Philosophy: Hope in a Jar

Philosophy Hope in a Jar

Here is another product that I managed to use up, and I liked it enough to repurchase it. Philosophy's Hope in a Jar is a moisturizer that is supposed to be suitable for all skin types. I personally have combination skin. I get dry and sometimes flaky in the cheeks and around my mouth and chin, but I get oily in the T-zone. Because of my problem with oil in the T-zone, I used a very light, oil-free moisturizer for years. I broke that routine with Hope in a Jar. I didn't realize it until just now, but Hope in a Jar is actually 99.9% oil-free as well. In the jar, however, it is a rather thick, heavy cream. When I first tried Hope in a Jar, I was blown away. I felt that it helped to moisturize my skin so much better than the lotion that I was using before, yet it didn't leave my skin feeling sticky or oily, which was such a huge plus for me. My skin felt noticeably softer and smoother. I was definitely impressed.

Though I still believe that this is a great product, my fascination has since waned. I took Hope in a Jar along with me to Europe, where my skin went rather crazy. I got extremely dry with terribly flaky skin on my cheeks, nose, and chin. My eyelids got swollen in the inner corners. I'm not sure what was going on. Maybe my body had a hard time adjusting to the sudden change in environment. Whatever the case, Hope in a Jar could not save me. I'm not sure if anything could have, but this experience definitely knocked down my adoration for what I once considered a miracle cream. It wasn't moisturizing enough to cure my dry skin. In addition, it actually burned a bit when I applied it to my sensitive skin, especially in the eye area. I know that this was an extreme case, but I would be wary of using this if you have very dry, sensitive skin.

There are a few other cons to be aware of. Firstly, there is a definite scent that I can easily see some finding unbearable. I'm not sure how to describe it but it isn't pleasant. I guess it smells synthetic. I can put up with it, and it doesn't bother me after I blend it into my skin. However, my boyfriend has complained that he can't stand the smell of my skin, even long after initial application. Secondly, the product can dry out. I notice this especially on the lid. The product that gets stuck to the lid dries out and becomes tackier so that it does not feel nice to use. I'm sure most won't have this problem but since I did take this along while traveling, my jar did get jostled around so that a lot of product ended up on the lid. Consequently, I don't think this product is good for traveling.

In summary, I do believe that Hope in a Jar is an excellent moisturizer that deserves a try. If possible, you should first sample it in store to see if you can stand the smell, since this will probably be the biggest deterrent for most. If you're interested in sampling the Hope line of products, there is a great value set available on Ulta for $40. It includes a 2 oz jar of Hope in a Jar, which alone retails for $38. That itself is enough to make the set worth the buy. It also includes Eye Hope, which I've reviewed here, and Hope in a Tinted Moisturizer, which is a product I love and will be reviewing soon. Excellent deal!

Philosophy: Eye Hope

Philosophy Eye Hope

This product is one that I used up a while back and have been meaning to review as part of my failed Project Pan. Eye Hope is supposed to be an "advanced anti-aging eye cream" that, according to Sephora's website, claims to "diminish dark circles, reduce puffiness, and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A dose of antioxidants fortifies skin against future damage."

I am still quite young and I don't spend a lot of time in the sun, so I'm lucky not to have a problem with fine lines or wrinkles yet. Consequently, I can't attest to the product's claims that it will minimize fine lines or wrinkles. I do have dark shadows under my eyes that nothing seems to help with. I think they are the result of my facial structure so I don't hold it against the product. Lastly, I don't often have a problem with puffiness but when I do, I take a cold spoon to my eye to reduce the swelling and that usually does the trick. Hence, it is hard for me to confirm or refute Eye Hope's claim about puffiness. If anything, I guess the product doesn't help reduce swelling when the spoon method can't completely take care of it.

That being said, I do think that Eye Hope is a nice eye cream in that it has a light, moisturizing formula. I like it for a daytime eye cream because it blends out easily and doesn't leave behind any oily residue. It leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth. You can test it on the back of your hand and definitely feel the difference. It is harder for me to tell the difference in my eye area because the skin there is already so soft, but the effect on the back of my hand is certainly impressive. It leaves me to believe that it must do the same for the eye. Another strong point is that a little product goes a long way. Lastly, the pump is a nice touch since you don't need to worry about dipping your fingers into a pot.

