Will You Miss Prescriptives?
Sun, 09/20/2009 by Karen | Posted in: News
I still can’t believe Estée Lauder pulled the plug on Prescriptives…
It must have been a difficult decision for the maker of MAC, Clinique and Bobbi Brown. Any time you shutter doors on a 30-year-old cosmetics line it has to hurt, even if sales of the line have been underperforming for a while.
Global distribution will end about four months from now (Jan. 31, 2010), so there’s still time to stock up before the counters disappear. After that, any remaining stock will be cleared out through the website.
I can’t say I’m heartbroken, but I will miss certain things about Prescriptives, like their approach to color, specifically their range. Even as far back as the ’80s and ’90s I could count on Prescriptives to carry foundation shades that matched my skin tone.
But it wasn’t enough to fend off the competition, and they grew to be overshadowed by EL’s other brands.
Loading ...For whatever it’s worth, fellow fans of Prescriptives’ still popular Calyx fragrance are in luck. We’ll still be able to get our hands on it through Aramis at department stores and online. I guess that’s better than nothing… I do like fruity, fresh Sheer Calyx Exhilaration. 
Farewell Prescriptives…
Prescriptives Mineral Bronzer in Warm, $30
Prescriptives Eye Color Compact in Warm from the Well Suited Collection, $40
Prescriptives LipShine in Strawberry Twist, $17.50
Prescriptives Kohl Eye Pencil in Blue Grotto, $18.50
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
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1. amy said, on September 20th, 2009:
I remember when I was little and I would go shopping with my mom and my favourite counter would be Prescriptives because I love the colour powders in the tubes. My favourite Prescriptives products are their Moonbeam lipglosses and Planetary being my favourite colour. I got to pick up a few of those. Ilove the teal mascara btw, where is it from?
amy’s last blog post… John Masters Organics Bourbon Vanilla Tangerine Hair Texturizer
2. CC said, on September 20th, 2009:
Whoa, I didn’t know Estee Lauder owned Clinique, MAC, AND Bobbi Brown!! I remember always passing by Prescriptives at the mall , but never really interested in their products aside from the cool test tubes of make-up that were on display.
3. Sheila said, on September 20th, 2009:
I’ve never been a fan of them, not that I didn’t like them, I just didn’t really care for them. I guess its sad that a 30-year old brand is closing, but other than that, I don’t really feel much. Now if Dior or Chanel closed, I would probably be crying and going on a Dior/Chanel spending spree over the next few months.
Sheila’s last blog post… Confirmed: Dior Cristal Boreal Collection for Holiday 2009
4. Joanne said, on September 20th, 2009:
My girlfriend uses their skincare and makeup. I don’t use
anything of theirs. Not because I didn’t like them, I just
use other things.
Joanne’s last blog post… Will You Miss Prescriptives?
5. Rebecca said, on September 20th, 2009:
Hmmm… I’ve never bought anything from Prescriptives before, so really I don’t have much of an opinion either way. However I am quite liking the LipShine in Strawberry Twist – maybe I’ll have to run down to Macy’s and grab a couple of those before they disappear
Rebecca’s last blog post… Get Glowing with Olay Night of Olay Firming Cream
6. Toni said, on September 20th, 2009:
I started using the Prescriptives makeup when I graduated from undergrad. I liked the eye shadows, lipsticks, and one of the serums. However, I went back to Clinique, and I found other brands I liked better (MAC, Bobbi Brown, Stila).
I have rosacea, which comes and goes, and no one at the Prescriptives counter could figure out if they needed to color match my face or my neck!
Toni’s last blog post… Downsizing My Stuff
7. bomi said, on September 20th, 2009:
no…
bye bye good brand of mascara.
8. Blovet Beauty said, on September 20th, 2009:
Prescriptives was a really respected skin and cosmetics brand in singapore and they left Singapore Years AGO… i was really sad and my frens were kinda distraught abt it too!they stocked up on the foundations esp!
Blovet Beauty’s last blog post… Japanese Magazine Scans & Mr ELMO & VivaBella Giveaway!
9. AndreaMarie said, on September 20th, 2009:
I will miss the foundations and the serum!
10. Aleksis said, on September 20th, 2009:
You know I didn’t think I would miss them at all until I tried a sample of their all skins mineral foundation (the liquid) and I really like it…But I guess if I continue to really like it I’ll buy a few bottles to last me awhile.
Aleksis’s last blog post… Hot trend alert: Black lips
11. Sherry said, on September 20th, 2009:
Oh nooooo. My *fave* foundation is Flawless Skin. I’m so sad!
12. ezzie said, on September 20th, 2009:
your eyes look gorgeous in that last photo!
and it’s always sad to see a cosmetics brand that’s been arond for a while go
farewell, perscriptives!
13. Tanya said, on September 20th, 2009:
Oh no
I’ll have to stock up on their foundations. They match my skin tone perfectly. No other base even comes close.
14. Marisol said, on September 20th, 2009:
Not a fan but that sucks about shutting them down.
