Philosophy | Beauty and Fashion Tech

Philosophy Supernatural Chicago Event

Info on this neat event hit my inbox a few days ago and might be of interest to Chicago folks! For more on the Philosophy Supernatural line, read my recent review.

PHILOSOPHY “SUPERNATURAL SATURDAY” EVENT

ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10th, PHILOSOPHY AND NORDSTROM WILL OFFER MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS IN THE CHICAGO AREA THE CHANCE TO RECEIVE MAKEOVERS AND APPLICATION TIPS FROM PHILOSOPHY’S NEW SUPERNATURAL LINE

WHAT: Look your natural best with supernatural makeup tips and makeovers from philosophy supernatural makeup artist, John Trau. Learn how to accentuate your best features, while playing down your worst with a personalized supernatural makeup consultation, and get the answers to all of your makeup and application questions in the supernatural makeup Q&A session. Create and share your own supernatural video in the supernatural video booth- which allows you to make a video and email it to five of your closest friends or family members. Share some of the unique makeup tips you learned from John or share thoughts on the supernatural makeover you received.

Receive a FREE 4oz award winning Purity Made Simple cleanser with purchase of any two supernatural philosophy products, and a FREE “be supernatural” philosophy cosmetic bag with any $100 philosophy purchase.

Enter a chance to win a private supernatural makeup party with five friends.

HOW: TO RSVP: call or stop by the Michigan Ave. Nordstrom to book your appointment, or log onto http://www.philosophy.com/supernatural/events.html for more information. Space is limited.

WHEN: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10th from 11AM – 6PM

WHERE: Nordstrom-Michigan Avenue, 55 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, Il 60611, 312.464.1515

Popularity: 1% [?]

Philosophy The Supernatural Makeup Collection

I tend to think of Philosophy for skin care, but the company has a new makeup collection out that focuses on skin friendly products for a natural look. All products are formulated with antioxidants and are free of Parabens, Phthalates, Talcs, and Sulfates. On the whole, it is a pretty impressive collection. One of the best items is the Philosophy The Supernatural Coloring Book™ . This adorable palette comes in a cute magnetic case and includes two neutral/natural eye shadow shades, two lip shades, a blush/bronzer, and two blushes–one powder and one cream. The items wear pretty well, and the shadows have pretty good pigment. The case and swatches are below.

Perhaps my favorite item in the collection is the Philosophy The Supernatural Lit From Within™ Healthy Cream Blush. I tend to love cream blushes and this one, shown below in the shade Feel Warm All Over, is a nice peachy pink shade. It is high pigment, so if you are fair like me, a little goes a long way. If you are darker skinned and need extra pigment, this one should also hold up well for you.

The collection also includes an illuminating powder that I adore: Philosophy The Supernatural Moonlight™ Natural Illuminating Powder is a light finish powder with light reflectors and enhancers for an illuminating glow. It doesn’t look too shiny and does a nice job of providing an overall glowing look. My only complaint about it is that it has a sponge applicator, which isn’t my favorite way to apply powder.

Overall, this is an impressive collection. For a look that Philosophy The Supernatural Lipgloss from the collection take a look at my review on Girl Gloss!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Philosophy Halloween Bath and Body Set

This is a really cute, and nicely scented Halloween set. The Philosophy Haunted House Set includes 6 oz. bottles of black licorice, caramel apple and pumpkin spice muffin high foaming shampoo, shower gel and bubble baths.

These are nice combo items and they really do smell great! I am in love with the black licorice used as a body wash! It is a nice scent for fall that isn’t too sweet.

Buy it for yourself as a seasonal treat (note that the scents will fit in seasonally well past Halloween) or give it as a fun seasonal gift!

The kit is $30 at $30.00 at philosophy.com, or individually in larger bottles for $16 each.

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Popularity: 2% [?]

DDF Fade Gel 4 Melasma Treatment, Treating Melsama and Acne Together

When my recent favorite treatment for melasma and hyperpigmentation from PCA Skin Care (read review) ran out, I decided to try a similar product from another brand simply for review purposes. That always makes me a bit nervous, because when I find something that works, I hate to switch. But in this case there was no need to worry. DDF Fade Gel 4 has been working wonderfully for me.

