What ‘cool’ stuff can I get in the US?

[soupforbrains]

I am travelling to Arizona in a week. (The trip is for work not pleasure I’m fully aware of the current situation and would not otherwise be choosing to go to the US but it is unavoidable I’m not here to discuss the dumpster fire.)

While I am away it is my niece’s birthday. She will be 12. She was unable to come up with things she wanted for her birthday previously so ive now asked if there is anything I can bring her back from the US. I know that particularly with social media a lot of the big trends can involve American brands which are hard or impossible to get over here.

she’s asked for Touchland hand sanitiser which I’m happy to get her but it’s very small. Surely there’s something more are other trending or cool brands/products I can spoil her with?

Does anyone have any suggestions for clothing skincare or beauty products I can also get her?

I usually would spend between £150 and £200 if that helps.

Aritzia is a clothes brand we don’t have here yet, great for hoodies and joggers. And the bags they use are lovely.

If she (still) plays with slime, Peachybbies is a (ridiculously overpriced IMO) US brand that is difficult to get in the UK without paying extortionate shipping rates.

@MouldyCandyah I thought that too because ive bought her peachybbies slimes before but she’s outgrown/is outgrowing the slime

@jay55noted! She’s super sporty so sweats are always handy for over her gym leotards.

Go to Bath and Body Works. We used to shop a lot in USA but most things are available here now.

Ask her what she wants from Sephora and treat her to a selection. That’s what I do with my 14 year old niece who lives in the UK. Whilst I’m aware there is Sephora in the UK now, it’s not anywhere near where she lives and she can’t afford a lot from there anyway.

Difficult because lots of their better stuff (eg makeup and brands) is available here now; and UK kids/teens often don’t like the taste of American candy/food items (American sweets and chocolate are much less nice than ours!)

DD is around your niece’s age and hankers after US influencer brands like Pink Palm Puff hoodies which I have vetoed as they are difficult & expensive to import, and are already around $90 to start with. But if you can buy them there they wouldn’t be as expensive as to have them shipped. Ask her if there is a US hoodie brand she might like?

Please do not apologise for going to the US. We are going at Easter to visit family. I don’t have to justify it to anyone and no one has looked at me in horror!
I know someone suggested Sephora, that’s what my son’s girlfriend wanted but it is $$ even in the US!
I asked my DD what she was looking forward to getting in the US and she just mentioned the food at all our favourite restaurants… my son always gets a team shirt: we go to Boston so last time it was Celtics vintage with Larry Bird on the back (IYKYK), he gets Red Sox caps, Patriots… but US teams probably don’t mean anything to her.
A friend requested Stove Top Stuffing mix last time I went 🤣! 62 though not quite the same demographic as your niece!

I’m sure you can get them here now but I didn’t the last couple of years picking up owala water bottles every time I was in the US

Thanks everyone. I know that lots of things are here now but I’m also aware from my own shopping that lots of brands have only very limited ranges available here.

Sephora and Bath&body are good shouts

The bath and body works hand sanitisers are very cute, my 12 year old really likes them. They’re £4 each here, or 5 for £15, but in the US they are $1.95 or 6 for $10, so we feel quite hard done by here!

My daughter went mad for a 7-11 cup and baseball caps , we bought tums and loads of other crap when we went to Texas .

I second Aritzia, their clothes are gorggg including their activewear. Also recommend snacks from Trader Joes.

bath and body works yes, teens love their body sprays
Eos vanilla cashmere body lotion is viral on tiktok at the moment
Snacks: fun flavours of m&ms, mint is my favourite, anything from trader joe's, swedish fish, goldfish crackers, fun flavoured coffee creamer, whatever else looks fun
Trader Joe's tote bag
teeth whitening strips

Yes, get some good M&Ms, mint or peanut butter are my favourites.

Apparently the hair oil from trader joes is the best.

I have a fussy, fashion conscious 13 yr old DD and a sister who lives in Boston US who comes back to the UK fairly regularly bringing nice things. Successful items have included:

Aritzia hoodie
Fun goodies from Trader Joes e.g interesting flavoured cookies and yes the blue and white tote bag.
Brandy Melville clothing - cute little shorts and vest tops for lounging.
Sephora make up items.
Boston RS cap and t shirt.
She sometimes does a trip to Target and gets nice looking clothing items such as brushed cotton PJs. Something about them being from Target makes them special for my DD.
Personalised M&Ms with my DDs face on.
Owala bottle (cheaper than buying it here).
Interesting looking toiletries from CVC e.g nice vanilla shower cream that is not available here.

Yes, many of these items can be bought here but they still feel special. My DD also loves Bath and Bodyworks. She likes the strawberry pound cake stuff. But we did get this in UK.

Maybe try Ulta instead of Sephora. Don’t have it in the Uk and you might find something a bit different.

Sol de Janeiro stuff is popular with tweens.

Owala bottles are a good shout.

Alo Yoga and Athleta for yoga clothing.

Municipal is co-founded by Mark Wahlberg.

IMHO North American chocolate sucks.

Trader Joe's bags and also a lot of their treats and snacks- it's a fun place to shop.

Jiffy Pop popcorn for popping on the stove top- really fun and delicious

Not all US chocolate is bad! Trader Joe's has excellent huge bars- I highly recommend them- (they are actually Belgian, but also only available in the US)

My DH travels to the states a lot and my teen is always most pleased with a target bag. Yep the bag they put stuff in when you buy it! God knows why…?? Like a previous poster, it doesn’t have to be more exciting than PJs or the like but the fact they are from target and she gets a carrier bag seems to be v pleasing to her!

If you’re near a Trader Joe’s, grab a tote bag and a few snacks, and Bath & Body Works hand sanitisers always go down well with teens. When I was squeezing in a quick Target and Sephora run on a Boston trip Patriots Limousine made our family trip so much easier than juggling parking.

Another vote for Bath and Body Works.

And some American candy-Twizzlers, Sour patch Kids, unique flavoured M&Ms.