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What’s the Oldest Piece of Makeup in Your Collection?

May 29th, 2011 by Karen 55 Comments


MAC Eyeshadows in Brule (left) and Print (right) in packaging from 1998!

While rifling through my makeup collection yesterday, I found two ancient relics of my cosmetics world, these pans of MAC Eyeshadow in Brule and Print.

I’ve kept a handful of products like these around for the sake of nostalgia, but I don’t really use most of them anymore, like the two shadows at the top, which are from 1998! One of these days I may toss ’em out, probably during a future feng shui fit, but for now I plan to hold on for one more day (yes, I just quoted Wilson Phillips).

What’s the oldest piece of makeup in your beauty collection, and (if you remember it) what’s the story behind it?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Oh, since we’re on the subject of old makeup, these links just seemed appropriate, LOL!

  • You’ve Heard It Before, But Makeup DOES Expire
  • How Closely Do You Follow Makeup Expiration Guidelines?

What’s the Oldest Piece of Makeup in Your Collection? / Originally published May 29th, 2011

There are 55 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Makeup

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Comments

  1. Terri says

    May 29th, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    I just got rid of some Origins eyeshadows that I bought 7 years ago (at least!).

    Reply
  2. Samantha Kara says

    May 29th, 2011 at 2:09 pm

    Brule was actually the first MAC eyeshadow I purchased! Granted, it wasn’t in 1998 and more like just last year.. but still 😀

    I just started my collection a short while ago, and anything that was first purchased I’ve used and repurchased.. So I’m not too sure what my answer would be 🙂

    Reply
  3. Emily says

    May 29th, 2011 at 2:10 pm

    I definitely have MAC from @1997- far more then your two relics I’m embarrassed to say! I am now confessing to saving two lippies and two np from the Kate Earnshaw for Max Factor re: Titanic collection. Yeah I’m one of those girls. It was a great period of my life so I have these small souvenirs.

    Reply
  4. karo says

    May 29th, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    CLINIQUE – Pressed Powder Bronzer 04 “Sunswept” that I bought 5 years ago.
    it was summer and I was sooooo dark that I only use this Bronzer 😉
    I still like them!
    xoxo
    karo recently posted … AMU MAC-CHANEL PASSION PLUM

    Reply
  5. Jenna says

    May 29th, 2011 at 2:14 pm

    I have some Chanel makeup from 2004 which my mother purchased for me for my high school prom. I may have some older makeup though somewhere, I haven’t been through all of it in quite a while =)

    Reply
  6. Vijaya says

    May 29th, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    I have some old glosses I must’ve bought as a kid. I think I may have tossed them, though, as they don’t seem to be making an appearance.
    Vijaya recently posted … Adventures in Orange Eyeshadow- Foxy Lady

    Reply
  7. Bellyrockin says

    May 29th, 2011 at 3:02 pm

    I still have the very first eyeshadow I bought for myself back in the mid 70s (my early teens). It’s a beautiful lilac shadow and I think it’s by Outdoor Girl. Certainly the palette my parents bought me, which I still have (of a very similar vintage) is by Outdoor Girl. It’s called Colouring Box, and it’s all dark colours – purples, blues, greens and brown. I used to create quite realistic false bruises on myself with it LOL

    Reply
  8. Heidi says

    May 29th, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    I have a MAC lipstick in Mocha (not the same mocha that’s in the Surf Baby collection) and the tube is with the flat top (old packaging) — so, however long ago that was!

    Reply
  9. Stevie Raye says

    May 29th, 2011 at 3:23 pm

    I have lip smackers lip gloss from probably close to 1999. Still smells like yummy strawberries!

    Reply
  10. Kamila says

    May 29th, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    I’m still holding on to my Revlon Streetwear nail varnish collection from the mid-90s!
    They were such amazing and original colours, and I develop a strange nostalgia for my high-school days when I rifle through them!

    Though they are too old to wear, I keep them for reference and franken identical shades from varnishes by other brands!

    I really wish Revlon would revive this range… 🙁

    Reply
  11. Makeup Morsels says

    May 29th, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    I have a Dior quint in Mist from the 1980’s, back when they put matte shadows in their palettes 🙂 It was my mom’s, and the packaging looks so nice and vintage-y.

    Reply
  12. sharon says

    May 29th, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    Definitely my Caboodles lip palette from 2003 or the beginning of 2004. I used to buy all these things from the scholastic book orders from school and these pretty things would always temp me.

    Reply
  13. sarah says

    May 29th, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    I only recently got into makeup 3 years ago. Id have to say the oldest makeup I have is a clinique blush in patchwork peach that my friend gave me.

