Y Is For Yolk, You Gotta Wonder

/ Ally Bean
Screen Shot 2016-03-21 at 11.05.10 AMThe yolk’s on you

… is a saying that means the joke is on you, you’ve been taken advantage of, perhaps in a kind way, perhaps not.

It is a play on the similar pronunciation of the English words: “yolk” [the inside of an egg] and “joke” [a trick played on someone].

This is funny.  I guess.  In context, maybe.

WHATEVER.

eggThis saying sums up the way I feel about make-up. It’s all a yolk joke.

Allow me to explain.

I’m not a shopper so once I find a make-up product that works, and does not irritate my skin, I keep on buying it because it saves me the stress of shopping for, and experimenting with, something new.

Plus, genetics are amazing.  Meaning that through no fault of my own my complexion is what it is, and I need the make-up colors that I need, because I am who I am.

Obviously, right?

Getting to my point here, since the beginning of the year THREE of my favorite color-perfect make-up products have been discontinued.  They would be a Nars lipliner [Tonga], a Maybelline eyebrow pencil [Light Blonde], and a Revlon powder blush [Rose].

These colors? Natural. Basic. Pale.

Colors that flatter a middle-aged, rosacea-challenged, graying-blonde woman.

Sure, the companies still exist, but they’ve replaced my perfect colors with something else.  And the new something else colors are too bold or too shiny for me.

The customer.

Who thought she had this whole make-up nonsense problem solved, but finds that the yolk is on her… which, it turns out, is not a good color for me!  😉

51 thoughts on “Y Is For Yolk, You Gotta Wonder”

  1. Remember when those mineral powder face shades were popular? Maybe they still are, I’m not sure, but I found a shade in Physicians Formula Brand that I loved, and just to make sure I didn’t run out, (cause I knew as you point out, it WOULD go away at some point) I bought a number of them. Then I stopped working, started taking care of my grandchildren and hardly ever wear makeup anymore. I’m not even sure that the original shade is the right one for my aging skin anymore and my stockpile wasn’t cheap…

    Liked by 2 people

    • Deb, that’s an excellent idea. I’ll look at that brand to see if they have a soft rose shade available.

      [But really, doesn’t this seem like a problem that I should’t have? Is my complexion that unique?]

      Liked by 3 people

      • Likely not that unique at all, but I think we all have an idea of how we want to look and when we find something that comes close we feel better about ourselves. I will never use liquid makeup. No matter how much the bottle tells me it won’t “settle into my lines and wrinkles” they pop out and glare at me like a Grand Canyon crevasse. The mineral powder covers the red, splotch nicely, looks natural and doesn’t make me look 20 years older than I am. But that’s only when I feel like putting it on. I am finding the whole ‘no makeup’ thing quite okay now. No one has run screaming from my presence in the stores when I go in without makeup so my life is that much easier 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        • Deb, I’m with you on the whole no make-up thing. About 80% of the time I wear sunblock for protection and a dab of tinted lip balm. That’s it. Good enough. But the other 20% of the time when I need to look more polished, I’m finding it difficult to discover colors that flatter me. Of course, I dislike shopping so maybe if I got over myself and went to an upscale make-up counter, I’d get what I needed. 0.o

          Liked by 1 person

  2. I was so happy to get some good makeup tips as:
    1. I’m useless on makeup
    2 I seem to have (exactly) the same colouring as your good self- right down to the rosacea challenge!
    But you say they’re discontinued? That’s just not right!!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Chez Shea, the colors that flatter me [and you it would seem] go away, while bright/dark shades never go away. I get that trends influence make-up, but really… basic rose-colored blusher is not a good seller?! Difficult for me to believe.

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Not only is this true of makeup (Burt’s Bees discontinued my all-time favorite lipstick years ago) but underwear! I hate trying new styles. When I find something that is comfortable I buy a case. Who sees it anyway (at least mine!). Why do they have to change it up every 2 years? Pantene is also notorious for changing the packaging so instead of just stopping to pick up my styling gel, I have to look and real them all because it looks different. I could never have my husband pick it up! He doesn’t even check “sell by” dates on bread. Our last loaf was old before he paid for it. Oops! I’ve gone on a rant, haven’t I? Well, the yolks on you!

