(Sofina Raycious Frosty Loose Powder (left)and Ray Crush Powder (right))
As Sofina‘s webpage for Raycious has been updated with the official announcement that the sales of Raycious will be terminated on August 25th, I would like to take a look back at one of my favorite base makeup lines.
(This post is not meant to be a product review, since the items you see here (except Frosty Loose Powder, which I only have the case of) were released quite some time ago and are not sold anymore. Also, for hygiene reasons, I have not been using these items (apart from Ray Crush Powder).)
(image from www.sofina.co.jp/raycious)
Raycious, debuted in 2000, is the base makeup line of Sofina. (Raycious is not a brand in itself. It is one of Sofina’s two base makeup lines, alongside Finefit.) Looking back, I think Raycious was one of the reasons why I started to be drawn into Japanese cosmetics (particularly foundations) because the line clearly offered something that western brands hadn’t come up with. (For more information on this (and on Sofina in general), please have a look at this previous post.)
One of Raycious’ best-selling products was the powder foundation, whose formula was updated every year (in spring). People seemed to either love it or hate it, and I wasn’t surprised. Raycious’ powder foundation didn’t try to please everyone, and I believe this was one of the reasons for its success. (I suppose when we try to please everyone, we please no one.)
(Glamorous Skin Powder, Raycious’ last powder foundation release,(image from www.sofina.co.jp/raycious)
Raycious’ powder foundation is generally a lot more suitable for people with oily skin or people living in a warm climate. While people with dry skin can find it dry and chalky, those with oily skin (like me) tend to find it effective in sebum control. What I also love about it is that the foundation shade doesn’t darken or turn dull overtime. It is one of the very few foundations that wear better and better for me throughout the day. (By the way, Raycious’ powder foundations are meant to be applied dry and are not two-way foundations.)
The first few editions of the powder foundation are the ones I particularly love, as the finish of the later ones seems so luminous that it can look a little too glowy/shiny for me. However, their pressed powder and loose powder have constantly been part of my base makeup routine up until today (with all the extra refills I got). The Ray Crush Powder (seen above, on the right) was my sole favorite loose powder until I tried Lavshuca’s Face Powder (I now like both equally). The pressed powder does everything that a pressed powder should do in terms of gently mattifying the skin and diffusing the appearance of pores.
As I have alluded to, not all Raycious items are equally fantastic. For instance, people seem to complain that its liquid foundation (updated annually in fall) often lacks coverage.
One item I do also like is Stick Makeup, which is the kind of stick foundation that many major brands (both western and Japanese) were releasing one after another many years ago. The lovely cream-to-powder formula blends very easily and has a lovely matte and subtly luminous finish.
(great-looking skin in a stick)
(They don’t really suit me…)
Unfortunately, they have quite a lot of alcohol. (This is fairly typical of Japanese primers.) I happened to get the one in blue (above the green one in the photo) in a gift with purchase (after I tried the green one), and I never opened it. It is still in the box in the unwrapped cellophane. It will probably always stay unopened in its “brand new in box” condition. A nice time-capsule candidate for the history of Japanese cosmetics, I suppose…
If you have also seen my Raycious foundation cases and pressed powder items, you have now seen pretty much all my Raycious collection…
Even though I think this is probably my last post on Raycious, I don’t think this is my last time mentioning the line. Various products from Raycious are among my favorite base makeup finds, and I am sure I will compare others with them in the future. In the meantime, let’s hope that Primavista will live up to the expectation of all the Raycious fans as well as surprise a few others!
Related Posts (my recent base makeup favorites):
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
A tribute to Sofina Raycious! No more foundation cases to add to your collection anymore!
Thanks for introducing me to Sofina Raycious too! Now awaiting the arrival of Primavista!
I brought the pick color last year.The case attracted me to but….so pretty
Darn! Too bad I didn’t hear about this line until it was terminated. That powder foundation sounds like one I would really have liked to try.
Hi PJ,
I am so sad that the Raycious range is gonna be discontinued. It is my favourite brand when it comes to base makeup, in fact it is the only brand I use. Quality wise, it is perfect for me and the cases…oh, they are so pretty!!! Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that the Primavista will be as good.
By the way, do you think the drugstores will still have stock of Raycious foundation refills after 23 Aug? It will be a lifesaver :) Thanks in advance!
Pearl
I love, love Raycious, Perfect Angle was my first japanese foundation. I’ll miss its products! :( Hope primavista is as good as Raycious.
