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Original poster

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

79 replies

CrumblyMumbly · 12/10/2012 15:39

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!

OP posts:
Kezztrel · 25/08/2013 17:27

I don't know what Plum Beautiful is like but can I just recommend Mac's Plumful just in case it's similar? :)

Macdonald9 · 23/09/2013 10:27

This is the letter I wrote to Boots

Dear Sirs

I am returning these lipsticks because even though I have used them they are not what I thought I was buying. I bought 3 for 2 as I always have done whenever No 7 is on offer. I keep 1 Plum Beautiful lipstick in each current handbag. I thought I must have picked up the wrong shade by mistake.
I have been using Plum Beautiful for over 25 years. It suits me. Why you would want to change one of your bestsellers is beyond me. I have tried (as you can see) to use the new ones but the new brown shade does not suit me. I am really upset. Why not keep the old one a give this new shade a different name ?
I am trying at the moment to get as much out of my remaining two stubs with a lip brush. In the meantime I would be grateful if you could tell me if there is any old stock available. I know it was quite a long time before I discovered the change but I always had a good stock of the old ones.
Failing that could you tell me which of your current shades is nearest to the old Plum Beautiful because I still think it's the best lipstick on the market.

Yours Faithfully

Macdonald9 · 23/09/2013 10:54

This is their reply

Thank you for contacting us about our No 7 lipstick. I am sorry to learn about your concerns regarding this shade.
I have spoken to our No 7 Team and they have advised that the shade was altered in time for the relaunch last September and this was to make it more wearable for a wider range of people. As you feel this shade is too far away from the old Plum Beautiful they would like to look into it further and check your samples against our factory standards. (whatever that means )I have therefore sent your lipsticks to our No 7 team.

Unfortunately our No 7 Team have advised that we not have any stock left of the older version and currently there is not really another shade close enough to be classed as a replacement. I sincerely apologise for the disappointment caused.
I have enclosed a £20 gift card to cover the cost of the 2 full price lipsticks and to apologise for any disappointment caused. I hope you will accept this with my best wishes.

HappyAsEyeAm · 23/09/2013 14:30

My mum wore plum beautiful lipstick for years. Now she uses Estee Lauder. I will ask her what shade she uses, as it is likely to be similar to (the old) plum beautiful.

Original poster
CrumblyMumbly · 23/09/2013 14:43

Hi Macdonald9 - liked your letter - would be interested to know how many complaints they have had. They seem to be sticking to their guns and it will be interesting to see whether they get back in touch when mysterious 'factory standards' have been checked. I'm not sure they could find a 'wider range of people' than were already buying their best selling colour? At least you got some cash back - I took mine back to Boots for a refund but maybe I should have sent them in. We shall watch this space. I love the fact that this thread was active when I looked - nearly a year on and we're still fighting - go us!

OP posts:
Original poster
CrumblyMumbly · 23/09/2013 14:45

Thanks HappyasEyeAm would be useful to know - hopefully not too pricey!

OP posts:
cactuscantina · 23/09/2013 17:11

I am sure that this happened to plum beautiful when I was a kid (70s or 80s maybe) because my mum wore it. I seem to remember it was a big thing and then they brought it back.
Can anyone else remember that??

Macdonald9 · 24/09/2013 14:49

Thanks for the link to Boots USA LeoandBoosMum. I have sent them an email

AutumnWitch · 25/09/2013 08:06

I have plum beautiful - really useful flattering shade for those days when I just need something to look more presentable. I also have a max factor one in rosewood - look slightly different in the tube, but in the interests of research I tried one side of my lips with each.

Turns out they're so similar I can't tell the difference and will be doing the school run without changing it!

:)

Jbck · 27/09/2013 20:37

I did get a reply but basically the same as everyone else. Still not found a proper replacement.
Im going to go try the MF onebut it might be a match for the new version.

Macdonald9 · 03/10/2013 09:31

The USA Boots response was a phone number so I might try ringing later

Macdonald9 · 04/10/2013 14:58

The phone number wasn't operable so I have sent another email. However AutumnWitch is right . The MFN Rosewood is the closest match I have found so far, so it looks like I shall be changing my allegiance to MF.

Macdonald9 · 14/10/2013 17:46

No reply to my second email so have to give up on that one unless someone is going to the USA

QuinnFabray · 14/10/2013 18:59

Perhaps try googling Plum Beautiful dupe?

BaconAndAvocado · 14/10/2013 21:19

I love Plum Beautiful! I always use it for work, it's been around for yonks!

RevoltingPeasant · 14/10/2013 21:43

You know, I'd go somewhere like a Mac or Lancôme or Clinique counter with the old stubs and see what they can find you. I'll bet there would e something. Good luck lipstick warriors!! Grin

PervCat · 14/10/2013 21:44

whenever this happens to me I take it as a big HINT that I need to move on

try a different make !

QuinnFabray · 15/10/2013 07:47

Yes! There are thousands of beautiful lipsticks out there. I wear a different one nearly every day. Try something new! Plum beautiful has ALWAYS been my mothers one and only lipstick, so I'd never go near it anyway.

SundaySimmons · 15/10/2013 08:56

We need a colour swatch of the original be an I can't be sure which google it if it's the new formulation shade or not!

Nyx lipsticks come in every colour under the sun.

I'm going to suggest NYX heather Round lipstick

But that is just a blind guess.

www.nyxcosmetics.co.uk

Shade charts are not very good although the lipsticks are. Google the shade and see how it looks on others.

JulieAnderton · 15/10/2013 21:41

I've got a tube of Plum Beautiful in my make up bag, it really suits me as well, but I don't know if it's the "old" or "new" version.

It says "moisture drench 30 plum beautiful" at the end and the bar code number is 5 045094 658787.

Does anyone know if this is the old or new version? If it is the old version, looks like I'm off to Max Factor to get a Rosewood lipstick!

Thank you!

FluffyDucky · 15/10/2013 22:24

Julie that is the old one, the new ones don't have a number anymore.

IF enough people complain, they will look into/change it back. A lot of people complained about the re-formulated eye pencils and they have changed it to the old formula (almost a year after it changed though so don't hold your breath for a quick fix!)

JulieAnderton · 16/10/2013 08:31

Thank you FluffyDucky. I noticed that there is an address to write to Boots above. I'll join your crusade to get the original Plum Beautiful back!

Macdonald9 · 19/10/2013 07:44

Well Crumbly .... Look what you started....The following is what my friend was told ......I've been in about 10 Boots branches in the north east and had a friend who works for them ask about your lippy and I'm afraid I have failed my mission. What happens to the old stock I ask, "probably gone to landfill" was the most common answer. Why? I ask. "The stores aren't allowed to keep old stock, or sell it cheap, in case it affects the sales of the replacement". Well I hope you find a new brand and they lose a loyal customer - is all I can say.......so I guess that's the end of the mission and I will be switching to MF Rosewood although I don't like the taste.:((

Macdonald9 · 19/10/2013 07:51

Finally in answer to QuinnFabray.... I'm probably older than your mother and although I frequently change my hair style/colour, my clothes style and my jewellery I like my make up to stay pretty much the same now I know what suits me.

RevoltingPeasant · 19/10/2013 10:01

Oh gosh, is THAT why No 7 eye pencils went so crappy??? All waxy and weird?

I just stopped buying them and developed a Smashbox habit instead...

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