What are three eye products you used to use frequently years ago but rarely use now?

Tom Ford Nude Dip (replaced with Natasha Denona Biba), MAC Plushlash Mascara (now I have no loyalty to a mascara), and MAC Espresso Eyeshadow (used to fill in my brows with it).

— Christine

31 Comments

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P Jill Avatar

I also have no loyalty to mascara! Whenever a new one arrives on the market, I pick up a new mini version and toss the others.
The TF Honeymoon palette and all of those inexpensive Colourpop super shocks are now stashed away somewhere, displaced by the large ND and PMG Motherships.
Also, only my dark green colored UD eyeliners seem to get used , the rest lay dormant, even after I sharpen them.

kjh Avatar

Mine have, and all of a sudden. They might get tossed this week. I might repurchase some for which I have no powder dupe. I had less than stellar success reviving them.

Ana Maria Avatar

Maybe it’s my lashes, but most mascaras look the same on me. Off course I don’t like very clumpy voluminous lashes, and my runny eyes require a waterproof formula; but otherwise I don’t have a loyalty on mascara. Just give me a free sample with a Sephora or MAC order. 😆

Kitty Avatar

Concealer on eyelids and area above eyelids. Causes skin reactions.

Pencil or liquid eyeliners. Too hard on eyes to remove completely; residue left on lash line no matter what.

Mascara. No matter how gentle I remove it, I lose 3-5 lashes every time.

Lucie Avatar

Too Faced Shadow Insurance or Urban Decay Primer Potion – I prefer to use something that lays down a base color like MAC Painterly or I’ll use the white eyeshadow base from Nyx if I need a bright color to pop.

Loose shadows/pigments – My first “grown up” makeup where I considered myself to have a “routine” rather than just a hodgepodge of drugstore cosmetics I carried in my backpack in high school was Bare Minerals (or Bare Escentuals back then). This was back when it was only available subscribing directly through the company or home shopping channels like QVC and they didn’t have their own stores or were selling it in Ulta or Sephora. For awhile, I preferred this format, especially when I would see so many pressed shadows look patchy or sheer. I just don’t have the patience for keeping myself from knocking over little jars or not breathing the wrong way towards them. I recently got a bunch of loose shadows from Fyrinnae (some aren’t available pressed and some the pressed version was sold out) and I’m kicking myself because no matter how gorgeous they are, I just don’t reach for them.

Undereye concealer – I just thought it was something you had to do. But I generally don’t suffer from things like dark circles even with my poor sleep habits and it would always just melt or cake weirdly.

kjh Avatar

OOOh, I had the worst, but most hysterical experience with ABH primer, that came with a palette. I did skincare, put the primer on and walked the dogs. When I got home, it looked as if someone had splashed milk of magnesia on me…over the bridge of my nose, under the eye, on the outer cheek bone. I had used the doe foot directly and tapped with my finger. It seems dry when I left…. After I finished guffawing and wishing my face, direct to trash can.

trudy henson Avatar

Tarte 360 creaseless eye primer (discontinued but magical); MAC eyeshadow singles (mostly displaced by Sydney Grace); setting powder under the eye (after trying many different kinds and techniques, I’ve decided it just emphasizes texture).

Lauren Avatar

1. Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Perversion or Zero (until it started messing with my contacts) was replaced with Smashbox Always On Gel Liner, Make Up For Ever Aqua XL liner, or Colour Pop Gel Liner that cause no irritation, film, or gunking in the corner of my eye. They all stay put and have been trusted waterline liners for me for years now.

2. Diorshow Mascara starting weighting down my lashes and has been replaced by Lancome Monsiuer Big Waterproof. I’ve never found a comparable drug store formula that doesn’t flake or irritate my eyes and also holds my curl! I’ve been loyal to Monsiuer big since I tried it about 3 or 4 years ago.

3. Various eye makeup removers (tried them all – wipes, oils, balms, lotions & potions) – replaced with Make Up For Ever Sens’eyes. I’ve been using the Sens’eyes remover for years now and don’t think I could live without it. No other product is as gentle and easy to use for my eyes. I can even take makeup off with my contacts still in and not get any burning, stinging, or product messing up my contacts.

