The Prescriptives brand from Estee Lauder was founded in 1979 under the premise that no two women were alike and their cosmetics needed to reflect that individuality. After 30 years of success, Prescriptives announced that it would be closing its retail counters worldwide on Jan. 31, 2010. This decision, of course, affects its popular foundation line Virtual Skin.
But although Prescriptives is closing its doors in "real" time, all is not lost for those women who want to try Virtual Skin or who are devotees of the product. Virtual Skin---and all other Prescriptive products---will continue to be available online at www.prescriptives.com.
The Foundation
The idea of individual makeup took off soon after Prescriptives launch, and the cosmetic company's department store counters were busy assisting women in find their unique foundation color. Over the years, the Prescriptives line grew to include eye shadows, eyeliner, concealers, mascara, lipsticks, powders and skin-care products.
Prescriptives was the first company to create light-reflecting makeup that made skin appear more luminous. The line was aptly called "Magic." Soon other cosmetic companies followed suit.
Virtual Skin makeup is called "a fine line between makeup and real skin." This foundation covers, but in a sheer, luminous way. It comes in oil-free and other types.
Virtual Skin Foundation
Virtual Skin foundation comes in an SPF 10 formula, in a 1 oz. size. It provides sheer to medium coverage and is long-wearing and oil-free. It is a Prescriptives' best-seller and costs $32.50, as of December 2009.
Virtual Skin is part of Prescriptives Color Family, which includes four groupings of skin undertones: yellow/orange, red/orange, red and blue/red. Within each of these categories are the overlaying colors that, together with the color family, provide the best foundation color for your skin.
Natural Looking, Natural Feeling
These are the top shades for each color family:
In the yellow/orange family, there are 11 shades, from real ecru (a pale neutral) to real antelope (for darker skins).
In the orange/red family, there are five shades, from real vanilla (an ivory color) to real hazelnut (a brown with cool overtones).
In the blue/red family, there are four shades, from real camellia (an ivory with blue undertones) to real dusk (a dark brown with blue undertones).
There are no reds available.
Virtual Refinement
In addition to the "barely there" feel of the Virtual Skin foundation, there is Virtually Fresh
Skin Refining Makeup SPF 15. This, too, comes in a 1 oz. size. In "one color fits all," a virtual peach, this foundation feels weightless and is for all skin types except for the very dry. It utilizes Prescriptives' Dimensional Optics to literally erase imperfections. It, too, is oil-free.
Virtual Matte
Virtual Skin Matte is an oil-control makeup with SPF 15. It too comes in a 1 oz size. This foundation is designed to absorb oils and shine with botanical extracts and it claims to reduce oil production if used regularly. It provides a matte finish and is designed for medium to full coverage. It is a Prescriptives best-seller and costs $32.50.
These are the top shades for each color family:
In the yellow/orange family, there are nine shades, from fresh vellum (a pale neutral) to fresh tawny (for darker skins).
In the orange/red family, there are two shades, fresh vanilla (an ivory color) and fresh peach (a cool peach).
In the blue/red family, there are three shades, fresh rose, fresh porcelain, and fresh chestnut.
There are no reds available.
Virtual Skin Matte is also available as a convenient Matte Oil-Control Pressed Powder for a semi-matte finish. It comes in 4 .35 oz. compact shades and costs $28.
References
- Estee Lauder corporate website
- Prescriptives website
- Don't Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me, Paula Begoun, Berkeley, California: Publishers Group West. 2003.
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