Yes, Fashion Fair makeup is still available. After facing severe supply disruptions and disappearing from department store counters during the Johnson Publishing Company bankruptcy, the legacy brand was acquired by former executives Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack. It officially relaunched in autumn 2021 with modernized, clean formulations. Today, you can purchase authentic Fashion Fair products directly through their official website, online at Sephora, in select Sephora retail stores, and at select Macy's locations.
For generations of Black women and people with deeper complexions, Fashion Fair was the foundational department store beauty brand that proved undertones beyond beige deserved luxury shelf space. If you grew up watching mothers and grandmothers press signature pink-cased powders into their skin, only to find empty counters in the late 2010s, you might have assumed the line disappeared forever.
The Journey from Department Store Disappearance to Relaunch
Fashion Fair was founded in 1973 by Eunice Johnson, wife of Johnson Publishing Company founder John H. Johnson. The brand was created out of sheer necessity when models touring with the Ebony Fashion Fair struggled to find foundations that did not look chalky, gray, or ashy on deep skin tones. For decades, it dominated high-end department store counters like Marshall Field's, Macy's, and Lord & Taylor, becoming an indelible rite of passage for women of color seeking makeup designed expressly for their skin tones.
By the mid-2010s, parent company financial struggles led to severe distribution gaps, leaving counters depleted and loyal customers unable to restock their staple compacts. When Johnson Publishing filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2019, the brand went up for auction. Business leaders Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack acquired the assets in late 2019. Rather than simply re-releasing the old inventory, the new owners spent two years reformulating the catalog, addressing modern consumer expectations around clean ingredients while preserving the nuanced warm, golden, and olive undertones that made the original formulas iconic.
Authorized Retailers Carrying the Current Lineup
Finding authentic Fashion Fair products today is straightforward if you know which authorized retail channels carry the brand. Following its 2021 relaunch, the brand formed an exclusive retail partnership with Sephora before expanding back into traditional department store footprints where its original legacy was built.
When purchasing, sticking to verified retail partners ensures you receive fresh, newly manufactured product rather than expired vintage inventory stored in third-party warehouses. You can currently purchase through the following primary avenues:
- Fashion Fair Official Website: Offers the complete current product portfolio, new collection launches, shade match quizzes, and direct-to-consumer customer service.
- Sephora (Online and Select In-Store Locations): Carries foundation sticks, setting powders, lipsticks, and primers with customer reviews, sample availability, and beauty insider point rewards.
- Macy's (Online and Select Flagship Beauty Counters): Re-established counter presence in key metropolitan areas, offering in-person testing alongside traditional beauty advisors.
Formulation Upgrades in the Relaunched Products
The current Fashion Fair lineup is not simply vintage stock in new packaging; it is an extensive reformulation designed to meet modern skincare-first makeup standards. Original formulas from the 1980s and 1990s were beloved for their intense, opaque coverage, but they frequently relied on heavier mineral oils, talc-heavy bases, and distinct fragrances that modern shoppers often choose to avoid.
The modernized collection focuses on clean, vegan, and cruelty-free standards. Foundations and powders now incorporate active skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid for deep hydration, tea tree oil to combat breakouts, and vitamin C derivatives to encourage radiance. While these changes make the products lighter on the skin and more comfortable for all-day wear, long-time fans should note that the physical texture differs slightly from the dense, heavy-coverage creams of past decades.
Iconic Core Products Available in the Current Catalog
The relaunched lineup deliberately brought back reimagined versions of the brand's most celebrated items, ensuring that the legacy products customers spent decades searching for are once again accessible. Whether you are replacing a long-emptied vanity staple or trying the brand for the first time, several hero products define the contemporary lineup.
Among the most popular offerings are the Set It Loose Finishing Powder, designed to blur pores without flashback, and the SkinFlex Stick Foundation, a buildable, creamy stick that provides natural satin coverage. Iconic lipstick shades, including rich chocolate tones and vibrant berry-reds that historically complemented deep skin without washing out, have also returned with creamy, hydrating textures.
- SkinFlex Stick Foundation: A multi-use creamy stick designed for all-over coverage, spot concealing, and contouring, featuring built-in skincare botanicals.
