Ohmystinkinheck

For 20 years a good many years now my skin care philosophy has consisted of washing my face in the shower every morning with whatever soap washed my body. In my youth (I can’t believe I’m old enough to say that), I’d watch my friends go through lengthy skin care regimen and thought them a waste of time. There were so many varieties. From the typical Neutrogena face wash and toner, to the Clinique 3-step system they still have today, to using rubbing alcohol to dry out zits (I kid you not.), toothpaste, olive oil, and masks … oh, how they loved their masks.

I would sit on the edge of the bathtub watching and waiting for them to finish so we could go to bed, call someone on the phone, watch a movie or GET ON WITH THE BOY TALK, never for a moment considering that I should probably do something with my dirty face. Okay, maybe I considered it, but rarely acted on it.

As an adult I’ve tried, off and on, to commit to skincare, but as I have never noticed any single regimen doing much more than my Dove bar, I wouldn’t keep it up.

But recently my face has looked dull and felt … um, old. Since I don’t wear foundation, I started considering the effects of the sun, environment and LIFE on my skin and thought I could certainly stand to begin a new habit of taking care of my face. With recommendations from Schnozz at BlogHer ‘07, I made a mental note to check out the Philosophy skincare line. Now, let’s see … BlogHer was in July and it is now November. Yep, that’s about my speed.

I visited Sephora last time I ventured out of my smallish town and I was completely befuddled. Have I ever mentioned that I don’t do well on multiple choice tests? I don’t. I also don’t do well on multiple choice stores and let me tell you, Sephora, is like one heck of a guessing game for me. And? There was no “All of the Above” option for my budget.

It didn’t help that I apparently visited on a day when the employees were having a “Flashback to the 80’s” makeup day. Imagine walking into a makeup and skin care store and seeing rainbow colored eyes and heavily lined RED lips. My first inclination was to turn around and FLEE FROM EVIL, especially when the girl that approached me looked like she was channeling Cyndi Lauper. I’m glad I didn’t and I’m glad that my face is transparent because she laughed and explained right away WHY she looked the way she did.

So, I was handed off to a skin care specialist who asked all the right questions and wondered why I didn’t have all the right answers. Big pores, little pores, t-zones, free-zones, free radicals, imprisoned radicals? WHUH?

I came home with some of this … later adding more. The combination of these items has turned my face into satin and changed my life forever.

Okay, so it hasn’t changed my life, but didn’t that sound s-w-w-e-e-e-e-t?

Neatly numbered to satisfy my anal retentiveness detail oriented personality, let me introduce you to my new, grown-up, skin care regimen.

1. Purity - First, I love the name - who wouldn’t. Next, I love that it removes the dregs of the day without requiring that I have a separate makeup remover, cleanser and toner. It does it all. The bottle will tell you it has a liquid crystal cleansing emulsion, but I will tell you that it is creamy and smells fresh (not flowery - I don’t do flowery) and does the job beautifully. I was a little shocked when I read in the ingredients that it has carota sativa, but once I realized it was saTiva and not saLiva, I was fine.

2. When Hope is NOT Enough - I love this name. I might have bought it just because of the name. If it could talk, it would say, “Hi, apparently you’re hoping your skin will look good if you just wish really hard, but y’know, HOPE IS NOT ENOUGH!” What is this? A firming and anti-aging serum that does a ton of other stuff too - like protect my face from those free libertarians radicals. Basically, it tones, firms and hydrates. I do it at night. I’ve considered putting it on my bum too, but that would take a good deal more serum than they serve up in this 1 oz. bottle.

3. Hope in a Jar - Apparently this stuff is world famous and I’m just now catching on. The package says the moisturizer has a souffle texture, so I was concerned. The one reason I won’t wear foundation is that it makes my face feel like someone smeared cake on it. Surprisingly this is a very light moisturizer - maybe a non-fat souffle? I put it on at night and in the morning right after cleansing my skin.

4. Hope in a Tube - This is eye and lip firming cream, which I’ve noticed I need. I guess we all think we’ll look 12 longer than we do, but hello, apparently I laugh, smile, and/or use straws too much. I put this on my eyes and around my lips instead of smearing Hope in a Jar over them. It goes a looooooooong way.

