Lancôme mascara is absolutely the best. The idole primer and mascara combo is UNMATCHED for a very natural, long, beautiful lash. But the primer is great with many mascaras if you want something more dramatic. If you can get a good match from their foundations they are beautiful, too.
Clinique has nice foundations. They reformulated one that used to be my FAV and it’s just not the same for my skin tone anymore, but if they work for you they have some surprisingly good stuff. (But there’s so many brands that do better these days they stand out less than they once did.)
Nivea is the GOAT for affordable, effective moisturizer.
I personally hate Mary Kay and am allergic to nearly everything, but that’s what my grandma used. I thought she was kind of silly with her ponds cream and nail polishes in the fridge but she knew a lot more than I gave her credit for!
Any love for Shiseido? Are they considered an old lady brand? Always found they had the smoothest lipstick, they had my favourite foundation (until discontinued) and loved a lot of their skin care
I took “old lady brands” to mean brands that we see older women using, and these older women are lifelong fans of said brands. For me that’s Clinique, estee lauder, and Lancôme. Neither my mom nor my grandmother wore many beauty products, but every single one was from one of the holy trinity I just listed. I’m 34 and still consider a lot of those products the best out there, drugstore dupes notwithstanding. The perfumes especially omfg!!! I think I own at least 2 each of Clinique and Estée Lauder perfumes that I’ve worn since I was 12
Clinique Stay Matte foundation! The newer trendy ones are all either too thick or too light/dewy. I keep coming back to it, even though it's not TikTok famous 😂 Also, Laura Mercier foundation powder
Clinique isn’t “old lady,” though, unless you mean established. Clinique is like, a fresh - and - forever - young brand, lol. Have you looked at their products or aesthetics?
Estée Lauder and Lancôme are also less “old lady,” and more like, “I have my stuff together and enjoy the finer things in life.”
They’re on par with Chanel makeup, which isn’t an “old lady” brand, either. They’re just of a more superior caliber.
One thing I’ve noticed about the brands above is how they’re so established and confident in their brand identities, that they do whatever they want.
Anyway, Clinique’s “Cheek Pop” blushes are so nice, and their Lash Impact mascara is a tried - and - true. Even Better foundation actually evens my skin out.
Estée Lauder: everything. Great mascaras.
Lancôme: everything. The lipsticks, blushes, and color makeup range are incredible. The Lash Definicils is still superior over the rest; it lengthens, thickens, separates, and holds curls.
Chanel: their Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick line, I’m still ticked off that “La Fascinante” lipstick got discontinued, but whatever. Lol.
Bare Minerals: the original mineral foundation is still great, same with the blushes and eyeshadows.
Clinique is as good now as it was then.
Not makeup, but makeup remover- take the day off (liquid) is still the best damn eye makeup remover on the market
I also like clinique mascaras- good for sensitive eyes
Black honey lipstick/tint is cult for a reason
Their pressed powder/concealer 2-in-1 compact is also lovely, although I'm not sure as far as the spectrum of shades and tones available.
I think it’s been replaced with a different product now but there was a bare minerals matte liquid foundation that I used to use and literally would get endless compliments on my skin every time I wore it.
The best lipstick I ever had was from Estée Lauder, the color and formula was gorgeous and my *god* the tube was so fancy, it was magnetic. I got it from a makeup overstock store, still paid almost $30 for it but it was the best. The best eyeshadow I ever used was from Lancome.
I love trying new brands but can’t forget the classics, they’re still around for a reason.
Something hits hard about Bare Minerals, which came out when I was entering my teens, being bunched together with, literally, the makeup brands my grandma wore...
My grandmother would always buy us Clinique, Estee Lauder, and Lancome and they're still the brands I wear. Smooth, well pigmented, long lasting, you can't beat them. I remember being taken to the makeup counter under the dome at Famous-Barr (IYKYK) and having my first makeup and perfume bought. I still have that Estee Lauder palette and the Clinique Makeup bag I got that that day. The colors from the palette are still ones I base my purchases off of.
Cosmetic and perfume counters are fun, they remind me of the good old days. I used to work in a department store and we had an Elizabeth Arden, Ultima II (remember them?), maybe Lancome? There were others but I cannot recall. But there is something comforting about it I guess.
Ummmm... I went to Clinique counters in their prime... I'm in my early 30s 😂 I don't think I'm old enough to be a grandma (without two teen pregnancies) 😂😂😂
Decades ago, a boyfriend bought me a load of Clarins products. He basically didn’t know anything about makeup or skincare and said one of everything please. I wouldn’t have seeked out the brand myself but I can honestly say it all felt so luxurious and performed flawlessly. It’s underrated in the U.S. for sure.
Old lady makeup makes me think of Mary Kay. As much as I hate to support an MLM, they have some amazing products… so I guess support your huns??
Ps. I love their eye primer, their after sun gel is honestly my favorite, and their eyeliner was my go to for a long time.
I use Bare Minerals now only because Ulta discontinued their Mineral Powder Foundation(which was a really low blow because it was affordable and worked amazingly).
Clinique skin care is still great. Estee has some of the best lipstick and a great eyeliner. Lancôme is the mascara I will always use. Chanel has the best gold tone eyeshadow. Yves saint Laurent use to have great makeup (have not seen it in a long time). Dior has the best foundation for my skin and best lip plumpers.
My aunt and grandmother use to give me their sample packs and eventually my own full sized makeup. You could go in and get the full treatment practically anytime and it was free. Any of these brands would match you to foundation and put full makeup on you, write down the products they used on a card and saved it. That way when you came back there was no guessing. Bloomingdale’s, Neimans, Lord & Taylor and other stores like it offered this daily at their makeup counters.
As a teen it was luxurious to go in and have this done and I sure did not appreciate it enough. Now in my early 50s and Sephora has made this a joke. You can still get matched but it’s not even close to the same experience.