Lesley Avatar

Nyx single shadows in Dance the Tides and Blame It On Midnight and gel eyeliner pencils that have those built in sharpeners on the bottom, especially the Marc Jacobs Highliners. I still use colors similar to the Nyx shades but they come from Viseart. I never could get a sharp enough point with those sharpeners and I broke more of the pencil part than I ever got to use.

Sarah Avatar

UD Primer Potion. I used to use it every ding-dong day, and I haven’t purchased it in over a year, maybe two. I’ve found something just a little better.

Wet n Wild Brulee. I used to use that as my go-to primer-setting shadow, but now I’m trying to chip away at similar shades inside of numerous palettes with the goal of panning them. I haven’t purchased a single of Brulee in a million years.

It’s been a long time since I used any MAC mascaras, to echo the mascara sentiment in the comments. I used to use their Haute & Naughty mascara exclusively, but I’ve moved on to others. Though…as strange as it is to say, I do love the scent of MAC mascaras. That chemically goodness reminds me of being a teen and buying my first tube of MAC mascara in the early aughts. Memories!

Nancy T Avatar

In the past 6 months or so, I’ve barely made a dent in anything. Quarantine blues, I tell you.
The most notable ones have been:
1.) My beloved Chanel Empriente du Desert quad, because nowhere to wear it that gives me the feels? Idk? I haven’t been to a real shopping mall/center, social event or dine-in anything in just over 6 months.
2.) 90% of ALL my eyeshadow palettes just lie in the drawer awaiting a resurgence of creative juices.
3.) Traded in my HG Maybelline Full & Soft WP mascara for L’Oreal Lash Paradise WP, and I really do love the L’Oreal version better. For now anyways.

Deborah S. Avatar

MAC Painterly Paintpot as a primer. I use NYX Professional Proof It Eye Shadow primer mostly because it is handy and it works well so rarely use the MAC anymore.

This is going to hurt but ABH Mod Ren palette. I thought it was just the time of year but recently pulled it out to wear and I had forgotten how powdery the formula was and what a mess it made without really taking care. I also didn’t love the shades anymore. I think I just wasn’t gravitating towards those shades. Maybe in the future but the formula just isn’t my favorite anymore. I am seriously considering de-cluttering all my ABH shadows.

Liquid eye liners. I have seriously hooded lids and while I love the look of a pale shadow, a black liner and a bold lip, I just can’t get the liner right anymore. So, I opt for a pencil and basically just push it into the lash line without any attempt to wing it out.

Stella Avatar

1. Black eye pencil / eye shadow – i’d rather use brown or purple, 2 liquid eyeliner – aging eyelids, hooded eyes, 3 liquid lipstick – drying. No brand in particular.

Mary Avatar

I’ve really gone on a purge lately , We moved recently and I was faced with
packing , sorting , tossing . Mainly tossing makeup.

I used to use Tom Ford‘’s Honeymoon palette now not so much and Christian Dior’s lipstick in “Muse” then it was discontinued but I still have backups
.( which I don’t use ) Lesson learned .
Now it has been replaced with Urban Decay Vice lipstick in “Tryst”

Genevieve Avatar

The three eye products that I used to use but don’t anymore include:
1. My Estee Lauder eye quints – the formula was pretty average and I have now tossed them all.
2. I now prefer to use mascara minis, as I never used any of them up and preferred a smaller option.
3. Tarantino’s Emerald Pretty palette – each of the shades contained are lovely, but you definitely cannot use this palette by itself. Some of the shades just turn muddy on me.

TropicalCowgirl Avatar

Most eyeliners. I have a bronze MJ gel liner, UD Mushroom and a few greens (CT and Sephora). I mostly use a brush damped to use shadow. I won’t use liquid as it looks horrible on my older lash line.