5. Shelter - In a word … sunscreen for my face. Sunscreen that doesn’t smell weird, isn’t oily, doesn’t burn my face, provides full coverage and can substitute for The Present (below) on days where I’ll be staring straight into the sun while watching a certain 10 year old kick a ball around for an hour. No premature aging on this momma!

6. The Present - This is so amazing I had to call Jessica from the mall to tell her about it. It is WHAT I’ve been looking for. It is a clear foundation. Yes, you read right. It goes on after your moisturizing routine and it sorta “sets” in this soft satiny smoothness as a fabulous “foundation” to apply make-up over. I use the Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil to tone down the sheen on my face and The Present smoothes my skin and readies it for powder. I’m not sure it’d be a big hit with those using foundation already, but if you HATE liquid make-up, you’ll love this.

7 and 8. The Microdelivery Peel - The word peel, as associated with my face, wigged me out a bit. However, after 3 samples showed me what it could do, I purchased the product. A once a week affair, this basically exfoliates, resurfaces and replenishes - at least that’s what the website says it does. What I notice? It cleans my skin up and leaves it feeling very fresh and smoother. I think it even removes freckles. Okay, maybe not.

So, that’s my routine (headband from Wal*mart … getcha one). Are you bored to tears? OH! Before I forget, if you get #s 1-4 in the Makeup Optional box set it is significantly less expensive (as in $50.00 off).

Now, on to shoes…

Day 9: NoBloShoeMo

To correspond with the cleansing theme of this post, and because we all know my feet could use a good scrub down for their odoriferous ways, I bring you today’s NoBloShoeMo “Watered Down” contribution.

Special thanks to those who have offered me the use of their shoe photos to help me along as I search for a way to display 30 pairs of DIFFERENT shoes this month. I might have to get even more creative. In fact, I was wrestlng with a bit of duct tape last night in the garage and thought, hmmmm…

38 Responses to “What’s your skin care philosophy?”

1. ashpags

   Oh my gosh I looooove Philosophy products. I also really love their company philosophy (ha!) on “makeup optional” skin. I’m so glad you like them too! =)

   And seriously? You must be the coolest mom ever with those toes. My mom can’t get past light pink…

2. amy

   I like that line a lot
   I also cannot live ( insert DRAMA) without Clarins Beauty Flash Balm in the winter
   magic it is
   Yy skin is beautiful!
   Do you have hazel eyes? I have greeny hazel and for a make-up tp- Sketch eye shawdow from mac as a liner is HOT for winter too
   total pop the peeps!
   love yr site

3. Just Beachy

   I just started using philosophy after Kerflop’s post about it….because I felt like you..my skin felt old and well Dove Sensitive just wasn’t cutting it anymore. I use Purity and Hope in a Jar and LOVE them both. I might have to go back for hope in a tube now…now that Sephora doesn’t intimidate me like it use too.

4. Sue at nobaddays

   What a FABULOUS shoe picture!

5. Jill - GlossyVeneer

   I so feel like I need to check out the Philosophy products. Going to Sephora means I have to venture down to The Strip and enter a casino. That’s the bummer about this town, a lot of the best stores are in the crazy parts that I don’t want to visit much because of the traffic (both pedestrian and vehicle). I know I could order online, but I’d want to go to the store and ‘touch’ things.

   The shoe pic is awesome.

6. BOSSY

   First of all, Bossy has this to say: the photo of you? You are breathtakingly beautiful. In addition your face exudes character and charm and wit — and if Bossy can purchase that in a bottle from Sephora, she’s in.

7. Emily R

   As a freshman in college I made a pair of shoes out of newspaper, packing tape, and about a foot of string. I still have them.

8. chocolatechic

   I use Mary Kay.

9. dorrie

   You are so very lovely.

