The best classic beauty products - and why they are making a comeback

A few years ago, I was invited to a drinks party thrown by a friend from university.

"Lots of the old gang will be there!" she proudly enthused. As she reeled off the names, I performed a mental inventory of how many of these people I had a) unsuccessfully dated, b) potentially offended, or c) unfriended on Facebook.

After they’d all passed the necessary clearance, I accepted. After all, what was the worst that could happen? Well, gather round dear reader, and find out.

First, there was Julia. I spent 20 minutes chatting to Julia about our student days. I even handed someone my phone to take a picture of me and Julia. A deafening silence followed, broken finally by Julia. Who revealed that her name was in fact Claire.

Then there was lipliner-gate. "Do you remember that awful brown lip shade we all used to wear?" one guest laughed. Except for me.

Mainly because that was the very lipliner I was still wearing some 30 years later.

So, I came away that night having learnt a vital lesson: friends come into your life for a season or a reason, but once you find a good lipliner, never let go.

It turns out I’m not the only one clinging to my first beauty loves. Retro beauty products are having a moment right now – because when the cost of living goes up, we’re drawn to those old familiar brands who always had our backs.

So, let’s jump aboard the nostalgia train and revisit those halcyon days – you know, the ones before WhatsApp announced to everyone that you had ‘left the group’ – and stock up on beauty’s biggest comeback queens.

Our best classic beauty products

1. Ponds Cold Cream

RRP £16.69 (pack of 3)

Hollywood legends Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe swore by Ponds Cold Cream launched in 1914. But it was Kylie Minogue’s rave reviews that introduced it to a new generation.

One of the most reliable and affordable skin cleansers out there, this fabulously rich cream is 50% moisturiser, so it not only melts away every last trace of make-up, it’s also an absolute winner for dry skin.

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2. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

RRP £38

Some people pass on family crests – my mum’s legacy was Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. Whether used as a skin treat or before make-up as a primer, one thing is certain: you’ll never look back after seeing the radiant results on your complexion.

Packed with shea butter and aloe vera, there’s a reason it still sells out more than 40 years later.

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3. Clinique Black Honey Lipstick

RRP £24.50

It may have been around since 1971, but that didn’t stop Clinique Black Honey lipstick going viral this year on TikTok. The secret to this cult classic lies in its chameleon-like ability to flatter any skin tone. Somewhere between a gloss and a lipstick, the shade is the most perfect hint of berry imaginable.

It goes on so faultlessly, you don’t even need a mirror to apply.

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4. CK One

RRP £32 for 200ml EDT

Like Kate Moss – the poster girl for this genderless 1994 scent – CK One simply refuses to go out of style. In fact, Gen Z-ers are buying it up in their droves.

I won’t go into detail about what it smells like because it smells of the entire 90s, but one whiff of this fresh, green fragrance will have you transported to the days when Ant and Dec were PJ and Duncan.

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5. Mac Spice Lipliner

RRP £20

Finally, I’m delighted to reveal that the very lipliner pencil I’ve been clinging to since 1990 is also enjoying a revival thanks to Kylie Jenner.

Mac Spice has long been touted as one of the best lipliner shades of all time, largely due to its ultra-flattering, super versatile, pink-meets-cinnamon hue. Along with its dreamy, velvety finish.

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