How to Buy Discontinued Cosmetics
January 11, 2008 by Kristie Leong MD
Published in Beauty Products
Are you frustrated by a favorite cosmetic product that’s been discontinued? Here’s how to buy your favorite discontinued cosmetics.
It’s annoying when you fall in love with a shade of lipstick and its promptly discontinued by the company who manufactures it. This happens all too often. A cosmetic company can discontinue a particular cosmetic for a variety of reasons including a change in makeup trends, lack of sales of a particular item, or it may be a limited edition or seasonal product. Nevertheless, it can be a source of frustration when you lose access to a cosmetic product you love. Is there a solution to this problem? Fortunately, there are places where you can buy discontinued cosmetics if you’re willing to invest a little time.
EBay
The world’s largest online marketplace is a rich source for discontinued cosmetics although it may take a little time to track down the exact item you’re looking for and it may only be available in limited quantities. If you’re not rewarded with your first search, don’t get discouraged as new cosmetic products are posted on a daily basis. To prevent the possibility of contracting an unwanted infection from used cosmetic products, only purchase products that are still sealed.
Harness the Power of Search Engines
Try typing in the exact name of your product into your favorite search engine and see if you can find a site that carries it. You can also try some of the price comparison search engines using the exact product name. Often times a discontinued item will turn up in an online store.
Check Off-Price Outlets
If you visit outlet stores on a frequent basis, check the cosmetic outlets to see if they might have your desired product. They often carry discontinued items that other stores no longer have. Saks Fifth Avenue outlets have a substantial cosmetic department that often has makeup items that are no longer found in mainstream retail stores. Be sure to check the local T.J. Maxx and Marshall stores in your area. You can also sometimes find discontinued makeup and cosmetics at yard and estate sales.
Estee Lauder’s Gone But Not Forgotten Program
If you’re looking for discontinued makeup by Estee Lauder, Clinique, Origins, Prescriptives, or Bobbi Brown, you may be able to find them through this program. You can inquire about availability of a product by calling 646-602-7725 and giving the name of the product.
Contact Company Outlets by Phone
Many discontinued makeup products are sent to company outlets that you can contact by phone. To find the outlet where a discontinued makeup product may have been sent, do a Google search for “discontinued cosmetics + the name of the cosmetic line”. In many cases you’ll be rewarded with the name of an outlet and its phone number.
By playing search detective, you may be rewarded with that elusive discontinued makeup product you thought you’d never find.
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March 11th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Hi an Estee Lauder product has discontinued and im really trying to find were i could purchase this product from, its an estee Lauder minute blush stick and the colour is spice. Please could you help me. Ive got really use to this blusher stick.
Thanking you
March 12th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I’m trying to find a lipstick by Yes Mistress, the shade is called Bondage Babe, can anyone tell me where to find it?
March 16th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Hi I have been searching for quite awhile now for a product from lorac called summer peace. It’s my absolute favorite lip polish they make and have discontinued it so now I’m trying to see if its at all posibble to find? Can some one help?
March 26th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Nicola:
The Estee Lauder product you are looking for is listed on eBay/US.
Type “Estee Lauder Minute Blush Stick Spice” into the search function. There were two for sale as of about 5 minutes ago.
April 24th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Does anyone know where one can find or who actually manufactures Tangee lipstick these days? It was dirt cheap(less than $1.00) years ago and i see now that it is sold supposedly ONLY thru a vermont store for $15.00. Seeing that the package now sports the words SPF15, i am assuming they have changed the ‘ingredients’ some.
April 29th, 2008 at 11:47 am
please help me find Estee Lauder Navy Teal eyeliner…I’m lost without it!!!!
May 15th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Please help me find Clinque Gentle Lite Powder Glow 6
June 20th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I am looking for Clarins Fluide Desalterant Multi-Hydratant with SPF 15 Lotion
July 7th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I am looking for Dermablend’s “Cover Creme”, 1 oz. jar, before they added SPF30.
