What's Old Is New (and Just As Good)

I spent last weekend in suburban Chicago, zigzagging between ice rinks for my son Heath’s hockey tournament. His team won their division, which made all that travel (and a not-exactly-posh stay at a Hampton’s Inn) worth it. The other upside: I rediscovered Neutrogena’s Body Lotion Light Sesame Formula, which the cleaning team restocked daily in our hotel bathroom. This oldie but goodie conjured the late 80s, in a good way, and I found it both super-hydrating and fast-absorbing. I’d forgotten how much I once liked it. (It’s also a relative bargain at $7 for a generously-sized bottle.)

NARS Orgasm, the wildly popular shade from the late 1990s has expanded beyond powder blush —and is still just as universally flattering as it was two decades ago.

Similarly, when I was visiting my friend Debbie in Atlanta last fall, we stopped by the NARS boutique, and I fell back in love with Orgasm, that peachy-pink blush that looks good on absolutely everyone (and that abolutely everyone was wearing in 1999). In addition to the powder formula, Orgasm now also comes in a Liquid Blush, The Multiple (a pushup-style cream that is a hybrid blush/highlighter), Lipstick, Lip Gloss, and an Illuminator (highlighting cream). I got the Powder Blush, the Multiple (I layer the Multiple over the Powder for longevity) and the Lipstick. I’m so glad we got reacquainted.

My point? We are frequently pushed by product marketers to buy new just because they tell us it's better. But it may not be. I wrote in my blog bio here that I have plenty of favorites that were launched decades ago, like L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Waterproof Mascara (I was dedicated to it in college as a step aerobics instructor, and I just packed it on our trip to Hawaii over holiday break last month. When it comes to staying put when you're sweating, swimming or sobbing through an episode of This Is Us, there is nothing better). I’ve also tried nearly every dry shampoo on the planet and still think the best is original Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk—and Juice Beauty’s Blemish Clearing Serum was my go-to zit fighter a decade ago and it's now the hero product in Heath’s skincare routine.

I'm just getting started...

This best-selling zit zapper has been around since we had acne: Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

Diorrismo, was Princess Diana’s fragrance choice on her wedding day, and I still think is one of the most elegant florals ever.

Kerastase's Oleo-Relax Serum came out when Heath was an infant (and my hair was seriously, hormonally out of whack), and I still consider it one of the best stylers for feigning healthy, shiny hair.

Mario Badescu’s pink Drying Lotion was invented before some of us were born, was a mainstay in almost every teen magazine in the late 90s—and endures today as an uber-effective overnight blemish blaster. 

Nexxus Comb-Thru Finishing Mist is the best hairspray I’ve ever tried. Period. I first used it about ten years ago when my haircut had layers that kept popping free of my ponytail. Its benefits? It holds but doesn't leave your hair hard or sticky—and it smells fresh and clean, not cloying.

So, what are some of your oldtime favorites that you love as much today as you did ten—or even twenty—years ago? Enlighten us all in the Comments, below!