August 9, 2017

Fill in the Beauty Blank: I Remember When…..

Some people are fond of saying, “I’m turning into my mother!” As for me, I’m turning into my father. We all mentally role our eyes when my dad starts in on one of his “I remember when…” speeches.

I remember when I had to walk to school in eight feet of snow without any shoes on.

I remember when there was no Tivo and we only had VCRs and blank cassettes.

I remember when bread was a dollar a loaf.

My dad is fond of remembering the good old days and apparently so am I.

Lately, I find myself reminiscing about the good old makeup and beauty days. There are so many things I miss about the makeup world. So, many products I wish were still around. So, many formulas that have changed.

Speaking of formula changes….

This morning I was washing my hair with my Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Shampoo and I couldn’t help but think about how it isn’t as strong smelling as it once was. I remember washing and conditioning with it and following up with a misting of the Leave-In Conditioner only to have the scent stick with me all day. It was the type of thing people would lean in and ask, “What are you wearing?” It just lingered on and on and it had a nice throw to it. And forget about it if I got my hair wet in the rain or took a dip in the pool! The scent would intensify! I recall waking up in the morning and my entire pillow would smell like delicious vanilla.

The good news would be Carol’s Daughter is so readily available nowadays! Walgreens, Target, Walmart, you name it and it’s super easy to find the brand stocked on shelves. I remember when, there I go turning into my father, it was available at Sephora!

I also remember when it was a lot more strong smelling. Like all good things L’Oreal acquired Carol’s Daughter back in 2014 because L’Oreal (or Estee Lauder) plans to take over the beauty world. Typically as soon as L’Oreal takes over within a year or so changes happen! Prices go up (or down), formulas change, etc… Ever after the L’Oreal buyout Carol’s Daughter products don’t seem nearly as strong smelling to me as they once were. Thankfully the formulas seem unchanged but the amount of scent seems a little weaker to me.

I remember when it was a lot stronger.

How about you?

Notice any changes in Carol’s Daughter?

Or perhaps another brand?

Go ahead and fill in the beauty blank, I remember when________________________________with your own makeup or beauty rant.

Remember when brands were a lot less about social media and a lot more about creating quality products? Remember when Teen Spirit Deodorant was all the rage?

Share your remember when story!

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Liz

    I remember when the drugstore makeup sale was always buy one, get one free — not this buy one get one 1/2 off nonsense.

    • Isabella Muse

      I have to admit, I don’t remember buy 1, get 1 free! only buy 1, get 1 1/2 off! I missed out!!!!!!

    • kimkats

      Oh yeah! It hasn’t been *that* many years that it was done away with… I think bogo half off is just a way for the company to make me buy more of their product for not much discount. I seldom do this because I seldom need more than one of anything. But have you noticed how much more common a BOGO sale is now rather than just a straightforward discount? that’s because they’ll sell two units and make more money. Screw you – that’s not much of a sale. But then, business is all about the investor any more – not about the customer, who apparently exists just to make the investors money.
      Ok, stepping off my soapbox now… 🙂

  • Michelle

    I remember Clairol’s Herbal Essence shampoo when it came out in the early 1970’s, the scent was incredible! In the 80’s they changed it and it was never the same. Yeah, I’m old.

    • kimkats

      Same!! OMG, it was the *best*…. the 80s iteration of it was awful… smelled like bad cheap perfume. Nothing like the original… Man, that was a wonderful scent!

    • Susan

      Me too! It absolutely was the best. For a while I could get a cheap knockoff Mexican dupe at Walmart called Vanart. It smelled the same as the original Herbal Essence but wasn’t good as a shampoo (very harsh and drying) so I used it as a bubble bath!

      And, being 58, I have so many “I remember when”s that you don’t even want to know. My favorite is remembering the makeup looks of the early 1970s — much more light and natural-looking than today’s Instagram look of thick foundation, obvious contouring, Sharpie eyebrows, and overlined lips. When did looking like a drag queen become desirable (no offense to actual drag queens, who can be very entertaining) for young women?

