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Still Haven't Tried One Of These Gems?

You can't call yourself a bona fide beauty junkie until you've crossed these cult-classic products off your list
by Erica Smith
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Maybelline Great Lash, $4.44

Maybelline Great Lash, $4.44
If you're not familiar with the neon pink and green mascara tube, it's safe to assume you've been living under a rock for a good chunk of time. This iconic mascara, which dates back to 1971, has become synonymous with the brand's "Maybe She's Born With It" slogan. While the fonts and tube shapes have evolved over the decades, the striking color duo has always remained intact and this wand is still going strong. There are billions of mascaras on the market, but this one remains simple and to the point.

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Rosebud Salve, $6

Rosebud Salve, $6
Hipsters may hit up Urban Outfitters to get their hands on the vintage tins, but unlike the 80s graphic tees on the racks, this throwback beauty product has truly earned the title of "vintage." Dr. George F. Smith formulated this beauty staple in 1892 (1892!) out of Cotton Seed Oil and Aromol, with essential oils blended in a special petrolatum base, after his friends and customers suggested he prepare a balm for minor skin issues. The end result was "Balsam of Rosebuds," a cure-all that goes by a decidedly less romantic name today, but has remained a crowd-pleaser starting with Smith's bustling mail order system and all the way up to today's "Add To Cart" clicks on Sephora.

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Mason Pearson Brush, $88

Mason Pearson Brush, $88
Not to be confused with your run of the mill boar bristle brush, the Mason Pearson is the mother of all hairbrushes. It's trademark nylon and boar bristles evenly distribute sebum from the scalp while increasing blood flow to the roots, which makes hair shiny and stronger. While it remains a favorite of the fairer sex and their flowing locks,-- Heidi Klum reasoned, "It's a bit expensive, but sometimes you have to go deeper in your wallet for things that work. This brush gets all the snags without ripping hair out," -- the iconic hair tool was invented in 1885 by, as the name implies, a dude: inventor/engineer Mason Pearson. Today, the brush continues to be wielded by other creative males -- namely celeb stylists like Ken Paves and Mark Townsend.

In a world crowded with BB, CC and now DD creams, this tinted moisturizer still reigns as the OG -- the first multi-tasking product offering lightweight coverage, moisturizer, and a flawless finish. Complete with an impressive SPF 20, this cult classic nailed the no-makeup makeup in a tube bit from the get go.

This lip treatment is a newer inductee into the cult classic, but it's easy to see why it made the cut. Once you try this lip treatment, there's no going back to bland ol' Chapstick. This long-lasting multi-tasker has converted users into downright fanatics (Christina Hendricks won't leave the house without it) because it is literally the perfect balance of everything your lips could ever want or need: subtle color, delicious scent, SPF, and nourishing oils, not to mention pretty packaging.

I think most would agree that cults have a negative connotation, what with all the bizarre idolizing, brainwashing, matching sneakers and charismatic (read: creepy) leaders ... not to mention the emotional trauma inflicted upon yours truly after a viewing of "Martha Marcy May Marlene" all alone in my apartment, late at night. Mistake.

But in the beauty world, that C-word means you're on to something good -- a product so good it withstands the test of time, evades the dreaded "Discontinued" ax, and continues to outshine all the new and improved this and thats our culture is drawn to (I'm positive a mini iPad mini, AKA another iPhone, is being concocted as I type.) If there was ever a time to go against every individuality-preserving bone in your body and actually believe the hype, it's now with cult classic beauty products.

Fads come and go, but there's a reason these favorites have yet to be discontinued: if these products were ever removed from stores, it would incite an all-out riot because they really work. As the well-informed beauty consumer you are, it's high time you drank the Kool-Aid. Start checking these classics off your beauty bucket list, then let us know: What's your favorite cult classic beauty product?
BY ERICA SMITH | AUG 28, 2013 | SHARES
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