Retro beauty products anyone?

My mother used Ponds vanishing cream, much lighter than the cold cream. I used to love the smell. It is still available but has a different scent. On Ebay it sells for £27.99 for a single jar or £11.95 for three (100ml jar)!

I am slightly ashamed to say I don't use anything on my face except soap and water. I wash my face once a day. Wear minimal makeup - a bit of eyeshadow only for going out. I am fortunate I have good skin. Anyone else who uses little?

Loved Californian Poppy and Evening in Paris perfumes as a teenager. My favourite now is Channel No.5 and some of the Clinique range.

Just remembered Silvikrin dry shampoo, I often used that as a teenager in spite of really making your head itch! Dry shampoo is one item that has really improved over the years.

Thank you, peaseblossom!

And I do remember Sheer Genius, but I also remember using Pan Stik as lipstick!

Did anyone else use Tanfastic? It made us a lovely streaky orange colour.

You can still get blue eyedrops called Eyedew dazzling eyedrops, great for making your eyes a lot brighter, and I swear by Astral original cream in the blue pot as it's brilliant for removing make up including waterproof mascara, but I don't use it as a moisturiser as it is too rich and creamy for me as a moisturiser. My favourite fragrance years ago was Climat by Lancome, I've seen it on ebay but not tempted to risk getting it and being disappointed.

I used to love a perfume called White fire by Grossmith. A bottle found in a sellers grandmother's cupboard was recently sold on ebay. Lots of pictures of white fire on the internet. They have made me feel quite nostalgic.

Yes, I remember White Fire.Glad to read about the vanishing scent from perfumes, they all seem to last only for five mins once on the skin.
I sprayed some Chanel in my bedroom today, went in after about ten minutes and no scent at all, astounding.

I used to put the drops in my eyes every morning like you inishowen. My brother used to cringe watching me. I loved Avon Elegance perfume and also Aqua Manda and Sea Jade. I still use Boots 17 lipstick but I believe that the 17 range is to be discontinued soon.

I, too, use Anne French; bought some for DD and DIL a couple of years ago but they didn't seem impressed with it. I do struggle to find places that sell it now; Boots said they had one bottle in the store last time I was there but then they couldn't find where it was. Small, independent chemists seem to stock it. I don't know if there's a 'Savers' near me; I'll have to check it out. I hope they never stop making it.

..if I go somewhere hot [fat chance of that at the moment] I have a 4711 cologne stick that I take with me; lovely smell and so refreshing.

With my first weeks wages I bought Max Factor Creme Puff makeup. Why I wanted to slather such thick pancake makeup on teenage skin I can't imagine now but that, coupled with Twiggy's false eye lashes and blue eyeshadow and pale lipstick; I'm glad there are no photos of me!

When I was 15 I got a bright fuschia lipstick called Kiss Stick on offer in a magazine! About the same time, a set of eye shadows in many different shades was also on offer. I fancied the purple one. Fortunately I grew up.

Remember when most makes of lipstick came in just three colours; red, pink and orange?

I don't think I did subtle. I remember a bright red lipstick n a heavy 'gold' case, Max Factor's Riding Hood Red. My mother neither wore nor liked makeup so I got what was most advertised I think! A stick of MF's pancake (Panstick?) also featured, if it was called Panstick it sounds like a washing up product.
After a phase of minute bottles of Woolies 'Evening in Paris' I was spoilt by a boy friend who gave me Chanel 19 from a cross channel ferry. Nice! I use a lemony Jo Loves one now.
In a junk shop I found an unused, boxed, 1940s bottle of DuBarry's 'Heart of a Rose' talcum powder. It is in a green glass bottle with a gold paper band apologising that 'Owing to war-time difficulties pink bottles are now unobtainable.' The smell reminds me of my aunties' bedroom.

I was spoilt when a French student who was staying with us gave me a phial of Pacco Rabanne [sp] aftershave 'Tenere'. I bought some and wore it for years [preferred it to perfume]. I remember panstick; it was like blemish cover except you put it all over your face [good for the teenage acne years!]....I used to wear white lipstick at one time and I can remember a sweet teacher kindly pointing out to me that I wore far too much make up [although I don't actually recall putting it on for school, but I must have]. I used to wear green under foundation because I was so shy I blushed constantly!

The first perfume I wore was Gingham. No idea who made it but it was in a little brown and white gingham box. I wore that for years until a boyfriend bought me Eau Savage, by Dior. I felt so sophisticated! I did try Kiku(in a stubby little yellow bottle) for a while but it made my eyes water

There's a thread on Chat headed Oh no! about the problems of sourcing some retro beauty products.

Tegan - about 30 years ago my DD and I both loved wearing Givenchy Gentleman! If it's still around I must go and spray myself next time I'm shopping in town. Meeting DGD tomorrow so might have an opportunity ...

Found it! This is hilarious, certain Members of Parliament must drench themselves in it while attempting to appear 'an honourable man' ROFL
Experience classic refinement with the Givenchy Gentleman Eau de Toilette Spray, a woody-aromatic scent for men.

Made for an honourable man, the Givenchy Gentleman scent exudes class and sophistication. Noble and charming, his kind gestures have no boundaries. Adored by one and all, this courteous icon is a modern day example of classic chivalry and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Powerfully masculine from first spritz, a dominant leather facet wraps itself around the deeply aromatic composition. Nuances of cinnamon spice up the start of the scent, awakening the sensuous edge of passionate patchouli. With a heavy presence in the base, Russian leather leads the way to the dry down of animalistic civet, addictive and alluring.

Top Notes: Tarragon, Cinnamon

Heart Notes: Patchouli, Vetiver

Base Notes: Russian Leather, Civet

Shipping Restriction: Only available for UK and European Express delivery services.

I remember in the 50’s my grandmother using a powder foundation which came in a tube. It was smoothed on and dried as a powder-always fascinated me. Does anyone remember Drene shampoo and Gibb’s Dentifrice Toothpaste? My hair always looks shiny in childhood pictures.

Is that the pink stuff that came in a tin? In retrospect it probably took the enamel off...

Lol! That’s the one!

In the '60s, Elizabeth Arden had two lipsticks: Silver Coral and Silver Pink, both of which suited me. However, I was dismayed to find that they had been discontinued in the early '70s and there was nothing else quite like them. I loved their navy blue eyeliner too.

I had little tins of children's toothpaste, pink strawberry flavour and yellow banana flavour. Maybe called 'Punch and Judy'. I think I only tried them a few times, banana was definitely underwhelming!
I bought sachets of White Rain shampoo in the 1950s and still bought sachets in the mid '80s. When did we all change to bottles?