This isn't a guide about knock off products or replica's. I'm sure those are out there, but I can't tell you how to spot them. I'm writing to tell you about why you should be careful when buying an item that is discontinued.

We've all been there, I'm sure. You come across a product that you just fall head over heels in love with. It smells perfect and produces results you just can't believe. It becomes your new favorite and you start to claim it as "yours". Then one day you go to the store to pick up your item only to find it has been discontinued.

It can be devastating and heartbreaking. I mean, how could they do that to you!Then you turn to eBay and you can't believe your eyes when you see it. YOUR item. Listed there looking all shiny and new and just begging you to buy it.

Well.... tread carefully. 

First thing first. NEVER buy a discontinued item that is not factory sealed. You could be wasting your money. The reason being; beauty products begin to age with even the slightest exposure to air. If it's been opened to be smelled, tested, or used then it has begun it's aging process and may already be spoiled. That goes for all beauty products, not just discontinued ones, but there is a much greater chance that a discontinued item has aged to the point where it is losing it's qualities and the older a product the quicker it spoils.

Signs of aging in beauty products: waxiness, separation of components, loss of effectiveness, spoiled smell or lack of smell that should be there, bacteria growth (especially in products that have been used). All of these are much more prevalent in discontinued items than normal items because a discontinued item is not made anymore. That means it is less likely to be fresh. 

A seller may claim that even though an item has no seal, it has never been opened. That is said to build confidence that it is fresh. Even if they are telling the truth and they have never opened it - they cannot be sure that no one else has. Sometimes, when items are on store shelves, people will open them to smell or test them. If there's no seal, you cannot be 100% sure that it has never been exposed to air and started its aging process.

So a seal is important, but not the only thing to take into consideration.

Let's assume from this point that all of the products I'm talking about ARE factory sealed.

Another thing to consider is how long ago the item was discontinued. because if it was discontinued 2 years ago then you need to know that NONE have been made since that last batch. NOT EVEN ONE. So every item will be AT LEAST 2 years old, because you have no guarantee that yours came out of that last batch. It could've come from the year before. You just don't know.

For example: A body spray that was discontinued in 2003 has not been manufactured since then. So if you find one on eBay it is definitely (if it's the authentic thing) at least 5 years old (this being 2008). A 5 year old body spray may lose a lot of it's qualities. If it isn't stored properly for any period of time during those five years, it can begin to separate and lose it's freshness. It probably won't last as long when sprayed and may even smell different.  

Now think about the type of product and the type of container it comes in. Certain types of products will spoil more quickly than others (like lip gloss) and certain type of containers will preserve the product much better than others (Like glass). Just use common sense to determine how likely it is that the item has been preserved correctly in the container it comes in.

With all this in mind: don't feel like you CAN'T buy discontinued items. The newer the better though, so come to eBay quickly after the item discontinues so that you can stock up and take care of the product yourself to be sure of it's proper care.

If you're only looking for a particular scent for sentimental reasons then you don't need to be AS concerned. Just get a good concentration of the scent (ideally in a perfume, but  in a bubble bath or body wash will also hold the smell - if sealed) and it should still take you back to that time.

OVERALL:

Just be cautious because the beauty product you once knew and loved could arrive on your door in a much lazier and stinky version of itself. It may be best to just let it go and hold on to the memories..... 

** Please vote on the helpfulness of my guide. Feel free to msg me if you have any suggestions for things I should add or if you have any questions. Thank you!!