Philosophy • Hope in a Jar - for all skin types • Moisturizers

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JanetPlanet98 on 7/8/2012 5:07:00 PM more reviews by JanetPlanet98

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Sensitive, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Technically, I didn't buy it, I got samples of it from Sephora. Overall its just a standard moisturizer, nothing more, nothing less. It smells absolutely disgusting, and it makes my face a little bit more shiny then my other ones.

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whit0931 on 7/4/2012 5:34:00 PM more reviews by whit0931

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

A little bit goes a long way. I also get the greasy look after applying, but it immediately saturates the dry area below my eyes without clogging. I don't use it everyday as part of my routine; my small sample jar will last me a long time.

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Erythropolish on 6/25/2012 5:35:00 AM more reviews by Erythropolish

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brown, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

Nice texture, weird smell. A tiny bit goes a long way. It burns the crap outta my eyes even though I stayed far away from them when applying. I had used this as a sample before and I bought this as a moisturizer to use at night as it leaves my skin feeling very moisturized, but kinda greasy. I don't remember the eye burning with the sample. It's almost maddening and it never goes away. Watery burning eyes when I went to sleep and again in the morning.

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oshinsr on 6/17/2012 5:48:00 PM more reviews by oshinsr

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Texture is nice. Smell is OK. Absorbs quickly. Non-oily. Moisturizes well.

BUT...no matter where I put it on my face my eyes sting.

No repurchasing.

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janemarieo on 6/17/2012 12:48:00 PM more reviews by janemarieo

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

I know this product has been reviewed to death , but it is for a reason. I love this moisturizer. I love the texture the smell the fact that it is moisturizing but does not make me greasy. Make up goes on just fine with it and doesnt slough off. Only complain I have is this is not a travel friendly package the product always gets stuck to the top and I feel like it gets wasted. Also its super expensive for how much you get, but a little does go a long way. Overall I would buy again (already on my 2nd jar) because I think your face deserves some love (and hope)!

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soulsucker on 6/14/2012 4:04:00 AM more reviews by soulsucker

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Oily, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Finally i found a skincare to continue until its discontinued. the moisturizer is so light and little goes a long way. it doesnt clog pores at all. i use microdelivery exfoliating wash then followed by this. it's so simple & keep my skin great...this moisturizer is so nourishing. but i took off 1 lippie... it's so stinky! the smell is like burn rubber!

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sushiflower7 on 6/14/2012 12:03:00 AM more reviews by sushiflower7

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This is the BEST moisturizer ever!!! I really can't emphasize that enough, you have to try it to believe it. First off it's got such a nice fluffy light-as-air texture and feels so incredibly smooth on your skin! My skin really benefits from this product because it's super dry and my skin just drinks this right up. It's a great pick me up; it feels so refreshing and has made an improvement in my skin and I can definitely tell. I'm so glad Philosophy invented this stuff because it literally leaves my skin soft as a baby's bottom. :)

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Ivyxoxo on 6/13/2012 11:46:00 PM more reviews by Ivyxoxo

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Well, I don't think it works for all skin types. I have combination skin and my T-zone is very oily in the afternoon. This moisturizer keeps my cheeks soft but it can't control oil on my forehead at all. right after 1-2 hours, i'll look like i'm wearing no makeups...so I will not purchase it again and i don't recommend it to people who have medium-oil skin type.

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OvaryUp on 6/3/2012 6:08:00 PM more reviews by OvaryUp

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Other    

Last year I went on a hunt to find a moisturizer that wasn't as greasy as the EL DayWear I had been using, and that wouldn't clog my pores. I tried many different kinds, and even the ones for sensitive skin would clog my pores. Finally, my mom told me to try this. I've been using it for about six months and haven't looked back. It doesn't clog my pores and leaves my skin feeling hydrated. Sometimes when I apply it, I can feel my skin pulling it in and saying "THANK YOU!" Is it my HG? I don't know. I removed one lippie because the smell is kind of odd and I think it might be a tad greasy. But, I'm certainly not looking to replace this moisturizer any time soon!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Tovah on 6/2/2012 10:11:00 PM more reviews by Tovah

Age: 44-55   Skin: Oily, Olive, Warm   Hair: Red, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

When I first tried this product, about 10-11 years ago, I liked the way it felt on my skin, but I was ambivalent when it came to repurchasing. I didn't like the smell of it, and, back then, I didn't use moisturizer very often; especially a cream. As of recently, I'm not living in balmy Southern California, but in the Scottsdale desert. These days I feel the need to use a moisturizer, at least on my neck, every day. Between the truly "dry" heat and the moisture-zapping indoor air conditioning here, even my relatively oily skin can feel dry.


