Old-School Makeup Products People Don't Use Anymore

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Beauty products have been around since the beginning of time, and like fashion, fads come and go. With ever-growing technology, makeup has come a long way, and there have been innovations like tubing mascara, which is different from regular mascara, that people would never have dreamed of before. Products were much simpler before the makeup revolution, with folks using drugstore brands and homemade concoctions to brighten up their skin or get rid of a pesky pimple. These days, there's a never-ending supply of skincare with ingredients such as peptides and retinol that promise to give you that lit-from-within glow.

When it comes to those nostalgic makeup products, many have fallen by the wayside. Either they've been discontinued for some reason or replaced by something newer and better. For example, Maybelline's Great Lash used to be one of the top mascaras out there, with the pink-and-green tube stashed in practically everyone's makeup bag. However, celebrity makeup artist Caroline Hernandez says of the product, "This mascara is still around, and for it to have been around this long, it still must be a good seller, but I think it lost its crown due to the volume of competition now." Speaking exclusively to Glam, red-carpet hair and makeup artist Luna Viola also weighed in on once-popular items, such as powder foundations, which have since been replaced with more natural options. Still, it's fun to relive the popular cosmetics of yesteryear, and we're here to remind you of the many items that are now deemed old-fashioned.

Before mascara came in tubes with a lash wand, it was offered in little palettes in a solid form, which you had to apply onto your lashes with a small wet brush. Back then, the formulas contained questionable ingredients like petrolatum and coal, which is not something you'd want near your eyes. In the '50s, tube mascara was introduced, and it went on to dominate the cosmetics market. If you want to feel like an Old Hollywood siren, companies like Kryolan and Bésame still sell the old-school version, but with updated ingredients that are far safer for your peepers.

If you looked through your mom's medicine cabinet, chances are that you saw a jar of cold cream readily on hand for daily use. Super simple to use, this product simply involves rubbing a generous amount on your face and then wiping off the day's products with a damp washcloth. Many started using the thick oil and water combo following its popularity spike in the 1920s, and some went so far as to even sleep with a cold cream mask on at night for a nourishing treatment. We can only imagine how often folks had to wash their pillowcases.

Powder foundations were huge in the '90s and early aughts, and there wasn't a MAC counter that didn't sell its Studio Fix compact in droves. The formula had more pigment than setting powders, making using powder foundations an ideal tip for getting ready faster. Now that the matte look has been out for some time, makeup users are veering more towards liquid foundations. "Powder foundations are now considered too dry and flat; trends shifted towards radiant skin and people like to see a bit of glow and natural skin," Luna Viola exclusively tells Glam.

One beauty trend that was huge in the '90s was frosted lipstick, which was seen on the lips of beauty icons like Pamela Anderson and Naomi Campbell. Luna Viola exclusively shares with us, "Frosted lipsticks disappeared from the makeup market once lip glosses took over with the juicy and moist look reversing the trend. The silver/gold metallic shimmer is what is now considered outdated on lips." The frosty look did make a brief resurgence in 2022, but it's all about a natural finish these days.

Remember when everyone you knew carried oil blotting papers in their purse? These handy sheets that absorbed shine were awesome for quick touch-ups during the day, especially in the hot summer months. Some contained a bit of powder for a mattifying effect, while others simply soaked up extra sebum on your face without leaving any residue. However, oil blotting sheets may not be the perfect shine reducer we once thought, as they don't control grease and could cause breakouts. Instead, a great translucent powder is all you need for shine control.

Waking up with puffy eyes is the worst, and if you're genetically predisposed to under-eye bags, it may seem like nothing works — except for hemorrhoid cream, that is. Yes, folks once turned to a tube of Preparation H to tighten their under-eye areas, and while it worked temporarily, experts advise against it. Makeup artist Caroline Hernandez exclusively tells Glam, "Though this did work, it isn't advisable as the skin around the eyes is much thinner and sensitive and can cause irritation and in some cases, may even thin the skin." Her advice? Along with ice rollers, try Talika or Rare Beauty under-eye patches instead.