DDF Fade Gel 4 Treating Melasma and Hyperpigmentation Skin Care

I chose DDF for a couple of reasons. First, I like melasma treatment products that contain multiple active ingredients, because studies have shown that combining and switching between actives is more effective in producing fading. DDF Fade Gel 4 meets that requirement with some of my favorites, such as glycolic acid, kojic acid, salicylic acid, lemon and lime oils, azelaic acid, and 2% hydroquinone. Second, I have been having some issues with acne, and DDF’s Fade Gel does not contain any ingredients of particular concern for causing acne, while its glycolic, salicylic, and azelaic acids can treat and prevent acne — Might as well get double duty from a product when you can!

Using the DDF Fade Gel in the mornings, and in combination with an evening application of Renova (Retin-A), along with a daily sunscreen, such as Philosophy A Pigment Of Your Imagination SPF 18 (Read Review), I have continued to see further lightening on pigmented areas. Of most importance, there has not been any darkening, despite the fact that I decreased my treatment regime to one application per day so that I could use the evening to focus on acne. I also saw no increase in my acne from using the DDF product and believe it helped in my overall treatment of both my acne and melsma.

Overall, I give DDF fade Gel 4 a big thumbs up and highly recommend it for melasma treatment or for general hyperpigmentation or discoloration. I particularly recommend it for those who are also treating acne or seeking to prevent breakouts. Something to note is that PCA Skin Care was fine for acne as well, so I find it and the DDF product to be pretty interchangeable. In the future I will likely buy whiever is cheaper or on sale.

For those concerned about hydroquinione, DDF makes DDF Intensive Holistic Lightener which is a hydroquinone free lightener. I haven’t tried that one and personally prefer hydroquinone since I have no problems with it. However, some are sensitive to hydroquinone or concered about cancer risk reports with it. For those who want to avoid it, the ingredient list is pretty good with the following ingredients: albatin, arbutin, bearberry extract, mulberry extract, licorice, skull cap, azelaic and glycolic acids. I wish kojic acid was in there though.

If you go with this one, I suggest combining it with Philosophy a Pigment of Your Imagination, linked above, in order to add some kojic acid to the mix. You should be wearing sunscreen anyway for the best treatment, so you might as well get double duty from your choice of product!

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Popularity: 3% [?]

Philosophy a Pigment of Your Imagination Sunscreen, Melasma Treatment in a Sunscreen

Everyone should be concerned about sun exposure. If you aren’t all that worried about things like skin cancer (you should be), then remember that the sun also causes wrinkles (ack!). If you happen to have melasma, hyperpigmentation, or similar discoloration, it becomes even more important.

Philosophy a pigment of your imagination spf 18 is a particularly good sunscreen for melasma sufferers because it contains treatment ingredients. It also can be good for those who suffer from acne because of a general lack of acne causing ingredients. Aside from the melasma treatment actives, I chose to try it partly because several of my favorite sunscreens have been causing breakouts for me lately.

The idea of adding skin lightening active to sunscreen intrigues me. I love the idea and am surprised that more companies haven’t done so. DHC has a sunscreen that I absolutely adore with arbutin (read review), and Philosophy’s sunscreen contains both arbutin and kojic acid. By adding actives that act to block pigmentation, the sunscreen does double duty, because the damaging rays are blocked and so are some of the skin reactions that lead to melasma. Hopefully more companies will pick up on this.

Philosophy a pigment of your imagination is a pretty good standard SPF 18 sunscreen. I found that it absorbs OK, albeit a bit slowly. After a few week’s use, I have not broken out from it and am generally quite happy with it. Using a pigment of your imagination in conjunction with my daily melasma treatment, I have continued to see lightening in some areas, and certainly have not experienced worsened pigmentation in any areas.

The sunscreen does have an odd yellow tint to it from the kojic acid, but that is not apparent on the skin. It also is not all that moisturizing, so if you use your sunscreen for light moisture, you might need to add something with this one. I find that on particularly dry days, I need to add a moisturizer. There also is a bit of a packaging issue with it. Because it is in a tube with a flat cap, it would be standard to store it sitting upright on the cap. But this causes the sunscreen to run into the cap area. Then when the tube is opened, there is always a good amount of sunscreen all over the top. I find it a bit annoying, although it won’t stop me from purchasing the product again.

The sunscreen also lacks a physical blocker such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Instead, it has purely chemical blockers. I prefer to have a physical blocker in my sunscreens. However, I have taken care of that issue by generally wearing a mineral powder foundation or finishing powder that contains a physical blocker (most do) over my areas of melasma. When I plan to go outdoors without makeup for a length of time, then I choose one of my other sunscreens that contains physical blockers.

I generally purchase Philosophy products online, but they are also available at various department stores and cosmetics stores.

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