August 16th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I am looking for a growth formula nail polish by Almay. It was a small square shape like bottle, light blue color. It made my nails grow alot , They used to carry it at Odd Job before they went out of business. Now i can’t find it. Please help.
August 25th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Hi, I am looking for the Giorgio Armani Lasting Silk UV compact foundation. Its in the form of a pressed powder compact and is also 17spf. I originally purchased in a department store on holiday in China, but now i cant get it anywhere. Does anyone know where i can get this either in person or online? Thanks:)
September 8th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Aveda has discontinued its Sap Moss shampoo!! I’ve been buying this wonderful stuff for 5 years and the woman I spoke to at their customer service office said she didn’t know what was going to replace it. So much for customer service, huh?
October 13th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Looking for Klorane Citrus Balm (not the shampoo). Have searched eBay with no luck. Thanks for any help.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
looking for estee lauder lipstick in (futurist full treatment)
Very Red.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I’m looking for Dermablend cover creme in the compact that has just been discontinued. I need medium beige.
Thank you for your help.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
looking for MAc long wear lip color in Go Vin Go
November 7th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Anyone know where to get Clinique Smudgesicles?
November 24th, 2008 at 8:52 am
clinique compact foundation shade sunny (g)
November 27th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I am looking for Clinique Cleansing Cream in the jar. This has been replaced with the cleansing cream in the tube, but it’s not the same thing.
November 29th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me find Chanel Aqua Liner in Tweed..it’s dicontinued and the only eyeliner I wear. thank you so much!!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 am
I am trying to find a Estee Lauder discontinued eye liner color copper Thanks.
December 13th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Help! Looking for Dior Plastic Gloss 224 Maniac Beige. Thanks!
January 10th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
I have been looking for estee lauder pure color 901 black liquid eyeliner. If anyone knows where I can buy this please let me knoq. Thank yous much
January 11th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
I worked for estee lauder for 14 years and caught the brunt of many unhappy ladies looking for discontinued lipsticks! The store you shop at…especially Saks Fifth has a number the sales associate can call for you and they can locate your product…if she/he says they can’t…talk to a manager! They can!
January 12th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
I am looking for Clarins Fluide Desalterant Multi-Hydratant spf 15
January 13th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I am looking for Estee Lauder MINUTE BLUSH CREME STICK ROSE. i can;t even find it on Ebay. See if you can help me. My email address is Collben44@comcast.net and you can email me there.
January 18th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
I’m looking for a nail polish by Este Lauder :
03 black wine.
Can’t find it . Please e-mail me if you know where I can fined it
rakefet@swtropicals.com
Thanks
January 19th, 2009 at 2:46 am
looking for all day lipstick classic mocha.
January 19th, 2009 at 2:48 am
opps Estee Lauder all day lipstick…Classic Mocha
January 19th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
I’m looking for Dermablend cover creme in the compact. I need medium beige 21/2.
Thank you for your help……….
January 24th, 2009 at 12:36 am
Kristin, I did call saks fifth about the pure color liquid eyeliner by estee lauder and they told me it was not available, but I did not ask for a manager. Thanks for the information. If you know any place else I can get it. Please let me know.
January 24th, 2009 at 9:02 am
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP!!! Im looking for a Max Factor Lipstick in the shade Essential Earth. I have had mine for a while now so im not even sure what the range is called. All i know is the brand and the shade. Please help!!
January 26th, 2009 at 1:20 am
Please help me too! I need to find were I can buy estee lauder pure color liquid eyeliner in black. If anyone know where I can purchase it please let me know!
January 31st, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Rakefet Gorman, I think the nail polish you are looking for is at makeup.com.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:03 am
I am looking for Max Factor Goldline Lipstick in shade 58 Essential Earth.. Please help!!!
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Sam, I went under google and keyed in your lipstick and clicked on PFM cosmetics lipstick website. It showed your lipstick.
