What brands did you use to love but have since replaced? With what brand(s)?

More info on how to answer: I wanted to think about brands we used to love but moved on from because, ultimately, we found another brand that fills that same space but fulfills our needs better now.

Here are a few… Makeup Geek -> Sydney Grace — Sydney Grace is now my “go-to” for a more affordable, more “indie” brand. I would say ColourPop also became a go-to for more affordable recommendations, but they’re such a disruptor to the industry at large that I feel like they’ve replaced pieces from multiple brands.

Urban Decay -> Melt Cosmetics; I think Melt offers more intriguing color stories that fill that “edgy” space, something a bit more offbeat. I’d also that Pat McGrath and Natasha Denona, to some degree, occupy the space of new/interesting pre-made palettes where pigmentation reigns supreme.

Guerlain used to be one of my favorite brands, but I feel like I don’t think about them as much, though I’ve filled their space with multiple brands (like Charlotte Tilbury and Tom Ford). I used to use MAC brushes almost exclusively, but I’ve since replaced with a mix of Hakuhodo, Smith, Sonia G., and Wayne Goss, though I’ve favored Sonia G. brushes over even some of those!

— Christine

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Erica Avatar

I don’t think I’ve replaced any brands. I still use all of the brands I’ve used to love but have added more to the mix. What I buy depends on what I can afford, does it intrigue or add anything new to my collection and how easy is it to obtain.

Marg Avatar

I used to love Make Up For Ever shadows, but easily replaced them with Sydney Grace ones. MUFE used to have very good quality and I loved to be able to buy individual shadows, but SG has much better quality and is MUCH more wallet friendly.

ShariP Avatar

I love the old formula MUFE eyeshadows. I used to complain because each shadow pan was oversized compared to other brands. Now I’m thankful because I still have them available. My first order of Sydney Grace is supposed to arrive tomorrow so hopefully it’ll be my replacement too,

Wednesday Avatar

Sydney Grace and Natasha Denona have replaced all my older core products from MAC and Makeup Geek in the form of single eyeshadows and blushes.

On the skincare side brands such as Drunk Elephant, Zelens, Tatcha are being replaced by more affordable yet equally effective products by Avene, Hado Labo, and La Roche Posay which also contain less irritants.

Fidan Avatar

My favourite eyeshadow formula used to be ABH, now it’s definitely Natasha Denona, I would rather pay a bit extra and get one of her “medium” sized palettes that are so very special to me. I used to enjoy ABH’s glow kits as well, but found many other different highlighter formulas that I like more and are often also better value. I would say Nabla also replaced many brands for me, I think they have high-end quality with rather mid-range pricing, maybe I’m just lucky because I’m in Europe and they are probably more accessible and affordable here. In terms of blushes, tarte blushes have been “the reigning queen” of my collection for the longest time until coverfx came out with their blush duos 🙂

Arena Avatar

ABH -> Natasha Denona . ABH was something I saved up for, it was something fun and special. I feel they peaked after the Sultry palette. ND is still relevant to me and somethingI look forward to.

Urban Decay , Burberry -> ? Charlotte Tilbury. I loved the Naked palettes, lippies, and I loved how fancy I felt with a Burberry single (the quality was lovely also). But UD is spotty with quality Burberry makeup is ??? Charlotte has quite easily filled both those spots for me.

Marc Jacobs-> Chanel. I like the Marc Jacobs line ok, but Chanel is better. Mascara to mascara: Chanel. Foundation to foundation: Chanel. Plush the Chanel shopping experience and packing cannot be better.

Drunk Elephant, Murad, SK-II, etc -> I am a skin care junkie. Maybe more than makeup ? I know it’s not popular, but when Marcia Killgore (who founded Soap and Glory, Fit Flop) started Beauty Pie, that made all my skin care wants/needs come true. And the price point served me really well during the plague.

Ana Maria Avatar

Drunk Elephant (for skincare) and Briogeo (for haircare) are the brands I wanted always to fall in love (maybe because so many people I trust give them good reviews), but I never could. They were always just… meah… not bad, but seen better.

