I’m a big fan of Philosophy’s products, and I’ve been eyeballing their Vitamin C Peel Kit whenever I troll the skincare section at Sephora. The pricetag kept me from trying it out until recently, when an Amazon gift certificate—a green light for impulse purchases, as far as I’m concerned—came my way.

The kit consists of a small tub of grainy, exfoliating stuff that you smear onto dry, clean skin (this is the “bicarbonate vitamin c crystal”) and massage into your face. You then apply a layer of “activator gel”—a clear, sticky fluid—on top, and massage your face while everything sort of foams and tingles. After a minute or two, you rinse.

I was skeptical that the peel could live up to the glowing reviews on Amazon, but it’s actually very effective. My face feels smooth and soft when I use the product, and my pores are almost invisible afterwards. I’ve been using it one or two times a week, and while I wouldn’t say I have transformed my skin into the youthful, buttery texture it may have boasted twenty years ago or more, it does seem improved—the bumpier, rosacea-prone areas are smoother, and my frowny forehead is less crinkly-looking.

Philosophy does it again, with a skincare product that doesn’t suck. If you’d rather not splurge on the whole kit, it looks as though sample sizes are available through Philosophy’s website (note: does not work in Safari).

Link: Philosophy Microdelivery Vitamin C Peel Kit on Amazon
Ballpark price: $65