    Reply
  14. Megan says

    May 29th, 2011 at 4:22 pm

    Ooo…my oldest piece is not makeup, but a brush. I have a MAC angled eyeshadow brush from (I believe) my freshman year of high school…so that would be 1997-1998.

    I keep it clean, beautiful, and it has never, ever let me down for eyebrow filling. 🙂

    Reply
  15. Jenny says

    May 29th, 2011 at 5:26 pm

    Revlon Wet/Dry Eyeshadow Quad Violet Haze from 8-9 years ago. I bought it just as I was starting makeup and thought it was a nice beginner’s palette with some pretty purples. I’ve only kept it because the gray-purples will be nice for a vampire face I’m planning for Halloween.

    Reply
  16. Nikolas says

    May 29th, 2011 at 5:33 pm

    I have a bunch of MAC eyeshadows in pot form from the early 2000’s and they’re all really bright colors that I used to wear back then like Freshwater, Bitter and Hepcat 🙂 Lol that was back in my early teens when I would only wear one color of eyeshadow at a time hahaha

    Reply
  17. Jessi says

    May 29th, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    I have a MAC Nymphette Lipglass from about 9 years ago. It is still mostly full as I have never liked the way Nymphette looks on me! It was my first high end makeup purchase when I was 15. And it only took me about 7 more years to make another MAC purchase, haha.
    Jessi recently posted … Week 8- Shopping my Stash for Untried Polish- NYX Girls Collection Noir

    Reply
  18. Chris25 says

    May 29th, 2011 at 6:03 pm

    I have a Jane eyeshadow that I wore to my 8th grade graduation back in 1998. It’s from the original line, when they had nail polishes.

    Reply
  19. Ithfifi says

    May 29th, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    Thats incredible! I never saw mac package like that, It was nice to go a little retro and see that! My oldest items are… Sushi flower, Moon’s reflection and electric eel eyeshadows. I still have them… they have some senitment but I have a hard time throwing away makeup! I no longer use any of these old shadows.. I just keep them… I’m so bad at throwing things away :s

    Reply
  20. Caroline says

    May 29th, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    This lipstick from Revlon, I think, the label rubbed off the bottom that I took from my mom when I was in high school. It’s from the 70’s, brick red and has that old makeup smell. I don’t use it, just like pulling it out once in awhile to admire the pretty gold case it came in. It brings back a lot of memories. One product I purchased that is about 10 years old is this Chanel lipstick and matching liner in Nude. There is hardly any lipstick left on it but if I just dab on my finger I can a little color. I need to get a new one.

    Reply
  21. Emily says

    May 29th, 2011 at 6:29 pm

    My oldest pieces of makeup are a Mary-Kate and Ashley bronzer I bought 4 years ago ( I was 7) and a Claire’s eye palette about the same age. Lol, I feel so young compared to all these people who have makeup from the 80’s and 90’s. I wasn’t even born until 1999!

    Reply
    • Anitacska says

      June 5th, 2011 at 6:06 am

      You’re 11, of course you feel young! 😀
      Anitacska recently posted … Back To The Bases

      Reply
  22. kalcedon says

    May 29th, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    I have a Maybelline lipstick which I got with a teen mag about 8 years ago… sometimes I even use it today, it’s more of a wearable color for me now than back then… and fortunately, my skin didn’t break out or anything.

    Reply
  23. elle says

    May 29th, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    Some chapsticks/”lipsticks” from
    when I was <5!

    Reply
  24. Alicia says

    May 29th, 2011 at 7:23 pm

    Lol! I have a pot of Mac Brule eyeshadow from 2000. It was my first purchase from Mac and I bought it when I was pregnant with my first baby…can’t believe he’s almost 11.

    Reply
  25. Jennifer says

    May 29th, 2011 at 7:26 pm

    I have Espresso and Print in the old screw top because it was my first two eyeshadows ever! Also, I have two lip liners from when it was in the silver packaging( Jennifer Lopez days maybe..). Also, I have four eyeshadows from the Salsabelle collection(not sure if that was the name:/) But that is about it!

    Question: How many eyeshadows from Mac do you own?

    Just your curious beauty junkie 😉
    Have a good day!
    Jennifer

    Reply
  26. Radhika says

    May 29th, 2011 at 7:45 pm

    Loreal lipsticks …and a TBS eyeshadow trio – about 3 years old..
    Radhika recently posted … Manga Pulisseri Mango cooked In Yogurt Sauce

    Reply
  27. snoopysteph says

    May 29th, 2011 at 8:20 pm

    Chanel’s Vamp nail polish from 1995!

