We’ve all experienced this…you fall in love with a certain lipstick or foundation, use it for years and suddenly…it’s DISCONTINUED…EEEEK!!! We’ll don’t despair…there’s hope…

There are actually several companies that will sell a discontinued color directly to the consumer until it is gone. Estee Lauder (makers of Clinique, Prescriptives, Stila, Bobbi Brown, MAC, La Mer, Aveda, Origins, Jo Malone, American Beauty, Good Skin) has a ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ program which does exactly that. Others (Hard Candy, Benefit and Revlon) will sell their discontinued items to outlets and discounters. And there are even closeout and auction sites (i.e. eBay) that offer out-of-stock makeup.

So, let’s say you searched and still were unable to find that favorite. What then? Well, there’s a store called Three Custom Color which will duplicate almost any cosmetic, except pencils and nail polish, from a tiny sample. Now that’s priceless!

I’ve gathered some information that I feel will help in such a crisis…hope it aids in your search:

Discontinued Programs:
First try to contact the company by phone (the phone number is usually on the back of the bottle or package). The following companies, among others, have specific programs:

Gone But Not Forgotten: Run by Estee Lauder, which is the parent company of Clinique, Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown, and Bumble + Bumble, etc. If your product was discontinued in the last two years, they mat still have it. Call: 646-602-7725.

Goodbyes: This program is run by M*A*C. 1-800-588-0070 or
http://www.maccosmetics.com/templates/products/picks.tmpl?pagename=macgoodbyes

Kiehl's: The company doesn’t have an official program but it helps customers find discontinued products until they are out. If you can’t visit a store personally, call 1-800-543-4572.
Guerlain: Store personnel can sometimes track down long-gone products, however customers can also call 1-800-815-7720 for help.

Matches:
If you've given up hope, these companies will try to match that once-available lipstick that is "you"…

The Powder Room, 13023 Bustleton Ave. 215-969-0661, http://www.thepowderroomonline.biz/  The owner, Julie Weiss-Schwartz, can re-create lipsticks, lip gloss, and a host of other products. A tube of "cloned" lipstick costs $25 and you can even name it what you like.

Three Custom Color: 1-888-262-7714, www.threecustom.com . Send a snip of your eyebrow hair for a matching gel or a strip of that couch fabric for a coordinating lipstick.