10. Meg

    I am thinking I need to expand beyond the Noxzema and Ponds cream I have been using… any excuse to shop at Sephora! And, once you pay off the bill for all that stuff you bought? Get yourself a fragrance from Philosophy’s Grace line. I currently have pure grace, but it was a difficult decision between several powdery-fresh choices. Yum.

11. Kristin

    Cute picture! (of you)
    Maybe once my boys get a little older I’ll try a multi-step process like that. Now, all I’ve got time for at the end of the day is a quick wash with a bar of Dove.

12. witchypoo

    Gorsh, you shure are purdy.

13. Rocks In My Dryer

    You are gorgeous! Whatever you’ve been doing, just keep doing it!

14. merrymishaps

    I had added some Philosophy stuff to my amazon.com wishlist after Kerflop’s post, but I may have to run out and just buy it after another glowing review. Are you guys receiving commissions?

    I just received a Sephora 20% discount coupon today, too, so I’m more inclined!

    As for NoBloShoeMo … you don’t have to have 30 different pairs of shoes, you just have to post your shoes everyday! (Though, it is a goal of mine to avoid repeats!)

    Your photos are so creative that it doesn’t matter if it’s the same pair every day. Though, I’m sure you can construct a cute pair of ballet flats with duct tape …

15. Angella

    I said it on Flickr and I’ll say it here: I love that shot!

16. Nancy

    Forget all that Hope … if washing your face for years with whatever soap is in the shower has you looking like you do … I want to know what soap you use???

17. Aileen

    I have the make up optional kit and love it.

    I’m glad to see I’m in good company. :)

18. Neil

    Who needs skin care stuff when you have those eyes?

19. jamie

    I hafta know. How much did you spend on that stuff?

20. OMSH

    ashpags - Mr. OMSH likes pretty feet, so I try to keep them lively. :)

    amy - Nah, mine are green, but I’m writing down your recommendation!

    Sue at nobaddays and Jill - GlossyVeneer - Thank ya thank ya! I have had a good time thinking up different ideas for the different days.

    BOSSY and dorrie - Stop it (later), you’re making me blush.

    Emily R - NOW THAT is an idea. Hmmmm….

    Meg - Pay off the bill? CASH baby; pure CASH. Of course it was purchased in bits and pieces, but still … no interest charges on the Philosophy!

    I don’t wear cologne. Sadly, since Meredith was born, I haven’t found any that doesn’t give me a headache. Mr. OMSH doesn’t even wear cologne - yes, it’s that bad.

    Kristin - I have said that for years. This takes the same amount of time as a Dove bar (which I’ve used for about 11 years now), so seriously…consider it.

    witchypoo - Thank ya, thank ya. *wink*

    Rocks in My Dryer - I sorta felt like I needed to do MORE now. I am, after all, on the down-side of my 30s. eeek!

    merrymishaps - BOY HOWDY if Sephora/Philosophy would pay me I’d be all over it, but nope … no commissions. Straight girl talk here.

    Angella - I’m havin’ fun with it.

    Nancy - You are too kind. It has been Dove and I admit, it has served me well, BUT I want to age gracefully from here on out, so I’m hoping Philsophy will help me do that. :)

    Aileen - Yes, you are. :)

    Neil - I seriously think I need a pint size version of you to carry around in my pocket.

    jamie - I didn’t buy it all at once, so I couldn’t tell you the total bill. I did provide all the links though. I paid $78 for the makeup optional kit and then bought the others here and there.

21. eyeglasses Scottsdale

    … detailed is good :) Cool post.

22. Lisa

    Wait, where’s #6? Actually, #5 in the list is for product #6. That was a test, right? Did I win? huh? huh? :-)

23. OMSH

    Lisa - I have NO idea what you’re talking about *giggle*

24. Michelle

    Heather - You have gorgeous skin… Get your Dove on, girl! Maybe use a good moisturizer (Mary Kay makes a great one), and use one that has sunscreen built in. I’ve tried too with the “I need to take better care of my skin phases.”, and I too tend to return to the bar of soap in the shower, which is Dial currently.

    I plan on changing soon though b/c the smell of that soap reminds me of the class camping trip I recently took with my twins and the rest of the 200 4th graders - Eeps!