    Reply
  28. Leona says

    May 29th, 2011 at 10:22 pm

    I have a small collection of lipbalms that are ~10 years old. That sounds really gross now that I think about it, but it’s not like they’ve gone all yuck. If they had, I would chuck them out! I also have some nail polishes that are probably from the mid 1990s. Brands like Avon and Maybelline and CoverGirl. I’m guessing they were my mums. They’re still fine!
    Leona recently posted … 28 May- And now for something completely different

    Reply
  29. Rita says

    May 29th, 2011 at 11:02 pm

    I think I still have somewere mascaras form early ’80s. I used to buy every shade available, and I have kept them just to see the different colors I had. I also have some Dior palettes form ´80s, but I think I tossed some of them already a couple of years ago.

    Reply
  30. Nadia A. says

    May 30th, 2011 at 12:39 am

    The oldest makeup product I think I have is my Mac Coygirl blush, which I think I repurchased in 2008 (I think).

    Reply
    • Nadia A. says

      May 30th, 2011 at 12:47 am

      Oops, I forgot to include my story. I first purchased Mac Coygirl blush before I got married in 2002. During my wedding makeup test run, the Mac makeup artist, who did my wedding makeup, told me that she was planning to use Mac Coygirl blush. Therefore, I told her that I would go ahead and purchase it so that she could apply it on me on my wedding day. I loved the color so much that I used it a lot after my wedding day. I then moved on to some other Mac blush colors. However, in 2008, I decided to repurchase the blush again.

      Reply
  31. Edel says

    May 30th, 2011 at 2:46 am

    I have mac concealer in the old screw top lid. I think my first mac shadow was print in the old packaging too but it has since gone b2m along with alot of other stuff but I held onto the concealer for sentimental value… I don’t use it tho

    Reply
  32. Lulle says

    May 30th, 2011 at 3:02 am

    My oldest product is an eyeshadow duo by Clarins, pink and grey, given to me by my aunt when I was a teenager, so that was… more than 15 years ago!! I don’t use it, but I can’t throw it away : it’s a gift!
    Lulle recently posted … Petons parfum lavande avec Durance

    Reply
  33. Lillian says

    May 30th, 2011 at 3:15 am

    My oldest make up is my Wet/Dry powder light-medium color from Avon. I have this since 2000 as a gift. The reason why I cannot just get rid of this make is for sentimental value…
    Lillian recently posted … Acne Vulgaris Treatment – Curing it from Within

    Reply
  34. mill says

    May 30th, 2011 at 4:58 am

    i have some VERY OLD

    Reply
    • mill says

      May 30th, 2011 at 5:00 am

      sorry- very old LIPSMACKERS was what i was meaning to say. the old packaging, the original strawberry kiwi and vanilla flavours- i keep them for sentimental value!

      Reply
  35. Nikkiteen says

    May 30th, 2011 at 5:43 am

    I have some chanel shadow and blush from 10 years ago, and even though I never used it much, I just love the chanel logo, and can’t get rid of em. I also have this hard candy shadow in glittery red that was my very fave for quite awhile, and looked great around my eyes. I know make up has a shelf life but i find some stuff you can let slide.

    Reply
  36. Nina says

    May 30th, 2011 at 6:32 am

    i only started wearing makeup in 2009 …. so i dont really have any old stuff!

    Reply
  37. Ondina says

    May 30th, 2011 at 7:10 am

    I have an unopened Maybelline Mosaic blush/bronzer and a Wear n’ go lipstick in Go toasted rose. Both from late ’90’s. I hold onto the lippie to find a dupe.

    Reply
  38. Shannon says

    May 30th, 2011 at 8:07 am

    I have a few pans of Jane Iredale makeup that my grandmother got for me when she took my sister and I to the dermatologist for the first time (probably circa 2005 or 2006?). I still have a bronzer and 3 pans of eyeshadow (which I still use…. don’t tell the makeup police). I also got a blush then that I’m dying to repurchase… Jane Iredale’s Whisper is such a GORGEOUS, natural-flush sort of pink with golden flecks. love!

    Reply
  39. TrishaL says

    May 30th, 2011 at 11:04 am

    I do a clean sweep every few years, so I don’t really have much of anything exciting… I enjoyed reading everyone’s posts though 🙂

    Reply
  40. Daniella says

    May 30th, 2011 at 11:24 am

    The oldest makeup item i have is the first lipgloss i ever bought with my own money, its from loreal and has a doe foot aplicator that looks pink now because i always used to wear it on top of clinique’s honeygloss lipstick which got trapped and killed my my nephews about 2 years ago. Anyway, the thing with this lipgloss is it was the very favorite of my whole group of friends because it smelled nice and felt like silk on your lips so we all used to wear it when going out to a party and stuff, i know it doesn’t sound very sanitary but all of my friends still remember that tube with a smile on their faces and it even has its own picture on facebook! I bought the lipgloss when i was 12, now i’m 24.. gosh i feel old!!