Hugs :3
Hi Kng Suan,
Ha..I know. No more new case for me. I don’t know whether I should feel happy or sad. But in a way I am glad and relieved, because I now officially have all the annual releases (but not all the limited-edition ones). :)
Let’s hope that Primavista will be just as good.
Thank you for your comment again! :)
Hi Saito Florence,
Thank you for stopping by my blog. I am glad you are enjoying your purchase! :)
Hi Toya,
Great to hear from you again!
I do wish Raycious could be around for a bit longer. But I am looking forward to Primavista, and I will certainly keep you posted on my blog.
Thank you for visiting my blog again! :)
Hi Pearl,
It is great that Raycious items have been working for you. I am sure many people think very highly of them as well.
I suspect that Raycious items will still be available in drugstores in Japan for a while. I think they will be slowly phased out instead of being taken off the shelves and counters immediately. But I could be wrong…
Thank you very much for your comment! :)
Hi Eru,
I actually only bought the case for Perfect Angle Powder. (As you know, I really like it.) It is great that this Raycious edition suits you well.
I will keep you posted on Primavista on my blog!
Thank you for your comment again! :)
Hi PJ,
I love your blog, you reviews are very helpful. Recently, I want to purchase a powdery foundation but I am stuck in choosing between kose esprique, albion or primavista. I am combination to dry skin during winter, could you please give me some advice in between Albion Exage Extra Moisture Chiffon Foundation, or Esprique Beauty Skin Pact (moisture) or Primavista. I have a Raycious Powdery foundation from last year, I am in love with the purple case very sparkly, but I want to try something new, with unique case, the sparkly one.
There is another question, my face tend to be brighter than my neck, should i match my foundation color to my neck’s color or the other way around, and apply foundation to my neck too? Also, when you buy foundation, which color do you usually get, because I’ve seen that the Japanese base makeup color range is between pink ochre, ochre, beige orchre, and I am not sure the difference. Thanks.
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
You are very welcome, and thank you for your questions.
I am afraid that I have not tried the Albion Exage and Esprique Precious foundations that you mentioned. But I have tried a sample of Primavista’s powder foundation. I will review it in more detail later, but, if you like the Raycious powder foundation you have, then I think you might like the new foundation from Primavista. (They are not very different.)
When it comes to the skin tone difference between the face and the neck, I think most people, like you, have some degree of difference (either like yours or the other way around). Do match the foundation shade to your face and not your neck. If you are concerned, make sure the foundation is as close as possible to but not lighter than your facial skin tone.
As for the foundations in Japanese base makeup, ochre shades are neutral ones that should suit most people. Beige ochre shades are more yellow-toned, while pink ochre shades are more pink-toned.
Hope my answers help.
Thank you for reading my blog, and do keep me posted if you have any other question. :)
Hi PJ,
After numerous researching, I decided to buy the Albion Exage Chiffon foundation with the limited case from ichibankao. I have been using it for 3weeks and would like to share my experience with you and others.
For normal to dry skin people, should choose the Exage line
For oily to combination oily skin people, should choose the Exage white line, it gives better oil control
As for the case, it looked better in picture than real thing, I am kinda disappointed, I should just buy a refill and put it into my raycious compact case, because I’ve tried it, it fit into the raycious case!! But, the sponge that comes with the case is just different than the usual, it is thick and very soft and smells good.
However, the powdery foundation itself, it is just fantastic. It is pricey, but I think it is the best powdery foundation that I’ve used. I heard that, the foundation was made from milk but I was kinda skeptical. The scent of the powder really smells like milk and the texture is very silky. As for its coverage, it is kinda low, but no matter how much layer you put it on, you wont see and feel the heavy “powder” on the skin which is what I like the most, and it is very natural and it will never turn dull. I think this is the only powdery foundation I’ve tried, it never turned dull. I am very satisfied now, haha.
here is a picture of me, i used the albion exage foundation #40, the picture was taken after like 5hrs later after I applied it, I did not do any retouch afterward, and I am a combination skin, oily on the T-zone, dry on the cheeks.
Hi Rachel,
Thank you very much for such a wonderfully detailed report! I really appreciate it!
According to what you said, the Exage White range will probably suit my oily skin better. The slightly low coverage might be an issue for me, since I usually like medium coverage. But if it can even out the redness and last well while controlling shine to some extent, the range might be something I will be happy with.
Thank you for sharing the photo. The finish of the powder does look very natural. Also, your makeup looks very elegant!
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts. I find them very helpful and I am sure they will be so for all the other readers as well. :)