Philosophy

The benefits of vitamin C are plenty. Not only does this antioxidant protect skin from free radical damage, it also smooths and helps to fade hyperpigmentation. Reader Bellaressa recently reviewed Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder ($35), and here's what she had to say about it:

I had hyperpigmentation and it was suggested that I try this product. I started using this in the a.m. with my Oil of Olay and I am amazed. Since I started using this six weeks ago, the brown spots have started to fade more rapidly. It used to take me a full 15 months to 24 months to fade spots. My skin in brighter, I haven't had severe hormone breakouts in the last six weeks, and my skin looks just fabulous.

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Philosophy's Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser ($32) is marketed as a deep pore cleanser, makeup remover, and toner. Whew, that means there should be high expectations on a product like this, right? So when reader Leafgirl said it was "the best," I wanted to hear more. This is what she had to say:

"My sister is a spa and salon buyer for a high end resort so we have tried lots of cleansers. This is by far the best, and I don't mean just in this price range. [It] cuts through any and all makeup without leaving your skin dry and tight. Cetaphil leaves my skin feeling over moisturized [and] other cleansers make me red, dry, and blotchy. Purity cleans and soothes — love it. I think my husband has been using it when I'm not looking."

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I wonder if the rise in coffee shops that serve frothy-topped cappuccinos and lattes is what's causing this sudden boom in cleansing foams. OK, it's a stretch, but Philosophy has just come out with a new version of its best-selling face wash called Purity Made Simple High-Foaming Daily Cleanser ($21.50 - $34.50).

This light and thin (it's almost watery-looking) liquid cleanser comes out of the pump in a surprisingly lush and sudsy consistency. It has a fresh and slightly floral scent and contains tocotrienol, a more powerful version of vitamin E, for soothing purposes. What it doesn't contain anymore is sodium lauryl sulfate — hooray!

My favorite part is that it's strong-acting, but you don't have that awful, tight feeling on your skin after you wash it off. Instead, your face is clean, soothed, and soft. Also, it's suitable for all skin types. I have sensitive skin and it didn't cause any irritations for me. Do you think you'd be into checking out this new self-foaming cleanser?

Brand-new from Philosophy is a range of mattifying skincare products called Never Let Them See You Shine. Each of the three items aim to cut down sebum production and reduce the look of oily skin, while leaving your face feeling refreshed. The light blue formulas have a minty, sea-inspired scent and are best suited for those with oily and acne-prone sensitive skin.

After trying everything out, I really liked the way my face reacted to the scrub the best. It's thick, but it spreads easily and the beads are smooth as opposed to feeling grainy and rough — so they don't irritate your skin. Plus, the menthol is the strongest in the scrub; after you wash it off, your face feels soft, smooth and cool.

For an up-close look at each of the products, read more

Great minds think alike — wisdom isn't wasted on the young. This weekend an Oregon man won this year's Great American Think-Off, a national philosophy competition asking ordinary people to debate extraordinary questions. This year's question was, "Does immigration strengthen or threaten the United States?"

Craig Allen, of West Linn, OR, won a gold medal this weekend when a live audience in New York Mills decided he was most convincing when arguing that the system of immigration and immigration policy is broken and that it encourages an influx of illegal immigrants and poses a threat to the country.

During the debate, the four finalists touched on what it means to be an American and stressed that American identity is evolving. He wasn't the only adult winning laurels for being a smarty pants this weekend.

Larry Grossman won this year’s senior national spelling bee correctly spelling the word “debouch” and snatching victory. Grossman, a Northwood, ND resident is a teacher and has won the North Dakota state spelling bee six times already. “This is a great feeling. ‘Great’ doesn’t seem like a very adequate word but that’s all I can think of on short notice.”

The event, hosted by AARP, had about forty-seven competitors from twenty-four states in this year’s senior bee. Those competing were invited following wins in recent regional bees and were required to be fifty years of age or older. The winner received $500 and some big ol' bragging rites. Rights. Writes. Aw, ask Larry.

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Last night I tried Philosophy's The Oxygen Peel and let's just say I felt like I was participating in a high-school science experiment. This kit involves breaking open capsules, and stirring liquid that rises, and it has foam that undergoes a chemical reaction, and there is some sort of enzymatic infusion that occurs, and, well, I think the only thing I was missing was a Bunsen burner. But after spending 10 minutes with the directions, I was ready to give it a whirl.

The first step involves breaking open an enzyme capsule, pouring the contents into a tiny container (included) and filling it halfway with water. You shake rigorously and then allow one minute for the gel to form and rise. You then apply to your face. After that you apply a separate oxygen foam directly on top of the gel. This is when the two parts collide and provide a blast of oxygen to your skin. After waiting three minutes, you scrape the cream off of your face with a spatula.

So, now that the process is spelled out, what was my reaction to this science experiment? At first I was annoyed that it was so labor intensive, but once both parts were on my face, I enjoyed the sensation. It was sort of cooling, but it bordered on ticklish. The real magic came when I scraped the product off of my face. My pores felt like they could breathe, and overall my face felt clean. I say, if you've got the time, this one is worth the effort.

See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!