Change your Philosphy on Facials!
Written: Nov 22 '02 (Updated Dec 12 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: deep cleansing, light exfoliation, soothes and softens, 'spa' experience
Cons: price
The Bottom Line: If you're intrigued by The Great Mystery, take the plunge and treat your face to a spa experience that you won't forget!
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| darkchild99's Full Review: Philosophy Great Mystery |
I received Philosophy's The Great Mystery as part of the Philosophy Greatest Hits package that also includes The Greatest Love. My honey knows that I'm a beauty product junkie and usually picks up my favourite Origins products as peace offerings after we've been in fights. However, this was a gift from a girlfriend who told me that it would totally convert me to Philosophy. So, the first thing I thought was 'Hmmmmm, I've heard of Philosophy, what's so great about them??' Naturally, I was loathe to be lured away from my fave skincare range, especially since it has fixed so many of my complexion problems. Plus, I'm a Taurus and we're the 'stuck in a rut' type who just keep doing the same thing if it works. I'm a serial monogamist when it comes to beauty products, but (unlike in my love life) curiousity can get the better of me...
The Product
Before we get to the product, perhaps I'd better mention a little something about the Philosophy skincare line. Philosophy claims to bring together aesthetics, logic, metaphysics, ethics and epistemology. The brain-child of Cristina Carlino, who was the CEO of BioMedic, the range is a consumer brand version of medical cosmetic treatments. Cristina wanted to fill the gap between the products offered by doctors and those available in department stores. The Philosophy products are designed to combine different forms of treatment and deliver on their promises while providing real access to skincare technology. All of the Philosophy products are packaged simply in translucent or opaque white bottles and tubes with black lids. A quirky, philosophical message is printed on each product in black letters.
The Great Mystery comes in a translucent white 150g (5.0 oz) tube with a black flip-top lid. I really like the rubbery texture of the tube itself, it doesn't get slippery in the shower which is a plus! The product information is printed on the front in black letters: the great mystery is the great debate. people ask "how" was the universe created, when the more important question is "why" was it created at all. Inside the tube, the translucent white product is visible which is good for judging how much is left. The product is fairly solid when squeezed out of the tube and a little goes a long way. The consistency is similar to vaseline but it becomes soft and warm with skin heat. When you spread it on your face it becomes an opaque white colour and smells faintly of lemons mixed with a medicinal ointment. The mask doesn't dry so you basically leave it for as long as you like and it rinses off easily.
Product Hype:
>a one-minute deep cleansing mask for all over
softening
>fast-acting glycerin based, mineral-packed purifying
paste
>contains sea salt for natural, therapeutic exfoliation
>contains panthenol to soothe and help enhance dry skin
>contains marine extracts to help moisturise and soothe
Directions:
apply the great mystery to a clean face for immediate smoothing and silkening effects to the skin. use as needed. best followed with a hydrating scrub.
Ingredients:
glycerin; water (aqua); sea salt; polyglyceryl-10-diplmitate; panthenol; propylene glycol; butylene glycol; tocopherol acetate; plankton extract; macrocystic pyrifera extract; algae extract; fucus vesiculosus extract; lavendula angustifolia (lavender) oil; diazolidinyl urea; methylparaben; propylparaben
I use The Great Mystery up to three times per week, in the mornings in place of my cleanser as a 'mini-facial'. When I smooth the semi-grainy gel on my face it turns into a thick white paste that spreads easily. When I put it on, it starts to feel a bit warm but this isn't due to a warming complex in the product (my Warming Mineral Mask from The Body Shop gets really hot!). The glycerin base of the mask sits on the skin and prevents heat loss which your face feels as 'warmth'. After a minute or so my skin starts to feel tingly and this together with the warmth makes me feel like I'm having a real deep-cleansing facial. Unfortunately, this mask isn't clay-based so it doesn't suck out all of the oil in my pores or tighten my face but it does leave me with refreshed and purified skin after I rinse it off.
I've been using The Great Mystery for almost six months now and I've seen an improvement in the texture of my skin. The mask is geared as a one-minute daily facial so the effects are usually immediate and not necessarily long lasting. My friend recommended using it every morning in place of my cleanser but I'm just not ready to give up my Origins Never A Dull Moment Facial Cleanser just yet. With regular use you notice that the clarity and mainly the texture of skin improves. I don't have as many clogged pores since using The Great Mystery and my skin feels more refined. I have to admit that I have been using The Great Mystery and The Greatest Love in conjunction for the past six months so the effects on my skin may come from a combination of both of these products.