    LSS, imagine trying to get the 10 girls I was responsible for, showered, teeth brushed, keep all of their things together, keep the “girl squeals” at a minimum, make sure my twins got all their stuff accomplished too…Dial was the soap I brought, and the smell makes me think of the stress that was CAMP KERN!

    Again, I seriously need my own blog :o)

25. Mrs. Wilson

    Wow. You have gorgeous skin … and a gorgeous face. My skin care routine? Letting the water in the shower run over it. That’s it. Maybe when I’m older … (sorry!) … I’ll pay more attention. The only other thing I do is occasionally put lotion on if I feel dry and cracky. I remember watching my friends do the same thing - I’d always be bored with it too!

26. nicole

    Okay, okay I finally broke down and ordered it. I hope I too see amazing results.

27. mothergoosemouse

    Have I told you lately how freaking beautiful you are?

    I left Jessica a comment about The Present a couple weeks ago. I totally love that stuff, along with the rest of the Philosophy line.

    And believe it or not, I’ve finally committed to a skin care routine (and makeup too!) after reading Beauty Confidential. Excellent book, and perfect for those of us who would be lost in Sephora otherwise.

28. Kristin

    OMSH- How can 8 bottles of stuff take the same amount of time as washing with a Dove bar? Please explain! :-o

29. OMSH

    Kristin - Because you don’t use all 8 bottles at the same time.

    Today, got out of the shower and rubbed Shelter on my face before the soccer game (5 seconds).

    At night, wash face, put on serum, put on lotion (2 minutes)

    Mornings, wash face, put on lotion, put on The Perfect (2 minutes)

    Once a week I do the Peel - about 10 minutes from washing face to all layers.

    YOU DON’T USE IT ALL AT ONCE. :)

30. OMSH

    mothergoosemouse - I need to read that book, because I am STILL intimidated by the store! HA!

    Mrs. Wilson - I say whatever works for you works for you. I’m doing this because I want to and because I think I just might need a little something more.

    How’s that song go –> “It’s your thing, do what you wanna do!”

    Nicole - Geez louise, what did you pay in shipping?

    Michelle - You just hit on camp memories I didn’t even remember I had! SCORPIONS in suitcases and bras on ceiling fans. Oh, and cold floors, group showers and metal bunk beds. Weeee!!!!

31. Chris

    I need to investigate that line. My skin has been a disaster of late- teen-like breakouts, growing poors, blackheads and the bitty wrinkles starting to stand out more and more.

    So tell a beauty product-phobe… do you need all those items or can you start out with 2 or 3 for a simple routine? :)

32. bethany actually

    I have been wondering about The Present. After reading this, I am determined to try some out! Thanks for the dish, OMSH. (Writing those last two words next to each other made me giggle.)

33. chris

    You look stunningly gorgeous in that photo.
    I still just use soap, maybe I need to grow up and buy real products too. But it seems so complicated. And I am so lazy…

34. kerflop

    And Jessica rejoiced on the phone, hung up and promptly ordered some for herself.

35. Offshore Wifes Life » For Me

    [...] but my face, maybe I can fix that.  I have decided to jump on the Philosophy bandwagon because if OMSH & Kerflop say it is true, then surely it must be.  Plus, I wants me some purty complexion.  [...]

36. OMSH

    Chris - If I had to have just 3, it’d be Purity, Hope in a Jar and The Perfect.

    bethany actually - OMSH is all about the “dish” baby, all about the “dish”.

    Chris - It isn’t really complicated, it is only a couple of steps each time you use it. Sometimes only seconds - seriously, don’t be overwhelmed.

    And? Thank you. :O

    kerflop - And Jessica said, “Girl, do you know what TIME it is?” Because I always forget she’s an hour behind.

37. Kristie

    I have a few of these and looove them. So much. I may have to try the sunblock out!

38. Adria

    I’ve been avoiding the Philosophy bandwagon for a long time now. Because really, how could it be any better than the whole slew of products I’ve spent way too much time and money on?

    But I just might break down and give it a try after reading your review. I’m seriously curious.