Arena Avatar

I am totally with you on Briogeo! The only thing in that line I like is the dry shampoo. Bed Head/TIGI is my go-to, and has been for years. Especially the Level 3 (Red-line) conditioner….my gosh it has saved my hair!

Arena Avatar

As I was driving to work I thought up a couple more:

Real Techniques, ELF brushes -> Rephr. I check Rephr’s concept store every week, and am slowly building my brush set. My RT brushes have stood the test of time (a couple are 15 years old!) but there is something very special about the Rephr brushes, and they are extremely multi-purpose and affordable. I love them.

Wet/Wild, Revlon, Rimmel, Cover Girl -> L’Oreal . I am well aware that what starts at Lancome trickles down to L’Oreal. The Redken hair dye is basically what you get in the L’Oreal hair-dye box (which has become a staple through lockdown). The Lash Pradise is a staple (layered with Chanel waterproof mascara), I have noticed it is a basic dupe for Better than Sex as well as Monsieur Big.

Physicians Formula, Estee Lauder -> Clinique. As much as I really love certain products from PF and EF, I find that Clinique is such a solid and steady performer overall, and many EF foundations/concealers can be duped at Clinique. Clinique blushes are some of the best on the market. The ONLY EF foundation which I purchase is the Double Wear Camouflage…it is a very unique, lightweight, opaque foundation and stands up to masks. I love it.

Bare Minerals, Nars -> Ilia, Kosas, Daniel Sandler. I have just really fallen in love with the trend of multi-tasking and skin-but-much-better makeup products. Ilia and Kosas and Sandler are fast becoming some of my favorites for complexion/easy eye etc. No fragrance, nothing to irritate my skin. Just solid performers, keeping up with summer, masks and uncertainty.

Neutrogena, Australian Gold SPF -> Supergoop. Supergoop has become a rock steady performer and it is the only SPF in the house. No burns.

I want to try: Kjaer Weis (I am intrigued by the idea of re-using containers); also Linda Hallberg (for the multi-tasking aspect).

Arena Avatar

Hello there!
It totally depends on what you are looking for.
I love the entire Japanfusion line. The Vitamin C is super nice. The Plantastic hand balm is a must (for me) with my super dry gardening hands. I have repurchased the Goldilux bronzer; I feel it is a dupe for the Marc Jacobs bronzer.

I hope that is a help to start 🙂

Maggie Avatar

Hi Arena, thank you for responding (and so promptly too!) and for your recommendations! I happened to be looking for a cleansing oil and a bronzer so I added to cart the Goldilux bronzer and the Japanfusion cleanser before reading your response: it is reassuring to know that you love those items.

I also added the wondergloss, a sheet mask and cleansing cloths. I added your hand balm to my wish list as I have some stocked up to get through. Now trying to decide if I want to get in on the silicone-free hair products–I’ve never purchased a hair product before smelling it before so I’m not sure…honestly, shopping around Beautypie is turning out to be more complicated than I thought.. 3 months membership minimum, plus shipping, plus spending limits and then rollover…

Stephanie Avatar

For me, I would say that the way I have shopped has changed so much that it isn’t that I have replaced brands but that I buy completely differently than I did 10 years ago.

That said, I agree with you 100% about UD, Christine. I was a big fan before Naked dropped, and I stayed loyal to their eyeshadows especially for such a long time, but now I probably wouldn’t even touch a new palette from them unless there was a major reformulation AND a step away from the driven-into-the-ground Naked concept. I do still love their liners because of the diversity of shades in the range, but otherwise, most UD stuff is a pass for me now.

I still love NYX, as they are a brand I have been into since their launch in the US, but I am a lot more selective about what I purchase from them, so they haven’t been replaced as much as what I would’ve bought from them exclusively has been diversified with stuff from brands like ColourPop, Sydney Grace, etc.

