Philosophy • The Present Clear Makeup • Primer/ Corrector

Where To Buy?

DeedeeL on 3/23/2003 11:25:00 AM more reviews by DeedeeL

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I am thrilled to offer the first review of this product... It provides some breakthrough control and produces a glass like smooth surface for applying makeup. I was wary of this at first because it feels very creamy and emollient going on, but you must wait 2 minutes or more for it to "set" at which point it virtually disappears, leaving behind a smooth finish. Bonus #1: light lavendar scent. No comedeogenic ingredients either. This is a far superior product to the NARS primer, which not surprisingly broke me out (duh, like the third ingredient is isopropyl myristate or some such hideous zit fertilizer.) At $25 for 2 oz. it's average priced for mid to high end primers; should last some time. Bonus #2: acts as a light moisturizer for my oily skin. Won't hestitate to repurchase! Edited to add: after a few days of using this i must emphasize the need to use it sparingly! Three small dots for the entire face should be sufficient otherwise you will get the dreaded balling up effect. Also, it didn't work so well in the summer months, so the search continues.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Murielle on 1/16/2003 1:58:00 AM more reviews by Murielle

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Oily   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

Kudos that they offer a moisture product for oily skin, but this doesn't do anything good for me. Left my skin feeling itchy and it smells bad.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

eyeslikethesea on 1/9/2003 12:22:00 AM more reviews by eyeslikethesea

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

This is a silicon-based cream that for me (oily/combination skin with large pores) is a pretty decent moisturizer/prep layer. This definitely smooths out the fine lines and helps fill in my pores. One neat trick to see if you'll like the effect is to use a little bit from a tester on the back of your hands and watch as they suddenly look years younger! The key to using this under foundation is to not use too much, and above all, let the stuff DRY! And not just for a moment, I like to give it at least 5 minutes, otherwise you will see the caking other reviewers have mentioned. When used properly, The Present will definitely make my MAC Studiofix look nicer. Downsides: can sting if you have dry, chapped skin, no spf, pricey.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

octoraro on 1/2/2003 6:13:00 PM more reviews by octoraro

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Dry   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I wanted to like this & hoped it'd be as wonderful as promised on QVC.

Although I love most all of the Philosophy products I've tried, this one did nothing for me. Waste of my money. Skip this one.. it's neither impressive as a moisturizer nor a "primer".

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

catgirl on 9/7/2002 1:46:00 PM more reviews by catgirl

Age: Unknown   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I've been using this faithfully for the past 2 weeks. While it did help me to stay pretty matte throughout the day, my Stay Calm still wore off in places (like my chin) and it didn't really help to minimize my pores.

I tried my Morgen Schick primer yesterday to compare, since I haven't used it in awhile, and it did more to fill in my pores than The Present. And my foundation didn't disentegrate.

HTH someone.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* AutumnBliss on 5/24/2002 3:34:00 PM more reviews by AutumnBliss

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I like this foundation underbase.
It makes my Studio Fix look even
better. It absorbs quickly, takes
very little, and I can apply my
SF in about 2 mins. This is a
good moisturizer to. I paid $30
for a 2oz. tube. Which is fine,
because it will last me awhile.
I will be purchasing again.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

HoneySmearedMoon on 4/29/2002 11:51:00 AM more reviews by HoneySmearedMoon

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I was not crazy about this product at all - After I applied the cream and let it set and then put my foundation over it - I felt my skin looked to make up cakey - I thought maybe I applied too much foundation on over top but even as I used less and less (until just about no foundation) it still did the same. I love Philosphy products - just not this one.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* taurusgurl5984 on 3/13/2002 3:53:00 PM more reviews by taurusgurl5984

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I really wanted to like this. It's okay as a moisturizer, and with nothing else on, it does make my skin look better. It evens out the red tones. But when I try to put foundation on over it, the foundation "bonds" to the stuff so quickly, I don't even have time to blend! I end up with horrible patches of foundation. When I try to blend it, it kinda "rolls" off of my skin. I don't know if it's my foundation that is at fault (Stila liquid makeup), but I also used my MAC studio fix concealer with it, and it gave me these little chunks on my brush. Kinda gross. Also when I tried to put on stila ipf on, it just caked up on my skin, and again, wouldn't blend. Looked horrible. Like I said, it's alright as a moisturizer, and I do love the consistency of it, but as far as being a foundation primer, for me, it didn't work at all. It's going back to the store. I wouldn't buy this again.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* JennBard on 1/22/2002 12:56:00 PM more reviews by JennBard

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I use this product daily over my moisturizer. It is by far the only true primer I have found! My makeup goes on so smoothly and I swear those little lines that started to form on my face disappeared not after using almost every anti wrinkle cream out there, but after using this product! I have acne prone skin and have yet to see a breakout due to this product. One word, Staple!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Debra on 1/3/2002 4:28:00 PM more reviews by Debra

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

Two words: BROKE OUT.

It smells good, though.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

liquidtonic on 11/4/2001 2:28:00 AM more reviews by liquidtonic

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Dry   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

YES!YES!YES!
This makes a wonderful addition to most women's skin care regimes!! I am very dry (even though it is an oil free moisturizer), but it helps my makeup look smooth, and definately "luminous"! I apply over top of my moisturizer, and it almost seems to "set" everything in place! If anyone uses a shadow and an angle brush for their eyebrows, this makes a great primer too!!!!! The key is letting the product dry completely. A beautiful finish, and makes the worst skin look great.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

CaraC on 8/18/2001 10:31:00 PM more reviews by CaraC

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I bought this when I was at Sephora looking for a primer. While it does not work as a moisurizer unless you are oily, it works wonders applied after moisturizer "sets" into your skin. Smooth on a little of The Present, allow it to sit at least 2 minutes and then apply makeup. My foundation and concealer did not settle into lines, creases, pores or anything--the present created a smooth surface giving me the most amazing look. I would buy tubes of this just so I never run out!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No