunky pores and slough off dead, dulling skin cells. Peptides and vitamin C swoop in to encourage bouncy collagen and protect against free radicals. It‘s gentle enough for sensitive skin like mine to tolerate, but you can definitely feel it working.
I apply a quarter-size amount to clean skin 1-2 nights a week, let it tingle for 10 minutes, then follow with moisturizer. In the morning, I swear my skin looks smoother, more even, and positively glowing.
In a 2-week clinical study, 96% of participants said their skin looked resurfaced and 92% said pores looked minimized. This stuff is pricey at $72, but since you only use it 1-2 times per week, it lasts for months. It‘s my secret weapon for preserving that post-facial smoothness.
Philosophy Fragrances & Body Faves
While Philosophy is best known for skincare, their scents have also earned a devoted cult following. Most of their fragrances come in a range of different forms, from perfume sprays to shower gel to body lotion, so you can layer your favorite aroma from head to toe.
These are the Philosophy fragrance and body standouts I‘m completely smitten with:
Amazing Grace Eau De Toilette
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price: $52 for 2 oz
Key notes: bergamot, muguet blossoms
Whenever I wear Philosophy‘s iconic Amazing Grace scent, I feel like I‘m wrapped in a soft cashmere blanket. It‘s just so effortlessly pretty! The airy, feminine blend of delicate florals and clean musks smells like slipping on a breezy white sundress. It‘s the perfect daytime scent.
Amazing Grace is Philosophy‘s #1 fragrance, and for good reason. With over 121,000 loves on Sephora, this fresh floral has won countless Reader‘s Choice Awards from TotalBeauty and Allure. I can totally see why – it makes you smell like you, only better.
I love spritzing the Eau de Toilette on my pulse points so I catch whiffs of it throughout the day. If you‘re a die-hard Amazing Grace fan like I am, Philosophy also makes a body emulsion, shower gel, and hair mist to blanket yourself in the soft scent.
Purity Made Simple Body Lotion
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price: $28 for 16 oz
Key ingredients: shea butter, macadamia seed oil, meadowfoam seed oil
I‘m officially obsessed with Philosophy‘s Purity Made Simple Body Lotion. It has the same addictively clean scent as the infamous cleanser, but in a silky lotion that leaves my skin cashmere-soft for hours. No wonder it has over 12,000 loves on Sephora!
This dreamy cream is packed with nourishing shea butter, macadamia seed oil, and meadowfoam seed oil to restore moisture and strengthen your skin barrier. But it absorbs in a snap without a greasy film – perfect for slathering on in the morning.
I‘ve been using it on my arms and legs every day, and it‘s made such a difference in keeping my skin supple and flake-free, even in the dead of winter. It works wonders on rough heels and cuticles too. The jumbo 16 oz bottle lasts forever – well worth the $28!
What Philosophy Customers Are Raving About
Don‘t just take my word for it – Philosophy has earned a devoted fanbase over the years thanks to their consistent quality and life-changing results. The brand boasts over 100,000 reviews online with an average 4.5/5 star rating.
On Sephora and Ulta alone, their bestsellers have racked up hundreds of thousands of loves and glowing reviews. Here‘s what other real women had to say about their can‘t-live-without-it Philosophy faves:
"I‘ve been using Purity Made Simple Cleanser for 10 years and it‘s hands-down the best face wash ever. It removes every trace of makeup, never dries me out, and leaves me glowy. I‘ll never use anything else!" – Melissa L.
"Amazing Grace is my signature scent – I get so many compliments every time I wear it! It‘s feminine and clean without being overpowering. I love that I can layer it with the lotion and shower gel so the scent lasts all day." – Amanda P.
"Philosophy‘s Microdelivery Peel is a game-changer for dull, uneven skin. With consistent use, it‘s dramatically faded my sun spots and post-breakout marks. It‘s gentle enough that it doesn‘t sting or leave me red. Worth every penny IMO." – Jennifer S.
My Final Verdict On Philosophy
Whew, you still with me? After road-testing a good chunk of Philosophy‘s line, I can confidently say their products are 100% worth the hype and the price tag. No BS – these formulas truly deliver.
Philosophy is one of the rare brands that melds good-for-you, science-backed skincare with scents and textures that turn your daily routine into a luxe self-care moment. It‘s obvious their products are thoughtfully made with both efficacy and experience in mind.
While they‘re definitely a prestige brand, I think Philosophy is an excellent value for the level of quality you get. And since a little goes a long way, the products last ages. Their jumbo sizes and value sets in particular are a total steal.
I also love that the brand caters to a wide range of skin types and concerns. Whether you‘re dry and sensitive or oily and blemish-prone, there‘s a gentle yet effective Philosophy regimen for you. And all their fragrances and body care are unisex, so truly anyone can enjoy them.
Ultimately, while skincare is super personal, I think Philosophy is one of those rare universally-appealing brands. They‘ve earned a permanent spot on my vanity, and I think you‘ll fall just as head over heels for them once you give ‘em a go.
My parting Philosophy pro tip? You can score Philosophy minis and samples with any $50 purchase on their website. Such an easy way to test-drive bestsellers before committing to the full size! And they‘re always running incredible gift-with-purchase promos.
I hope my Philosophy deep dive has given you all the deets you need to see if the brand is a perfect match for you. And I‘m dying to know: have you tried Philosophy? If so, what are your holy grail products? Sound off in the comments below!
[Prices and promotions current as of March 2023. Product photos belong to Philosophy/LVMH.]