At $48 for the full-size 0.5 oz bottle, I do feel that Eye Hope is a bit expensive. To be fair, the price is comparable to the those of other higher end eye creams. My recommendation is that if you're interested in trying out Eye Hope and the other Hope range of products, then you should check out a Philosophy value set that Ulta has for sale. It goes for $40 and includes a 0.25 oz bottle of Eye Hope, which I think is a great deal. (The set also includes Hope in a Jar and the Hope in a Tinted Moisturizer, both of which I like and will be reviewing soon!) I personally would repurchase Eye Hope and I have, in the Ulta set. I do recommend it. It is one of the top two eye creams that I have tried, though my favorite is Estee Lauder's Night Repair Eye (again, review coming soon). Definitely check out the value set if you're at all interested in giving Eye Hope a try!

The Body Shop Nature's Minerals Eye Colour: Golden Emerald, Bronzed Amber, Nude Gypsum, Vivid Amethyst, Deep Jade

Top L-R: Golden Emerald, Bronzed Amber
Bottom L-R: Nude Gypsum, Vivid Amethyst, Deep Jade

Here are some more products that I purchased during the massive Body Shop sale that I mentioned before. I'm not sure if it's still going on but I did see that the Buy 2, Get 1 or Buy 3, Get 2 deal was going on July 4th weekend. So maybe?

Because I love loose shadows (I really don't know why), I of course gravitated toward these. I even bought colors that I wouldn't normally bother with. I already owned two shades, which I have reviewed previously. As far as application goes, my comments for the other two shades hold true for these as well. They apply smoothly, blend evenly, and I don't experience fallout, which is lovely. The colors are wonderfully pigmented and I feel that they hold up quite well over the course of the day, though the colors do lose their vibrancy. I have a picture illustrating the way it wears below.

L-R: Golden Emerald, Bronzed Amber, Nude Gypsum, Vivid Amethyst, Deep Jade

Golden Emerald (03) is, as the name implies, a gold with green tones. Bronzed Amber (05) is also true to its name as a medium to dark bronze with strong red undertones. Nude Gypsum (07) is one of my favorites. It is a pretty satiny nude shade which is really nice for a brightening wash across the eye or as an inner corner highlight. Vivid Amethyst (08) is a vibrant, jewel-toned plum purple. Deep Jade (09) is a surprising favorite. It is a blackened forest green with golden shimmer.

I have tried a look with Nude Gypsum, Bronzed Amber, and Deep Jade. Interestingly, when Deep Jade is blended into Bronzed Amber, it loses its green tones and ends up looking like a deeper brown. I'm not sure why that happens but I don't personally mind since neutral browns are more work appropriate than greens. I shall try out a look with Deep Jade as the primary color to see if I can maintain the green.

To sum it up, these are nice eyeshadows and they're definitely worth checking out to see if the colors appeal to you. I think that Nude Gypsum and Deep Jade are good ones to look into if you like more neutral shades like I do. Vivid Amethyst is really beautiful but I don't find myself wearing purple on the lids so I haven't tried it out in a look yet. I think Golden Emerald is rather unique. To me, Bronzed Amber is the least original shade in this bunch but that's probably because I hoard anything that's in the brown/bronze/gold family. Especially if the sale is still going on, then I recommend that you give them a try!

Golden Emerald (03)

Bronzed Amber (05)

Nude Gypsum (07)

Vivid Amethyst (08)

Deep Jade (09)

Morning: Nude Gypsum in inner corner, Bronzed Amber across lid, Deep Jade in outer corner

Morning: Nude Gypsum in inner corner, Bronzed Amber across lid, Deep Jade in outer corner

Night: Nude Gypsum in inner corner, Bronzed Amber across lid, Deep Jade in outer corner

Essie: Too Too Hot

Essie Too Too Hot

Oh my! I have a gazillion things I want to review, but I have too many other things on my plate. I figured this one would be a quick, easy post so I might as well.

I was never keen on bright red polishes but that changed recently, probably because I saw how nice it looked on other girls. I picked up this Essie polish in Too Too Hot, thinking it might be worth a try. I got it at Walgreens, where it came in a set with some toe separators. They were a nice little addition. I don't paint my toes but I might give it a try now.

Too Too Hot is a very bright red that can look quite orange. At times, it looks even like a neon coral- that is how bright this shade is. I wasn't thrilled about it in the first day or so after application. However, the color is either growing on me or it has toned down in the process of dulling with wear. Whatever the case, it looks less orange to me now and more like a true red, which I like.

I've tried a few Essie polishes and I do like their formula. This is the first creme finish shade that I've tried, and I did feel that it was less quick to try than the shimmery formulas. Still, I got opaque coverage with the first coat. I added a second just out of habit. I like the glossy finish.

