Becoming Carmen – philosophy purity made simple skincare, one-step facial cleanser, hydra-essence with coconut water, ultra-light moisturiser, eye gel, pore extractor face mask

The purity made simple collection is a line of products built around philosophy’s award-winning one-step facial cleanser. They all come packaged in creamy yellows and white, conveying a clean, natural feeling that doesn’t feel overly clinical.

Most of the products contain either one of the key ingredients: meadowfoam seed oil which gently conditions and hydrates skin, or bamboo extract to mattify skin while controlling oil and shine (for oil-free variations of the products). It’s a great starting point for anyone looking for consistent products to use in their skincare routine.

One-step facial cleanser

The younger me would run to foam cleansers, chasing that squeaky clean feeling. I’ve known better since and have outgrown products that would strip my skin of its natural moisture oils. I first got hooked on philosophy’s cleanser during my university years. Ever since I started using it, my skin has not regressed into a massive breakout phase anymore – it’s the first time I’ve used a cleanser in a creamy gel-like consistency and stuck to it.

Philosophy’s 3-in-1 facial cleanser is designed to remove makeup, cleanse and tone skin altogether and is gentle enough even for the sensitive eye area. While I wouldn’t rely on it to remove a full face of makeup, it’s more than adequate to remove sunscreen on a no-makeup day.

I use the cleanser with water in the morning and it leaves my skin fresh for the day, almost like a clean canvas. In the evenings, I use my Foreo Luna III to work the product into a gentle lather and massage off any makeup residue. Pro tip: you can even swirl a tiny amount onto your makeup applicators to remove stubborn makeup!

This iconic cleanser is now formulated without parabens and comes in 5 sizes for all your home and travel needs, from 3 oz. (90 ml) up to 32 oz. (946 ml). The larger sizes come with a pump dispenser. My only issue is that the smaller bottles are on the softer side. So if you bring them onto the plane, either transfer them to a harder bottle or bring it in-flight with you so that the air pressure doesn’t cause spillage.

Hydra-essence with coconut water

True to its name, the product is slightly translucent like coconut water and comes with a pleasant scent. With a texture halfway between that of a toner and a serum, I sometimes use it as a toner directly on lazy days and swipe it across with cotton pads. Otherwise, I would pat it down with my fingertips until fully absorbed. A little indeed goes a long way because of how spreadable it is!

I just love this product. In the days before I nailed a skincare routine that worked, this was the one product I consistently went back to. It soothes my skin and leaves it soft and dewy without feeling sticky. So I was devastated to find out that it’s no longer carried in Hong Kong stores. But fear not – you can still find it on StrawberryNet and other overseas retailers.

Editor’s note: I prefer the purity made simple’s hydra-essence to the hope in a jar hydrating and refining lotion as the latter’s fragrance comes across as too strong.

Ultra-light moisturiser

Having grown up in humid Hong Kong weather with combination skin, I steer clear of all face creams. Confession: during spring and summer I tended to double up on serums and skip moisturisers completely.

That was until philosophy’s ultra-light moisturiser completely changed my skincare routine. With a blend of vitamins and green tea antioxidants, it locks in moisture with a velvety finish without being greasy. It’s never caused my skin to break out, and I even prefer it over face gels nowadays. If you’re queasy about moisturisers too, there’s an oil-free version of the product you can opt for.

I like to apply only a pea-sized amount during the day and a full pump in the evenings. The product does pill if I add retinol afterwards, so I like to let it sit and absorb for at least 10 minutes first.

Eye gel

As an expert on puffy eyes, caffeine is an ingredient that works wonders (I also happen to be a fan of The Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG).

Philosophy’s solution is a memory gel that is bouncy and regains surface tension after prodding at it. I was a little on the fence when I first opened the tub, but once you spread it out it’s just like any other gel which makes it a breeze to tap into the delicate eye area. Again, it doesn’t have that greasy feeling that comes with heavy creams.

Pore extractor face mask

Philosophy’s clay mask is the latest product I’ve tried from the purity made simple lineup. I apply with a damp foundation brush like I do with most clay masks. It’s on the strong end with white kaolin clay and salicylic acid, so I focus it on my t-zone areas only.

The great thing is that it stays put when dry, making it ideal for overnight spot treatments as it won’t flake all over your pillowcase. It also doubles as an exfoliator when you rinse it off with gentle rubs.

It hasn’t gotten rid of my blackheads completely (I’ve yet to believe that any product ever will), but it does draw out the worst in my pores and leave my skin feeling much unclogged.

Thoughts

Philosophy does not disappoint. Their products have proven to be gentle – yet effective – on my sensitive combination skin, and I owe much of my blemish-free days to these products. I also love that all their packaging makes it easy to tell how much product you have left in the bottle. It’s practical and fuss-free, and I never waste time struggling to get the product out.

If you’re looking to upgrade your skincare routine from drugstore alternatives, this would be my go-to. Don’t be fooled by their affordability, I promise you can’t go wrong with the facial cleanser and ultra-light moisturiser when I’ve already cycled through so many bottles.