What discontinued beauty product do you miss most? Have found any suitable replacement?
Hmm, maybe Guerlain Gems, even though I still have plenty of it left, but it’s such a perfect coral for me. OH! Prescriptives’ Instant Gratification Mask!
Thanks to Autumn for today’s question!
Got a question idea? Submit yours here.
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
mac gel blushes! 🙁
I’m not that well versed in discontinued products.
Chanel eye shadow quads Sequoia and Golden Eyes !
Good question!
Rock & Republic cosmetics! I never got my hands on any of the blushes 🙁
Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipstick in Nude Blush & Born With It
I suppose limited edition is different from discontinued, but LE Sally Hansen’s Hidden Treasure!
keep a look out for rock & republic on hautelook.com. maybe 3 or 3 weeks ago, r&r was featured and they did have 6 or so brushes at GREAT prices.
also if you have not done so check out nubar 2010. great dup for hidden treasure, in fact many (including me) like it better than hidden treasure, plus it’s cheap on ebay.
go and check out allcosmeticswholesale.com
there you may find the missed out maybelline lipsticks!!
Benefit The Gloss, they were beautiful and smelled amazing AND were affordable
Mac femme fi eyeshadow and mac tendertones 🙁 lipgloss and vaseline makes a good home made lip balm tho
China Glaze OMG collection!!!
YES! I immediately thought of this one too!
I miss L’oreal’s Endless Lipcolors. Makeup by Tiffany D loved these and had used them several times in her tutorials. Therefore, I purchased one of the two colors that she recommended. Unfortunately, I could not find the In the Buff color because they were then discontinued and most drugstores had put them on clearance. I have found the Mac’s Viva Glam II and V are supposed to be dupes for the Timeless Tawny and In the Buff lipcolors. However, the Viva Glams don’t have the staying power that the Endless Lipcolors did.
I know all Big Lots have different items in stock….but mine had a ton of In The Buff. May not hurt to check it out. If you have one near you. Hope this helps.
MAC Sweet Sienna pigment!
definitely all the colors of Cle de Peau single eyeshadows…particularly #39….I bought them as single units and then you buy either a double pan or a 6 pan to slot in your favorite colors. It was the size of MAC eyeshadows or URban Decay .05oz. Cost was $17.00 at that time. No where near $45.00 now…even if it $17.00 was 5-6 years ago when it was discontinued due to the cost of inflation. Most beautiful soft shades on the eyes, so pigmented without primer that lasted all day. Miss this product so very much even if I still have some of the smidgen left.
Cover Girl InCondition Lip Blush! It’s been ages and I still miss it.
Well, I keep wishing Mac would bring Lightscapade back, but I think what I really miss are the edgier colours they used to have in their regular line- shades that you really couldn’t find anywhere else. It seems now that even with their huge selection, a lot of the colours aren’t that different than what you can get from others. I really miss having a place where I could find light pinks next to bluish silver shades.
macs Grand Entrance..Le sigh
Stila Kitten is almost an exact dupe.
maybelline’s kissing koolers!
oh… so many. for instance, Chanel Infrarouge lipstick (the BEST staying power and pigmentation, they had) in Miss Fizz. I also miss so much Guerlain Divinora Lipstick in Shade 480, the most perfect nude (worn by Angelina Jolie by the way).
and then the old formulation of Dior loose powder (the current one is just meh) the old formnualtion of Diorskin Sculpt foundation (current one is runny)
the old Chanel Double Perfection fluide (the BEST matte foundatione ever, it was really dry but was so strong! never had a better foundation that resisted heat and humidity!)
and also Vincent Longo face & body Cassata (a bronzer)… nothing else gave me that glow. i still have some left that I cherish for special occasions! I still got compliments from everybody about my complexion when wearing that (never happened with any other bronzer)
Clarins Retractable brow definer in 03… I have stockpiled 15 of those… (need it for the rest of my life) it was and is the BEST waterproof brow definer (I have blonde/non existant brows: need to darken them every day)
..as you see I live a life of regrets :o) the best stuff has come and gone!!!
MAC Studio Fix Powder in C5.
LUSH babycakes 🙁
I don’t even remember what it was called, but it was that Chanel Gold Cream that came in a little pot. That was the best gold colour ever and it stayed where you put it until you took it off. So gorgeous. I also miss a lot of the MAC paints, IMO paint pots just aren’t as good.