I still got this as a kid once and I’m 21! I haven’t seen it in around 8 years at least though. But they did my full face. I think it was like $5 but nothing crazy like these makeup artists
Got it at Sephora I mean
I still use a lot of Clinique skin care and Lancôme makeup but I do like to throw in some newer brands to try also. I’ve tried drug store brands recommended on social media and they’ve all been a waste of money or just ok. I’d rather just pay more.
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream. Still available, still good, but the formula has changed a bit from the magic stuff of my youth. Smells like tar on a road during a heatwave but it protects lips and heals all kinds of skin peeling and irritation. (And works better for that than Vaseline, which also has its uses but isn't as fast or as soothing.)
I used to work for Clinique and I use their 3 step skincare. I also like their concealer and blush pops. Their skincare is actually really good and formulated then tested on 100 people to see if they get any kind of reactions and if they see results. Say what you want about these brands but, they DO have great products. Lancôme mascaras rock! The Monsieur Big and Grande lash are great mascaras. I miss helping people pick out their skin care and makeup. That was such a fun job.
I loved meeting new people and just seeing them smile when I applied a little makeup on them. Their whole body would get relaxed when I did a skin care treatment. It made me so happy to spend time with them.
Mary Kay! My mom used that and i have some i like. My stepmom started all the girls at estee lauder. They did a full "natural" face and she bought the whole set with skin care for each of us at 16
laura geller baked n balanced foundation is my favorite product. bare minerals for daily wear. clinique has an eyeliner pen that’s AMAZING. and i do really like the HA skin care line.
Sadly the entire line was discontinued, but I am telling you that Prescriptives was the best makeup ever. They color analyzed you so that everything you that you purchased, from foundation to eyeshadow, concealer, etc. went perfectly with your skin tone. They even custom-blended foundation. And yes I am officially old lol.
Prescriptives is the brand the pioneered high quality foundation for black skin tones. The first time they mixed it at counter (Lord &Taylor, DC).
Then they came out with a whole them. I wore calyx. I LOVED THEM. Broke my heart when that line was shut down.
Their foundations were incredible. Not only the color but the quality. The quality of the entire line was amazing. I wonder if it became too expensive for them to produce.
I think they didn’t have enough sales to warrant the counter space so Lauder took the brand to online only and finally it was discontinued. My sister used this makeup too and loved it. It looked like real skin. Really good real skin.
Lauder never really promoted the brand. It needed a face like Isabella R was for Lancome or Christie Brinkley for Cover Girl. I think Paulina P was the face of Lauder at that time.
Prescriptives foundation was the best. It was also one of the earliest to have built-in sunscreen, which was mostly not a thing in the 80s and even into the 90s.
I don't have anything really from brands like this except a blush/bronze product from Laura Geller, it's nice. I have also thought about trying Jane Iredale at some point.
Brands I used to use are Clinique and Avon, but stopped when I went CF. Years ago I had a lipstick from Charles of the Ritz which was a huge favorite, but this was in the late 90s, I think I ended up losing it and I was pretty bummed about it.
Fun thread, I am enjoying reading the answers, and I just found this sub reddit which I am enjoying too.
You should know that L’Oréal pretty much owns the make-up market. They have bought out their competitors and use their brand name for the drug store markets.
L’Oréal owns Clinique. They own most of the shampoo/conditioner titles, and I know this because my ex used to work for a company they acquired. They bought out the Body Shop years ago.
It is a chemical company. They are not your friends.
Avoid any makeup that has talc as it will likely have silicon in it.
My experience with cosmetics is to look at the ingredients. The label doesn’t matter: the ingredients are key. MakeupAlley.com has been my guide when research a product. I generally avoid wearing make up unless I absolutely have to.
But I’ve been using the CeraVe cleanser for years and found it better than the Clinique cleanser. I used to have a Sonic Care Aira brush, and that brand got bought out by L’Oréal and the product was cancelled. I ended up investing in a FOREO brush but I really don’t understand why their product must sync with a phone. I really don’t like relaying every time I use a face brush to BigBrother. Why is it HIS business?
Mac Studio Sculpt ahhhhh, I think about this everytime I buy foundation.
And ABH cream contour will forever have a gorilla grip on me, I still shop around praying I can find one last sealed box so I can use it sparingly
You should really find an actual face wash if you can, maybe a dermatologist can help if you can afford to see one. Bar soap can be really damaging to your skin, especially long term: Soap-based surfactants can cause dryness, redness, and irritation, and may strip away the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). Bar soaps can also damage the outer protective layer of the skin, which can lead to accentuated wrinkles and pores, and can cause acne and inflammation.
Maybe your skin is just really resilient. No, it didn’t happen to me, it happened to a YouTuber I watch; that’s how I learned that it’s so bad for your skin health, but I also fact checked it. It seems like it works for a while, but it can start to do damage over time. That part about soap base surfactants, that’s a quote from Google. I use a fragrance free mild face wash from Cetaphil, it keeps things from getting too bad, but I mainly deal with hormonal acne. I usually take medication for my skin and it helps a lot, but I can’t take it right now because I’m breastfeeding. You can keep using it, it’s your body and your choice, I just thought you should know it can be damaging since many people are unaware and think it’s a good alternative when nothing else seems to work.
Here is a Healthline article if you want to know more: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skincare/bar-soap-on-face#benefits
Bare Minerals matte loose mineral powder has been my go to foundation for years with no intention of switching it up anytime soon. I’m an oily girl and it’s the only one that sits on my face right plus it has SPF in it. I like almost everything Bare Minerals save for their eyeshadows (not pigmented enough imo) and liquid foundations (oxidize too much for me). I also like Clinique’s “good skin” concealer with the SPF in it!
That green mud mask!!! I saved up for a whole month to buy a pot of that green mask, dropped it on the floor and shattered after a month. I picked it up and picked out as much glass as I could- still used it. It was like $70 in 2002 basically a days wages with overtime. I was not a smart girl.
