Idea's!!! Beauty Cosmetics Addict /USA

tracie_80

My best friend is a complete beauty addict. She is always trying out new products.

I am visiting the USA in a few weeks time and I will arrive home, the day before her birthday :j
I would like to bring her birthday present back from the USA with me.
I have read somewhere that some beauty products are only available in the USA and I have seen ladies from the UK really frustrated that they can't purchase them here in the UK.

I'm not really in the know when it comes to cosmetics, because I don't wear much make up.
Can anyone give me any gift idea's? Ideally something that is only available in the USA. I'd love to surprise her and give her a gift that she is unable to purchase here in the UK.

glitterpuss

I would head straight for either Walgreens, or (my favourite) Sephora. Both have loads of different products which your friend won't have seen before.

Sephora's own brand products are excellent

gunsandbanjos

http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2012/10/makeup-i-want-but-cant-have.html

This article is a little old but some nice ideas.

I second a visit to sephora if you can.

ShePanda

On my last visit to America I bought back 3 bottles of Jean Nate After Bath splash, which isn't sold in the UK. I put one bottle on ebay and a fight broke out!
I agree with a trip to Sephora. Also some brands which are luxury over here are cheap in supermarkets in the USA. Birts Bees is very inexpensive in Target, Walmart etc.

pollypenny

Clinique is much less expensive in the USA, too.

angelil

It's true that some brands are significantly cheaper (Clinique, Laura Mercier etc). However, I think I'd prefer something I couldn't get in the UK (another beauty addict over here ).

I do like Sephora's own brand stuff, BUT they have a lot of branches in mainland Europe, so not exactly difficult to get either while on your summer holiday in France for example.

Brands I like that are only really available in the US:
Tarte (a bit like Benefit in the styling but more natural in the ingredients)
Sonia Kashuk (you have to get it from Target though and these are often out-of-town stores rather than inner-city stores)
Josie Maran
Kate Somerville
Elizabeth Grant (I particularly like her eye cream - it's the best I've tried)

Hope that helps a bit

moromir

Seconded:
Tarte (especially the Amazonian Clay Blushers)
Sonia Kashuk (the eyeshadow palettes and brushes particularly)

Don't bother with:
Kate Somerville (they ship to the UK now)

Other suggestions

Formula X nail polish - cult youtube following, you can get it in Sephora

Maybelline 24Hr Eye Tattoos in the NUDE collection (we have the other shades here but not those three limited edition matte nudes - but can get them via Ebay at hugely inflated prices)

Lorac (again, cult following, the LoracPro (not the Pro2Go palette) palette is amazing.

Kat Von D - Eyeshadows, eyeliners all amazing

Make Up For Ever - you CAN get this here but its a faff - ie. professional makeup artist store sonly. HD Foundation = freakin amazing, so many shades, their concealers are all great as are their powders.

Physicians Formula - again can get it via Ebay but you might get a good deal if you can find it on offer in a drug store - recommend the blush/bronzer compacts, mascara.

Wet-n-wild - CERTAIN products are cult favourites - google for an idea but super cheap so nice fillers.

If she's into makeup/is into it on the net - she will probably also appreciate anything from Bath & Body Works but PARTICULARLY the candles, they do a cute mini votive size if you want to get her a few/concerned about weight limits.

tracie_80

Thanks for all the recommendations. I had never heard of Sephora, but now looking at Sephora's locations, I can see that I will be able to visit Sephora & also Walmart. We are doing a full trip of all Florida, so travel won't be a problem.

I have always given my friend money for her birthday and it's never felt right,but I just can never think of anything that she would like/most likely hasn't bought.
I did think about asking her what she would like, but then where would the surprise be in that!
It's her 30th birthday, so it's a special birthday for her this year. Hopefully I am going to find something she's been lusting over for a while, but hasn't been able to buy.
I have to admit, I'm not really a make-up lover, my skin is very sensitive, so I usually products end up causing me skin problems. When it comes to make-up, I am completely lost!
I have wrote a list down of all recommendations, and armed with the list, off I will go to Sephora, and hopefully I will find the perfect gift for her!

pollypenny

You'll probably find that offers on big brands in department stores are better value, too.

You usually only have to buy one item to get the bag, with sample sizes and so forth.
I've done very well with Clinique and Lancôme .

pirateyqueen

I'm practically drooling at all these lovely things we can't get here in the UK.

Hermia

The Tarte blushes and Wet n Wild eye palettes are absolutely huge and very desirable.