Macs next to nothing & stereo rose
Clarins 230 (of course) and the MAC peach ombre blush from summer forecast.
oh man, the urban decay nail polishes, for sure (the big individual bottles, not the sets of minis). i was all over those in the 90s 🙂
A real oldie – from the 80’s – is Estee Lauder’s Datenut Red lipstick! Of more recent vintage (maybe 10 years) was a mascara called Every Last Lash (not sure if it was Covergirl or Maybelline but it was SO good and so natural looking! That’s when I stopped wearing mascara every day!) And most recently, MAC Moisturelush eye cream – no sooner had I discovered and come to really love it than it was discontinued!
I’m sorry now that MAC Lame lipstick is supposed to be going out. But as far as LE goes, because let’s face it you don’t know if you’ll ever see certain LE items again, I miss MAC Flesh lipglass, MAC Yash lipstick and MAC Mehr lipstick.
I’ve recently seen swatches of Mac Pleasantry mineralize blush and was gutted to find it was LE. Trying to find it on various forums and eBay, but so far, no luck. 🙁
This is sort of random, but I miss those acne stickers with the zit killer in them! I know you can still get 3M acne stickers, but they’re not the same sort of thing. Boo. They worked SO well!! Why did they ever stop making them?
Yes – especially the ones made by Neutrogena. Nothing like them now.
Gosh Holographic & Rainbow -.-
Mac lipglass in Pink Grapefruit and Mac lipstick in Poppy Hop!
MAC 226 brush. I never got to get it but it seemed so perfect for my eye shape! I’ve found a Crown dupe but it just isn’t the same ya know!
I agree!!!Also the 272 brush. THey keep talking about these brushes but I can’t find either of them…
Mac casino eyeshadow
I miss Rizzo lipstick from MAC. That was the best baby pink shade ever!
Lancome Photogenic Illuminating Sheer loose powder
Avon Anew Alternative Clearly C 10% Vitamin C serum
Ugh – what long names.
Still searching for replacements. Gonna try Becca fine loose finishing powder since Laura Mercier (the other loose powder I liked that is also d/c) is now either mineral powders or the translucent one which shows up white.
And still searching for a vit c+e serum I like that’s under $100.
The Prescriptives line, especially their foundations…the only ones I’ve come across that didn’t make me break out after a few days of wear. Also, their blushes. They had a lovely rose-colored one that I haven’t been able to find a dupe of in two years. 🙁
you can still get prescriptives online, can’t you? last I heard they moves to online only. also, i forget which chain, buy one of the mu stores in outlet malls still had some last month 🙂
Have you found Prescriptives on line?
Estee Lauder’s Minute blush stick in bronze. No other bronzing stick even comes close in this color.
the matte squared eyeshadows
I love matte finishes and I wish I had been collecting earlier so I could have gotten more colours 🙁
To me, it’s a beauty tool that I miss the most
The Paula Dorf Smokie Lid brush! If anyone sells hers/his, I’d be very happy to deal with you! LOL
A Clinique mascara! I don’t remember the name of it anymore, but it was the only mascara I could use for years and the only Clinique product that didn’t burn me. I’m thankful for the mascara I’m using now, but it flakes a bit.
I really miss MAC 3N lipstick. It was my perfect pink! Innocence Beware from the the Venomous Villains collection came pretty close, so I snapped up ten of those when then came out…but I’m down to my last two :-(.
MAC products: Lure lipstick-they haven’t come out with a color like it since it was LE in 2006, metal pigments (gold & silver) the #184 fan brush-they don’t even have a fan brush in their line now! also, it was a travesty they dc’d so many of the matte2 eyeshadows..such a fabulous formula!!!
Chanel Sirop and Pink Pulsion glossimers 🙁 cannot find them anywhere and have even emailed Chanel!
I miss Revlon’s mascara from the natural beauty line.. it was in a brown tube. Haven’t found a decent replacement yet.. it made my lashes full and defined and never got a smudge and they weren’t crunchy. Seems like they discontinue all of the good drugstore products regularly. 🙁
Maybelline dream mousse concealer…I have yet to find a concealer that works nearly as well.
That’s discontinued? Awww. :<
Yeah. I know right? I almost cried when I learned that.
Prescriptives Cheek Stain in Voodoo
MAC Pollen eyeshadow!
