Today, my Stash Debut series continues with Primavista!
Primavista is a base make line from Kao Sofina. It was launched in fall 2008 to replace (my beloved) Raycious. I had a chance to try Powder Foundation Moist Touch and a kind friend shared a couple of other items with me as well, but Face Powder (Keep & Reset) was my first purchase from the line. (See here for information on and reviews of products from Primavista Ange, a sub-line of Primavista).
Sofina Primavista Face Powder (Keep & Reset) (ソフィーナ プリマヴィスタ フェイスパウダー (キープ & リセット)/ 蘇菲娜 Primavista 蜜粉餅, 1 variation, 9g, SPF 15, PA++, refill ¥2547, case (with brush) ¥1000) was released in spring 2009. It is a pressed setting and retouching powder that contains two shades. It comes with a flat powder brush.
Both the off-white pink (the Keep Powder) and the skin-tonal beige (the Reset Powder) are quite translucent. The fact that they are both matte without visible shimmer appeals to me a lot.
According to the application instructions printed on the outer packaging of the refill, the Keep Powder is for setting the foundation and the Keep Powder and the Reset Powder are mixed for retouching throughout the day. For retouching, the instructions suggest using more of the Reset Powder on areas with visible pores and more of the Keep Powder on the under-eye and the T-zone areas for more translucency. (For setting the foundation, I like using the Keep Powder on most parts of my face and the Reset Powder on the U-zone (where a contourer is usually applied).)
For me, the Keep Powder subtly brightens up the complexion and the Reset Powder merges with my skin tone seamlessly. Compared with Majolica Majorca’s Pressed Pore Cover, which I recently reviewed, the powder (from both sections) is slightly drier but has slightly better oil control efficacy. Its pore coverage is almost just as good.
The hair of the powder brush which the product comes with is nicely dense and soft, but I prefer applying a setting powder with a powder puff. I usually use the square powder puff from Raycious’ Lucent Powder to apply this product.
Raycious’ Lucent Powder is one of my favorite pressed powders, and it is great to see its appealing qualities in Primavista’s Face Powder (Keep & Reset).
Unlike the days when Raycious and other base makeup lines from major Japanese beauty brands released a new foundation and coordinating items twice a year (often a powder foundation for spring/summer and a liquid/cream foundation for fall/winter), the Japanese base makeup market seems to be slower-paced nowadays. (Primavista only released two new products in 2014 (a renewed version of the loose powder and a limited-edition powder foundation case).) It is likely to be a reflection of the slower economy in Japan, but I hope that, to some extent, it is also because these lines have created products that don’t need to be renewed every year due to their suitability for the general consumers and their dedicated following. (It can be frustrating to see a suitable foundation being replaced after just one year.) I am quite glad that Face Powder (Keep & Reset) is still available after it was released six years ago and I certainly hope that Primavista will carry on with solid products for many years to come.
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