Philosophy Nature In A Jar Skin Reset Serum Review
Hi guys,
Ici Paris XL kindly sent me a vial of Philosophy Nature In A Jar Skin Reset Serum to try and review as part of their Beauty & You Community.
This serum consists of 95.9% natural ingredients, is clean, vegan and contains Bakuchiol, a natural alternative to Retinol.
As we all know, Retinol is an antioxidant & a form of vitamin A that aids in cell and skin renewal. I’ve done some research on the difference between Bakuchiol and Retinol as Bakuchiol is said to be a natural alternative to Retinol but I honestly don’t see much of a difference as Retinol can be found in certain kinds of vegetables. However, for some people, Retinol is just too harsh For people with sensitive skin or known allergic reactions to Retinol, Bakuchiol is indeed a better alternative.
Anyway, back to the Nature In A Jar Serum!
After using this serum for a while now, my skin feels soft, smooth and firm. Fine lines and wrinkles are less visible and so is the redness on my face.
It’s a lightweight serum which is easy to apply. The application itself is a bit more difficult, since the pipette in the cap is not a pipette but a glass rod, making it quite difficult to get enough product out of the bottle. It also feels a bit greasy, which I personally don’t like. The serum has a very light and neutral scent. In fact, it hardly has any scent. I personally think that’s an advantage, because I don’t really like heavily scented skincare products.
The bottle itself has a young & fresh look, thanks to the bright blue colour.
For now I give this serum 4 stars, because of the greasy feeling and the pipette which actually isn’t a pipette at all. If this changes, this serum is definitely worth 5 stars!
I never thought I could get dry patches. If you’ve been a longtime follower of this blog, you would know that my skin is oily and sensitive. It made no sense for my face to develop two itchy and flaky dry patches at the corners of my mouth. (I don’t have the authority to comment on excema or other similar rashes. Take my advice with a grain of salt.) I think I’m getting these patches because of accidental over-exfoliation and the dry weather. It’s time to find out how to restore radiance to your face.
Here’s how to deal with dry skin (on your face or body in general):
Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser- a cleanser that increases the moisture of your face instead of stripping it away.
Moisturize! It will help repair your skin barrier, particularly after exfoliation. I actually layered on more toner than usual in the morning and night and it does reduce the scaliness. Try some products with hyaluronic acid, which draws moisture to the skin.
Limit showers or baths to 5-10 minutes, as it will prevent removing natural oils from your skin.
Use a gentle exfoliator to get rid of dead skin, but don’t overdo it!
Product recommendations
Pictured: Some of my picks for dry skin.
Cleanser: Neogen Fresh Foam Cleanser (TheGreen Tea version is for oily skin.)
Toner:Avene Hydrance Deep Moist Lotion (I bought this to repair my dry skin patches and after a week, they seem to be gone. It is good for sensitive skin like mine and is instantly hydrating.)
Mask:I’m From Honey Mask (This is a cult favourite and very hydrating. However, it is not fragrance-free so be aware of that.)
Exfoliant: Face- COSRX One Step Original Clear Pad. Body-Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish.
Serums/Essences:COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence,Mizon Original Skin Energy Hyaluronic Acid 76 Premium Hydrating Serum, and Benton Snail Bee High Content Essence. (Not completely necessary for your skin to heal, but extra moisture would be welcome.)
Shrink Your Pores and Remove Your Scars: Introducing the Vitamin C Serum!
I’m here to recommend one very specific type of serum- Vitamin C serum. Vitamin C has three main benefits:
It brightens your skin and fades hyperpigmentation
It can help create a more even complexion
It’s anti-ageing
A side note: this type of serum is NOT SUITABLE FOR EVERY SKIN TYPE. It is an acid and may cause irritation.
Currently, I use the Dermacept Vitamin C10 Serum, after my disastrous brush with the Dear Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop. I threw my bottle away when it turned brown (sun exposure causes Vitamin C serum to brown- one of the downsides of having the serum in a clear bottle), but long story short, my skin reacted very badly to that particular formula.