- Set It Loose Finishing Powder: A micro-milled, talc-free loose setting powder formulated to control shine without creating an ashy cast in photos.
- Iconic Lipsticks and Lush Lip Glosses: High-pigment formulas created to deliver rich, saturated color in a single swipe on naturally two-toned or deeply pigmented lips.
- Fabulous Face Priming Serum: A hybrid makeup base formulated to smooth skin texture and improve foundation longevity while addressing hyperpigmentation.
How to Match Your Shade in the Modern System
If you previously wore legacy shades such as Souffle, Tawny, or Brown Blaze, you will find that the shade naming and numbering system has been completely restructured to match modern industry formats. The new shade spectrum is organized systematically by depth levels and undertones—spanning golden, warm, red, neutral, and cool categories across fair, medium, tan, rich, and deep complexion ranges.
To find your current match, start by identifying your primary undertone rather than just the surface depth of your skin. If previous foundations have made you look gray, you likely carry rich red or warm golden undertones that require Fashion Fair's specialized pigments. Sephora and the official Fashion Fair website provide interactive shade conversion charts that suggest modern equivalents for vintage Fashion Fair formulas as well as conversions from other major beauty brands.
How Fashion Fair Compares to Newer Inclusive Beauty Brands
When Fashion Fair debuted in the 1970s, it operated in a market that largely ignored complexions darker than medium beige. Today, it shares shelf space with a wide array of inclusive brands, including Fenty Beauty, Danessa Myricks Beauty, Pat McGrath Labs, and Ami Cole. This shift gives shoppers unprecedented variety, but it also raises questions about where Fashion Fair fits within a modern makeup routine.
Fashion Fair stands out through its deep-rooted heritage in color theory specifically calibrated for complex undertones that resist ashiness across natural and studio lighting. While trend-driven brands often prioritize ultra-matte or extreme dewy finishes, Fashion Fair balances breathable, everyday skin-like finishes with rich, high-density pigment. Choosing between them often comes down to personal preference: shoppers seeking high-performance skincare-infused classics often gravitate toward Fashion Fair's reliable undertone accuracy.
Recognizing and Avoiding Expired Vintage Stock Online
Because Fashion Fair experienced years of retail absence, an unauthorized resale market emerged on platforms like eBay, Poshmark, and unverified Amazon storefronts. Some sellers continue to list vintage compacts, old-formula powders, and discontinued items in the original gold-and-pink metallic packaging at steep markups, targeting nostalgic shoppers who do not realize the brand has relaunched.
Purchasing vintage cosmetic inventory carries real skincare risks. Emulsions separate over time, natural oils turn rancid, and preservative systems degrade, which can lead to bacterial contamination, skin irritation, or contact dermatitis. Always verify that products feature the modern, minimalist white and gold packaging produced from 2021 onward, and avoid buying cosmetic creams or powders that are over three years old.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fashion Fair still owned by Johnson Publishing Company?
No. Johnson Publishing Company filed for bankruptcy in 2019, and the Fashion Fair brand was purchased at auction by entrepreneurs Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack, who independently own and manage the business today.
Can I still buy the original Fashion Fair Souffle foundation formula?
The original Souffle formulation in the classic jar is no longer produced in its exact legacy chemical composition. It has been superseded by modernized formulas like the SkinFlex Stick Foundation, which offer clean ingredients and similar warm, non-ashy undertones without heavy oils.
Are current Fashion Fair makeup products vegan and cruelty-free?
Yes. As part of the brand's comprehensive 2021 overhaul, Fashion Fair updated its standards to ensure the entire modern product collection is formulated without animal testing and complies with clean, vegan beauty guidelines.
Where can I test Fashion Fair shades in person before buying?
You can test testers and swatch shades in person at participating Sephora retail stores and select regional Macy's department store beauty counters. Store availability can be checked in real time using the inventory locator on Sephora's website.
Your next step
Check the store locator on Sephora or Fashion Fair's official website to confirm in-stock shade testers near you, or use an online shade conversion tool to safely order fresh, newly formulated products directly to your door.