Philosophy's corporate headquarters are in Phoenix, so Philosophy products are widely distributed and very popular in this area. After receiving numerous recommendations for Hope In A Jar, I decided to try it again. I must say, I've gained a whole new appreciation for the formulation of this product, and I love the souffle texture. I've tried a LOT of stuff over the past decade, but, truly, nothing else has felt like this moisturizer. It feels soothing, yet refreshing, like a spritz of spa water. It's light, fluffy, and smoothing.


It smells fresh and nice in the jar, but after several hours if I'm sweating or oily, it takes on the same "wet dog" aroma I'd noticed all those years ago. I think my skin oils don't mesh well with the fragrance ingredients. However, I'm at a point where I'm not feeling too picky about the occasionally weird scent. I just want something to give my skin moisture that won't cause cystic blemishes, milia, and stretched-out pores. For occasional moisture, in the past I've really liked Nivea Soft, but after using Hope In A Jar again, Nivea Soft feels like paste, in comparison. (And it has a stronger fragrance than HIAJ.)


I'm not sure how I feel about warnings over lavender oil as an ingredient in skin care products. I have no cosmetics-chemistry background, and I know little about product formulation. Cosmetics scientists and chemists tend to patent their products and sell them to huge corporations for oodles of money, rather than publish their effects in medical journals. "Recipes" stay secret because cosmetics chemists are not medical researchers. Cosmetics are tested "in vitro" for these reasons, and, of course, they're not going to be tested in the general population. The products that are developed from their reserach and formulations are for sale, so the more widely they are copied, the less they are worth. For years, a couple of skin care companies have been claiming that lavender is the worst thing for skin since sulfuric acid (I'm exaggerating), yet, more recently, there has been much hype about lavender's cytotoxity to cancer cells, and its antibacterial properties against types of acnes, and MRSA! These articles (http://skintypesolutions.com/index.php?option=com_article&view=article&id=86, http://roberttisserand.com/2011/08/lavender-oil-skin-savior-or-skin-irritant/) helped me understand the concerns a bit more, but I have yet to find studies that convinced me that a small amount of lavender oil, greatly diluted in a product used in small amounts on skin, is necessarily harmful. Personally, most sunscreens distress my skin way more than anything I've used with any amount of lavender. (However, research about photoaging, skin damage, etc. has caused me to understand that sunscreen plays a vital role in skin care.)



The texture of Hope In A Jar is marvelous, and now I see why this formula is acclaimed. I'm also very impressed with Philosophy's Take a Deep Breath, but, Take a Deep doesn't soften as well as HIAJ on my neck or around my eyes. The softness from HIAJ seems to "plump" the skin, so skin doesn't look or feel dry and tight. Also, HIAJ and Take A Deep are the ONLY moisturizers I've ever been able to wear comfortably beneath sunscreen and/or makeup. Other moisturizers are usually far too heavy for me to wear during the day, no matter how hot or dry it is outside, because I usually have oil breakthrough, even with primers and mattifiers.


I don't know what it is about HIAJ, but it doesn't have any "after-feel" like other moisturizers. When I smooth it onto my skin, it feels like water for a couple of seconds, then my skin just feel soft and comfortable. There's no stickiness, greasiness, or tack. Also, it doesn't cause additional products to roll or flake off of my skin. I am so glad I revisited this product. I love the results it gives me, and the price is surprisingly reasonable!

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CoJake on 5/11/2012 4:24:00 AM more reviews by CoJake

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

I only use Philosophy products on my face and I get compliments on my skin. I never noticed a bad smell with this product. I feel the consistency is too thin, therefore less is more. It never gave me a rash or acne. It leaves my skin moisturize and glowing. In the winter my skin needs more moisture, so I use When Hope is not Enough lotion. After I put on either products, I seal the lotion with whipped shea butter or coconut oil.