Ana Maria Avatar

I couldn’t say I am in love with specific brands as a whole, maybe only with specific products.

As many people I was a big fan of ABH and Benefit brow products, willing to make the splurge even if some drugstore options were quite close (like NYX). But then I tried the Hourglass brow products and I kind of fell in love a little more with them.

Otherwise I am quite loyal in my loves, lots of long term relationships I am not planning to end soon.

Marg Avatar

I used to love Cargo lip gloss in tins! I haven’t been able to find much to substitute them with. Recently, I found that Pat McGrath’s and House Laboratories glosses come relatively close in texture.

Mariella Avatar

Oh…Cargo! Their Blu-Ray concealer was the BEST I’ve ever used and it vanished. I bought 2 backups when it was on sale at a local drug store but I didn’t realize I’d never be able to find it again…..so sad! I was never a big fan of the tins (too easy to lose track of the lids) but I treasure the Yukon e/s (in the tin) that I have from them.

janine Avatar

The Blu-ray was nice!! I have Yukon too still! Such a pretty color smooth and shimmer is not noticeable.

I just had a couple ..a ton blush and one blue ray. All of a sudden it seemed they disappeared.

Cynthia Avatar

Makeup Geek and Sydney Grace has replaced my love for Urban Decay and Makeup Forever. The Matrix systems from Makeup Geek have some amazing bright matte colors that complement the shimmers and metallics that I have from Sydney Grace. I find that going back to UD and MUFE shadows feels less exciting in terms of playing with color nowadays. I do still love some of my neutral shades from UD but their color formula recently has not excited me that much.

Nikki Avatar

For eyeshadows, I used Aromaleigh loose ES powders for years and loved them. About 2 years ago, the loose powders began creasing/fading like crazy, no matter what ES base/primer I tried. So, I moved on to LORAC pressed powder eyeshadow, which was better, but still not great. I now use Viseart shadows and have had better luck with staying power.

Kate Avatar

The brand I’ve moved away from the most is definitely Mac. When I started getting more interested in makeup and not wearing basically the same thing all the time, I pretty much bought nothing else. As things progressed, I moved up to more luxury brands but now I’ve also moved away from a lot of those as well. I still buy a few products from Guerlain (almost exclusively lipsticks) and very occasionally things from brands like YSL, Chanel, and Armani but I find there are a lot of other companies doing more imaginative things with more consistent quality (Pat McGrath, Viseart, Bite, and others).

In terms of specific products, I’ve shifted from Urban Decay to Fenty and The Ordinary for foundations and concealers. Hourglass and Becca have replaced Chanel highlighters for the most part.

I do wish that there was a company doing really good, nuanced neutral eye shadows. I used to get these from Rouge Bunny Rouge but I find that their quality has seriously deteriorated. I still go back to the ones I haven’t used up because I haven’t found anything that is quite as original as their best.

Rebecca Avatar

I feel like there have been so many disruptors to the more traditional and pricey beauty and hair brands I have purchased over the years. The formulas are far superior than anything I’ve encountered from legacy brands, which is a good thing. Also, I’ve been trying to reduce my impulse purchases of makeup in general with no events to go to these last six months and I’ve made very few of them this year in light of the fact that I have a slew of products I rarely use.

On the makeup side, I used to rely on Laura Mercier, Make Up For Ever, and NARS for face cosmetics (foundations, concealers, highlighters, blushes). They have since been succeeded in my makeup drawers by offerings from Charlotte Tilbury, Cle de Peau, Kevyn Aucoin, and Danessa Myricks. I used to rely heavily on MAC for powder shadow, especially more experimental colors. I’ve since migrated to brands like Pat McGrath and Viseart for eyes especially. I also used to rely on YSL a lot for lips and have gone to Pat McGrath and Charlotte Tilbury for lips too. I myself also used to like MAC and NARS makeup brushes but purchased from Hakuhodo at The Makeup Show one year in NYC and never really bothered purchasing from other brush brands again. Their quality is far superior than any luxury brand’s brushes I have encountered and at or below the price point on offer from those luxury brands.

