(Prescriptives Better Off Fast-Acting Makeup Remover,Magic Illuminating Potion in Red Neutralizer,
and Site Unseen Brightening Concealer SPF 15)
Prescriptives is generally renowned for base makeup products. I am going to review two of them, plus a water-proof makeup remover. Let’s dive straight in.
Magic Illuminating Potion in Red Neutralizer
:It is a primer that is supposed to even out redness. I understand what the product is trying do, as it imparts some yellow and green shimmer which attempts to cancel out redness. But overall, the shimmer sits on top of the redness (which is still visible) instead of neutralizing it.
Basically it is a primer that adds quite a lot of luminosity to the face (which can be a little too shiny for some people), and it is also able to alter the finish of your foundation. (My matte powder foundation takes on a more luminous finish.)
However, the overall texture is slightly too greasy and the finish is too shiny for my personal liking (apart from the fact that it doesn’t neutralize my redness).
Site Unseen Brightening Concealer SPF 15:
(with titanium dioxide to protect against UVA rays)
As we know, there are many products in the same category as YSL’s Touche Éclat, and this is one of them. Some of these products rely more on light-reflective particles while some use more opaque pigments. I think Prescriptives’ version is more toward the opaque-pigment end of the spectrum. Apart from that, the consistency is very creamy and it dries quite quickly, so swift blending is essential. It can be used as a general cream concealer for the face.
For covering imperfections around the eye area, I have noticed that, to reach the desired effect, it is better to put on the needed amount all at once and keep blending. Don’t layer and layer, as it will cake easily.
(Prescriptives Sight Unseen Brightening Concealer SPF 15)(image from www.prescriptives.com)
The brush is wider than that of most other similar products, so it is not particularly designed for precision concealing. It is more for sweeping across slightly larger areas. Overall, as long as the blending is done speedily, the coverage is relatively satisfactory.
Better Off Fast-Acting Waterproof Makeup Remover:
This is a dual-phase makeup remover for eye and lip makeup. I always go for a dual-phase formula since it is able to dissolve makeup quickly and only very little rubbing and tugging is required for effective removal.
This one doesn’t disappoint me. It cleanses effectively and doesn’t irritate my eyes. It doesn’t leave any greasy residue, but I do suspect that it could possibly be a bit drying for some people. (I don’t have a particular preference regarding this, and I don’t mind some slightly oily residue since I always wash my whole face thoroughly after taking off the eye and lip makeup.)
Overall this is something worth considering, but do bear in mind that there are less expensive options that can preform equally well.
Related Posts:
Prescriptives Foundation Review: Flawless Skin & AnyWear
(Find out which one I prefer.)
My Foundation Routine
(as requested by one of you)
My Skincare Routine
(featuring my favorite makeup remover)
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
This is brilliant, PJ–I was about to send you an e-mail asking if you would review some concealers as there are so many out there and there have been lots about them in the Japanese magazines lately. I’ve been using the Giorgio Armani Master Corrector #2 for under my eyes and Maquillage Pre-Makeup Skin Brightner for the rest of my face and have been pleasantly surprised at how natural it looks, but I’ve wanted to add one of the pen-type highlighters/concealers to my routine for a while now…Do you use any one of them in particular or do any of your readers have any favorites? (Apologies for such a long comment!)
P.S. I’m always disappointed that they don’t sell products from the Prescriptives line here in Japan, as I’ve always liked the brand–any idea why the line is not here considering that everything else under the sun seems to be??
Hello Joli again,
I will answer your two comments together here. :)
Indeed, I have been coming across many features on foundations, primers, and concealers in Japanese cosmetics magazines lately. (I subscribe to Biteki and I read Voce sometimes. You probably know that the May and October issues usually have large features on new base makeup items.)
I think they can be very hard to choose. Apart from the fact that there are so many of them (with all the various subtle purposes), we need to put it on a clean and moisturized face to really see whether it works or not. (I know that cosmetics items in Japan are usually not returnable.) Just like foundations, reading about them in magazines and testing them on the back of the hands don’t really help very much when it comes to choosing exactly the right products.
But, I actually happen to have tested the Armani Master Correctors last week. Without testing them on my face, what I did like about them is the smooth (and not overly dense) texture. I also like the very thin brush. (Thank you for telling me about the Maquillage Brightener as well.)
This pen concealer/highlighter by Prescriptives is actually the first one of products in this category that I have tried on my face. I think, for the use of the eye area, I suspect that this one’s texture might be slightly too thick for most people’s liking.
I have not been trying many pen concealers/highlighters. But from what I have come across, Boots No.7’s, Dior’s and Clinique’s seem to be often featured in magazines. But obviously, it doesn’t mean they will automatically suit us. (Are Boots products still available in Japan? I remember there were several years ago…)
Like you, I would like to see what a good concealing/highlighting pen can do for me. I think I am tempted to try Boots No. 7’s, since it is one of the more affordable ones, especially when Boots gives out vouchers for No. 7 products.
If I have tried something, I will definitely review it on my blog, whether I like it or not.
As of now, I don’t have many concealers. My main concern is the slight redness so I tend to look for primers as well as foundations that even out redness effectively. (I think I have found a good primer and I will be reviewing it in the next couple of weeks.)
The only concealer I have at the moment is Shiseido Whitia’s Spots Clear crayon concealer pen. It is relatively good for covering breakouts.
But I did just buy a cream concealer/highlighter compact (by Versace, which I am not sure is available in Japan). I haven’t used it yet, but I should be reviewing it as well later on after I’ve tried it.
As for Prescriptives, what I have noticed is that it is not available in most East Asian countries (not just in Japan). I am not really sure why this is. I can only guess it is just a marketing decision, but I do think it has a potential to sell well, since many of its foundation products are relatively well-known and people in Asia are always very interested in experimenting base makeup products.
I know this is particularly peculiar, since nearly all major western brands are available in Japan…
Thank you again for leaving your comments!! :)
Hi I’ve been surfing online around beauty blogs, your blog caught my eye the most, unlike most blogger who talk about MAC, you were talking about Japanese cosmetics which I adore ^^
I’m also from the UK, just wondering where you buying your Japanese make up such as Lavshuca from? I’m off to Japan in dec, look forward to a cosmetic haul lol. Anyway keep up the good work =]
Hello Nicola,
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment!
One of the sites you can buy items from Japanese brands like Lavshuca is Adam Beauty ( http://www.adambeauty.com/). (There are other sites that carry Japanese cosmetics but I have only bought from this site and would recommend it.)
It is based in Hong Kong. It takes Paypal and ships internationally.
There is a Kanebo icon on the homepage. Click on that and you can see Lavshuca on the left. That will take you to the Lavshuca items.
The price under each item includes the shipping cost. All you need to pay is a 2 USD registered mail charge on top of an order.
Happy browsing! Feel free to send me an e-mail if you have any other question. (The e-mail icon is near the top of the blog.)
Great that you are going to Japan very soon! (I am planning to go as well, but not anytime soon.) Do have a wonderful time (and get some nice cosmetics goodies as well)!!
Thank you again for stopping by my blog! :)
Hi PJ,
Thanks for your reply, interesting site you gave me! I used to use penpal but not anymore.. maybe this will convince me to use it again lol. the price are pretty decent I guess, I’ve heard about this website around beauty blog circuit too. Thanks for recommending it, I will have a good look at it!! keep up the good blogging!=]
Hello Nicola again,
You are welcome!
I first knew about this site from Makeup Alley. I decided to try buying from the site, and now I have shopped from it for many times.
Do enjoy browsing! But, if I were you, I would save up for Japan for the moment! ;-)