Affordable Dupes for Discontinued Cult Faves You Forgot About

We don’t mean to be overly dramatic, but when a beloved, holy grail-status beauty product in our permanent collection becomes extinct, the particular type of heartbreak that ensues is uniquely distressing. Of course, mourning the loss of a discontinued product that’s been a ride-or-die in your beauty lineup may seem a bit over-the-top, but we’ve all been there, and the pain is real.

Sure, you can try to find your beloved formula or perfect-for-you shade on Amazon or another reselling platform like eBay, but chances are the product’s price will be triple what you paid for it retail thanks to its newfound collectors-status scarcity. Even worse than having to pay up to get your RIP’ed product, buying it from a third party vendor doesn’t always guarantee authenticity, so you run the risk of investing in a straight-up knockoff. Whether part of a limited-edition capsule collection (we’re looking at you, MAC) or just simply taken off the market without warning and for reasons we’ll simply never understand, the inevitable ebb and flow of product launches and product discontinuations is a fact of life when it comes to being a beauty consumer.

Of course, any informed beauty junkie knows that using expired makeup (discontinued or not) is not only gross, but it’s also bad for your skin and potentially harmful (especially eye products), so harboring your favorite discontinued product is not the best way to handle this situation. With some research and consulting the dupe-filled world of Pinterest, Reddit and MakeupAlley, you can most likely find a dupe similar to your discontinued favorite. Here are some of the most missed discontinued products from over the years accompanied by a comparable option to help fill the void without having to scour the black market or hoard bacteria-laden expired product.

Sunday Riley Cashmere SPF 30+ Advanced Sun Defense vs. La Roche-Posay Anthelios ultra-light mineral sunscreen

Sunday Riley’s silky matte-finish sunscreen was titled “Cashmere” for a reason — not only is it infused with actual cashmere fibers, but it feels as luxurious on the skin as wearing a cashmere sweater. It held up seamlessly under virtually any makeup, and its lightweight feel wouldn’t exacerbate an oily T-zone. Fortunately, La Roche-Posay’s best-selling mineral sunscreen offers a similar velvet-matte effect and works just as well under makeup, according to its impressive archive of positive customer reviews on Amazon.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios ultra-light mineral sunscreen, $33.50 at Amazon

Benefit Moon Beam highlighter vs. Tarteist Pro Glow Liquid Highlighter in Exposed

While Benefit’s Sun and High Beam highlights are still available at select retailers, their Moon Beam shade — a subtle bronze luminzer with a soft pink reflect — is no longer available. This not-too-warm, not-too-frosty OG liquid highlight complemented the full spectrum of skin tones and gave you the utmost buildability to customize your desired level of glow. Fortunately, Tarte’s liquid highlighter in the shade Exposed offers a subtle bronze-nude glow to the skin without looking too blinding for a natural sheen.

 Tarteist Pro Glow Liquid Highlighter in Exposed, $29 at Sephora

MAC Lipstick in Dressmaker, Dressmaker vs. Nars lipstick in Barbarella

MAC’s limited-edition luster lipstick in the shade Dressmaker, Dressmaker has been dubbed a holy-grail shade by fans of the universally flattering peach hue on MakeupAlley and broken-hearted beauty editors. Nars’ lipstick in Barbarella is not only a close shade match, but the semi-sheer formula glides on smoothly, offering buildable pigment in the same way Dressmaker, Dressmaker did.

Nars lipstick in Barbarella, $28 at Nordstrom

Maybelline XXL mascara vs. L’Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara

Even celebrities aren’t protected from the sense of loss brought on by the discontinuation of a holy grail product — especially when it’s super-affordable. Khloé Kardashian once called this drugstore mascara “one of the best drug store cheapies around,” on her website, khloewithhak.com. Fortunately, she’s replaced this two-in-one mascara with L’Oréal’s best-selling Voluminous Millions mascara that delivers intense volume without having to use a lash primer beforehand.

L’Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara $8.95 at Amazon

Benefit Georgia face powder vs. Too Faced Peach Perfect mattifying powder

Benefit’s OG Georgia face powder was a truly innovative and one-of-kind product in the beauty arena back at the height of its popularity in the late aughts. The semi-sheer peach powder gave the face a subtle look of health for fair-skinned fans. Fortunately, Too Faced launched their Peaches and Cream collection offering a wide range of peach-tinted bases and finishing powders that offer the same benefits as this old-school powder. The Peach Perfect mattifying setting powder is the closest match we’ve found.

Too Faced Peach Perfect mattifying powder, $33 at Sephora

Chanel Double Perfection Fluide Matte Reflecting Makeup vs. Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation

According to research conducted by MakeupAlley, this old-school matte foundation is one of the most missed in discontinued luxury beauty. Several reviewers claimed this was their holy grail foundation for its velvety-smooth finish and unrivaled staying power — even in humidity and extreme summer heat. Estée Lauder’s Double Wear foundation, however, is a solid alternative, with similar reviews swearing by its buildable coverage and bulletproof lasting power. This one’s a cult favorite for a reason.

Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation, $42 at Nordstrom

Urban Decay Naked palette vs. BH Cosmetics Essential Eyes eye shadow palette

Urban Decay made headlines in 2018 when it abruptly announced that the brand’s best-selling Naked eye shadow palette would be discontinued. This cult-status palette is arguably the gold standard that made palettes the phenomena (and vanity staple) they are today. A perfect blend of both warm and neutral shades and matte and shimmer finishes, this palette’s undeniable versatility and user-friendly formula is unparalleled. Fortunately, its popularity prompted plenty of dupes. We love BH’s Essential Eye palettes with an array of strikingly similar shades but with more options to choose from than the original.

BH Cosmetics Essential Eyes eye shadow palette, $18.75 at Walmart

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Originally posted on StyleCaster.

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