I rarely use my UD OG Naked palette. I feel kind of silly but I’m hoarding that and it’s one of the reasons I don’t use it that often. I use it at least 4x a month to mix. I’m really sad they discontinued it…only palette I replaced…and I’m talking a few times.

I haven’t used CT Dolce Vita or Golden Goddess palettes lately. Or some of my favorite summer Lorca palettes. But part of that is because I’ve been staying in more.

Latika Avatar

So funny you mentioned TF nude dip – I still love that palette and use it.
I pretty much let go of all ABH/ 2Faced/ palettes and I stick to my PMG & ND palettes. I also love my dose of color block party eye shadows . I have lash extensions so mascara and palettes are not getting as much use but I still will put on at least 1 wash of color or use a bronzer in my crease.
Because I’m loving a sheer glossy look for summer my foundations have pretty well been replaced with concealer in the necessary places and my Chanel sun kissed luminizer. Mac lipstick has been over taken by the PMG lip glosses, balms and lipsticks I’ve been able to purchase on sale.
My MAC give me sun has been over taken by my Chanel bronzer & highlighter les beiges I picked up this summer. I still love all my MAC products I’m going to continue to use them up .. so many releases I’ve given up

Rachel R. Avatar

Almay i-Color Mascara in Raisin Quartz — It enhanced green tones like no other color, and I’m petty enough that I’ll never ever forgive them for discontinuing it. I also wore it in my brows when I had darker auburn hair. L’oreal Silkissime Infallible eyeliner pencils — discontinued. Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette — dethroned by Huda The New Nude and Nude Obsessions Light palettes.

Nikki Avatar

I don’t really have 3 less-used eye products, but I use YSL The Shock Rough Burgundy mascara less now that it’s been discontinued. Now when I need a neutral mascara (as opposed to matching/toning my mascara to the main color in my eye look), I use L’Oreal Voluminous Deep Burgundy. I also have ColourPop BFF Plum and Get It, but I use it even less than Rough Burgundy-PaGI has so much fallout that I only use it when I’m wearing something dark on my undereye to catch the fallout.

Aditi dabir Avatar

Mac groundwork paint pot, Mac Layin low paintpot, Nyx jumbo pencil in some bronze color. I still have all of these and honestly I might give them another chance.

Diana Avatar

1. Mac’s Sable eyeshadow. This was my go-to shade and I even hit pan on it. I’ve long decluttered it and even though I do miss it sometimes, I now realize that I have many browns in my collection just like it.

2. Charlotte Tilbury’s Dolce Vita palette. I used to be so enamored with the color story but the eyeshadow formula wasn’t my favorite. I also don’t like the marketing tactic that she does for her brand. I have since decluttered this product.

3. Mascara. I no longer wear any mascara due to having even sensitive eyes the older I get.

Missy Avatar

Physicians Formula Eye Booster liquid eyeliner. Used to be my HG eyeliner for years, they must have changed the formula because now it goes on sheer and needs several coats to give a good line. Replaced with Clinique liquid pen eyeliners and IT Cosmetics Superhero liner, they’re amazing.

Maybelline mascara. I used to always buy the Colossal as well as the one in the navy blue tube (forget the name). Used to be my ride or die. Now replaced with my current HG, IT Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch mascara. CG Clump Crusher is my ride or die for lower lashes, it doesn’t move once you’ve applied it.

Cover Girl micro eyeliner in Espresso. The one in the plastic casing with the smudger on the end, I forget the exact name. Used to be my favorite eye pencil and it lasted all day without melting too much. I stopped wearing eye pencils altogether for a few years in favor of liquid eyeliner, but last week I picked up quite a few Clinique eye pencils at the Ulta 21 day sale as I want to start using them again, especially the colored ones. I used to only use brown, and sometimes my old Bareminerals purple or navy eyeliner pencils. Nowadays I mostly use my very pigmented eyeshadows as liners (I still have some Bareminerals loose Eyeliner shadows and they’re so pigmented, they line perfectly) . I’m pretty excited about the Clinique eye pencils I got, as they’re easy to apply and very pigmented.

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