For the past few years now, the undereye color corrector, Hourglass Retouching Fluid in Sand, has been a staple in my makeup bag. It’s the only thing that I can wear underneath my eyes that doesn’t look heavy or thick or obvious.
I usually buy it at Sephora, but I started freaking out a little bit recently when I couldn’t find it during the last couple of visits.
I also looked on the Hourglass website and while the product is still up, several colors are suspiciously MIA! I also can’t find it at all the places I used to be able to, so now I’m getting a little nervous because all signs point to it being discontinued.
Now OG Karen from back in the day would’ve started panicking and taking this opportunity to stockpile as many as I can. But I know from experience that even when I do this, the backups will sit in a drawer, sometimes for years.
So this time, I’m breaking the cycle and trying something new! GASP! I know.
I found an undereye corrector from Rare Beauty that looks promising, so I grabbed that instead when I was beauty shopping last week. I’m going to give it a go to see if it stacks up!
I keep telling myself, “You know, if this isn’t IT, it’s gonna be OK. Take a deep breath. You’ll find something that’s just as good because something always comes along.” We’ll see how long this train of thought keeps up, ha.
This is a very new strategy for me so I’m hoping it works out. If I find any good stuff along the way, of course I’ll let you know.
Anywho, this was my long-winded way of asking you the following question:
What you usually do when a product is discontinued? Do you try to find something new to replace it, or do you stockpile as much of it as you can?
Let me know in the comments, and have a happy, joyful and relaxing Caturday!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Stockpile for sure! When my HG lip primer Paula Dorf Perfect Illusion was discontinued it was a sad day. I kept buying it anywhere I could until I couldn’t get it anymore! The closest thing I found now is UD Ultimate Ozone.
Hi Karen!
Honestly, I hate that. Even though I try lots of brands, there are a few things which are indispensable. I had this favourite BB primer from Bare Minerals with mineral spf and it was my absolute favourite for years (worked as an SPF and a nice tint all in one blurring pores amazingly). I spent a lot of time and money trying to find a dupe…now I’m using Supergoop Matte Screen which is also mineral, but if you or any MBB readers know of any replacemement for that BB primer, I’d be super grateful. As for the concealer, the new one from Erborian Super BB concealer with spf 25 is very nice and light, but I’m not sure if it’s available in the US. Sending a big hug!
I rush to stockpile for sure but like you it sometimes is a waste. I have found 2 under eye products that work really well for me and my dry, almost 50 year old eyes: Fenty Bright Fix Eye Brightener Concealer and Milk Sunshine Under Eye Brightening Light Coverage Concealer. They don’t settle into lines and don’t look heavy.
Happy Saturday! I usually try to stockpile if I know a product is being discontinued. This is a hair product but I was using the Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo then it got discontinued. Then I used their grapefruit clarifying shampoo and now I can’t find it so I’m currently using the Odele Clarifying Shampoo.
Oh no, I didn’t realize the anti-residue shampoo has been discontinued! It looks like the grapefruit clarifying version is in-stock at about half of the CVSs in my area.
Yes, I had a hard time finding the anti-residue shampoo and pretty soon I couldn’t find it at all. Same thing with the grapefruit clarifying shampoo. Not sure if Neutrogena is phasing out their hair care products or if the grapefruit clarifying shampoo is temporarily low stock. I’ll have to check when I run low on the Odele shampoo.
Despair, dupe hunting, acceptance. No product like MAC’s Hypereal Foundation has existed before or after; I shall cherish its performance in memory.
For other things like Urban Decay’s Vice Lipstick in “Morning After,” I find suitable dupes (MAC’s “Thanks, It’s MAC” decent substitute) or UD’s lip gloss in “Rocket” (MILK Makeup Odyssey Hydrating Non-Sticky Lip Oil Gloss in “Explore” also decent sub).
Otherwise, it’s a chance to find and try something new. Stockpiling might end up being unsanitary, unfortunately.
We’ll see, as I’ve hit pan on NARS eyeshadow in “Kalahari.” Might have to turn to eBay. 😄
NARS has discontinued their eye liner, which I use in Last Frontier. It is the perfect dark espresso brown – not black but very dark, and doesn’t transfer on my hooded eyes. It’s half price so I bought two. I will eventually try something else, but I hate having to search for something new and to be disappointed ☹️
I’ll add a couple extra products but given the shelf life of most cosmetics don’t buy more than I’ll use in six months to a year. Then I start looking for a replacement. Sometimes you get lucky. My favorite Vitamin C serum (from Wabi Sabi -rebranded Day Spring Natural Skin Care) was discontinued with the re-brand, then reformulated and the new version is even better! I’ve found others I liked but they were 2-3 times the price. So yay!
Spend years fruitlessly searching for a dupe usually. Dior discontinued my favourite powder (the Capture Totale one) about 8 years ago and it took about 5 years to find something else that was as good (and heaven only knows how much money wasted on the ones that I hated!). Chanel discontinued my favourite red lipstick about 5 years ago and I have only just found a good replacement about a fortnight ago, it’s been a long slog. I am pretty particular!
Stockpile while looking for a replacement. Sigh. I still haven’t found a replacement mascara I love.
I am ever so grateful to Chantecaille for not reformulating the heck out of Future Skin foundation or discontinuing it. On the other hand I seem to have a small stockpile of Japanese foundations I love as well.
It’s the eye and lip products that seem to be changed up too frequently.
I miss a lot of MAC shadows. Oh well. Maybe it’s a sign from the universe that I don’t have to wear makeup.
Prescriptives Cool Rose foundation – I still mourn for it..!
Ralph Lauren’s ‘Safari’ perfume – I stockpiled it but alas, it is long gone now. I have never found another perfume I like as much and I’ve tried plenty…