Overall, this is not a shade that I personally love. It is not bad but I'm sure there are better bright red options out there that don't have that a strong orange cast to them. If you like that quality, then Too Too Hot might be for you. As far as the performance of the polish, it is definitely as nice as you would expect from a beloved brand like Essie. Whether or not you want to check this out is really a matter of color preference.

Natural Light

With flash

Brighter depiction of polish

E.L.F. Mineral Lipstick: Rosy Raisin

E.L.F Mineral Lipstick

E.L.F. Mineral Lipstick in Rosy Raisin

E.L.F.’s Mineral Lipstick in Rosy Raisin is hands-down my favorite lip color. It is a warm medium rose pink that suits me perfectly as it is my very own my-lips-but-better shade. I normally shy away from pinks because I find that most of them are too cool-toned for my coloring. I was shocked at how flattering this shade was. Definitely a great find! You may be interested in checking it out if you’re fair with yellow undertones, like me. I think it should work nicely on those fairer people with cooler undertones as well. I’m no expert on skin tones but I’ve always had the feeling that people with pink undertones can pull off anything while those with yellow undertones look best with warmer shades.

As for the quality of the product, I do like it and think that it is decent. I think I would describe it as a creme finish. The color is matte and there isn't any shimmer, but there is a bit of glossiness to it. I don’t find it to be drying. My lips get dry very easily so I like to have something on them at all times. I do like the feel of this lipstick, as the slip of it helps me to feel that my lips have a moisture barrier, though I don’t think the lipstick itself is actually moisturizing. It isn’t long-lasting, probably wearing for an hour or two. I do re-apply multiple times a day. I personally don’t mind, as I don’t find any lipstick, other than a lip stain, to last more than a few hours. I haven’t noticed a scent or a taste. On the whole, the product itself is nothing spectacular but it does its job.

I would like to mention that I am on my second tube of this shade because my first one broke. The lipstick broke off at the base and fell on the ground. I only paid $2.50 for it, plus I adore the color, so I didn’t mind repurchasing it. Still, it is worth noting that these perhaps aren’t built to last. I do carry it around in my purse so I guess it gets jostled and banged around.

The product retails for $5 full-price but there are usually coupon codes for the Eyes, Lips, Face website (Bargain tip: check out retailmenot.com). Try to find one that gets you 50% off. If you can find a discount, then I would totally recommend that you check out this shade. I’m not sure that I would recommend the product at full-price unless you’re going for a color that you know you’ll love. $5 is not a lot but it is pricey for an E.L.F product. Since I know that this shade works so well for me, I would buy it full-price again and again, but I wouldn’t pay that amount for the other shades.

Naked Lip (sorry it's blurry)

With Rosy Raisin

The Body Shop Eye Colour: 32 Chocolate (v. MAC Satin Taupe)

MAC Satin Taupe, The Body Shop 32 Chocolate

MAC Satin Taupe, The Body Shop 32 Chocolate

I forgot to include this eye colour from The Body Shop in my last post. It is actually one of my favorite shades out of the bunch, so I made sure to include it as soon as I could!

I originally thought 32 Chocolate was misnamed because in the pot, it looked grayish taupe to me. I failed to see any brown. It actually reminded me a lot of MAC’s Satin Taupe, which is why I compared them side by side. In their pots, they do still look quite similar to me, though Satin Taupe has warmer, pinker undertones while Chocolate has stronger gray undertones. Once swatched, the difference is immediately apparent as Chocolate definitely leans brown while Satin Taupe maintains those warm pink tones. I do think they’re in the same family of color, though Chocolate is a deeper shade with less pink than Satin Taupe. It might be a shade worth checking out if you’re a fan of Satin Taupe!

L-R: MAC Satin Taupe v. Body Shop 32 Chocolate

L-R: MAC Satin Taupe v. Body Shop 32 Chocolate

My previous remarks about The Body Shop’s Eye Colours are applicable here. Chocolate is of the shimmery formulation, so it has that stickier texture which makes it opaque and long-lasting. It is a great eyeshadow in a wonderful, versatile color, and I definitely recommend it!

The Body Shop Eye Colour: 04, 05, 07, 08, 09, 31, 39, 41, 42, 43

Top L-R: 04, 05, 07
Middle L-R: 08, 09, 31, 39
Bottom L-R: 41, 42, 43


L-R: 04, 05, 07, 08, 09, 31, 39, 41, 42, 43


L-R: 04, 05, 07, 08, 09, 31, 39, 41, 42, 43

I am very excited about all these shadows I got from The Body Shop. If you're interested, now is the perfect time to get them because they're having a Buy 2, Get 1 Free/Buy 3, Get 2 Free sale online! Additionally, for today only, they're offering $10 off $40, $20 off $60, or $30 off $80. I have to admit, I fell for it.