Clinique was the thing when I was in high school in the ‘80s! Back then you could tell the Clinique girls bc they were slightly orange 🤣
I used Dior bc it was the only brand that had a shade as pale as I am and then I said Fuck it.
I never had acne and oily skin till my 20s and it lasted a long time. I was introduced to Clinique in college and Bare Minerals later. Still love both, and I've tried a lot of brands.
I try to tell myself that some other moisturizer would do the same as Moisture Surge but I keep going back after every attempt to part ways with it. I guess we are just meant to be. I also love their blushes as I am quite pale ane they are not too pigmented but still pigmented and soft to blend. Plus I like the subtle glow because I don't use highlighters anymore
Not necessarily an old lady brand, but an old lady product:
Covergirl Simply Ageless foundation with Olay moisturizers. Specifically the cream that comes in a compact with a sponge, not the pump. It looks perfect on my skin, holds up, and costs less than half of the other products I’ve even somewhat liked.
What type of skin do u have? I'm asking bc I have oily skin, and I've thought about trying something different. Sometimes, my foundation just will not settle right.
I have combination skin, and its ability to hold up to oil is… average. If I’ve been properly moisturizing, it stays beautifully, but if my skin feels the need to overproduce oil, it does get a little floaty. But it costs under $20, so it might be worth a try.
Lancôme Blush Subtil is my favorite blush formula ever. Starts sheer but buildable and pigmented, silky, blend like a dream, lasts all day. Elite. Lol my mom gave me hers bc she didn’t like the mini cream highlight in the compact.
Estée Lauder’s bronzer, Bronze Goddess, is a holy grail. I’m pale as and it’s super light and sheer and when you build it, it stays bronze and glowy and doesn’t go oompa
Bobbi Browns highlighting powder is the best in the business. It’s super luxurious to use daily and depending on the shade, ranges from a natural wet look to a blinding highlight
I wanted a cruelty free option, so I stopped using them. Mary Kay isn’t completely cruelty free (they sell to China who require animal testing), so I’ve literally been trying to find an alternative for almost a decade 😭 I still haven’t found it’s equal to be honest. If I ever hear that they stop selling to China, I will SPRINT back to the CC cream. My mom is still somewhat selling it, so my dealer is nearby lol
I have found the Iris and Romeo Best Skin Days to be somewhat similar, though it’s a little too warm for my cooler complexion. I also like most of the Ilia line.
I just saw a YouTube video where someone got all her original makeup and book and did her pam Anderson look
MUA is Erin something I forget her last name
That sounds interesting. I’ll have to look. Does anyone remember the eyeshadow she put out first that was sort of a shimmery greige that was supposed to be a great universal shade? I loved it and have tried but have not been able to find a suitable dupe. Has anyone?
If anyone wants to try Clinique or Estée Lauder keep an eye out for when they do their gift with purchase promotions several times a year. It would be a great time.
I’m 25 and Estée Lauder double wear foundation has been my favorite for several years now. I was a young teen during the YouTube influencer era so of course I was influenced by every “new” product. After years of bad acne and cakey makeup I discovered this foundation and a perfect routine to go along with it. I will never turn my back on this foundation, it’s my everything hahaha.
Merle Norman! Their stuff is darn good quality. I love their cream blush and lipsticks. Their tinted moisturizer is what I wore all through high school in 05-09!
I used to love the Elizabeth Arden face powder. I haven’t used it for close to 20 years now so I’m not sure if it’s the same. At the time, in my 20’s, I worked at a department store so I would get a discount on everything. Once I left there I stopped using it because I was too cheap to pay that much!
I have tried other mascaras but keep going back to my tried and true Maybelline Great Lash in the neon pink and green tube. I feel like it’s one of the products that shows my age.
i still use this too lol. random but i was recently watching a movie about Jane Birkin and at one point she empties both of her bags and i noticed a tube of great lash spills out. didn’t realize it had been around that long and also felt a bit more chic in that moment for still using it.
I hated Clinique, their moisturizer made my skin more dry. Bare minerals was very cakey on me. Estée Lauder is what my grandma and mom use so it’s always been an ‘older woman’ product for me.
My sister was a die hard Clinique customer, from makeup and moisturizers to the classic Happy perfume. I tried and could never get into it. The mascara could not compare to my L’Oréal favorite (used to be the voluminous formula but has been Lash Paradise since it first came on the market). So many people and makeup artists are huge fans of Maybelline, but it never impressed me, and I wanted it to! The Clinique moisturizers never truly moisturized, either, so I gave up trying.
I am dedicated to my NARS foundation and Charlotte Tilbury setting spray. Other than those expensive brands and items, I’m open to anything cheaper. I tend to gravitate toward L’Oréal, and sometimes Revlon.
Is Lancome an old lady brand? If so, their Teinte Idole foundation is my favorite. I’m also a fan of Clinique’s No. 2 toner and their super exfoliating scrub.
It is mine too. I lived in a small town when I was a teenager in the 90s, and I had to shop at the department stores to get foundation in my skin tone. My skin is oily and Teinte Idole was the only one that matched my skin well and didn't perform a vanishing act.
I use Lancôme Teinte Idole Ultra Wear Foundation Stick and it is amazing. But one reason I love it is that the brand symbol is the same as it ever was and reminds me of this big black round case of Lancôme face powder my mother used to use, complete with giant powder puff, when I was little. Loved it when she went out at night and I would powder my face like a little maniac. Happy memories.
I am an “old lady” so my opinion may not be relevant.😉 But I really like Estée Lauder’s foundations and Bare Minerals’ Mineral Veil. Clinique has some very good products as well, especially mascara.