February 21st, 2009 at 7:22 am
Looking for Origins Lipstick “Rosebud” – can’t find it anymore
March 6th, 2009 at 11:42 am
I am looking for BENEFIT CHEEKIES cream blush in the shade “Crazy in Love”. I’ve emailed the manufacturer and searched online with no luck. Any other suggestions? I’ll buy 20 of them!
April 7th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I worked for Estee lauder, for two years, they usually always replace the products with something new. The Black liquid liner was replaced with another liquid liner,I forget the name I think it is color stay, what I will tell you is chanel has a wonderful liquid liner, The black and the navy blue are really nice. In regards to the copper liner, good luck they discontinued that two years ago, try another line, lancome and chanel usually have those colors. The stick blushes were replaced with others, but I do not remember if they discontinued them. There was a mocha all day lipstick, that was also discontinued years ago, and I havent seen anything like it, the all day formula was more matte, but not completely matte, and everything else is too matte or too gloss.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:37 am
Can anybody help me find the Iridescent Leather (539) eyeshadow quint by Dior? I have been searching high and low, calling department stores all over and searching online. Please help me! I’m desperate
April 20th, 2009 at 12:01 am
I have used Clarins FLUIDE DÉSALTÉRANT MULTI-HYDRATANT HYDRA CARE for over 30 years now and don’t understand why it disappeared. Can anyone help me find some?
May 5th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
I am looking for Chanel nail polish in Azur. It was featured in the Spring 2008 collection.
May 13th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I’ve been using Loreal sublime bronze gelee shade medium deep for years and now it seems to be replaced by medium natural tan. If anyone knows where i can find the full 5oz bottles of this shade please let me know. I didn’t even know they were going to discontinue it!
May 14th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
HELP ! My wife has used PHYSICIANS FORMULA PEARLS OF PERFECTION LIQUID BRONZER for years, now it’s discontinued. I love the way she looks and smells in it. Does anyone know where I can find a quantity of it ??? Steve FBIFlorida@aol.com
May 18th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I am trying to locate an Estee Lauder eye shadow called 11 Brown Sugar. If anyone knows where I could obtain this, please let me know.
May 27th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Steve, if you find PHYSICIANS FORMULA PEARLS OF PERFECTION liquid bronzer please post it. I am searching as well!! Good Luck!! I hope they bring it back by popular demand, you should contact them and request it, I already have!!
May 29th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
I am looking for Estee Lauders Cinema Pink Lipstick. It was discontinued more than one year ago.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I am looking for the Origins lipstick color called Spiked Peach. If anyone knows where or how I can get it please let me know. Thank you Angie
May 31st, 2009 at 9:40 am
I AM LOOKING FOR THE ORIGINAL SENT OF ESTEE LAUDER PRIVATE COLLECTION—NOT THE ONE THEY CALL “ORIGINAL” NOW BUT THE TRUE ORIGINAL FROM THE 70′S. I CAN’T STAND THE MUSTY SMELLING CONCOCTION THEY ARE PRODUCING NOW. HELP
May 31st, 2009 at 12:28 pm
for the people looking for the PHYSICIANS FORMULA PEARLS OF PERFECTION liquid bronzer, did you guys check out drugstore.come or bizrate.com? I think they have it…but im not 100% sure if thats exactly what you guys are looking for…but it’s worth a try
hope i could help
June 7th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I am looking for Chanel Orange Blossom Nail polish recently dicontinued. Thank you
June 11th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I am looking for Estee Lauder lipstick in “Sungleam Red”
June 30th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I am looking for Clinques Extremely Gentle Cleansing Cream.. The new replacment is totally different. Can anyone recommend a cleansing cream you can tissue off that is similar to the discontinued one.
October 6th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I am looking for MAC “Snowgirl” Lipglass. PLEASE HELP!!!!!
Want to purchase a few for my fiance’s upcoming birthday (Oct 26th). Thank you for any help you can lend.
October 30th, 2009 at 11:05 am
i am looking for estee lauder all day lipstick in coral melon.
please help me find it.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Does anyone know if there\’s any web sites that sale the old OLAY COMPACTS. NOT the covergirl and olay products, JUST the product OLAY
???