If you’ve ever fallen in love with a lipstick shade or perfume only to find it discontinued, you know the heartbreak is real. That perfect color or scent becomes a unicorn—beautiful, but impossible to find.
But thanks to ChatGPT and other AI tools, hunting for beauty dupes is now easier (and way more fun) than ever.
Why Beauty Products Get Discontinued
Before we dive into the AI magic, let’s address the question: why do brands discontinue products we adore?
- Ingredient reformulations (due to regulations or sourcing changes)
- Seasonal color updates in makeup lines
- Low sales (even if you loved it)
- Brand rebranding or merging product lines
Unfortunately, that means your signature lipstick or scent might disappear overnight.
How AI Can Help You Find a Dupe
Here’s the secret: AI can quickly cross-reference thousands of reviews, swatches, ingredient lists, and scent notes—faster than you could ever Google manually.
Step 1 – Describe Your Lost Product in Detail
When you ask ChatGPT or similar AI tools, don’t just say:
“Find me a dupe for Clinique Cupcake lipstick.”
Instead, be specific:
“Find me drugstore and high-end dupes for Clinique Cupcake lipstick—a sheer warm pink with a glossy finish and hydrating feel.”
The more details you give (color undertone, texture, scent notes, longevity), the more accurate your AI-generated suggestions will be.
Step 2 – Ask for Multiple Price Points
Good dupes come at every budget. Ask AI to:
- Suggest drugstore alternatives
- Suggest mid-range options
- Suggest luxury alternatives (if you want the same quality feel)
For example, if you loved Love, Chloé perfume, AI might give you:
- Budget: La Rive – Cute / Silky Pink (Amazon) #Ad – Cheap, decent quality.
- Midrange: Zara Rose Gourmand (Amazon) #Ad – Features a creamy floral profile with notes of rose, amber, and vanilla.
- Luxury: Gucci Guilty EDP layered with Kenzo Amour (Amazon) #Ad – replicates the rice note.
Step 3 – Ask for Where to Buy Them Now
Many similar products are available at Amazon, Ulta, Sephora, or indie perfume oil shops. You can even have AI create a table with product names, prices, and direct links so you can shop instantly.
Step 4 – Verify with Swatches or Scent Notes
AI can help you get close, but always double-check:
- Search YouTube or Instagram for swatch comparisons.
- Read perfume note breakdowns on Fragrantica to see if the product matches your fragrance profile.
Other AI Tools That Help With Dupe Hunting
- Google Lens – Upload a picture of your old product to find visual matches.
- Pinterest Lens – Snap your discontinued item and search for similar shades or bottles.
- Fragrance Match AI Tools – Sites like Dossier, FraganceX, and Oil Perfumery often have “inspired by” sections you can ask AI to cross-check.
Pro Tips for Getting the Best Match
- Layer Products – Sometimes the perfect replacement is two products combined.
- Look for Ingredient Matches – For skincare or lipstick feel, AI can filter products by similar formulas.
- Save Your Searches – If you can’t find the perfect product today, trends change and new products launch all the time.
Why This Works So Well
AI tools like ChatGPT aren’t just pulling one blogger’s opinion—they’re synthesizing dozens of sources, reviews, and product data to find the closest match to your discontinued favorite. That means your chances of finding a true “twin” go way up.
💄 Bottom Line: Don’t mourn your discontinued beauty favorites—replace them. With ChatGPT and other AI tools, you can find makeup and perfumes that look, smell, and feel just as good as the originals.
Top 10 Discontinued Cosmetic Products and Their Doppelgangers
Here’s are 10 discontinued beauty products with budget, midrange, and luxury alternatives so you can replace your favorite makeup and perfume without breaking the bank.
1. Best Replacement for Clinique “Cupcake” Lipstick
- Budget: Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia (Amazon) #Ad – sheer berry-pink, hydrating.
- Midrange: CoverGirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm in Bliss You Berry (Amazon) #Ad – buildable glossy berry.
- Luxury: Dior Addict Lip Glow in Mahogany (Amazon) #Ad – A hydrating balm that adapts to your pH for a custom sheer mauve-brown tint. Ultra-luxurious and very wearable.
2. Best Replacement for Love, Chloé Eau de Parfum
- Budget: La Rive – Cute / Silky Pink (Amazon) #Ad – Cheap, decent quality.
- Midrange: Zara Rose Gourmand (Amazon) #Ad – Features a creamy floral profile with notes of rose, amber, and vanilla.
- Luxury: Gucci Guilty EDP layered with Kenzo Amour (Amazon) #Ad – replicates the rice note.
3. Best Replacement for MAC “Whirl” Lipstick (Original 1990s formula)
- Budget: Wet n Wild “Mochalicious” (Amazon) #Ad
- Midrange: Maybelline Color Sensational in Nude Nuance (Amazon) #Ad – creamy matte replacement.
- Luxury: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk Medium. (Amazon) #Ad
4. Best Replacement for Benefit “Crescent Row” Perfume in “Ring My Bella”
- Budget: Pacifica Island Vanilla (Amazon) #Ad – sweet vanilla with light floral lift.
- Midrange: Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa ’40 (Amazon) #Ad – warm floral vanilla.
- Luxury: Guerlain Mon Guerlain EDP. (Amazon) #Ad
5. Best Replacement for Urban Decay Naked Palette (Original)
- Budget: e.l.f. The New Classics Eyeshadow Palette (Amazon) #Ad – 18 neutral shades.
- Midrange: Morphe 35O Supernatural Glow. (Amazon) #Ad
- Luxury: Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Palette. (Amazon) #Ad
6. Best Replacement for Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Escape to Panarea
- Budget: Moschino I Love Love (Amazon) #Ad
- Midrange: Lanvin Éclat d’Arpège EDP. (Amazon) #Ad
- Luxury: Tom Ford Neroli Portofino. (Amazon) #Ad
7. Best Replacement for Revlon ColorStay Lip Butter in Pink Truffle
- Budget: e.l.f. Hydrating Core Lip Shine in Delightful. (Amazon) #Ad
- Midrange: Estée Lauder Irresistible. (Amazon) #Ad
- Luxury: YSL Rouge Volupté Shine in Nude Lavallière. (Amazon) #Ad
8. Best Replacement for Dior Addict Lip Glow in Coral (Older Formula)
- Budget: e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil – Coral Fixation. (Amazon) #Ad
- Midrange: Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Hibiscus. (Amazon) #Ad
- Luxury: RMS Beauty Tinted Lip Balm. (Amazon) #Ad
9. Best Replacement for Bath & Body Works “Velvet Tuberose”
- Budget: Bodycology Pure White Gardenia. (Amazon) #Ad
- Midrange: Elizabeth Taylor Gardenia. (Amazon) #Ad
- Luxury: Michael Kors Gorgeous! Gardenia. (Amazon) #Ad
10. Best Replacement for Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop
- Budget: Wet n Wild Megaglo Highlighting Powder in Precious Petals. (Amazon) #Ad
- Midrange: Makeup Revolution Liquid Luminous Gold (Liquid Highlighter) (Amazon) #Ad
- Luxury: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light. (Amazon) #Ad
What are some of your favorite make up products that have been discontinued? Let me know in the comments and I’ll help you find a replacement!
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Items linked may not be exactly as pictured but are chosen for their similarity to the discontinued product mentioned.
CLAiRITY 
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