Every year thousands of new beauty products hit cosmetics counters and drugstore shelves, each one purporting to be an improvement upon its predecessor. Skin creams boast the latest scientific technology or trendy ingredient, be it snake venom, resveratrol, or acai berry. But for all the new releases, a handful of oldies-but-goodies have become timeless staples among beauty industry professionals, magazine editors, and consumers. We asked beauty professionals to weigh in on whether the icons live up to their hype, and give us their take on which new products have staying power.

1. Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara: Great Lashes ($4.49 at drugstore.com) was launched in 1971; today, it is the no.1-selling mascara in America, with more than 20 million pink tubes sold annually. A makeup artist and founder of the beauty and fashion consulting firm Cents of Style, Andy Paige, said the product has several things going for it. “It consistently doesn’t smudge, and comes off easily,” she said. But the author of “Secrets of the Beauty Insiders” (Sourcebooks), Nada Manley, said Great Lash is over-hyped, and its low price is a major part of its appeal among makeup artists, who “go through tons of mascara, so they need something that works and that won’t break the bank.”

2. Benefit Benetint: The grandmother of all multitasking products, Benetint delivers “a sheer wash of natural-looking, long-lasting color” to cheeks and lips, and works on most skin tones, Ms. Manley said. The newest incarnation of this 30-year-old product, called the Pocket Pal, was launched in January and pairs a portable version of Benetint with a clear lip gloss. ($28 for Benetint; and $20 for Pocket Pal at benefitcosmetics.com)

3. Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey: The Black Honey shade was originally launched in 1971 as a shade of Glosswear for Lips. Its current incarnation, the not-quite-gloss, not-quite-lipstick formula called “Almost Lipstick” ($14 at clinique.com), made its debut in 1989, and according to the company, a tube is sold every two minutes. “Black Honey does live up to the hype because it’s an amazing color that looks natural and fresh and enhances every skin tone,” Ms. Paige said, adding, “I think there would be a riot if Clinique eliminated Almost Lipstick.”

4. Crème de la Mer: Created by aerospace physicist Dr. Max Huber more than 40 years ago, Crème de la Mer ($125 at cremedelamer.com) has a reputation as the ultimate luxury skincare cream. It’s priced at $125 for a 1-ounce jar. Ms. Manley called it “a nice moisturizer that can work well on normal to dry skin, but that’s it,” and the author of the new advice book, “Beauty Confidential” (Avon), Nadine Haobsh, a former beauty editor, said it’s “a phenomenal moisturizer and great for pampering mature, drier skin, but it is overrated as a wrinkle reducer.”

5. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream: Elizabeth Arden created this skin soother in 1930; today the company’s Web site even includes the story of the “legend” behind the cream ($17 at elizabetharden.com). “It’s a multipurpose product,” a Los Angeles–based makeup artist, Lina Hanson, said, adding that she uses it on lips and cuticles, as well as on eyelids for a dewy look or to give a sheen to matte eye shadow.

YOUNG ICONS

These newer cosmetics are poised to become old favorites.

1. NARS Blush in Orgasm: This best-selling product in NARS’ line — a shimmery, golden-peachy-pink powder blush — “is great on all skin tones and provides a naughty flush,” Ms. Haobsh said. Launched in 1999, the blush ($25 at sephora.com) spawned a newer lip gloss, and the Multiple eyes, cheeks, lips, and body stick.

2. Flush Tarte: Cheek Tarte’s Stain in marquee product, a solid gel blush in a round, push-up style applicator, made its debut in September 2000. “The color is gorgeous and long-lasting,” Ms. Manley said. “The transparency really does make you look flushed, like you just got back from a jog.” ($28 at tartecosmetics.com)