It can be frustrating trying to track down discontinued Max Factor lipsticks, or just about any cosmetic product that is no longer manufactured. There are usually a few options to check out before completely giving up, though!
About Max Factor

Long the darling of the makeup world, Max Factor became synonymous with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood decades ago, when makeup artists would use the product on some of the world's most elegant starlets. From Rita Hayworth to Marilyn Monroe to the everyday housewife, it seemed everyone used and loved Max Factor makeup. It was no wonder, either. The line was rife with the best-selling Pancake Makeup, as well as mascaras, lipsticks, eye makeup, face powders, blushes and more, offering a woman everything she needed to look her very best.

Max Factor in the United States

Much to the chagrin of fans all over the United States, Proctor and Gamble (Max Factor's parent company) announced in the summer of 2009 that it would be pulling Max Factor from store shelves in early 2010. According to industry reports, the line does not sell as well as some of P&G's other assets, namely Cover Girl. It will, however, continue to be sold in international markets, where it generates billions of dollars in annual sales.

Finding Discontinued Max Factor Lipsticks

Needless to say, it won't be a pretty sight when thousands of Max Factor aficionados find themselves searching high and low for replacements, or, in many cases, discontinued items. Of course, Max Factor has discontinued many products through the years, not unlike many other makeup companies.

Most companies will cease production of a particular color due to poor sales, and often an entire niche range within a larger collection will be discontinued if it doesn't meet its intended goals. This is nothing new - it applies to just about any business anywhere in the world, but that knowledge doesn't change the fact that it can be a mighty tough pill to swallow when a beloved product does become part of the discontinued beauty products hall of fame.

Tracking down said product can be a challenge indeed, but the trick is to act fast. In other words, if your favorite Max Factor lipstick is marked down dramatically at the drugstore and happens to have a yellow "Last Chance!" sticker affixed to it, you can bet it's being discontinued and won't be restocked once supplies have been exhausted.

Your mission, then, is to visit every store in your area that carries Max Factor lip products and collect as many of the soon-to-be discontinued item as possible, bearing in mind that it may not be available for the same low price everywhere. Your next option, should that fail or not yield the number of lipsticks you'd hoped to find, is to pay a hasty visit to eBay. The online auction haunt is usually a virtual mecca of discontinued beauty items, but the best selection is almost always found shortly after the product has been pulled from shelves or is in the process of being pulled.

Other Places to Search

Visit the following Web sites from time to time to check up on their updated stock of discontinued or hard-to-find merchandise. Note that rotations change frequently, so if your heart is really set on a particular lipstick it's best to check often.

Beauty Encounter is a one-stop shop for all things beauty related. Search by brand to find a vast selection of Max Factor cosmetics. Break it down to search specifically for lip products - you'll find everything from the best-selling Lipfinity products of old to the beloved Moisture Rich lipsticks (all discounted).
Buy Me Beauty offers a fairly outstanding selection of Max Factor merchandise, and you can expect them to continue to do so as long as the line is still manufactured in the United States.
Everything is sold at a slight discount - for example, the Lasting Color Lipstick, regularly $6, is $3.99 here; the Colour Perfection Lipstick, normally $7.29, is $4.95. In addition to simply finding that sought-after shade, you'll also likely get it at a pretty decent price!

MakeupAlley can be quite the find if swapping makeup doesn't bother you. The community is full of passionate makeup lovers who trade their gently used, unloved or, in some cases, brand new beauty products for items they think they really will love. If you're on the hunt for discontinued items, this is a great place to check.
Overstocks4U may not be bursting with beauty products, but the company does offer a modest selection of discounted merchandise from several health and beauty companies. You may find what you're looking for here, but know that it's a big gamble.
One Last Suggestion

Since Max Factor is only being discontinued in the United States, it's worth nothing that the lipstick you love may not be completely impossible to track down. You might be able to purchase it on eBay from an overseas seller or ask a friend or relative who lives abroad to purchase and ship it to you. As you can see, all hope isn't lost for getting your hands on your favorite discontinued Max Factor lipsticks!