US make up

bunberry

If you're into MAC/Nars/Bobbi Brown you may also like products from Laura Mercier, Chantecaille, Make Up For Ever to name a few, you might want to try Victoria's Secret too.

I personally LOVE American beauty products; most items I own come from the US as I tend to make a big purchase every few months and get them shipped here.

Brands I would personally recommend are:

• Tarte - great range of colours using natural ingredients, nice looking packaging too.
• Josie Maran Cosmetics - love their packaging, excellent quality products
• Sephora Collection - haven't tried their makeup products but I absolutely adore the body butter http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P276331&categoryId=B70

Unless you're going yourself, I think it would be best to purchase as much as possible from the same store (e.g. Sephora) as opposed to sending your friend all over the city with a mountain of shopping bags

When my OH went to the the US on a work trip I gave him a list, which he basically gave to a very helpful Sephora SA because he had no idea where to start looking! I got everything I'd asked for in the end, he even went to a different Sephora store because the first one sold out of an item on the list - he's such a sweetie :happylove

pollypenny

Sally Hansen nail varnishes are very cheap and available in Walgreen pharmacies.

The 'instant dry' is brilliant and I am still wearing the long-lasting I put on 3 weeks ago, it's perfect!

JenC

Walgreens (Chicago) and Duane Reade (New York) are both pharmacies that sell some fab stuff. Essie nail polishes are really cheap as is Revlon.

C.O. Bigelow are lovely apothecary style shops, and they do really nice lip balm/gloss, normally on a deal when you buy 3.

As mentioned above, Sephora is fab, their own brand nail polishes are excellent but the range is so vast it might be difficult to make a selection online first.

My favourite lip glosses are from Victorias Secret, again they do a good multibuy deal and they are really cheap!

Lastly, Clinique is roughly half the price you would pay here. I also milk the tourist bit to get some freebie testers chucked in!

Just writing this has made me jealous and craving a trip to the states for some new treats!

Bella_b

You are so lucky!! I also see girls on Youtube talk about stuff on there that we can't get here!! I agree about Covergirl (which is really Max Factor half price!) Owned by same company. Lash Blast mascara by Covergirl is the exact same as False Lash Effect and most things are the same or very similar with that brand. Drugstores do amazing deals. I'm hoping to go to the USA next year! I'd be first in line at Sephora! EOS lipbalms are meant to be great.. available at most drugstores.