Awake spot concealer- the very best concealer I have ever tried…
MAC’s “Rocker” lipstick was so amazing. It was the best matte red shade ever!
I have that shade also stored in the refrigerator…still in the box. And I only own bought 3 Mac lipsticks in my time. Rocker is in different container like a bullet…
Lancome Potion of Live lip stain in Ruby Kisses. THE most perfect red for me ever. And everything Max Factor- my gave ds line ever, and I always loved knowing I was using the same line starlets in the 20’s and 30’s used, sometimes the same classic colors and products 🙁
Mac lipstick in Giddy 🙁
MAC Matte2 eyeshadows, specially Signed Sealed
MAC starflash eyeshadows
I don’t really miss any really expensive makeup just Sugar cosmetics. OH!and I do miss Max Factor which was sold in drugstores.
I miss St. Ives cucumber eye cooling depuffing gel. It was great for really tired mornings, it got rid of puffy eyes so fast. And it was like $5 for 4 oz or something ridiculously cheap. I also miss the Maybelline liquid eyeliner in the purple tube, it was like a felt pen. I forget the name but it was the perfect cheap liquid line. I also miss Max Factor and Boujouis.
Estee Lauder Milk Scrub from a billion years ago. Loved that stuff
Sigh… the whole Pret a’ Papier collection
As recent as it is, and technically still avaliable, the Summer Shower lipstick! It accentuates my blue eyes without being, well blue. And the mac pearlglide eyeliners from tartan tale
MAC lipsticks in Fresco and Alibi. I bought spares of both before they were gone. Sigh….
Fresco is the best “everyday” red for me, and I’m pale as a ghost! I have other reds like MAC Red and Dubonnet but nothing is more of a go-to for me than Fresco.
VENOMOUS VILLAINS.
Me too! That collection came out just as I was edging my way back into someone who cares about her nails… I want those nail lacquers so badly!!
if you want the polishes i have all three that were swatched only once or twice!
Nude rose lipstick from the d square collection.the matte squared eyeshadows!
Givenchy Chic Camel E/S 🙁
Mac Emote blush. Best contour ever.
I couldn’t agree more!! I bought NYX blush in Taupe as a dupe but it always wears off very unevenly 🙁
I miss MAC ELLE Lipglass…..oooooooohhh
I so miss 2 different cheek stains I loved. Both oddly were red stains that looked so natural but did not fade AT ALL. One was a dense cream in a little pot by Mary Kay of all things. Clinique made one also in a red cheek stain that lasted over night if I did not happen to wash my face (granted long time ago – now if I cannot bear to do the full wash, I have the moist cleaning towels kept at my bedside I will use. The Clinique was a gel stain – not quite as red – had a little rust to it. Both were shades of a very old stain product made by Bonny Bell in the 60’s. Seems it’s next to impossible now for me to find any check stain that really stains as in lasts.
Also miss a # of nail polish shades that were Ltd Ed. Hard for me to find the perfect red cream for me and OPI Little Red Wagon was IT for me! But there are many, many more polish shades – however I can find new that I love. The cheek stain is still an ongoing forever it seems search for me.
L’oreal Panoramic curl mascara, I loved this one.
The most discontinued beauty product that I miss the most is Mac’s
Pro lip color in Cocco Fix. It was the most unique color that just
went with everything. I also love both liquid and powder highlighters
especially when going out in the evening. The right highlighter can
make your face and eyes look amazing. Love your website. I look forward
to reading it everyday. Many thanks,
Audrey Max, RN (Mrs.)
Prescriptives lipliner in”Umber” was the most beautiful, neutral lipliner ever! I could wear it with EVERY lipstick I owned and it just worked. It was the perfect shade for my lips. I have grown quite attatched to Urban Decays “Naked” and it seems to be out of stock most of the time. Next time it’s in stock I’m going to buy at least 10 of them! LOL If the ever discontinue it, I’ll have to go on medication! LOL!!
Have you found a good substitute for Prescriptives Umber lip liner? I really miss it!
John Frieda Beach Waves
OMG yes yes, I SOO miss Beach Waves, no other sea sprays have come close to it.
Yes!!! This was the best stuff ever!!! I miss it so much! I can’t find anything that compares to it. It was way better than any of the high end surf sprays I’ve tried.