I use air spun translucent powder.. I've been using it for years.. I'm only 29 years old. Last time I bought it at a drugstore, the cashier who had to be at least 50 years old told me I made her day for buying the airspun powder because her mom used to wear it when she was a little girl and every time she smells it or sees it she thinks of her mom
Definitely Clinique. I’ve used their lotions and skin care products for 15 years. I also occasionally use their eye liner, mascara, and lipsticks too when I get the Clinique bonus 😊
Listen, I do not care what anyone says, KISS makes better lash products than pretty much any other brand I’ve ever tried. And I don’t just mean the lashes themselves. I mean the glue, the applicators, the cleaners, EVERYTHING. It’s all amazing quality and extremely affordable
Clinique’s foundation is my favorite. It’s not too heavy. Estée Lauder has a heavier foundation that’s nice too. I used it for my wedding. Neither of these give that cake face feel some of the non old lady brands give.
I had no idea Clinique was considered a brand with an older clientele (until I was scrolling through this thread), but I'm a fan of their products. When I first expressed an interest in wearing makeup, my mom took me to their beauty counter at the local mall. ❤️
Same! I think I was in junior high and I ended up getting their 3 step skin care system, concealer and maybe mascara. I was loyal to the soap, toner and concealer for a looooong time.
I wear Clinique foundation. A nice lady at Ulta helped me figure out what looks good, and we settled on Clinique. I really like it, combined with moisturizer, primer, and setting spray. But I guess foundation is the only thing I use that’s a classic brand.
Same!! The Ulta sales lady’s foundation looked amazing and I asked what she was wearing and it was Clinique and she shade matched me and I’ve never looked back. Lol
I’m a Clinique & BareMinerals girlie for life. Cliniques mascara and BareMinerals eyeshadows are staples in my collection. 90% of what I have is drugstore outside of those two things. Skincare is CeraVe and Clinique all the way for me.
The shade range is definitely lacking. In the winter, I wear the lightest which is neutral, but the next-lightest shade for the spring/summer is very orange on me. I’ve been mixing the two to balance it out a little, but it is disappointing because I love the formula!
The formula does feel good. I put it on to go to tea with my daughter and was feeling pretty nice until she took a photo of me in natural light. I looked like one of those girls in junior high who thought she’d look tan by using a too-dark foundation. Cringe!
Lancôme mascara is absolutely the best. The idole primer and mascara combo is UNMATCHED for a very natural, long, beautiful lash. But the primer is great with many mascaras if you want something more dramatic. If you can get a good match from their foundations they are beautiful, too. Clinique has nice foundations. They reformulated one that used to be my FAV and it’s just not the same for my skin tone anymore, but if they work for you they have some surprisingly good stuff. (But there’s so many brands that do better these days they stand out less than they once did.) Nivea is the GOAT for affordable, effective moisturizer. I personally hate Mary Kay and am allergic to nearly everything, but that’s what my grandma used. I thought she was kind of silly with her ponds cream and nail polishes in the fridge but she knew a lot more than I gave her credit for!
Any love for Shiseido? Are they considered an old lady brand? Always found they had the smoothest lipstick, they had my favourite foundation (until discontinued) and loved a lot of their skin care
Nivea in the tin, rosebud balm, (also in a tin) and Ponds Cold Cream… no longer in a tin.
I have used Chanel foundation for many years, never makes me break out like other foundation. Also like their lipstick and powder.
yeah the foundation is good looking for a dupe 😭
is this foundation with the little balls of pigment? if so, covergirl duped that
no just foundation. love username
I took “old lady brands” to mean brands that we see older women using, and these older women are lifelong fans of said brands. For me that’s Clinique, estee lauder, and Lancôme. Neither my mom nor my grandmother wore many beauty products, but every single one was from one of the holy trinity I just listed. I’m 34 and still consider a lot of those products the best out there, drugstore dupes notwithstanding. The perfumes especially omfg!!! I think I own at least 2 each of Clinique and Estée Lauder perfumes that I’ve worn since I was 12
lancôme perfumes are just heavenly.
Clinique Stay Matte foundation! The newer trendy ones are all either too thick or too light/dewy. I keep coming back to it, even though it's not TikTok famous 😂 Also, Laura Mercier foundation powder
Clinique isn’t “old lady,” though, unless you mean established. Clinique is like, a fresh - and - forever - young brand, lol. Have you looked at their products or aesthetics? Estée Lauder and Lancôme are also less “old lady,” and more like, “I have my stuff together and enjoy the finer things in life.” They’re on par with Chanel makeup, which isn’t an “old lady” brand, either. They’re just of a more superior caliber. One thing I’ve noticed about the brands above is how they’re so established and confident in their brand identities, that they do whatever they want. Anyway, Clinique’s “Cheek Pop” blushes are so nice, and their Lash Impact mascara is a tried - and - true. Even Better foundation actually evens my skin out. Estée Lauder: everything. Great mascaras. Lancôme: everything. The lipsticks, blushes, and color makeup range are incredible. The Lash Definicils is still superior over the rest; it lengthens, thickens, separates, and holds curls. Chanel: their Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick line, I’m still ticked off that “La Fascinante” lipstick got discontinued, but whatever. Lol. Bare Minerals: the original mineral foundation is still great, same with the blushes and eyeshadows.
Clinique is the first makeup brand you see when you walk in Ulta and I don’t think they are marketing to ‘old women’.
Clinique pressed powders are the most underrated flawless skin hack
They used to have a yellow one:: & it was SO good for my skin when I had bad acne in my 20s
My favourite everyday lip colour is by Elizabeth Arden which is one I have heard is thought of by many as a grandma brand
Clinique is as good now as it was then. Not makeup, but makeup remover- take the day off (liquid) is still the best damn eye makeup remover on the market I also like clinique mascaras- good for sensitive eyes Black honey lipstick/tint is cult for a reason Their pressed powder/concealer 2-in-1 compact is also lovely, although I'm not sure as far as the spectrum of shades and tones available.