    Reply
  41. Liz says

    May 30th, 2011 at 11:49 am

    Funny you should ask. 🙂

    About a year ago I unearthed a box of makeup that had gone missing through several moves. Some of the items in it dated backl to the early 1980’s! I started blogging swatches and product photos of it last fall, though I’ve been pretty lax about it lately. What I did so far is up at vintagebeauty.org .

    The oldest item isn’t up yet – it’s a Merle Norman eyeshadow in taupe that was probably purchased in 1981 or 1982. I also have a light blue Maybellineeyeliner pencil from about the same era.

    If you look at any of it, I’d love to hear your opinion!
    Liz recently posted … Insanely huge giveaway at Beauty Crazed

    Reply
  42. lily says

    May 30th, 2011 at 5:12 pm

    my benefit showoffs! I bought it when I was in middle school. It was a light blue color and at the time, i thought it was a great idea but now i realized it looks AWFUL against my skin tone. I still have it thought because it doesn’t really go bad and i never know when i’ll need an icy blue shimmery powder :]

    Reply
  43. JenJ says

    May 30th, 2011 at 6:13 pm

    I think a Mary Kay bronzer that still looks brand new lol! I didn’t “get” bronzer back then. Hmmmm may pull it out and play with it this week.

    Reply
  44. angie says

    May 30th, 2011 at 10:30 pm

    an estee lauder wet/dry eyeshadow duo in spring bouquet- a pretty pink shimmer/matte purple combo from when i was 12-that would be 1998! i don’t want to throw it out because it was my first high end makeup my mom bought for me!

    Reply
  45. Julia says

    May 31st, 2011 at 2:39 am

    A small chunk of Oriflame eyeliner from 2000. It was my very first piece of makeup and I still hold onto it for memories. The other one would be an Estee lauder lipstick from 2006… It was my first high end purchase and I believe that color was discontinued. Vanilla Truffle I guess…

    Reply
  46. kiwikiwidragon says

    May 31st, 2011 at 6:52 am

    My oldest piece of makeup, is truly vintage. It was from my grandmothers salon and is easily 30 years old. I don’t use it, but it is a beautiful loose iridescent purple pigment type. I had a brown color as well but I do believe that one is long gone. I swatched them years ago and they were truly beautiful and pigmented. other than those, I have some joe blasco from my days, in the mid-nineties, when i worked for glamor shots!

    Reply
  47. Felicia says

    May 31st, 2011 at 1:07 pm

    I have a Fashion Fair makeup palette that my aunt gave me bought 18 years ago. It is big and bulky and larger than a piece of letter sized paper. There are about 12 eyeshadow colors, 4 blushes and 4 lipsticks. I was really new to makeup then and it was so beautiful to have such a variety. It was my favorite for such a long time. I havent used it in years, of course, and have tried to throw it away so many times but it too hard to do so.

    Reply
  48. Dani says

    May 31st, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    I have a Clinique blush in “Sugarplum” from 2002… Its my favorite blush – I still use it, but I’m in conservation mode now and have yet to find an exact match.

    Reply
  49. Dea says

    June 1st, 2011 at 4:24 am

    The first and oldest piece of make up I bought myself was a turquoise pencil eyeliner from a drugstore brand I don’t remember (I even think it doesn’t exist any more). I still own it, must be somewhere in my bathroom. Bought it about 12 years ago I guess…

    Reply
  50. meibaola says

    June 1st, 2011 at 5:54 am

    I have a hot pink blush that I believe has been depotted from a palette I received for Christmas in 1987, and a retractable powder brush got on the same occasion, which btw is also still in perfect shape. Don’t ask what brand though, at that time I didn’t care. By coincidence, I am wearing said “vintage” blush today ^^ Maybe it is gross, buit it has never given me any problem. Some of you guys had yet to be born, when I first applied a rectangular stripe of hot pink across my cheeks… that was long before I was introduced to the wonders of blending! Haaa, the 80s… 😉

    Reply
  51. Anitacska says

    June 5th, 2011 at 6:10 am

    I have some Guerlain Meteorites that are pre-2000, although I didn’t buy them then, I got them from eBay 1-2 years ago. I do have some lipglosses and lipsticks that are probably 7-8 years old and some eyeshadows of similar age. I have recently given away a lot of my older drugstore make up, so don’t have that many left from my youth, lol.
    Anitacska recently posted … Back To The Bases

    Reply
  52. Em says

    December 31st, 2011 at 10:52 pm

    GREAT LASH MASCARA, ANYONE? 😉

    Reply

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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