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IT is a truth universally acknowledged that whenever you find the perfect shade of lipstick, the company discontinues it. Unfortunately, this is also true of foundation, blush, mascara, eye shadows, skin care, fragrances, and hair products. Here are ten things you can do to heal your broken heart:
1. Check the company website. Prescriptives has a last chance section. So do Estee Lauder, MAC, Nars, Stila, and Chanel. (And a word to the wise--Prescriptives is going out of business soon.)
2. Try going up the corporate ladder. Estee Lauder is the parent company to a huge number of makeup companies, including American Beauty, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, La Mer, MAC, and Origins. Estee Lauder offers a "Gone But Not Forgotten" service that sells discontinued items for as long as they have them in stock. Call (800) 216-7173.
3. Check out cosmetics sites that specialize in discontinued products. Here are five to begin with:
CosmeticsandMore.com carries various products from Revlon and Almay. You can't shop at the site, but you can call or fax an order in.
Makeup.com carries products from Elizabeth Arden, Benefit, Ahava, Guerlain, Kerastase--too many to list.
You can also try Overstocks4U.com and BuyMeBeauty.com.
Strawberrynet.com also carries products not available in the United States. You might get lucky with them.
4. Check out discount and outlet stores. Big Lots is a good source for drugstore items. TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and Filene's Basement are great for fragrances. I've blogged elsewhere about the Cosmetic Company outlet stores for Estee Lauder brands.
5. Search eBay. You can enter a search and have the results emailed to you. I did this for my beloved Maybelline Wet Shine lipstick in Drippin' Honey and picked up a lot of three, brand-new, still sealed, for $15. Score!
6. Try a swap. Head over to Makeup Alley--mecca for makeup and skincare geeks--and check to see whether anyone has any to swap. (Not that I'm advocating using used makeup, but it's astonishing how many MUA members have brand-new/still-in-box products available. These women are serious about makeup!)
7. Let the company help you find a replacement. Maybelline and CoverGirl have applications to help you find a replacement product in their line.
8. Ask around on the web to find a replacement. You can also use Makeup Alley or TotalBeauty.com to find a replacement for the discontinued product. Head to the relevant board and post a query. Alternatively, a beauty blog could provide an answer. Do a search for your product name and "review" to find a review for the product, then leave a comment asking whether the blogger has found a replacement.
9. Find a recreated version. The Vermont Country Store and Long Lost Perfumes are licensed to reproduce popular discontinued formulas from the past, like Gee! Your Hair Smells Terrific shampoo and Oh! de London.
10. When all else fails, have the product duplicated. Three Custom Color has an enormous archive of products dating from the 1930s to the present, and may have a formula that matches your shade. I did a search for Maybelline Drippin' Honey lipstick and sure enough, they had it. Of course, at $55 for two lipsticks, I'm not likely to buy from them--but it's something to keep in mind.
Happy hunting!