Merle norman makes nice eyebrow pencils
Do they still only sell through their outlets? I remember going there to get my makeup done for the prom.
Is Mary Kay still a pyramid scheme?
Yes indeed, as is Avon
merle norman
I think it’s been replaced with a different product now but there was a bare minerals matte liquid foundation that I used to use and literally would get endless compliments on my skin every time I wore it.
Is Clinique a grandma brand now?
Ponds and Olay night cream
I’ve worn Estée Lauder Doublewear since I was 16. I’m 30. I will not know what to do if they ever discontinue it.
lancomeeeee
Best foundation
The best lipstick I ever had was from Estée Lauder, the color and formula was gorgeous and my *god* the tube was so fancy, it was magnetic. I got it from a makeup overstock store, still paid almost $30 for it but it was the best. The best eyeshadow I ever used was from Lancome. I love trying new brands but can’t forget the classics, they’re still around for a reason.
Olay for skincare lol
Something hits hard about Bare Minerals, which came out when I was entering my teens, being bunched together with, literally, the makeup brands my grandma wore... My grandmother would always buy us Clinique, Estee Lauder, and Lancome and they're still the brands I wear. Smooth, well pigmented, long lasting, you can't beat them. I remember being taken to the makeup counter under the dome at Famous-Barr (IYKYK) and having my first makeup and perfume bought. I still have that Estee Lauder palette and the Clinique Makeup bag I got that that day. The colors from the palette are still ones I base my purchases off of.
Cosmetic and perfume counters are fun, they remind me of the good old days. I used to work in a department store and we had an Elizabeth Arden, Ultima II (remember them?), maybe Lancome? There were others but I cannot recall. But there is something comforting about it I guess.
bare minerals - their transparent veil is glorious. And it's talc free (good for my sensitive skin)
Ummmm... I went to Clinique counters in their prime... I'm in my early 30s 😂 I don't think I'm old enough to be a grandma (without two teen pregnancies) 😂😂😂
LOL RIGHT I bought Happy Heart in my teen years... loved that perfume
Decades ago, a boyfriend bought me a load of Clarins products. He basically didn’t know anything about makeup or skincare and said one of everything please. I wouldn’t have seeked out the brand myself but I can honestly say it all felt so luxurious and performed flawlessly. It’s underrated in the U.S. for sure.
I agree, clarins has some amazing products! I live and die by their eye makeup remover
Old lady makeup makes me think of Mary Kay. As much as I hate to support an MLM, they have some amazing products… so I guess support your huns?? Ps. I love their eye primer, their after sun gel is honestly my favorite, and their eyeliner was my go to for a long time.
😄 Are they still offering free makeovers?
Of course, hun! No pressure to buy anything, just try all this stuff and I’ll ask you what you want to buy at the end.
😆
Lancome🫶🏻
Maybe I am a grandma.... is it not common knowledge still that they have the best mascara?
Yes! I love their mascaras, all of them, but also their eyeshadows are pretty the eyeliners, concealer, skincare everything!
You don't have to be polite. lol. I'm genuinely curious. I'm glad you like their stuff though 🩷
I recently got an Ester Lauder lipstick as a gift and it’s pretty amazing
Estee Lauder even in the past made excellent lipstick.
I use Bare Minerals now only because Ulta discontinued their Mineral Powder Foundation(which was a really low blow because it was affordable and worked amazingly).
Red Door leg cream. Actually made a difference-now I have to find it!!
Clinique skin care is still great. Estee has some of the best lipstick and a great eyeliner. Lancôme is the mascara I will always use. Chanel has the best gold tone eyeshadow. Yves saint Laurent use to have great makeup (have not seen it in a long time). Dior has the best foundation for my skin and best lip plumpers. My aunt and grandmother use to give me their sample packs and eventually my own full sized makeup. You could go in and get the full treatment practically anytime and it was free. Any of these brands would match you to foundation and put full makeup on you, write down the products they used on a card and saved it. That way when you came back there was no guessing. Bloomingdale’s, Neimans, Lord & Taylor and other stores like it offered this daily at their makeup counters. As a teen it was luxurious to go in and have this done and I sure did not appreciate it enough. Now in my early 50s and Sephora has made this a joke. You can still get matched but it’s not even close to the same experience.
I still got this as a kid once and I’m 21! I haven’t seen it in around 8 years at least though. But they did my full face. I think it was like $5 but nothing crazy like these makeup artists Got it at Sephora I mean
This was all free. Stores use to take pride in having knowledgeable makeup and skin care staff.
I still use a lot of Clinique skin care and Lancôme makeup but I do like to throw in some newer brands to try also. I’ve tried drug store brands recommended on social media and they’ve all been a waste of money or just ok. I’d rather just pay more.
I’ve used Clinique foundation since I was in my 30s! I’m now in my 70s! Can’t find anything I like better!
Had to check the username to be sure this wasn’t my mom
Paula Dorf.
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream. Still available, still good, but the formula has changed a bit from the magic stuff of my youth. Smells like tar on a road during a heatwave but it protects lips and heals all kinds of skin peeling and irritation. (And works better for that than Vaseline, which also has its uses but isn't as fast or as soothing.)
I used to work for Clinique and I use their 3 step skincare. I also like their concealer and blush pops. Their skincare is actually really good and formulated then tested on 100 people to see if they get any kind of reactions and if they see results. Say what you want about these brands but, they DO have great products. Lancôme mascaras rock! The Monsieur Big and Grande lash are great mascaras. I miss helping people pick out their skin care and makeup. That was such a fun job.
I used to be a counter manager for Clinique. Loved it 🩷
I loved meeting new people and just seeing them smile when I applied a little makeup on them. Their whole body would get relaxed when I did a skin care treatment. It made me so happy to spend time with them.