    Liked by 3 people

    • Kate, a thousand times “YES” to your rant. I have the same prob with undies right now. [Jockey what is wrong with you?] And the packaging on my favorite hair products has changed. [Hello Aveda, you little sneaks.] I don’t like wasting my time trying to find new items to replace what I like, nor do I like having something change just for the heck of it. Frustrating + tiring. *meh*

      Liked by 1 person

  4. This is the Story Of My Life! Everything I love/need ends up Discontinued. Purina even discontinued the cat food my cats thrived on, and introducing cats to new food is Not Easy.

    Revlon is notorious for being a Life-Ruiner this way. I have since switched over to Neutrogena for light foundation and Physicians (blush from the latter is in a multi-shade palette that works for pretty much everyone), and my skin has actually improved.

    V is for Vanity, and even though I no longer face hundreds of critical teenaged students every day, I still put on makeup for me. Every Day. (I’m sure the aforementioned cats appreciate it, though, along with my husband.)

    Liked by 2 people

    • nance, forget my make-up woes. How did you get your cats to accept new food?!! That’s a problem. However, back to my whining, you’re the second person to suggest Physicians Formula so I’ll make sure to take a good look at it when I’m in the store. I’m not really much for make-up, but when I do use it I like to look presentable. Is that too much to ask?

      Liked by 1 person

      • So, I lied. My blush is Neutrogena too! It looks a lot like Physicians, so that’s why I was confused.

        Getting cats used to new food is a slow process. I mix the new stuff in very slowly, approximately 20% more every 4-5 days. If I go more quickly, Marlowe has digestive issues. (I assume we’re talking dry food.)

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Oh man, I feel for you. I HATE trying to find the right shade of foundation because I have an odd undertone to my skin so I’ve been using the same brand/shade for years. I would be seriously annoyed if they discontinued it lol. They need to give us warnings before they do crap like that!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. “These eggs are broken. Cracked.”
    “Yes, ma’am. That happens sometimes.”
    “Does it?”
    “Yes, it’s the unfortunate part of being an egg.”
    ― Peter Hedges, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

    Liked by 2 people

  7. I had to make a switch for similar reasons two years ago and I am still put out about it. I guess I just wasn’t buying enough to keep the formula from going the way of the dinosaurs. The lesson here is I don’t care about my appearance nearly as much as I should (rosacea challenged here too) and yet at the same time I am so grateful I don’t otherwise I would be in a world of constant stress.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Allie P, I hear ‘ya. IF this was a huge deal for me I’d have found my make-up color replacements immediately. But instead I’ve been sitting here in front of the computer stewing about it. I just want make-up to be easy… and it never is. *humph*

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I rarely (practically never) wear makeup. Never found a “foundation” that didn’t make me feel like I was wearing a mask. When I do put on some make up for date night, it is usually just eye shadow and mascara. Maybe some blush. I’ve had the same makeup for too long I’m sure but I’d rather spend the money on scrapbook supplies than on something I rarely use. I know it is expensive because my daughter used to work at Ulta. I do feel you about discontinuing something that you love and use. Have you written the company to complain?

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    • Janet, I’m not big into make-up, but need some occasionally to look professional, polished, whatever. No, I haven’t written to complain. I used to do things like that, but have found that companies don’t care about my opinions. Plus, it’s more fun to stew in my own juices about this make-up situation. I need a good grumble once in a while. 😉

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  10. That seems to be the norm for me, Ally Bean. Whether it’s makeup or some other product, you discover it, you love it, and then it’s no longer in the stores.
    Have you tried Ebay? I’ve had pretty good luck purchasing discontinued items on that site.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Jill, that’s a good idea. I looked at Amazon, but nothing there. I get that make-up is trendy, but basic neutral colors don’t go out of fashion, do they?