The only con is that it is expensive and I only buy it when it's included in a value pack. I've never bought it by it's self.

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aratago on 5/8/2012 6:39:00 PM more reviews by aratago

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red   Eyes: Brown    

I've heard a lot of good things about this product working for all kinds of skin types, but for my oily combination skin, it just felt too greasy. The smell is also really weird. When I first put it on, it feels fine, but then it just keeps feeling sticky afterwards! It's a good thing I got a sample of this before I actually bought the real thing. I just use it on my neck because it feels horrible on my face. I think it actually made me break out!

(Sampled it for about 3 weeks now!)

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Pegk on 5/7/2012 11:31:00 PM more reviews by Pegk

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I couldn't get past the smell, it's nasty!! I actually thought the jar I bought was out of date but then I went to an Ulta and smelled a fresh jar and it was the same. It's just gross. I so wanted this to work. Oh well.

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kathhhh on 5/4/2012 8:54:00 AM more reviews by kathhhh

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight   Eyes: Green    

I really didn't like this moisturiser, despite hearing good things about it. First of all I don't like the packaging, even though I use this with clean hands I do not like tub style packaging, especially for face products. I did not feel this did a good job of moisturising my skin, and my skin is not excessively dry just normal. It left a greasy film-like feeling on my face which was not pleasant. The fragrance is horrible, very strong and I am not a fan of such heavily scented skincare products. Overall a bad moisturiser that I wouldn't recommend to anyone!

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MrsSapphire on 5/1/2012 3:20:00 PM more reviews by MrsSapphire

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

This is, hands down, the worst moisturizer I've ever tried.
The smell is horrible - my husband even refused to kiss me when it was on. It leaves this sticky feeling, and not a lot of moisture, really. I still gave it a few good weeks of use, AND it made my skin look very bad. Sort of dirty and dull looking. Got lots of white heads from it.
I even tried using it as hand cream, and my hands were sticky and dry. So I'll be trowing this away.

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jstehr on 4/20/2012 2:58:00 PM more reviews by jstehr

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Grey    

I've used many items from Philosophy, so I didn't hesitate when trying out this product but I was horribly disappointed. First thing was the smell, it's a very, very strange smell and it turned me off instantly. Second, it didn't really do anything special for me. My skin is normally quite dry, and for the price I was expecting more. Luckily it did not cause my skin to break out. Will not buy this again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* adara260 on 4/14/2012 10:15:00 AM more reviews by adara260

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I wanted to try a product from this popular line. I figured I'd try a moisturizer. This did nothing to moisturize my skin, and I have oily combo skin! It didn't break my skin out but it didn't moisturize my skin enough during the winter or fall seasons. I suspect this might work for the summer when my skin is super oily, but I wouldn't buy a moisturizer for one season. The smell was also too perfumey, and soapy. It's a strange smell. I definitely would not repurchase or recommend this to anyone.

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Stephaniejeann on 4/10/2012 12:38:00 AM more reviews by Stephaniejeann

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

While I really wanted to love this product especially for the price, I just couldn't even after a couple months. The smell really bothered me at first, but I kind of got used to it the more I used it. It didn't break me out luckily, but it didn't do much for hydrating my skin either. I was still left with patchy dry spots on my chin and cheeks. The packaging was alright, the usual for a moisturizer, but I did notice that the material on the inside of the lid absorbed a considerable amount of product. It could have just been because I had bought the edition that donated to breast cancer research, but I lost some product. It was pretty standard, but it didn't do a horrible job. It could have been a lot better, but I haven't had much luck with any other Philosophy skincare.

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Tifmcd on 3/29/2012 11:50:00 AM more reviews by Tifmcd

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

This is a good moisturizer. Its pretty expensive though. It does leave my face feeling glowing. MY big gripe with it though is that while It didn't cause big cystic pimples like I normally get it did give me these little puss filled white heads. I've use the `1 month supply I had and I've discontinued use.

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Luscious1104 on 3/27/2012 4:19:00 PM more reviews by Luscious1104

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I have been using this face cream for over 5 years and I absolutely love it. it doens't clog my pores and leaves my skin feeling hydrated all day.

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