  • Kish

    I remember when you could go to CVS with $20 and come home with 4 or 5 different products. Those were the days lol.

  • Sheree

    Well, not a brand but has anyone else noticed that Sephora is including totally random samples in your order instead of the three that you chose? This has happened to me twice now, and the things they gave me were products that I definitely would NOT have chosen. I know they’re just samples, and they’re free, but I’d like to have something that I’d actually be willing to try!!

    • Deb

      Sheree, I ranted about this in a previous post. I’ve been VIB rouge for years and I haven’t gotten a single sample that I selected in months. Every order I’ve made has some random samples in it that I would never have selected. I know they say they have the right to substitute samples for those that are out of stock, but I honestly wish they would just not send anything if my selection is out of stock. I donate all of my unused and unopened samples but I would prefer not to be sent things I didn’t order. I’m getting so tired of Sephora I need a new word for tired.

      • Kish

        I’m so tired of Sephora also. The sample thing just irritates me. I’m rather picky about fragrance, and so I generally don’t select fragrance samples. Never fails, I open the package and oh look, 3 fragrance samples. Plus, it seems like they are getting slower with shipping. I had placed an order a month ago. 6 days and it still said in process. Finally I called the Rouge line and asked them what was going on. They had no idea at all. 3 days later I called and asked them to just cancel the order and forget about it. Magically, it had just shipped at that exact minute and they couldn’t. I’m also tired of their sale page. Most of the stuff is out of stock. And I ordered a few things and they were out of stock by the time my order shipped. Seems like they have some warehouse issues. I’ve been buying from Ulta lately instead.

    • Randi MacDonald

      This bugs me so much. I sent them a message and they responded by ” sorry the samples you picked were not included” here is 150 points.

  • Anna-Marie Rytter

    I remember when I wore makeup for the first time, LOL! (Apologies in advance for the super long post… I tend to be very prolific when typing… I think I got that trait from my dad 🙂 )

    When I was about 9 or 10, I was in stage-dance lessons. And for the year-end recital, we were going to dance to the Alvin & The Chipmunks version of “Stayin’ Alive” while wearing these super-cute (albeit inappropriate for the age group of the class) 70’s-inspired costumes (side note: HOW DO I STILL REMEMBER EVERY DETAIL?!). Anyways…

    A few months prior to this performance, we had to get professional photos done. And as anyone who’s ever taken dance class (or performed onstage for anything) knows, you have to wear makeup on stage and in the photos. My mom and I went and bought a ton of drugstore-brand makeup in order to fulfill the dance studio’s requirements… and let’s just say I strongly disliked the whole process of applying the makeup (I had worn eyeshadow, blush, and lipgloss before, but never eyeliner or mascara– so that part was a challenge).

    In the end, I decided that dance lessons weren’t really my thing, so I never did perform in that year-end recital. Was it the requirement to wear makeup that caused me to change my mind? Maybe. I will never know the real motive for dropping out of dance lessons. But I still have the memories and the photos– as well as bits and pieces of that costume 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      Anna that was too cute ;-D I loved reading it! Hopefully you LOVE makeup now!

      • Anna-Marie Rytter

        Thank you! 🙂 Yes, I totally love makeup now (and wear it every day)… I even wrote for a fashion/beauty blog for a short time in 2014-15!

        • Isabella Muse

          😀 yay! I’m glad that experience didn’t scar you for life haha!

  • Cindy

    I remember when Ulta had a hair product sale, it was buy two, get TWO free not buy two, get ONE free. I also remember when Sephora carried Paula Dorf Perfect Illusion for lips. Holy Grail lip primer!!! I used it for YEARS until they discontinued it & Paula Dorf essentially went out of business. For awhile I used the horribly mediocre MAC Prep + Prime lip but then UD released Ultimate Ozone & that comes the closest. I need my lipstick not to move EVER, mmmkay??? ;p

  • TropicalChrome

    I remember when drugstore foundation/mascara/etc. was actually cheaper than high end (in price, not just formulation). At this point, the price is so close that it’s worth making the jump.