Pictured:The Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop from Dear Klairs. After using it with no visible results, I would not recommend it to anyone.
I have written positively about products from Dear Klairs in the past with their mostly non-irritant toners and creams. However, I just don’t think it was the right match for my weird sensitive and oily skin type.
That put me off Vitamin C serums for a while, until a month ago when I stopped by my local pharmacy to get a mask (not sheet masks) and the lady working there suggested that I try this moderately-priced serum. She said something like, “no offence, but your pores are quite large and your skin is oily.”
It didn’t take much convincing for me to get the product. I was curious about it, and even though I’m always down for some affordable products, I paid the price of US$49 for the C10 Serum by Dr Zein Obagi. That was literally the most I have ever paid for a single skincare product (not counting the time my mom and I splurged on a toner and an essence from Shiseido).
And so far, it’s been worth it!
Pictured:The serum comes in a dark bottle, which is way more useful that the clear Dear Klairs bottle. It is made in Japan and contains 12 mL of product.
This serum comes in four concentration levels- C5, C10, C20, and C25, with C25 being the strongest. The best concentration for Vitamin C serums is 10-20%. 10% concentration is good for sensitive skin.
It also contains Vitamin E, and that mixed with the Vitamin C creates more antioxidants. It smells citrusy and the serum sinks into your skin quickly. Use 3-4 drops of it after toner, and follow it up with a gentle moisturiser twice a day. There might be some tingling when you first use it.
A self-described “high-performance serum” made by a famous dermatologist who has the ambitious goal of “Skin Health Restoration”, it is very potent. After a week, I could see the pores on my cheeks- you know the place around your nose- start to shrink. My face became less oily- and it’s not just a side-effect of a dry winter. I didn’t have a lot of improvement for my acne scars, but it might be because I haven’t used it for the minimum amount of time a product needs to show its effect yet.
My overall ‘first impression’ is that my skin has not even been irritated by this product and has actually been looking more healthy than before. The only issue I have with it is the price to be honest.
Alternatives to the C10 serum
Pure Vitamin C 21.5% Advanced Serum from By Wishtrend
Vitamin C Brightening Serum by Melano CC (remember my sheet mask post? well this is from the same brand that made those really good vitamin c 5-minute sheet mask packs)
Pictured:My three most-used skincare products. Notice how none of them are from Korean brands.
As a beauty blogger- if you could call me that and I prefer ‘skincare enthusiast’- I try my fair share of products. I usually test them for around a month, which is why I don’t post Product Reviews as often as lists of useful products or something like that. While I am trying out a new product, I don’t want to shake up my skincare routine too badly.
I feel like my skin is less irritated by toners, oil cleansers, and sheet masks, so I can switch those out easily to make room for different brands. This is Korean skincare we’re talking about- there are always new things to check out. To reduce the problem of skin overreaction, I stick to the same brands for the following: cleanser, exfoliant, and moisturiser. (This is going to be a long post and I find when I try to use the ‘continue reading’ function it deletes the content so bear with me.)
Pictured:My nearly finished foam cleanser for sensitive skin.
I have tried a lot of cleansers in my day. Japanese ones. Korean ones. The one that I find the best is this one from La Roche-Posay, a French skincare brand. I have a smaller bottle because I haven’t the time to purchase the full version. This is so gentle and effective. It’s for oily or combination skin and doesn’t make my skin react badly.
Pictured:Front and back of the Detclear peeling jelly. I don’t read Japanese but just know that it removes sebum and other gunk.
Rarely do I review exfoliants because it has taken me so long to find one that works for my skin. I’m naturally sensitive to scrubs- something I finally decided to act on when my face flared up for the nth time using a facial scrub.
This is a chemical exfoliant that comes in a jelly form, as well as a powder enzyme wash. I wasn’t sure what the latter was so I bought the one that came in a convenient pump. It smells like artificial fruit, but surprisingly the fragrance doesn’t make my face act up.