Marisol’s last blog post… Stepping Out Of My Comfort Zone
15. gio said, on September 21st, 2009:
I’ve never bought enough from them, but it’s always sad to see a brand go
gio’s last blog post… Looks: Pink, Blue and White
16. Tavia a said, on September 21st, 2009:
I’ve never tried the Prescriptives products so I won’t miss them. Maybe they were available only in the US, I’ve honestly didn’t hear about them.
Tavia a’s last blog post… Chic Giveaway: Comment to win the 155$ La Prairie Anti-Aging Eye Cream SPF 15 – A Cellular Intervention Complex
17. candy said, on September 21st, 2009:
OH CRAP! It took me YEARS to find a foundation/powder that matched my skintone. As a pure cool level one blue/red without a hint of yellow its going to be IMPOSSIBLE to find another foundation that wont give me that undesirable ‘lemon head’ look.
I’m in utter panic now!
18. candy said, on September 21st, 2009:
I made a go of it and called their toll free number.
I inquired if any of their other brands will be taking on their color matching or at minimum their foundation shades and she said she is unsure but would love to forward my comments on to their executives. She took down my shades (mineral and virtual skin), name, and zip code.
She also said that their products are tested with a 3 year efficicy date from time of purchase if unopened and 24 months from time opened.
Looks like I’ll be stocking up until a new match is found…
19. Alexis said, on September 21st, 2009:
I’ll definitely miss them, especially their foundations, oil-free cleanser, apple blossom blush, and skin treatments. They were the first brand of drugstore make-up I ever tried, so there’ll always be a special place in my heart for them
. I’m assuming their products will be sold in CCO’s until they’re completely gone? Maybe people can find products there after they leave dept. stores.
Alexis’s last blog post… Shopping at Sephora – What would you get?
20. aprillmtv said, on September 21st, 2009:
Is this for real?!? because I am big time freaking out. I live and die by their concealer. I am calling Neiman’s right now!!!
21. Karen said, on September 21st, 2009:
Hi Aprillmtv,
Yes, girl, it’s true. You better stock up now!
22. Karen said, on September 21st, 2009:
Hi Alexis,
I’m not sure, but I’m going to keep my fingers crossed and hope that they do have them available at CCOs.
23. Daya said, on September 22nd, 2009:
I used to play at their counter when i worked at a department store years ago. Their colors didn’t work for me but some of their double-sided lip glosses were good. It’s unfortunate for them though.
24. Karen said, on September 22nd, 2009:
Hi Daya,
I’m sad to see them go! I hope that other brands don’t get cut.
25. knit_tgz said, on September 22nd, 2009:
Never tried them, but I must admit the Warm eye palette looks very beautiful!
knit_tgz’s last blog post… Meme (imagens/pictures)
26. Jill Mendoza said, on September 22nd, 2009:
It is unfortunate, I really enjoyed a lot of their lines of makeup
27. situ said, on September 22nd, 2009:
yes, it was the only brand where I could find a pretty good powder and foundatin match. boo.
28. katie said, on September 25th, 2009:
Oh no, the Here to Stay mascara is my HG mascara! It’s the only thing I use from them but it is so fantastic and I don’t know what mascara I’m going to find to replace it. It’s not necessarily the best at volume or lengthening, but it would not budge for ANYTHING. Not sweat, tears, rubbing, rain, nothing. Ack, I’m going to have to stock up!
29. Dani C said, on September 27th, 2009:
I am gutted about this. I’m very pale, blue/red and love their traceless tint in level one, the only one pale enough for me, I’m panicking now at not being able to find anything suitable!!
I also love their lipglosses and the lipstick in rose glow is a lovely nude lip! I do love other brands like MAC more but I will miss prescriptives foundations in particular and am already on the hunt for replacement!!
30. Bhronda said, on October 20th, 2009:
Yes, I am devastated! Prescriptives Antelope is the only foundation that matches and does not mute my color. I actually just look like I simply have nice skin when I wear it. Now isn’t that what make up is supposed to do. No other Estee Lauder can match it.
Further Prescriptives foundation is the only that does oil-free without irriatation. Please Estee. There is no replacement for Prescriptives Foundation.
31. DonnaN said, on October 25th, 2009:
It’s a bit sad. I used prescriptives back in the late 80’s when I was in college. I still swear by their Flight Cream and their Moonbeam gloss is to die for….my two favorite shades–Meteor and the defunct SuperNova!
RIP Prescriptives!!
32. q said, on October 28th, 2009:
I was really disappointed to hear that Prescriptives is going to end. I’ve always found it difficult to find foundation that suits my skin, a friend recommended Prescriptives to me about a year and a half ago and ive not really used anything else since then..i don’t know what im going to do once they stop producing!
33. Lori Y. said, on November 14th, 2009:
I use the concealer, Virtual Skin foundation and Magic powder. I’ve been using these products for several years and I love them. I get so many compliments on my complexion and I know that a lot of the credit goes to these products. I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I think Prescriptives is a little pricey and they don’t tend to have many special offers like some of the other brands carried in department stores. Maybe I would have used more of their products if the prices were a little lower, but then again, I can’t tell you what I pay for the concealer, foundation and powder because I love them so much I don’t pay attention to the price!