19 of the oldest beauty products you can find still being sold (some were even from the 1800s!)

Sure, new beauty product launches are always exciting, but have you ever wondered what are some beauty products that have been around for as long as you have, or even before you were born?

The longevity of these products prove that its popularity has withstood the test of time – it only makes sense for beauty brands to keep them around if they are selling well.

We start off from a time not so far off in history, the 1990s, before we work our way back to the 1800s. Yes, there are beauty products still available on the market, which were first introduced before any one on the planet right now was alive.

Beauty products launched in the 1990s

Chanel Rouge Noir / Vamp

Chanel Le Vernis in 018 Rouge Noir and 018 Vamp

Launched: 1994

Debuting at the 1994 Paris Fashion Week, Chanel Rouge Noir quickly became an overnight hit when it was seen on the nails of Chanel models. The stunning deep red colour was so popular that people were lining up on the pavements on the day of its launch, with waiting lists stretching for as long as six to 12 months.

It raked in USD 1 million in its first year of launch, and things only got crazier after actress Uma Thurman wore it in the cult classic movie, Pulp Fiction, and Queen of Pop Madonna wore it in her music video for Take A Bow.

Chanel abruptly discontinued Rouge Noir in the 1990s, and it has since become an almost mystical and legendary product from the past.

In 2003, the product returned to the USA under the new name “Vamp”. It was, however, in a visibly different shade from the original Rouge Noir (see image above).

Nonetheless, this shade remains one of the most coveted ones around and has been copied by other brands.

2. YSL Beauty Touche Eclat

Launched: 1991

This highlighter pen was first introduced in the early 1990s and one is reportedly sold every 10 seconds. This highlighter-meets-concealer has become a holy grail that makeup artists and beauty enthusiasts swear by and since then YSL Beauty has even introduced a foundation by the name of Le Teint Touche Eclat, inspired by the well-loved formula.

This can be used at the undereye area, on top of your concealer or alone, to brighten up the eye area. Alternatively, you can choose a shade close to your skin tone to apply onto fine lines and wrinkles to smooth out their appearance. As a highlighter, apply it on the high points of your face to accentuate your features.

Beauty products launched between 1970s and 1980s

3. La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream

Launched: 1987

Skin Caviar Luxe Cream is the first product that La Prairie launched in its iconic Caviar collection. Marketed as a luxury moisturiser with anti-ageing benefits, caviar – as its name suggests – is the main ingredient used to deliver its skincare goodness.

The collection expanded over the years to include eye gel, foundations, sleeping masks, lifting serums, and even loose powders and concealers.

4. Clarins Double Serum

Launched: 1985

Clarins has been offering their unique two-serums-in-one vision since mid-1980s, with its philosophy that it can be help achieve the best results possible for different visible signs of ageing. Although this was first launched more than three decades ago, the brand has been constantly upgrading its formula in order to remain at the forefront of anti-ageing solutions.

5. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Launched: 1982

The product was first launched as the Night Repair Cellular Recovery Complex, which promises to boost the renewal process of skin cells as you sleep. In 1991, almost a decade later, it evolved to the Advanced Night Repair that we know of today.

This holy grail has also gone through several upgrades over the years to make sure it keeps up with new skincare needs of women today.

6. Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Lip & Cheek Stain

Launched: 1976

Benefit Cosmetics may be best known for their brow products and brow waxing service now, but their very first product is actually the Benetint Lip & Cheek Stain more than 40 years ago.

The brand was started by twin sisters Jane and Jean Ford in the red-light district of San Francisco, and the now-famous Benetint was originally created as a nipple dye for strippers around the area. Yup, we bet you didn’t see that one coming.

The Ford sisters steamed rose petals in their kitchen to create a rouge that was effective in staining skin, easy to blend, and would last all night.

This is now one of Benefit Cosmetics’ most beloved products, though probably not for the same purpose for which it was originally created for. The brand has also spun off more lip and cheek stain shades such as Chachatint, Gogotint, Lovetint, and Posietint.

7. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

Launched: 1971

We all know that Maybelline almost never disappoints with its mascaras, but here’s a fun fact: the brand was actually one of the first mascara producers in the world.

Its founder, together with his sister Mabel, created mascara by mixing coal dust with Vaseline to form a thick, black mixture that was used to coat Mabel’s eyelashes so they appear longer and more voluminous. The concoction was then marketed and sold, and eventually evolved into the brand Maybelline (a combination of Mabel and Vaseline).