ArmaniSilk lipstick #93. The. Perfect. Mauve.
MAC Hyperreal foundation in NW100 and Rocker lipstick
MAC lipstick in Moxie
It was LE and I know people say it’s overrated, but I loved Parrot! I wish they would release it one more time!
Tony & Tina glitter
MAC paints — these are the best bases, paint pots don’t compare
MAC’s pot concealer in NW35, they discontinued this shade
It’s not really a beauty product so much as a body product but Bath and Body Works cucumber melon scent. Its one of my Favorites and one of the few “classic b&bw” scents left. Guess I will just have to stock up before it’s all gone 🙁
MAC bite of an apple.. anyone knows the dupe?
Clinique touch tints – it was cream eyeshadow that came in a little tube. I loved those – still have a tiny bit of one left. I’ve tried so many things as a replacement and nothing comes close.
I think I’m in the minority but I loved my MAC Glitz Gloss.
Rock&Republic blushes. I should have purchased it when I have the chance.
Helena Rubinsteins Volumatic mascara! It did Everything! If someone used it and has found a good alternative,PLEASE,let me know!
ROCK & REPUBLIC BLUSHES!!!
Oh, also Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector and some “old formulation” foundations (Revlon ColorStay, Estée Lauder Double Wear & Max Coverage, Lancôme Teint Idole, etc). I don’t get it, why they keep changing the formula into something worse? Because most of the time, the old one is the better one!
P.S.: For those who were avid fans of Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector as a primer, what is your face primer right now? I haven’t found any primer that can perform like my Clinique yet…
I wish mac hadnt discontinued matte2 or starflash or the Peacocky mega metals. Imho they should make these perm and get rid of the crappy mattes, lustres and velvets they have now…
Tony and Tina as well as sugar cosmetics!
MAC Chromeglass. That stuff was like butter!
Maybelline Great Wear Concealer! One of the best concealers I ever used. Does anyone know where I can find any? 🙂
Loreal Mermade Conditioner.
mac lavender wind lipglass from the spring color forecast collection last year.
An ORLY nail polish called Buried Treasure; the most flattering and luminous shade of antique-golden-champagne! The White Tea and Ginger scent from B&BW. Some of my favorites!
Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipsticks (esp. Nude Blush) and Prescriptives foundation.
Banana Republic perfume “Modern”, for women
Chanel jade and django nail varnish and rouge noir hydrabase lipstick
Chanel joues contrast in Narcisse and pink explosion. In my opinion those were their two best all time blushes!! They are still available in Europe and Asia last time I checked, but were limited edition in the US. I have a back-up for each one, but am still sad!
The limited edition MAC venomous villians nail polish, Bad Fairy. Sold out really fast and haven’t been able to find a dupe up here in Canada.
I can’t remember what it’s called anymore, but Dior once had a stick foundation that was cool when applied. It was the perfect consistency for me, it had the perfect shade and since I run very hot, the cooling factor was such a hit for me. It’s a long time ago, though. I’m guessing it was a collection item, and I was clueless about things like seasonal collections, back then.
MAC Studio Stick foundation. While Studio Tech gives the same results, it’s a lot more work to use. I much prefer just swiping the stick on and blending out.
MAC Prussian eyeshadow. One of the few blues that work on my eyes. I’ll be sad when my back-up runs out.
I know its pretty recent but i’m still kicking myself for not buying almost all of the lipsticks from Macs Quite Cute collection, and i dont feel like paying 26$ a pop for em on ebay, I wasn’t able to get any that were discontinued :'( only the Saint Germain.
I miss MAC’s Volcanic Ash Exfoliator. I love the smell of it and wish it would be made permanent or at least released once a year. I’m trying to make my 4 backups last me for the rest of my life, lol! The Microfine Refinisher was discontinued as well and I miss it.
Other than that, I’ve always wanted to try MAC’s Studio Stick Foundation. I never got my hands on it before it was discontinued.
Rock and Republic blushes for sure!
Rock and Republic blushes
I don’t know if “miss” is the right word, because some of the products are ones I wanted to try but never got to. Lightscapade MSF, the blue, pink, and green made it so unique! Anything from the Alexander McQueen collection, simply because I loved him. Didn’t get as much as I would have liked from Venomous Villains either. NARS Outlaw blush. Volcanic Ash exfoliator 🙁