It’s very satisfying to see the skin come up as the gel starts to dry on your skin. You have to rub it in and the dead skin cells just slough off in white clumps. In the end, you’re left with brighter skin. This product is gentle and I look forward to exfoliating every week. No wonder it’s a bestseller in Japan.
Pictured:The Physiogel “Miracle Cream”. You know that vine where they’re at the dollar store? Well, this is the good kush.
One day my mother bought me a few samples of a lotion that came with something she bought at the pharmacy. It was like a miracle product for me. I live in a city and in the summer it gets so hot and stuffy that my face just turns an unflattering shade of red. My main issue with city life is with the dust and smoke that enlarges your pores, but that’s a post for another day.
Alright, so back to the miracle product. I have both the lotion and cream from the Daily Moisture Therapy line. These products are fragrance-free and targeted towards normal/ dry sensitive skin. I normally use the cream during the day and night. The lotion is for when things get really bad and I need that cooling sensation. It simply gets rid of the redness within twenty minutes for me. It’s also moisturizing and great for healthy skin in the long run. Doesn’t break me out at all.
Pictured:The emergency lotion.
Out of all the three products here, I’ve used the cream the longest and I highly recommend it if you can find it in the States. One bottle goes a long way.
✨✨Conclusion ✨✨
I’m pretty sure that my skin will be just fine if I only use these three products in my routine. (Less is more, remember?) These are just products that I’ve noticed don’t trigger my skin but it’ll definitely be different for everyone. You can reblog and add your own!
There are some things in life that are simply worth the splurge - and your skin is one of them. It’s called a “skin-vestment” for a reason, as treating your complexion with kindness and high-quality products from a young age will leave you a glowing, youthful, and smooth complexion down the line.
Keep the dullness away and the moisture in place with these skincare products
You’ve likely heard all the basic skincare rules - moisturize regularly, don’t exfoliate too often, never skip even one night of your beauty routine. Each step has a unique effect on your skin, yet all are associated with one common goal: to protect your skin barrier.
We could talk forever about the beauty of serums - and these lightweight, nourishing skincare products aren’t just made for your face, but your eyes too! Unlike heavy eye creams, an undereye serum is made with smaller particles that deeply absorb into the delicate skin to moisturize, nourish, and energize with ease.
If there’s one beauty trend that’s destined to be big in 2021 and beyond, it’s Skinimalism. That’s because it’s mind-blowingly simple, easy to achieve, and shows you how to get the naturally glowing skin of your dreams.
It is said that every person in the world will have to deal with fine lines and wrinkles and that these aging signs may first start appearing in the late 20s and early 30s. Accepting the fact that you are getting older and that your skin does not look as smooth as glowing as it did just a few years ago may be a difficult thing to do.
There are some things in life that are simply worth the splurge - and your skin is one of them. It’s called a “skin-vestment” for a reason, as treating your complexion with kindness and high-quality products from a young age will leave you a glowing, youthful, and smooth complexion down the line.
Keep the dullness away and the moisture in place with these skincare products
You’ve likely heard all the basic skincare rules - moisturize regularly, don’t exfoliate too often, never skip even one night of your beauty routine. Each step has a unique effect on your skin, yet all are associated with one common goal: to protect your skin barrier.
Practice “skinimalism” with these four skincare products
Listen, we get it. A 12-step skincare routine can be fun and therapeutic. Your favorite K-Beauty brands have been telling you to collect cleansers like candy for years, and 2020 has been a year of collecting all the moisturizers you see on Amazon. But according to Dr. Muneeb Shah, a viral TikTok dermatologist with over one million followers who goes by @DermDoctor on the app, there are only four skincare products that you really need in your beauty routine.
There are certain skincare ingredients that you shouldn’t give the time of day, and we mean that literally. It’s a major bummer to discover that the moisturizer you’ve been using in the morning and night isn’t as effective in the AM as you think, but we’re here to help you find the perfect morning cream. And serum. And cleanser.