Mary Kay! My mom used that and i have some i like. My stepmom started all the girls at estee lauder. They did a full "natural" face and she bought the whole set with skin care for each of us at 16
laura geller baked n balanced foundation is my favorite product. bare minerals for daily wear. clinique has an eyeliner pen that’s AMAZING. and i do really like the HA skin care line.
Sadly the entire line was discontinued, but I am telling you that Prescriptives was the best makeup ever. They color analyzed you so that everything you that you purchased, from foundation to eyeshadow, concealer, etc. went perfectly with your skin tone. They even custom-blended foundation. And yes I am officially old lol.
Prescriptives is the brand the pioneered high quality foundation for black skin tones. The first time they mixed it at counter (Lord &Taylor, DC). Then they came out with a whole them. I wore calyx. I LOVED THEM. Broke my heart when that line was shut down.
The Prescriptives Virtual Skin was the best foundation I’ve ever used.
Their foundations were incredible. Not only the color but the quality. The quality of the entire line was amazing. I wonder if it became too expensive for them to produce.
I think they didn’t have enough sales to warrant the counter space so Lauder took the brand to online only and finally it was discontinued. My sister used this makeup too and loved it. It looked like real skin. Really good real skin. Lauder never really promoted the brand. It needed a face like Isabella R was for Lancome or Christie Brinkley for Cover Girl. I think Paulina P was the face of Lauder at that time.
🥲
Prescriptives foundation was the best. It was also one of the earliest to have built-in sunscreen, which was mostly not a thing in the 80s and even into the 90s.
And I love their Calyx Perfume
Lancome, Smashbox , YSL, MUfe and MAC
Lancôme is the only grandma brand in this list. Your mom probably uses these (I am probably her age lol).
I don't have anything really from brands like this except a blush/bronze product from Laura Geller, it's nice. I have also thought about trying Jane Iredale at some point. Brands I used to use are Clinique and Avon, but stopped when I went CF. Years ago I had a lipstick from Charles of the Ritz which was a huge favorite, but this was in the late 90s, I think I ended up losing it and I was pretty bummed about it. Fun thread, I am enjoying reading the answers, and I just found this sub reddit which I am enjoying too.
Bareminerals foundation is superior. So are Itcosmetics brushes.
You should know that L’Oréal pretty much owns the make-up market. They have bought out their competitors and use their brand name for the drug store markets. L’Oréal owns Clinique. They own most of the shampoo/conditioner titles, and I know this because my ex used to work for a company they acquired. They bought out the Body Shop years ago. It is a chemical company. They are not your friends. Avoid any makeup that has talc as it will likely have silicon in it.
My experience with cosmetics is to look at the ingredients. The label doesn’t matter: the ingredients are key. MakeupAlley.com has been my guide when research a product. I generally avoid wearing make up unless I absolutely have to. But I’ve been using the CeraVe cleanser for years and found it better than the Clinique cleanser. I used to have a Sonic Care Aira brush, and that brand got bought out by L’Oréal and the product was cancelled. I ended up investing in a FOREO brush but I really don’t understand why their product must sync with a phone. I really don’t like relaying every time I use a face brush to BigBrother. Why is it HIS business?
Clinique is actually owned by Estée Lauder Companies I believe. L’Oréal does own several other brands though for sure
Mac Studio Sculpt ahhhhh, I think about this everytime I buy foundation. And ABH cream contour will forever have a gorilla grip on me, I still shop around praying I can find one last sealed box so I can use it sparingly
I wanted this so much when it came out. I’m glad I didn’t get access to it actually because I already know how it would have turned out at the time 🫣
Max Factor 2000 calorie mascara
Omg the best !!!
I still use the Olay white soap bar to wash my face. Nothing works as well.
You should really find an actual face wash if you can, maybe a dermatologist can help if you can afford to see one. Bar soap can be really damaging to your skin, especially long term: Soap-based surfactants can cause dryness, redness, and irritation, and may strip away the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF). Bar soaps can also damage the outer protective layer of the skin, which can lead to accentuated wrinkles and pores, and can cause acne and inflammation.
Are you saying that happened to you? I’ve used it for many, many years without problems and I have great skin.
Maybe your skin is just really resilient. No, it didn’t happen to me, it happened to a YouTuber I watch; that’s how I learned that it’s so bad for your skin health, but I also fact checked it. It seems like it works for a while, but it can start to do damage over time. That part about soap base surfactants, that’s a quote from Google. I use a fragrance free mild face wash from Cetaphil, it keeps things from getting too bad, but I mainly deal with hormonal acne. I usually take medication for my skin and it helps a lot, but I can’t take it right now because I’m breastfeeding. You can keep using it, it’s your body and your choice, I just thought you should know it can be damaging since many people are unaware and think it’s a good alternative when nothing else seems to work. Here is a Healthline article if you want to know more: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skincare/bar-soap-on-face#benefits
What part of *I’ve used it for many, many years without problems and I have great skin* don’t you understand? Move on.
Jeez, got it, was just trying to help.
Bare Minerals matte loose mineral powder has been my go to foundation for years with no intention of switching it up anytime soon. I’m an oily girl and it’s the only one that sits on my face right plus it has SPF in it. I like almost everything Bare Minerals save for their eyeshadows (not pigmented enough imo) and liquid foundations (oxidize too much for me). I also like Clinique’s “good skin” concealer with the SPF in it!
They used to have the most amazing eye shadows ever :(
I have Bare Minerals compact in my purse I’ve had it for forever😮 it lasts a long time and is the best stuff!
Guerlain terracotta bronzers were my OG in college & uni, Clinique (skincare) and Estee Lauder (double wear foundation).
Borghesse
They had the creamiest eye pencils and peacock blue
That green mud mask!!! I saved up for a whole month to buy a pot of that green mask, dropped it on the floor and shattered after a month. I picked it up and picked out as much glass as I could- still used it. It was like $70 in 2002 basically a days wages with overtime. I was not a smart girl.
I loved loved loved Borghese back in the day for both makeup and skincare.