The Ultra Lash Mascara was introduced in 1960s before being taken over by the Great Lash Mascara in 1971. This is one of the oldest Maybelline products you can still find on the shelves today, but unfortunately it’s not available in Singapore.

Beauty products launched between 1950s and 1960s

8. Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil

Launched: 1967

The very first cleansing oil in Japan was created by Shu Uemura by founder Shu Uemura. Since then, the product has achieved legendary cult status in the Japanese beauty industry and throughout the world.

More than half a century later, the brand continues to lead the game of cleansing oils, and has since launched an entire line of cleansing oils that cater to different skin needs.

9. Sulwhasoo ABC Ginseng Cream

Launched: 1966

Korean luxury brand Sulwhasoo marked its origins from its iconic ABC Ginseng Cream, an anti-ageing cream infused with Korean ginseng.

The original bestseller has gone through several iterations. Besides releasing new packaging, Sulwhasoo has also been constantly been updating its Ginsenomics (the study of ginseng) to upgrade the product’s formula.

10. Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal-Extract Alcohol-Free Toner

Launched: 1960s

Kiehl’s has been around since 1851, making it one of the oldest brands that is still very well-loved today.

The brand started out as a pharmacy in New York and it was in the 1960s that they first released their now-iconic bestseller, the Calendula toner.

Beauty products launched between 1900s and 1950s

11. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Launched: 1947

This cult-favourite cleanser was originally called the Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion, invented by a pharmacist in 1947, and has since become the famous Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser we know of today.

This product was initially only available at selected pharmacies but as it gained steam, more dermatologists and healthcare professionals began recommending it to patients with sensitive skin.

Though the name has changed, the original formula hasn’t, so you can get exactly what had worked since the launch of the brand in the product you buy now.

12. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

Launched: 1930

Created by founder, Elizabeth Arden herself, this was the first product to bear her name as its brand. It consists of petrolatum, salicylic acid, and vitamin E as an antioxidant.

If you’re wondering about its name, this is because a customer has reportedly went to Arden to tell her how the cream had healed her son’s scraped knees in just eight hours after application.

Today, this is used as an anti-ageing cream globally and the brand has spun off more products that are inspired by its original formula, including lip balm, sunscreen, hand cream, and body treatment.

13. Chanel N°5

Launched: 1921

You probably aren’t surprised to see this one here. Even though it was launched an entire century ago, Chanel N°5 remains one of the bestselling perfumes in the world. Its complex symphony of scents marked a daring departure from single-note fragrances that were in trend in the 1920s when the fragrance was created.

Wonder why it’s named “No. 5”?

Legend has it that when Coco Chanel was presented with samples numbered 1 to 5 and 20 to 24, she chose the fifth vial.

She reportedly said that she presented her dress collections on the fifth of May (the fifth month of the year) so she suggested to keep the sample’s “number five” name as it was, believing that it would bring good luck.

14. Erno Laszlo Phormula 3-9

Launched: 1921

Formulated by Dr. Erno Laszlo who completed his studies in skin pathology in the late 1910s, this was used to treat acute acne for Princess Stephanie of Hungary.

Dr. Laszlo later also created Phormula 3-8 specifically for legendary American actress Marilyn Monroe in 1943 to treat a scar on her stomach.

His other famous clients include Audrey Hepburn, Greta Garbo, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Grace Kelly.

15. Nivea Creme

Launched: 1911

This product is the creation of two doctors who came together to create the world’s first stable oil-in-water-based cream that could be replicated for mass production.

Its formula has been tweaked in minor ways in the last century to keep up with latest scientific advances, but otherwise has remained largely the same since its inception.

It came originally in a beige tin with flowery design, but in 1925, it was changed to a blue tin with white lettering on it – the same design that you’ll find a familiar sight in our drugstores today!

Beauty products launched in the 1800s

16. Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence

Launched: 1897

The Japanese brand launched this product in the 1890s for softening and moisturising skin, and this is still one of the brand’s most iconic products today.

The essence is perfumed with the scent of peonies after a rainfall and evokes a sense of flower petals to complement the sensation of softness of skin after using the lotion.

17. Smith’s Rosebud Salve

Launched: 1892

First created by G. F. Smith to treat minor skin irritations, this product began as a mail-order business that you can’t find in stores.

Today, it’s still used as an all-purpose product, and is said to be able to remove eye makeup, soften nail cuticles, soothe sunburns, moisturise dry skin, and even fight hair frizz.

18. Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush

Launched: 1863

DId you know that Bourjois was the brand that invented powdered blush? This was first mixed in the 1860s and you can still find it today.

Featured image from Hip2Save.