Rise up and fight all you Boots No 7 Plum Beautiful lipstick wearers!

[CrumblyMumbly]

Not a very catchy title but I am too angry to care! I have been wearing this lipstick for all my adult life (whispers - a long time!). Bastarding Boots No 7 have 'reformulated' it and the rest of their products and it's now a darker browny purple and unrecognisable on. it makes my teeth look yellow, my face look corpse like and just doesn't suit me. I know we have more pressing matters in life but I feel really sad about this - it's like losing an old friend. I am also puzzled why they would change their best selling lipstick colour? I have written and complained (no reply yet). If anyone else wears it please write too and maybe they will change it back!

Oooh I love Plum Beautiful! (As in, how it was!) Really suits me, Takes me decades to get through a lippy though as only wear when going out and yet seem to have hundreds from Boots freebies etc (which is where I got my Plum Beautiful). I am too gutted about YSL having discontinued Everlong mascara to worry about this yet. Now there is a tragedy. Best. Burgundy. Mascara. Ever.

I love this thread title. Makes me think of hordes of well groomed women in flattering lipstick, kicking the shit out of each other.

Complain, they do listen. They got rid of the mousse foundation for a bit but then it came back due to demand

Anniewoo, simple do an eye makeup corrector pen. I haven't tried it so no idea how good it is, but worth a shot?

ha ha MorrisZapp I like the idea of that - not sure I've ever been well groomed, especially not now with a demented toddler! The lipstick is flattering however and makes me feel good.

I have a hazy memory of a company that will try and match your discontinued shade to one they have but can't think whst it is. Cosmetics ala carte perhaps?

Thanks Itsgottabebags I'll look into that.

The Simple eye make up corrector pen is good.

Crumbly did you ever hear anything? I didn't ask for a reply just used a lot of begging terms

Hi Jbck, yes I finally received a reply. I sent an impassioned plea from the heart and got a bland response. It said thanks for feedback and they will pass on - didn't really answer my specific points as to why they would change their best seller? No joy getting any old stock out of them either so that seems to be that - end of an era. Just hope that lots more customers complain because I must have spent a fortune on their stuff over the years. I've found a couple on e-bay and will just have to find a new favourite if they don't change it back...

Like you I have been wearing nothing but Plum Beautiful for more than 20 years . I bought 2 of the new ones and thought I must have picked up the wrong colour . I am truly upset . I will write and complain but I doubt enough people can be bothered to try and get it reinstated. Why not keep a best seller and give the new colour a different name ? It's beyond me.

I know this is nearly a year on from your original post but I always had a stock of old ones ( buying 2 for 1 whenever the offers came up ) so that's why I have only just discovered the awful truth.

Hi CrumblyMumbly...could you let me know where you wrote to at Boots? Thanks

Hi Macdonald9 - sorry only just got your message. I wrote to Boots Customer Care, PO Box 5300, Nottingham NG90 1AA. I got a pretty rubbish response so maybe you could escalate yours to a higher manager! I've been coping ok through the summer with pinky coral shades but have still not found a suitable replacement now Autumn/Winter are coming... Please pm me or post on this thread with any reply that you get. Good luck!

I have written to the address you gave me asking for the address for No 7 products .

If you have some of the old one left and can afford it, try this:
www.alacartelondon.com/our-products/
They take your old product and recreate it for you :) Dear though...
It's also worth contacting Boots CS and seeing if they can somehow source any of the old formula for you :)

Or this, it' sheer but apparently flattering to all tones:
uk.spacenk.com/medieval/MUK200003404.html?start=2&cgid=Lipstick%20Q
It's worth checking out this brand in general, also Nars and Mac

This is nice and sounds similar
uk.spacenk.com/velvet-rope/MUK200011111.html?start=1&dwvar_MUK200011111_color=UK200011111&cgid=Lipstick%20Q

Thanks so much LeoandBoosmum that's really kind of you - I'll check out those colours. I think long term it may be pricey to get lots of lipstick made for me, but I've never heard of them so that's good to know. I did ask Boots about old stock/formula but they were very unhelpful. Good luck Macdonald9 - let me know how you get on.

You're welcome :) I've never used them but the good news is that once they've perfected the colour and texture of your original lipstick, refills are cheaper. :) I suppose it's worth the expense if you're really attached to a formula and shade...you could save it for best :)
The Lipstick Queen brand is supposed to be brilliant. I can vouch for Chantecaille lipsticks in terms of moisturising ability and lasting power. By Terry is also good for lipsticks. I've also heard great things about Tom Ford also.
The downside is these are all a lot more ££ than Boots.
Can't understand Boots doing this with a best seller scratches head I used to use a calming face gel by Boots (about three quid) and when my face was flaring from rosacea it calmed it down like nothing else. Having sensitive skin and eyes, it's a nightmare when brands DC or reformulate. :(
I just had a thought!! Do you know anyone in the States? Boots is now there and I'm thinking that perhaps the US stores still sell or have the old shade? Has the packaging changed? If so, it's worth looking on US Ebay and seeing if any are for sale (if you can tell by package change)?
Hope you find something you love :)

Crumbly...
I just went to the Boots (USA) site and I'm wondering if they are behind in launching the new formula because they are selling Plum Beautiful at a reduced cost... I know some companies do this with end of line stuff before replacement with something new. Do you have anyone in the US who could take advantage for you (there must be some US mumsnetters you could ask and Paypal them to buy and send on to you?) and post to you?
Here's a link:
us.boots.comproduct/4543?cid=86567

Could you take the one you have and test lots of similar plums with it to see which matches? I used to do this with a NEXT lipstick (yes, that long ago)and got a few good matches.

Its also good to see other colours too, I was so into one lipstick, I never gave others a chance but then did start to find other colours which lifted my face and which I liked more!!

No.7 dont give a shit about customers. I'm not surprised you received a poor response. According to them fair people shouldn't be wearing makeup. They dont even do a brown mascara, and the attitude you get back is well if black doesn't suit you then tough shit. They used to be such a reputable company, it's shocking how they've gone so far downhill.

They've scrapped no7 Forever Cherry too which is my favourite in the revamp. I'll let you know if I get any joy from their CS...

Wow so many people on my side - thanks so much for all your kind advice & suggestions. I'll look into the US products - never would have thought of that. I will take a lipstick and check out some other plums and you never know, I may find a better one. So stick it Boots!