The Philosophy website states that using The Great Mystery helps to maximise the penetration and effectiveness of other treatment products used on the skin. It is also recommended for dull and sensitive skins to revitalise while being very gentle. There are three main reasons why I love this product and will contine to buy it when my tube runs out:
(1) my skin definitely feels smoother immediately after using the product
(2) I haven't had a breakout since starting on this product and my skin tone has evened out
(3) the mask makes me feel really good when I have it on - all warm and tingly
Unfortunately, The Great Mystery doesn't deal with my oil issues which means that I have to supplement it during the week with a clay mask to mop up oil.
The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful
This product is a great purifying and soothing mask that deals with my non-specific skin issues and feels great while it's on. I never feel flaky after using it and the smoothness is immediate so I often use it in the evenings just before I apply my makeup to go out. I can't say if The Great Mystery can de-clogg pores on its own - I believe that The Greatest Love scrub was responsible for my decreased number of black heads. However, I did find that The Great Mystery was strangely stimulating and soothing (I'm not sure how the sea salt could soothe my skin) and made a big difference on days when I looked tired. The Great Mystery is marketed towards all skin types and has not been a problem for my oily skin. I alternate between using The Great Mystery before and after The Greatest Love with similar results.
There are a few minor cons with this product that are specific to my needs. The sea salt can be a problem as there is a warning on the tube about avoiding contact with eyes, open wounds and mucous membranes. The Great Mystery is glycerin-based rather than clay-based and is not a very absorbing mask so it's not the best treatment product for oily skins. People with oilier skin types might opt to supplement The Great Mystery with another mask during the week. This just makes the whole routine more complicated, so it really is up to the individual whether it's worth it or not. However, I did notice that the product contains plankton extract and algae extract which have been shown to be beneficial for oily skins in controlling shine and soothing. The Great Mystery isn't a multi-tasking product which is a little disappointing as it could include other actions.
Is it worth it? I think that it is - both in terms of monetary value and in terms of how my face looks and feels after using it. Although the product claims are simple, the results that I've experienced after using The Great Mystery are a little blurry because I've used it in conjunction with The Greatest Love (that's a whole other review!). I would recommend buying the two together but this isn't absolutely necessary. Using The Great Mystery with any other scrub would probably be just as effective. The main thing is to play around with the product so that it does what you need it to do. Some days I use the mask more as a cleanser, and other days I spend time on it and treat myself to a proper facial. The versatility of the product and its ability to work for most skin types is a big plus.
The Verdict
I really enjoy using The Great Mystery and it has made a difference to my complexion. It's difficult to sum up exactly what this product does, but after scrutinising my skin in the mirror for several minutes after using it I've decided that it is a skin refiner. On days when I've given my face a really good scrubbing with The Greatest Love I prefer to follow up with The Great Mystery (ooh, I'm ignoring the directions for use!) to soothe my face and make my skin feel all buttery soft and smooth. The Great Mystery is a versatile product that I fall back on in times of stress, when I need a quick pick me up or when I'm running late and my face just feels 'blah'. All of the different components of the product come together to make it an experience that never fails to delight me and make me feel clean.
Where to buy? Your nearest Philosophy store or online at www.philosophy.com - buying direct has worked out to be best for me. The website is quite interactive with a 'skin blueprint' and lots of interesting information.
In a nutshell? I really like this product. It works for me and it meets my needs. This is the criteria that I set for whether a product is worth my time and money. The Great Mystery hasn't done anything bad to my skin and for that I'm happy. The product has three main actions which it lives up to: cleanse, mild exfoliation and purify. My skin feels exceptionally smooth after using the mask and I don't mind the scent. Overall, I love the spa experience.
The Great Mystery allows me to have a 'facial on the go' as well as a gorgeous spa treatment in the one product. This flexibility is important to me because my life has its extremely hectic moments as well as its quiet ones. I guess that's true of all people. There are so many things that we do that reflect our moods and our thoughts. There are many parts to my personality that are 'mysteries' and I like to sit and ponder this with The Great Mystery on my face. It's pretentious philosophy, but it works for me. There are some products that 'get' us on a physical and spiritual level. I am by no means sucked into the Philosophy hype that is printed on their products but I do need time to spend exclusively on myself and The Great Mystery gives me this opportunity. And, at the end of the day I come out looking good too! What more could a girl want?
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
darkchild99
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Location: Perth, Western Australia
Reviews written: 31
Trusted by: 13 members
About Me:
Everytime I hear the word 'exercise' I wash my mouth out with chocolate.
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