Damage, Controlled: Philosophy’s Anti-Aging Secret Weapon

“When it comes to anti-aging, our money’s on retinoids.”
- Linda Wells, Allure editor in chief and author of Confessions Of A Beauty Editor

I’m not what I’d call "actively wrinkled" [insert the harsh-sounding caw! caw! from the crow’s feet around my eyes], but I’m paying more attention to anti-aging products now than, say, 10 years ago when I ruled my face with a tightly coiled tube of benzoyl peroxide.

Apart from beauty booboos like using rubbing alcohol to dry up zits (hey, we all make mistakes!), at the peak of my brainless beautifications I even had standing weekly appointments at Tan A Rama. Note to my skin: I am sooo sorry, but honestly, shouldn’t you have said something?

So! I’m hitting the Edit/Undo button on my face with Philosophy’s Help Me treatment.

Billed as a retinol treatment for fine lines (I have ‘em), discoloration (yup), and large pores (check again), Help Me also has the highest percentage of retinol of any product at Sephora - .010%, which is the magic number at which results appear but irritation does not.

Help Me’s packaging has an encouraging little note explaining how regular use leads to clean pores, smoother skin, and an all over glow. How do I know they aren’t fibbing? Retinoids, in addition to zapping wrinkles, speed cell turnover and spur the production of new collagen.

(This is enough to make me write, “I love retinoids” and “Jenny + Philosophy = TLA” all over my Pee-Chee).

Anyway, if it’s good enough to win the Editor’s Choice award from Allure, I figure I’ll give it a shot myself.

Starting tonight, I’m changing my face by cracking open Help Me and applying my first layer. I raise my 1.05 oz tube as a toast to my future face!

Will it work? You’ll know when I do – I’ll be posting my results regularly.