It's a tale as old as time: You get hooked on your favorite beauty product, and then before you know it, it's discontinued. This is one of the worst things to happen in the world of beauty, since finding your now-discontinued fave product's identical twin can sometimes be next to impossible. If only we knew to stock up on a lifetime supply ahead of time! To help pay homage to some of the most beloved discontinued beauty products, we've put together a list of the best ghosts of beauty past.
1. Thermasilk Shampoo
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If you haven't tried this amazing, heat-activated shampoo, we're sorry to say you have missed out. Because the product reacted so well with heat from either your blow dryer or flat iron, your hair looked super shiny and sleek, as if you had just gotten a blow out--from heaven.
2. Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush
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Maybelline's Dream Mousse products are whipped, soft, and creamy, making for a seriously smooth beauty application. However, their blush just couldn't stand the test of time, and just after tons of girls fell in love with it's dreamy consistency, it was taken off the market. No other cream blush has quite come close to Dream Mousse since.
3. Maybelline Lash Stylist Mascara
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A mascara wand that's a comb instead of a brush? Brilliant! This wand individually coated and separated each lash for an even distribution of product for long, lengthy lashes. Oh Maybelline, bring this winner back and make our dreams come true!
4. Rave Hairspray
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We're not sure if Rave has been discontinued so much as it's just next to impossible to find, but that product kept our hair in check like no other. About to go out for a long night of dancing? Your curls wouldn't even think about budging with a few bursts of spray. Come to think of it, the amount of pollutants Rave users put into the ozone probably contributed to the 'hottest year on record", so its discontinuation probably isn't the end of the world. Or--you know what we mean.
5. Maybelline Wonder Finish
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Jeez, a lot of these products are from Maybelline aren't they? What gives? In any event, Wonder Finish went on as a liquid, and dried as a smooth powder. It was as if some sort of beauty sorecery was happening right in front of your eyes. There are a few liquid-to-powder products out on the market now, but Wonder Finish was a true winner.
6. Bonne Bell Lip Smackers
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Bonne Bell recently announced that it will no longer be in operation, although their Lip Smackers will still be sold in Asia, Australia, and Europe. What will the rest of us do without our Dr. Pepper or Watermelon lip balm that we definitely wanted to take a bite out of at one point or another (OK, each and every time we applied it)?
7. Bath and Body Works Country Apple
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OK, maybe this stuff made you smell like an apple orchard in a "Hey, you overwhelmingly smell like an apple orchard" kind of way, but we've got to admit, we were totally sold on this stuff. Whether it was your body lotion, hand wash, or body spray, you could smell like an apple all day long. We hope an apple a day didn't keep the boys away...
Well, there you have it: some of the best beauty products that have gone off to the cosmetic cemetery. While they may no longer be easily available, they'll still forever be in our hearts. Rest in peace, beauty discontinuations. What are some of your favorite discontinued beauty products?
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why do discontinued beauty products leave such a lasting impression?
- Oh, totally! It's because they're like that perfect one-night stand you can't forget. You finally find something that works magic for you, and then poof! It's like chasing a ghost.
- How do I cope with a beauty product being discontinued?
- Girl, I feel you. It's like losing a tiny piece of your beauty soul. My go-to is stalking eBay for hidden gems or asking the beauty community for dupes. And lots of tissues for the tears, of course.
- Are there any alternatives when your fave product is discontinued?
- Absolutely, but it's a treasure hunt! Dive into forums or Instagram hashtags for tips. Sometimes a different brand has the same kind of magic. Or better yet, try making DIY versions!
- Why do companies discontinue popular products?
- It's like they're playing hard to get! Often, it's about sales numbers, ingredient availability, or rebranding. But they never seem to consider our feels—ugh, so rude!
- Is there any way to bring back discontinued products?
- We can hope, right? I've seen some products come back due to crazy demand. Petitions, social media buzz, and directly begging the brand sometimes actually work! Rally your fellow beauty fans!