      [Well, I guess in answer to my question: YES, they do.]

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  11. That is the WORST. I’ve noticed they’ve added glitter shine to practically everything. And there’s a point at which glitter shine isn’t exactly…flattering. I used to love Physician’s Formula, and I can’t find it anymore.

    Ulta has really nice store-brand cosmetics and you can actually try them. Might be worthwhile.

    And now we only have Z. Huzzah.

    Like

    • I.L. Wolf, I’m not a fan of that glittery stuff either. Too aging on me at this point. I’ll look at the Ulta brand cosmetics. I like those stores, so that’s a good place to start. Thanks.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Sure! And you might be able to snag some of the ones that have been discontinued, too. There’s usually a coupon, so either sign up with email or find one online before you go! (They might let you sign up in-store and get a discount).

        I agree on the aging. That’s like the exact opposite reason for wearing makeup.

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  12. This happened to me a few years ago, when my friend stopped selling Arbonne. I went to Sephora. I also researched about 20 products before I went. I have rosacea too. My day to day life doesn’t usually involve make up, but I HATE when things get discontinued. I have had some fairly good luck tracking down unopened discontinued products on ebay though. I don’t know for how long, but in the short-term, that’s been helpful.

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  13. So irritating when that happens! Try salcura for rosacea. Brilliant. And tea tree oil. Buy a new moisturiser, the one that suits, put 5% of the whole amount of tea oil in, and mix it. Use this all over your face twice a day. It just goes.

    Liked by 2 people

  15. I feel like an outlier.

    I like shopping. Let me rephrase that – I LOVE shopping.
    I also like trying new things and therefore I’m not likely to get too fussed if something gets discontinued.

    … and I don’t have rosacea … although now that I’ve said that, I’m likely to get it :/
    What I do have though are HUGE dark circles under my eyes and if I didn’t wear makeup every day, I would frighten people.

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    • joanne, I know that many people love to shop, but for me it’s mostly stressful and tiring. I just want to buy the same old things and get back home.

      But beyond that, how can make-up companies do away with pale shades of cosmetics, especially when the Boomers are aging and needing those shades now? It’s all nuts, if you ask me.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. I so agree with you on the makeup thing, especially since my skin has gotten more and more sensitive as I’ve aged. I’m lucky that so far the foundation that I like (yet rarely wear) is still available and they haven’t done anything weird to it. I wear makeup so rarely these days that I think the blush I like may last forever. I dread having to replace it.

    Have you tried searching online for the brand/color you want? I have found that some things that aren’t available anymore can still be found since someone had a warehouse full of them before they were discontinued. Or perhaps this is just a new adventure!

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    • Zazzy, I’ve looked online for these items, but no luck. I have enough to last me for months, so this isn’t pressing. And considering how I’m leaning more toward the no make-up look, this may turn out to not be a problem at all. It’s the principle of the thing, ‘ya know?

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    • Weekends in Maine, thank you! It’s not that I can’t find something else, it’s that I don’t want to take my time to find something else. I dunno why, but when it comes to shopping I’m a grump.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. My favorite shades of lipstick and anything else I really like seem to get discontinued. I like more vivid colors, but it’s still difficult to find exactly the right shades. I also hate lipstick to smell, which means Clinique.

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    • Margaret, it’s all about finding the perfect shade, isn’t it? I’ll spend the money, but it has to be perfect… not close enough. And therein is the problem.

      [Haven’t worn Clinque lipstick in years, had forgotten about that “feature” of it. Ugh.]

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  20. Back when dinos walked the earth, kids would say “Yuk, yuk” meaning “laugh. laugh”. When did laughter turn yucky in modern language…probably when cosmetic and shampoo companies started discontinuing long standing products that worked. (Don’t even get me started on cat food changes)

    Liked by 1 person

    • philmouse, I remember when we had our cats, as one got older she’d only eat one particular flavor of one particular brand of cat food that was only available at the most inconvenient market around. Figures, right?

      Liked by 1 person

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