I grew up with a family of women who took incredible care of their skin. Both grandmothers, aunts, my mom: everyone was slathering on creams and splashing their faces with water every morning and evening like it was a second or third job. My mother caught me slathering on cocoa butter one day, took my hand, and said the words I’ve repeated regularly ever since: “The less you do to your skin, the less you will ever have to do to your skin.” And with that, I learned how to wash my face properly and start with a light moisturizer. I was 11 years old. I’ve been doing it ever since.
Wearing makeup in high school meant a trip to the mall to discover a skin-friendly formula that wouldn’t wreck my face, and that meant the Prescriptives counter. The counter was relatively new to our town, coming courtesy of a grand department store called Kaufmann’s (which eventually became Macy’s.) The woman at the counter blended what would become my favorite foundation of all time, dabbing a touch of pigment in with a creamy base that became a flawless base for date night looks and special occasions. It was the best makeup ever, and I became obsessed with the brand. I wore Brick lipstick with Spice pencil underneath for almost a decade before cheating on it (I was young and impetuous then.) The Prescriptives counter was always my happy place. When the brand was retired, I almost cried. I clung to my last bottle of Clinique Calyx with the passion of an old lover. We’ll always have those memories, I thought as I placed it lovingly underneath the counter, bringing it out for the rare date night or evening where I wanted to feel extra special.
And then, by popular demand, they brought it back for people like me who were clutching onto our old products. Because, quite frankly, the products deliver today even better than they used to.
This product was first introduced in 1985, and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with a better-than-ever formula that addresses the damage done by free radicals. I’m going to do a post this coming week on what the heck free radicals are and why you need to protect against them, but for now let’s suffice it to say that there are environmental factors that, once paired with oxygen, can act like tiny claymore mines inside your body, destroying your skin from the inside out. The best way to combat the effects of these free radicals is with antioxidants, and this serum is packed with them. It can increase collagen production and reduce the effects of free radicals immediately and for up to 72 hours. With regular use, it increases collagen production to plump fine lines and wrinkles from underneath while delivering a brighter, smoother complexion. I love that it delivers a more even tone to the skin as well.
The counters are no more, but the line lives on online, so feel free to get your retro fix with this awesome serum. It’s a classic for a reason: it really works.