    I remember when eyebrows were not a “thing”. I read about HS girls who would never consider leaving the house without their “brows done”, and I’m thinking “huh?”. We went after stray hairs and that was it and thought Brooke Shields was a little bit out there.

    I remember when all you needed was foundation, powder, eye shadow, blush, eyeliner, lip gloss, and mascara. Now you “need” a primer and a setter for virtually all of them (to which I say phooey), which doubles the amount of product, time, and cost.

    I remember when PABA was THE ingredient to have in sunscreen, and it was touted highly in all advertising. Oops. Yeah, not such a good idea after all.

    I remember when Love’s Baby Soft was THE scent to wear. When they brought it back I bought a small bottle and even thought it’s a bit unsophisticated for me now, the memories it brings back are amazing. My husband still likes it too 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      I miss the original Baby Soft! The latest version smells nothing like it used to!

  • Susan Phillips

    Speaking of Herbal Essences (several posts back), they used to have a body powder. The scent lasted FOREVER. I have tried without luck to find it online over the years.

  • Andrea

    I remember when Maybelline used to sell a loose translucent powder that was pale pink in colour.

    I loved it so much. It gave such a nice healthy glow to my skin as opposed to the white ones that make me look ghastly.

    Wish they would bring it back.

  • Justin

    I remember when Bumble and bumble made some of my favorite products and just like any other EL acquired brand it’s not the same anymore

  • Kimberly

    Sephora rant-I remember receiving great samples in a cute black nylon bag. Presentation was the key back in the days. Now, they toss unwanted samples in the box. Also, the rewards were 100 times better and samples were truly samples.

    • Isabella Muse

      remember the beautiful boxes they used to pack things in? Especially at xmas! With the pretty ribbon!

      • Kimberly

        Yessss!! I kept my lipsticks in those boxes. Come back old Sephora and tried and tested formulas.

        • Isabella Muse

          I use to store makeup in them 😀 All sorts! They were so gorgeous!

  • Randi MacDonald

    I still remember the scent of Agree shampoo and conditioner. My first GF wore it and it was such a potent scent. I still remember Love’s baby soft too.

    • Isabella Muse

      I’m closing my eyes and I’m trying to remember what Agree smelled like and I can’t come up with anything! Now I want to go by some lol! Love Baby’s Soft was the best! Now it doesn’t smell nearly as good :-/

  • Susan S.

    I remember when I was in middle school, ages ago, Maybelline had these cute rectangular “single” eyeshadows. The top was clear so you could see the color, it included one mini applicator, and was about five inches in length. Cutest thing, ever!

  • Brandy

    I remember when Caress used to make these amazing smelling body sprays in the late 90s possibly early 2000s. I had the Wild Blossom scent that I would drench my body in. I also remember buying makeup for the first time and getting Jane cosmetics. I bought a pressed powder that was much too light for my skin, some blue and purple eyeshadow, and a liquid lipstick that smelled like strawberries. I also couldn’t leave the house without putting on my heavily scented Teen Spirit deodorant. At least I never smelled bad growing up.

  • Kim

    I remember when Philosophy had the most amazing shower gels in awesome seasonal scents and beautiful packaging. They boxes were adorned with glitter and pretty illustrations, or they were in an embossed tin. Anyone remember “the gingerbread house” that actually looked like a gingerbread house? They really went downhill. Their presentation is no better than a boxed gift set you pick up at Wal-Mart. Not knocking Wal-Mart, but you all know what I mean.

    • Isabella Muse

      I REMEMBER all this Kim! 😀 Philosophy was incredible around the holidays! Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Autumn, Christmas, you name it they had some brilliant shower gel launch with cutesy packaging. Been a while since that happened 🙁

  • genevieve

    I remember when the only eye shadows you could buy were those frosty quads from Rimmel or Revlon and I thought they were beautiful….