These iconic beauty products were discontinued - here's where to find 'dupes'

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In the world of beauty and makeup, a beloved product can be taken off the shelves as quickly as it can be released.

Perhaps customers stop reaching for it, or maybe another brand released something better – nevertheless, every makeup lover knows that pang in their chest when a cult favourite gets discontinued.

Here's a look back at some of the most-loved beauty items that have been discontinued, and where you can find their dupes.

M.A.C. lip pencil shades

For '90s and 2000s makeup lovers, the M.A.C. Cosmetics Lip Liner in the shade "Spice" was the holy grail.

The shade, paired with M.A.C. Cosmetics Bullet Lipstick in the shade Paramount, created a pair so juicy and iconic that it became the staple lip combo for Jennifer Aniston's Friends character Rachel Green.

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Aniston famously wore the very popular lip-liner shade while she was on the show.

The shade was wildly popular in the '90s and 2000s before it was altered to a warmer shade, with the original version discontinued.

While the shade still exists, it's very different to the cool-tone beloved version of the '90s pencil.

After demand from M.A.C. lovers, the company introduced a new shade called "Cool Spice", which is an almost exact dupe for the original.

AVON Beauty Body Shimmer and Perfumes

AVON Beauty was many beauty lovers' first dip in the pool of makeup and beauty.

While the brand is still operating overseas, the Australian and New Zealand division has been shut down.

Their discontinued and beloved items included their classic fragrance line and the Avon Candid Shimmering Body Powder.

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Avon's iconic scent Candid includes notes of bergamot, jasmine, tuberose and ylang ylang, with base scents of sandalwood, vetiver, and patchouli.

The brand has a new version, if you can manage to get your hands on it within Australia.

You can also find some remaining stock for sale online of the original.

If you are looking for a more accessible, inspired-by version, there are affordable brands that offer perfumes with similar notes.

Australian company, Oscar and Eve, offers up perfume Empress Rain, with notes of patchouli, jasmine, ylang ylang, lavender, & bergamot for just under $50 for a similar floral scent.

The scent can be bought online via their website.

You could also reach for the decades-old and much loved Lanvin Arpège for women, which has top notes of peach and bergamot, middle notes of Ylang-Ylang and Iris, as well as base notes of Sandalwood and Patchouli.

The perfume can be bought at any chemist that sells fragrances, online and in stores like Big W for about $60.

For a replacement of the shimmering body powder, you may need to get a bit creative.

Loose powder highlighters can be a good alternative for a nice skin glow, with plenty of good options online, including the Lily Lolo Mineral Shimmer Stardust from Nourished Life ($35.50) or the Make Up For Ever Star Lit Diamond Powder, available at Adorebeauty or Sephora for $41.

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You could reach for any highlighting powder you already have in your collection for a nice body shimmer, but apply sparingly with a big fluffy brush to avoid looking like the tin man.

Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation

The Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse foundation was popular in the mid-2000s for good reason; its whipped mousse texture meant the product felt weightless on the skin, but it still provided a matte finish that was great for controlling shine.

It was easy to blend and buff, and it looked natural on the skin - it was also affordable, so makeup lovers everywhere rushed to get their hands on the product.

However, in the mid-2010s the product was largely discontinued, with a few still available in the US.

While Maybelline no longer offers a whipped textured foundation, their Fit Me Matte and Poreless Liquid Foundation both offer natural-looking finishes.

Mousse texture foundation is extremely rare these days; however, there is one widely available in the Australian market.

The Essence Soft Touch Mousse is an affordable option with a similar mousse texture.

It offers a lightweight feel and matte finish for just $7.50 at Priceline and Chemist Warehouse.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

When the online beauty influencer world exploded in the 2010s, Urban Decay was at the forefront of innovation.

The first "Naked" palette was a home run for the brand, and it was pivotal in the makeup industry.

It was the first neutral eyeshadow palette, with 12 neutral-toned shades that suited every skin tone.

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In the eight years it was on the market, the brand sold over 30 million units, generating more than $1 billion in sales before it was discontinued in 2018.

At the height of the Palette's popularity, the brand sold one Naked palette every six seconds.

The original Palette was discontinued, but the brand followed up with an entire range of Naked Palettes.

The original was brought back on limited release in 2024 due to popular demand but has since been taken off the market.

The closest one the brand offers to the original is the Naked Reloaded Palette, but it lands more on the warmer-toned side – it is available for $50.

E.l.f Cosmetics also offers a close dupe with the Perfect 10 Eyeshadow Palette in Nude Mood for $19.