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What happened to Tesco’s Along Came Betty range?

‘I’m all about the drugstore beauty products. They’re affordable and get the job done’ – Tamara Tunie

One of the things I love so much about going on holiday to America is hitting up the local CVS or Walgreens and stocking up on all the beauty products I love that you either can’t get over here, or are more expensive (Almay make up or anything from Sally Henson are prime examples). However, we’ve kind of ‘done’ America over recent times and I haven’t been back there for a while to load up.

I’d discovered Tesco’s Along Came Betty range much like I discover most beauty or hair products I buy – they were being sold off super cheap. I rummaged around in the beauty bargain bin at my local store and found a lush make eye shadow trio (which are perfect colours for blonde hair) and the holy grail of eye bag cream ‘Forget Your Lines Filler’ – honestly, this stuff is better than Protect and Perfect and you can literally watch your wrinkles disappear as you apply it. But as I only have the one tube I only use it on very special occasions.

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What the Along Came Betty Range used to look like in Tesco

I was such a convert to this new discovery I purchased more from the range, and everything I’ve tried is wonderful. They’ve clearly taken a nod from Soap & Glory in their 50’s style packaging and quirky names like ‘You Mist Me’ body fragrance or ‘Butterly Devine’ body butter. However in my honest opinion the Along Came Betty range was far superior in quality (some of the smells of Soap & Glory are way overpowering and quite sickly) and most importantly for a cheapskate like me, was more than half price. I was overjoyed to have finally found an accessible beauty range that gets the job done, doesn’t break the bank, and is such pretty packaging you don’t feel you have to hide away when you have people over (like my Tesco value bubble bath!).

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What the range looks like now (just one lonely bottom shelf)

Of course me finding something I like is like the Pavlov’s dog of the beauty industry and you can guarantee, much like saying the word barbeque to make it rain, that once I like something it will be discontinued. Well, that’s not strictly true, the range is still available but they seem to have scrapped doing anything make up or skincare related and are focusing solely on bathing, which is a pain, but their skincare stuff was really, really good! In my local Tesco there is still a dedicated shelf, albeit getting smaller every time I visit, but online, where I would often order stuff to be delivered to store that was out of stock in the shop, currently only have 5 products available (and two of them are body butters which are virtually identical).

old haul vs new haul

So I fired off a Tweet to @tesco to ask what the reasoning behind discontinuing such a great brand and, fair play to their customer services they responded almost instantly:

So it seems no one seems to know (or be able to admit) what’s happened to the brand, even an honest ‘it didn’t sell all that well so we reduced what was on offer’ would suffice. Anyway, a few of the older stuff is still available on eBay however without new fresh stock taking its place that will soon be all gone too. It’s handy for you to know though, if there’s ever a product you don’t want to see on the shelves anymore, just introduce me to it and I guarantee it will be gone within a month!

11 Comments

  1. cloudyskiesblogging
    July 17, 2016 / 8:44 am

    I really like this post, I’d tried a few products from the old tesco range a while ago so I’m so disappointed they’ve stopped selling much of it – I might have to get checking out eBay to pick up some of their old stuff before it completely disappears. If you have any free time could you checkout my blog cloudyskiessite.wordpress.com

    Reply
  2. caroline
    July 17, 2016 / 1:52 pm

    I bought the gift sets for a few people at Christmas and they all came back and said where can I get more, so I too am disappointed to see that the have reduced the range x

    Reply
  3. Cal at Family Makes
    July 18, 2016 / 8:16 am

    I love this range too. I didn’t realise it had been so reduced as I stock piled a massive amount at Christmas time and am still working my way through it. Well done for asking Tesco directly, more of us should do that. Consumer pressure and all…

    Reply
  4. Gaynor Hincks
    July 9, 2017 / 12:08 pm

    Hi. I too am dissapointed but i have found an alternative which is just as good. It is boots time delay flawless primer. I found it to be on equal par to bettys forget your lines..i love it

    Reply
  5. Rachel Doughty
    December 9, 2017 / 8:16 am

    I bought some last week. it’s back!

    Reply
    • Pat Connelly
      December 14, 2017 / 9:25 am

      Which store Rachel ? My local store doesn’t have it . x

      Reply
      • honestlyhelen
        December 14, 2017 / 10:13 am

        Neither does mine, just bubble bath and smellies, no make up 😣

        Reply
  6. dogwalker042000
    January 9, 2018 / 11:05 am

    A lot of the products contained microbeads or other plastic derivatives which have been banned. I hate the idea that using skin care products means there’s plastic in it. Cosmetcs and bathroom cleaning items do not need plastic in them.

    Reply
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  8. LookingGood
    March 10, 2019 / 8:29 pm

    I really wish Tesco would bring back the entire original range of ACB products. The new stuff is’nt the same quality, not just the packaging has changed. The old range had better packaging and was very good quality products

    Reply

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