I already owned two Body Shop shadows (I think 07 and 09) before I bought the rest during the sale. I was impressed with the quality from the start.

The shimmery shades have a very interesting texture. They're almost sticky, as in they don't feel at all powdery. I imagine that they feel like a pressed pigment would feel. They're also incredibly pigmented. A little definitely goes a long way! The colors adhere very well, though I think the stickiness makes them a little less blendable. I actually like that quality since I don't have a lot of lid space to work in, so I don't want my shadows blended out too much as they can end up looking muddy. I like for just the edges to be softened, which is definitely achievable with these shadows. Lastly, I think the stickiness helps with longevity since they do adhere quite well.

The matte shadows are smooth and silky as most good pressed shadows tend to feel. They're also nicely pigmented. I've only tried long wear with 09, which is a light shade. It did fade sooner than the shimmery color I paired it with, but only on one lid (my lids don't fold identically). It is probably a combination of factors that went into that particular shade fading sooner (the lightness of the shade; the matte formula; that lid shape/fold), but it is something to be aware of.

I can't rave enough about these. The colors are beautiful. They retail for $8 full price for 0.04 oz of product, compared to $14.50 for 0.05 oz for MAC shadows. I think that's a great deal, considering how nice these eyeshadows are. You can get an even better deal on them now with the sale that is going on, so I completely recommend that you go for them if you're at all interested!

04 Matte: Granite

04 Granite: I don't feel that this shade is appropriately named as it is a plum purple. It is a "matte" formula, though it does include flecks of shimmer that render its finish satiny rather than matte.

05 Matte: Burnished Brown

05 Burnished Brown: This is a warm golden brown shade in the matte formula. Though texturally it does feel like a matte shadow as I've described above, it does include some shimmer. I think I would describe the finish as satin. It definitely has a sheen to it.

07: Conker

07 Conker: This is a pretty pink with lilac undertones in the shimmery formula. It looks very similar to 09 Fawn Parfait, which is the "matte" version.

08: Golden Paprika

08 Golden Paprika: This is a shimmery shadow in a coppery bronze shade.

09 Matte: Fawn Parfait

09 Fawn Parfait: This is a pretty pink shade with lilac undertones, in the matte formula. It looks very similar to 07 Conker, which is the shimmery version. Though it is described as a matte shadow, it does include some shimmer/sheen (though less so than 05 Burnished Brown), which gives it more of a satiny finish.

31: Peacock Green

31 Peacock Green: This is a very interesting shade. To me, the blue tones are stronger than the green, though there are green undertones. I would describe it as an ocean blue .

39 Matte: Soft Black

39 Soft Black: This is exactly as described, a matte soft black. It is the only "matte" shadow among this collection of mine that is truly matte. Though dark shades, blacks in particular, can get messy and be a nightmare to apply, I had a really great experience with this one. It is very soft, smooth, and silky. The color is pigmented yet blendable. I did not experience any fallout either!

41: Golden Peach

41 Golden Peach: This is an appropriately named golden peach shade in the shimmery formula.

42: Midnight Blue

42 Midnight Blue: This is a really lovely deep, slightly blackened blue shade. I love this one, and this is coming from someone who is pretty averse to color, blues in particular. I think this one is a great one to try if you're like me and are usually drawn to neutrals. It pairs well with 39 Soft Black to create a smokey eye that doesn't obviously include color. I have included a picture of the look I did with those paired shades.

43: Velvet Green

43 Velvet Green: This is a deep, blackened forest green in the shimmery formula. Mine yields little chunks of shadow when I swipe it with my finger, though they blend out nicely and easily for uniform distribution. I don't know if that's just my particular shadow or if all of them are like that. I haven't tried it out in a look yet, but I have definitely been drawn to deep greens lately. I think this one is really pretty.

NOTE: I FORGOT TO INCLUDE 32 CHOCOLATE. It is a great color that reminds me a lot of MAC's popular Satin Taupe. I will photograph it when I get the chance!

Clockwise from Bottom Left: 04, 05, 07

Clockwise from Bottom Left: 08, 09, 31, 39


Clockwise from Bottom Left: 41, 42, 43


After 11 hours of wear: 41 in inner corner, 08 across lid, 05 on outer corner