Clinique and Estée Lauder are what I grew up on, my friends too. We are 32. “Grandmas”… damn. I’m gonna go sit in quiet.
Clinique was the thing when I was in high school in the ‘80s! Back then you could tell the Clinique girls bc they were slightly orange 🤣 I used Dior bc it was the only brand that had a shade as pale as I am and then I said Fuck it.
You could tell the Clinque girls is so funny because they haven’t changed anything..? 😐
They must have changed their formula a while back bc I don’t recall seeing anyone ‘Clinique Orange’ for a long time!
That’s what I was thinking. Clinique is all I’ve ever used. And I’m 41 😂
laura mercier tinted moisturizer still slaps
I never had acne and oily skin till my 20s and it lasted a long time. I was introduced to Clinique in college and Bare Minerals later. Still love both, and I've tried a lot of brands.
I try to tell myself that some other moisturizer would do the same as Moisture Surge but I keep going back after every attempt to part ways with it. I guess we are just meant to be. I also love their blushes as I am quite pale ane they are not too pigmented but still pigmented and soft to blend. Plus I like the subtle glow because I don't use highlighters anymore
Not necessarily an old lady brand, but an old lady product: Covergirl Simply Ageless foundation with Olay moisturizers. Specifically the cream that comes in a compact with a sponge, not the pump. It looks perfect on my skin, holds up, and costs less than half of the other products I’ve even somewhat liked.
What type of skin do u have? I'm asking bc I have oily skin, and I've thought about trying something different. Sometimes, my foundation just will not settle right.
i have oily skin and love this product it’s very pink in the light shades though.
I have combination skin, and its ability to hold up to oil is… average. If I’ve been properly moisturizing, it stays beautifully, but if my skin feels the need to overproduce oil, it does get a little floaty. But it costs under $20, so it might be worth a try.
Love Clinique but I've been using Nyx dupes lately to save money.
Lancôme Blush Subtil is my favorite blush formula ever. Starts sheer but buildable and pigmented, silky, blend like a dream, lasts all day. Elite. Lol my mom gave me hers bc she didn’t like the mini cream highlight in the compact.
Estée Lauder’s bronzer, Bronze Goddess, is a holy grail. I’m pale as and it’s super light and sheer and when you build it, it stays bronze and glowy and doesn’t go oompa Bobbi Browns highlighting powder is the best in the business. It’s super luxurious to use daily and depending on the shade, ranges from a natural wet look to a blinding highlight
would you say any of the highlighters give a glass skin effect? looking for something with high shine but low glitter.
Estee Lauder has the most amazing foundation! You can still get it. Its worth every single penny
I was obsessed with Mary Kay’s CC cream
You said "was". Did you switch to something else? I'm curious because I love MK CC Cream too.
I wanted a cruelty free option, so I stopped using them. Mary Kay isn’t completely cruelty free (they sell to China who require animal testing), so I’ve literally been trying to find an alternative for almost a decade 😭 I still haven’t found it’s equal to be honest. If I ever hear that they stop selling to China, I will SPRINT back to the CC cream. My mom is still somewhat selling it, so my dealer is nearby lol I have found the Iris and Romeo Best Skin Days to be somewhat similar, though it’s a little too warm for my cooler complexion. I also like most of the Ilia line.
Clinique Black Honey lipstain is iconic. Bare Minerals is garbage. Bismuth Oxychloride is infamous for causing breakouts. Try GloMinerals instead.
Or Pur Minerals! Been using it for years.
I must be the only person alive who didn't look good in Black Honey. Too brownish for me. I am a Light Summer.
Nah. Probably doesn't look good on lots of people. Still iconic.
Clarins lip oil but idk if that counts cause it’s very mainstreams
Was anyone here an Alexis Vogel devotee? Loved her line when it first came out!
I just saw a YouTube video where someone got all her original makeup and book and did her pam Anderson look MUA is Erin something I forget her last name
Erin Parsons! I loved that video
That’s right! And me too, she is amazing. I loved when she showed her makeup museum.
That sounds interesting. I’ll have to look. Does anyone remember the eyeshadow she put out first that was sort of a shimmery greige that was supposed to be a great universal shade? I loved it and have tried but have not been able to find a suitable dupe. Has anyone?
If anyone wants to try Clinique or Estée Lauder keep an eye out for when they do their gift with purchase promotions several times a year. It would be a great time.
I’m 25 and Estée Lauder double wear foundation has been my favorite for several years now. I was a young teen during the YouTube influencer era so of course I was influenced by every “new” product. After years of bad acne and cakey makeup I discovered this foundation and a perfect routine to go along with it. I will never turn my back on this foundation, it’s my everything hahaha.
i’m a DIE HARD estée lauder and clinique fangirl. i live and die by the estée lauder advanced night repair line, and clinique’s translucent powder.
Merle Norman! Their stuff is darn good quality. I love their cream blush and lipsticks. Their tinted moisturizer is what I wore all through high school in 05-09!
Came here to say Merle Norman!! It was my first job. I was in heaven! Lol
Miracle mask is still the bomb!
Still wear their powder foundation 🙌🏻
I used to love the Elizabeth Arden face powder. I haven’t used it for close to 20 years now so I’m not sure if it’s the same. At the time, in my 20’s, I worked at a department store so I would get a discount on everything. Once I left there I stopped using it because I was too cheap to pay that much!
I have tried other mascaras but keep going back to my tried and true Maybelline Great Lash in the neon pink and green tube. I feel like it’s one of the products that shows my age.
i still use this too lol. random but i was recently watching a movie about Jane Birkin and at one point she empties both of her bags and i noticed a tube of great lash spills out. didn’t realize it had been around that long and also felt a bit more chic in that moment for still using it.
I hated Clinique, their moisturizer made my skin more dry. Bare minerals was very cakey on me. Estée Lauder is what my grandma and mom use so it’s always been an ‘older woman’ product for me.