On the skincare end, I used to be use a lot of is Clinical (Pro Heal Serum, C Eye Serum). It is still a good brand but The Ordinary kicked off the affordable quality skincare insurgence that ultimately forced me to question why I was spending over $200 every other month on premium serums. Most, if not all, the skincare serums I use now are from The Ordinary or their sister company, The Chemistry Brand (Chemistry Brand Hyaluronic Tub, Ordinary Buffet with Copper, Ordinary Argirilene, Ordinary C Powder).

I used to use Oribe shampoo and conditioner for hair but then Prose custom formulas came out, which are custom-made to your hair needs provided in their questionnaire and are cheaper than Oribe pre-made formulas. I still use Oribe Maximista volume spray since I am yet to find anything comparable but I could no longer justify spending over $100 on shampoo and conditioner when I could get the same amount in a custom formula for about half the cost. I also have relied on pricey scalp treatments from brands like Phyto, Rene Furterer, and Philip Kingsley. They’re all very good brands but Inkey List just came out with new hair treatment formulas being sold on solely on Cult Beauty. I’ve used their Salicylic Acid and Caffeine treatments for about a month and they’ve been promising. Each of those are about $20 an ounce versus other comparable treatments at $75+.

Teasha Avatar

I guess it depends on the kind of products we are talking about. I was super loyal to tarte blushes for the longest time, but lately prefer glossier cloud paints. I loved UD eyeshadow, but I definitely lean towards Sydney Grace for that. I’ve gone from itcosmetics for foundation, concealer, & powder, but lately I’ve replaced with glossier because my skin doesn’t need the coverage. I used to love Buxom lip polish, but the taste. I can’t anymore. I have yet to find a lipgloss replacement I’m in love with. I like philosophy lip shines, but they need more variety in flavors and need to add a bit of color. I’m a bit of a child when it comes to lip products. I like them to smell and ideally taste good, not just smell good, which is different for me.

brendacr1 Avatar

UD used to be my go to for eyeshadow then PML lured me away and I haven’t looked back. I was always on the look out for a HG mascara and along came PML with hers and that’s been my staple since. Lip products are the same, I guess I’m just a PML addict, she just checks all my boxes. I haven’t tried her base products yet so I can’t comment on those.

Genevieve Avatar

I use to love bareMinerals, with their perfectly designed Ready formula for eyeshadows, but have turned to other brands for colourful eyeshadows – such as Sydney Grace singles, Lorac Pro Metal and using up whatever colourful palettes that I currently own.

UD – ABH – I have both Naked 1 & 2, Vice 2 and I use them regularly, but I think the Sultry palette is the better quality one now. UD has lost the plot for me with their inconsistent quality and lacklustre palettes.

Maybelline lipsticks – CP – Now that I use CP’s Lux lipsticks, I never buy Maybelline’s anymore (apart from Spice for Me – which we don’t get in Australia)

Dior – love their old Mystic Metals quint of Bonne Etoile and Jardin, but haven’t been wowed for a long time – and I haven’t really replaced this brand.

Guerlain – love their Les Gris and Les Aquas quads – the best blues and teals around, and I would replace the shades I use the most with SG singles.

Nancy T Avatar

Nyx got replaced by almost *everything*. Back when I was first getting back into using makeup as a major creative outlet over a decade ago, I got my spark kindled by Nyx’s excellent quality and more cutting edge shades at a low-end price. Also, WnW, L’Oreal HIP and eventually Essence had some wonderful, colorful options then, too.
Now, my brand choices have evolved. It runs the gamut, cost wise, from Essence and Maybelline up through Pat McGrath and Natasha Denona. I still love some of my favorite Nyx products, but there are better options available for some of them.

CatG Avatar

Eyeshadow singles for me went like Mac -> MUFE/ABH -> MUG -> ColourPop / Sydney Grace. I still love everything I own, but in past year have mostly bought from Sydney Grace. I haven’t bought an eyeshadow from Mac in years (though slowly kept collecting their pigments up to a couple years ago).

