What to buy from the USA

[OhRex]

I'm lucky enough to be travelling to the US on holiday next week and wondered if there was anything beauty wise I should be buying? Are there any wonder products that are only available stateside or are significantly cheaper etc etc? TIA

Goodness....another thread on this!!?

American jeans. Anything made in the USA. Anything you can get there but not here! Anything you like as long as you do not go over your luggage allowance!

We just go mooching around the shops and over the years I have brought back clothes, shoes from Cole Hahn, writing cards from Papyrus, notebooks with views of NY on them, stuff from Banana Republic, Gap, Nike and Ralph Lauren and house items from Pottery Barn and make-up from OPi and Mac. Not to mention Victoria's Secret undies and Jeffrey Campbell shoes - for DD! Part of the fun is looking. The more you make a plan, the more you are likely to fail! I hate the discount malls. We like the proper shops in iconic locations with super USA helpful service.

Thanks bojorojo with the exchange rate being a big pants I wasn't really sure that MAC would be any cheaper? I tried doing a search on 'America' and only found one recent post about makeup that suggested a website called beautypedia so I'll take a look there.
I was mainly looking for advice on beauty/hair stuff, rather than clothes etc. I haven't been for about 8 years and wondered if there was any new brands I won't have heard of that the 'young folk' are raving about...

If it was me, I'd raid the drugstores and Sephora for products you can't get over here or are more expensive to buy!

My top picks would be Kat Von D, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Sephora's own range, Maybelline, L'oreal (the last two have products that the UK brand don't currently sell) etc. Also I'd get some of those Bath & Body Work anti-bacterial hand gels!

Beautypedia is owned by Paula's Choice, so there is a bit of bias in the reviews. The site reviews Paula's Choice products, alongside others, and (shocker) gives them all 5-star reviews.

I've been using SheaMoisture products recently on my hair. The brand is much cheaper in America than it is out here, IIRC. Same for stuff like DevaCurl (I realize this is not helpful if you have straight hair...).

As for makeup, I think Makeup Forever might be an American brand? Drunk Elephant skincare has been getting rave reviews over there too, and they are based out of Texas, I think. Very pricey, but might work out ok with exchange rate by the time you go.

I think Drew Barrymore has/had a makeup line in Wal-Mart. There are also drugstore makeup brands like Neutrogena, Physician's Formula, and Cover Girl that don't seem to get as much promotion over here, but get great reviews, depending on who you ask. Or at least, they aren't sold in my bonny little corner of Scotland.

Brilliant notamummy10 and JJJHeimerSchmidt ! I have really curly hair and have been experimenting with co-washing so will be interested to pick up some low-poo/sls-free/silicone-free products if you have any recommendations?

If you would like to do your own gel nails: Sensationail starter kit and supplies. Great reviews and sooooooo much cheaper there than here.

Oh and Crest Whitestrips. You pay a huge premium for them over here something to do with them being illegal and they are very effective teeth whiteners.

DevaCurl No Poo or Low Poo, One Condition and the light gel have been good for me. Not so easy to get here unless you import them from Amazon.

SheaMoisture has a bajillion varieties. I've just started sampling them myself. Got on really well with Yucca and Baobab line, especially the styling milk, and getting on OK with Raw Shea line. Next on my to-try list is the hibiscus range and the 10-in-1 range.

Ouidad is meant to be a good, higher-end brand - good reviews, haven't tried it myself though. And then there's a budget brand in the US called Suave that makes some cone-free conditioner (Suave naturals coconut, I think). $3 a bottle, normally.

Trying to think of shops that would sell this stuff, that aren't a salon. Sally Beauty Supply and maybe Target come to mind. Been a long time since I've lived in America, though.

Neutrogena make up, especially the foundations. Brilliant products and inexpensive, available from drug stores . Coach and Tory Burch handbags? Cheaper in US than here and bigger ranges. Have a great trip!