9 Legit Ways to Buy Discontinued Cosmetics—From Makeup to Skin

Reviewed by Ashley Rebecca

Discontinued. The single, mic-drop of a word sends ripples of chaos throughout the beauty industry and, more intimately, a familiar sense of upheaval in our stomachs. It feels like your favorite, trusty rug has been ripped from under you when a holy-grail makeup product is slated to fade from existence. Once you navigate through the first stages of grief, denial and anger, you eventually find yourself at the third: bargaining. There's nothing quite as electrifying as the motivation (or obsession) to track down whatever's left of that staple makeup or skincare product on the market, if only to delay the eventual parting just a bit longer. Call it justice, vengeance, or our inability to let things go, but we'd much rather galvanize our efforts into finding those gone-but-not-forgotten favorites than begin the trial-and-error process of finding a new steady choice.

Discontinuations are a sad reality in the beauty world, but we simply won't give up. So, we reached out to celebrity makeup artists Joey Maalouf and Quinn Murphy for their tips on restocking the old beauty arsenal.

Meet Our Expert

• Joey Maalouf is a celebrity makeup artist based in Los Angeles.

• Quinn Murphy is a celebrity makeup artist and host of the In My Chair podcast.

Scour Discount Sites

Your first stop on the search for that beloved discontinued product? The Internet. Scour the discount clearing houses and you may just find what you're looking for. Sites like BeautyEncounter and BuyMeBeauty often carry excess stock of products that have been recently discontinued.

Byrdie Tip

Be mindful of expiration dates and product consistency: Lipsticks usually have a 12-18 month shelf life, foundation is six to 12 months, and anything powder-based can last up to around two years. If the formula looks lumpy or the liquid has separated, return the product for a refund.

Search Community Marketplaces

Independent sellers on community marketplaces may stock up on just what you're looking for. You can rely on sites like eBay or Amazon, or comb through the top Google Shopping hits for a good lead. Be sure to do your due diligence in reading seller reviews to ensure you're receiving quality products.

Phone a Friend

If you really are in love with the product, one of your friends probably tried it, too. If you're lucky, they won't be as attached to it and will gladly hand over the coveted cosmetic.

Ask a Sales Associate

As for makeup experts, both Maalouf and Murphy affirm they can always text another colleague to check. It also never hurts to make friends with your cosmetic counter sales associate. If they've been with the brand for a long time, they may have a personal stock of products they don't use.

Talk to Direct Consultants

Some brands and direct sales cosmetics companies like Mary Kay and Avon are sold through consultants. So you can check with the same brand representative that you bought your makeup from or reach out to other consultants through Facebook or Instagram using hashtags or niche groups. "If you're lucky, this friendly salesperson might also have an old box of samples or overstock that can hold you over," says Murphy.

Check Brand Programs

If your take-it-to-the-streets approach fails, turn to the experts. Estée Lauder Companies' Gone but Not Forgotten program could have the solution. The team will search high and low for any product discontinued in the last 24 months from one of its 18 participating beauty brands (including Clinique, Bumble and bumble, and MAC). There's no guarantee, but if the team's super-sleuths find your favorites, you can purchase up to six products at a time. "Some sites have a section on their website for items on the way out like Urban Decay's Gone For Good section," Murphy notes.

Reach Out to the Brand

Another approach is to call or email the brand's customer service asking about a product no longer available. "There's nothing wrong with trying to reach out to the brand's PR or Global Director directly," says Maalouf. That's one nice thing about the age of social media: Everyone is reachable, and everything is possible with a viral hashtag.

Get It Customized

Even when you think all hope is lost, some services can recreate your missing makeup shades. Send the specialists at Three Custom Colors a dime-size sample, and they can recreate any color with the same texture and coverage as the original in about three weeks. "They have been around since the late ’90s and my go-to in NYC. They had a counter at Henri Bendel I would frequent when I needed something custom-created. They can make anything," says Maalouf. Didn't save the last of your discontinued shade? Check the archive. TCC has over 10,000 commonly requested replicas already logged in it.

If it's a lipstick, gloss, or balm you're after, try Lip Lab (located in several major cities in the US and Canada and now available online). In just about seven minutes, a blending specialist will whip up the lip color of your dreams. They'll get the shade and finish just right for under $65.

Dive Into Dupes

Is it time to start waiving the white flag? If you've exhausted all other options and are still coming up short, it might be time to consider a dupe. (We wouldn't call it admitting defeat, just pivoting ever-so-slightly.) You can usually scour your favorite Youtube channels or TikTok and Instagram reels for the latest dupes, but for a more targeted search sites like Temptalia, Skinsort, and Dupeshop offer a searchable database along with metrics to review swatch comparisons, formula and color reviews, and ingredient matches.

Read the original article on Byrdie.