Foundation was Prescriptives -> Bare Minerals -> MUFE -> Meow Cosmetics. I don’t plan to stop using Meow Cosmetics any time soon, they have my heart.
Everything else has kind of been all over the place and I’ve tried many different individual products based on reviews.

Deena Avatar

I worked for Dior and Guerlain years ago, and while some stuff is still my go-to, I’ve moved on to other brands. I used to like TooFaced and Urban Decay too. Now most of my stuff is Pat McGrath, Marc Jacobs, Tarte, and Huda.

Nikki Avatar

I used to use foundations by L’Oreal and Urban Decay, but my beloved Fenty Pro Filt’r has long replaced them. I mean, if Fenty 110 is a perfect color match for me (which it is), why would I even bother using anything else?!
The old Beauty Rush lip gloss formula from Victoria’s Secret was a great choice for me-strong color and shine, but not attracting many stray hairs to my mouth-but after VS discontinued that formula, I eventually discovered that Marc Jacobs Enamored has all the same positives with a flexible wand and a much broader shade range!

Mariella Avatar

I think for me, the biggest “used to love” brand would be Hourglass. I’ve not replaced them with another brand, per se, and the only reason I no longer purchase from them is their totally insulting, gouging practice of releasing “Holiday Palettes” which cost way more per ounce than their already pricey regular products. The holiday season is a time when practically every other company offering “Holiday palettes”, throws in a little extra value almost as a “gift” to their customers. But not Hourglass. They do just the opposite and jack the prices up so that instead of getting $50 worth of product for $40, you are getting $50 worth of product for $65. I’ve seen people say “Oh, but it’s the opportunity to get 3 blushes instead of just one….so it’s worth it”. Baloney! Other companies will give you 6 eyeshadows, 2 blushes, a highlighter all in special packaging for the Holidays and they will throw in some extra value on the “cost per ounce” . I guess Hourglass is too highbrow to do that and quite a few of their loyal customers welcome being ripped off.

Mary Avatar

Beauty Pie has mostly replaced Paula’s Choice. The formulations feel very elegant. Idk how long BP will keep going though. The founder will likely move onto something else and the company will lose its zing.
I’ve lost interest in MUG. I prefer someone else to curate my palettes. I’ve enjoyed Viseart. I’d like to try Sidney Grace it if becomes available in the UK. I’ve no loyalty to eyeshadows, there are so many coming out all the time it’s overwhelming.
I used to love Urban Decay but it’s no longer “cool”. In fact, “cool is no longer cool!

Rachel R. Avatar

I’m concentrating mostly on the last 10 years here, since I’ve been wearing makeup a really long time, and long gone are the days where Wet n Wild, CoverGirl, and Maybelline were my staples. I rarely completely replace a brand, though. I sometimes cancel brands due to problematic owners or poor treatment of customers. I’ll keep this drama free and not go into details on those counts.

MUFE — I mostly just bought their eyeshadows and replaced them shortly after the formula change –> Anastasia and ColourPop for singles; Juvia’s Place for palettes; Fenty Beauty lipgloss. Now I no longer buy Anastasia, see progression below.

Guerlain I mostly just bought their eye palettes, and replaced them shortly after the formula change –> MUFE –> See MUFE’s progression above. (The only thing I’d buy from them now is Meteorites products.) Natasha Denona and Pat McGrath are basically my luxury e/s palette brands now.

Anastasia/Norvina (recently canceled by me) — > ColourPop, Sydney Grace, Looxi Beauty, Coloured Raine, and Coastal Scents for singles; Juvia’s Place, Natasha Denona, and Pat McGrath for palettes; Black Moon Cosmetics, Coloured Raine, SugarPill and ColourPop for liquid lipsticks; Fenty Beauty,ColourPop, and Apocalyptic Beauty for lipgloss.