My sister was a die hard Clinique customer, from makeup and moisturizers to the classic Happy perfume. I tried and could never get into it. The mascara could not compare to my L’Oréal favorite (used to be the voluminous formula but has been Lash Paradise since it first came on the market). So many people and makeup artists are huge fans of Maybelline, but it never impressed me, and I wanted it to! The Clinique moisturizers never truly moisturized, either, so I gave up trying. I am dedicated to my NARS foundation and Charlotte Tilbury setting spray. Other than those expensive brands and items, I’m open to anything cheaper. I tend to gravitate toward L’Oréal, and sometimes Revlon.
Is Lancome an old lady brand? If so, their Teinte Idole foundation is my favorite. I’m also a fan of Clinique’s No. 2 toner and their super exfoliating scrub.
It is mine too. I lived in a small town when I was a teenager in the 90s, and I had to shop at the department stores to get foundation in my skin tone. My skin is oily and Teinte Idole was the only one that matched my skin well and didn't perform a vanishing act.
I use Lancôme Teinte Idole Ultra Wear Foundation Stick and it is amazing. But one reason I love it is that the brand symbol is the same as it ever was and reminds me of this big black round case of Lancôme face powder my mother used to use, complete with giant powder puff, when I was little. Loved it when she went out at night and I would powder my face like a little maniac. Happy memories.
I am an “old lady” so my opinion may not be relevant.😉 But I really like Estée Lauder’s foundations and Bare Minerals’ Mineral Veil. Clinique has some very good products as well, especially mascara.
Love cliniques foundations but they don’t go pale enough for me. I love how they feel and look on the skin. The even better one esp.
Lancôme mascara, Hypnotique, is the only stuff I can wear.
Avon glimmer lipliner in perfect plum. It’s my go to lip shade
The Avon glimmer eyeliner is my fav
I use air spun translucent powder.. I've been using it for years.. I'm only 29 years old. Last time I bought it at a drugstore, the cashier who had to be at least 50 years old told me I made her day for buying the airspun powder because her mom used to wear it when she was a little girl and every time she smells it or sees it she thinks of her mom
That stuff smells amazing
my mom wore it too and probably still does. recently ordered a perfume oil that supposed to smell like it bc i’ve always loved the scent
Can i know what the oil is?
oriental musk by kuumba made! haven’t received mine yet but it was about $10
Oh i love Kuumbas! Been using them for years. I love the variety and the price!!
Coty airspun translucent face powder. Be careful when you open it if you're wearing black
Merle Norman translucent face finishing powder is still 🔥!!! 👍🏼
I was just gonna say I still have a Merle Norman store near me!
Wow! I think ours all closed but I still order that powder online! The best! ❤️
Clarins, killer red shades for that french girl look
Oh, those 90's and eaely 2000's brands!
Definitely Clinique. I’ve used their lotions and skin care products for 15 years. I also occasionally use their eye liner, mascara, and lipsticks too when I get the Clinique bonus 😊
Listen, I do not care what anyone says, KISS makes better lash products than pretty much any other brand I’ve ever tried. And I don’t just mean the lashes themselves. I mean the glue, the applicators, the cleaners, EVERYTHING. It’s all amazing quality and extremely affordable
YES !!! I almost always only wear KISS lashes. That and the Duo eyelash glue, I've been using it for at least 10 years
Honestly I like KISS lash glue better than Duo! Duo is still a really great option, but KISS seems to last longer for me and feels lighter
Hmmm maybe I'll give it another try! I love the duo black glue, does KISS have a black one??
I believe so!
Clinique’s foundation is my favorite. It’s not too heavy. Estée Lauder has a heavier foundation that’s nice too. I used it for my wedding. Neither of these give that cake face feel some of the non old lady brands give.
My mom used Clinique and they had it when I was in college so I started buying the cleanse kit. I love it and definitely don’t see many buying it
Happy Cake Day!! Mine was yesterday lol.
I had no idea Clinique was considered a brand with an older clientele (until I was scrolling through this thread), but I'm a fan of their products. When I first expressed an interest in wearing makeup, my mom took me to their beauty counter at the local mall. ❤️
Same! I think I was in junior high and I ended up getting their 3 step skin care system, concealer and maybe mascara. I was loyal to the soap, toner and concealer for a looooong time.
Hahah same! And Bare Minerals was all the hype when I was in college…I definitely don’t consider it an old lady or grandma brand
I wear Clinique foundation. A nice lady at Ulta helped me figure out what looks good, and we settled on Clinique. I really like it, combined with moisturizer, primer, and setting spray. But I guess foundation is the only thing I use that’s a classic brand.
Same!! The Ulta sales lady’s foundation looked amazing and I asked what she was wearing and it was Clinique and she shade matched me and I’ve never looked back. Lol
I’m a Clinique & BareMinerals girlie for life. Cliniques mascara and BareMinerals eyeshadows are staples in my collection. 90% of what I have is drugstore outside of those two things. Skincare is CeraVe and Clinique all the way for me.
Coty Air Spun setting powder.
This!!!
Coty Air Spun setting powder. Dude I just had a 20th-Century flashback at that combination of words
I love the Laura Geller powder foundations. They look and feel amazing all day.
Her things go soooo orange on me!
The shade range is definitely lacking. In the winter, I wear the lightest which is neutral, but the next-lightest shade for the spring/summer is very orange on me. I’ve been mixing the two to balance it out a little, but it is disappointing because I love the formula!
The formula does feel good. I put it on to go to tea with my daughter and was feeling pretty nice until she took a photo of me in natural light. I looked like one of those girls in junior high who thought she’d look tan by using a too-dark foundation. Cringe!
That’s the worst!! It’s like the 2000s pulled a gotcha on you 😂
Mary Kay mascara and brown black eyeliner
Is Mary Kay not a MLM?