SauceBox/MoonSlice (Same owner; both canceled by me) –> SugarPill and Black Moon Cosmetics.

Jeffree Star (I canceled him within the first year) — > Kat von D (canceled her off and on, for good when most people did) — > Black Moon Cosmetics, SugarPill, Notoriously Morbid, Apocalyptic Beauty, and other indie brands.

Wet n Wild –> e.l.f. –> NYX –> Makeup Revolution and Wet n Wild–> ColourPop, Juvia’s Place, Makeup Revolution still, and e.l.f. again. I’ve never completely replaced WnW, e.l.f., or NYX, but as quality and selection have gone up and down, I’ve favored one or two more than the others. I only started up heavily with e.l.f. again this year, now that they seem to have their line-up and quality issues for the last 2-3 years under control and have found themselves again.

Urban Decay, Too Faced, Tarte, NARS, and MAC (I still like items from all, and I have never completely replaced any of them, but I no longer count any of them as favorites.) –> Anastasia –> Juvia’s Place/See Anastasia’s progression above.

Urban Decay as an alternative, innovative, indie brand –> other Indie brands, some of which have since been canceled/replaced. See Jeffree Star/Kat von D progression above.

Beauty Blender sponges –> Real Techniques –> Real Techniques and EcoTools

Skincare during my adulthood: Drug store (Noxema, Ten-0-Six, St. Ives, etc.) –> Mary Kay skincare –> NuSkin –> Paula’s Choice

Rachel R. Avatar

I totally forgot about Viseart, somehow! I’d add them their larger pro palettes to my luxury eyeshadow brands I’ve replaced Guerlain with, and their Edit and Theory palettes served as replacements for Kat von D, Urban Decay, and Anastasia.

To a lesser degree, Huda Beauty had served to help replace Kat von D, UD, and Anastasia.

Korinne Avatar

I agree with you, after selling to Estee Lauder I feel like Urban has lost a lot of its edge. I’m really enjoying my products from Melt and can see them eclipsing UD for me, especially because I don’t use UD complexion products at all.

I also have completely gotten off the Makeup Geek train, and though I’m trying not to buy more eyeshadow, I always have a cart to contemplate with Sydney Grace. I wouldn’t have known them without you though lol.

TropicalCowgirl Avatar

Back in 1999, I was getting my MBA. In one class, we had to compare like products with two radically different org structures and marketing. I compared Avon vs Estee Lauder. The brands under them were pretty radical. I wore L’Oreal, some Cover Girl and Estee Lauder. It was very eye opening and something I always kept in mind. I used to get brandless professional makeup for coverup and lippies from friends and sometimes even dabbled in Mary Kay.

Outside of EL, I had never owned high end products until my mid 30s when Sephora opened. I believe with makeup, I gravitated to Bare Minerals. I had to drop it after my early 40s as my skin changed and I think their formula changed too. i used multiple indie companies and was a loose eye shadow user as well. I found the market back then to be somewhat volatile. This changed with UD.

I was very loyal to UD and have since replaced with ND, PMG, and CT. It was dizzying to keep up over the past 5 years and I felt quality suffered. Ironically my replacement preference, all makeup artist brands. I replaced UD foundation with Armani and CT after they disco’d Naked Skin. Skin care has changed radically…not truly a brand fault, but a change in skin issues. I really didn’t use a ton of skin care when I was younger but now I lean towards oils and it wasn’t like I had a nailed down brand before. Currently Herbivore is the one I have repurchased. I am still trying to recapture waking up with naturally dewy skin.

Rachel Avatar

I replaced all my Colourpop with higher end brands. Basically I purchased Colourpop for their ‘dupes’ of other shades and found the amount of product and overall performance really lacking. Decided I would get more enjoyment if I just purchased the Charlotte Tilbury lipstick or Chanel lipstick instead.

Also I found out that Colourpop dried out incredibly fast or the liquid lipstick separated or smelled bad after a few uses. The Bobbi Brown single shade I bought three years ago? Generous size for a single shade and just hit pan.

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