USA trip - what don't I know I need yet??

[PurpleWhirple]

I'm off to the states next week for the first time in nearly 20 years. I used to fly to New York regularly for work and would stock up on things I couldn't get at home in the UK.

My favourites were bar soap, which for some reason seems to smell stronger over there, and I would always buy high SPF, oil free neutrogena facial sunscreen. Thankfully oil free suncream is now a thing in the UK. I'm racking my brains for the other things I used to get but nothing is coming back to me.

So what's changed in 20 years? I'd be grateful for your must have shopping lists and suggestions.

You have to get an ESTA before you travel, have you got that?

Do you mean stuff to take with you that you can't get there or stuff to bring home that you can't get here?

Burt’s bees facial wipes in abundance!

Melatonin! Sold on the shelf in all pharmacies.

Clorox products?

Everything costs even more proportionally but I echo melatonin the only thing I brought back.

Things that used to be cheaper just weren't eg jeans

Yes I've sorted that, thank you ☺️

The latter. I'm looking for things I can't get here that's it's worth bringing home.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. My SIL suggested melatonin too, I will look into that but not really sure what I'd use it for

I think there’s very little these days tbh OP. We were in New York in December and there were pretty much zero shops or products that aren’t in the UK that I could see. Melatonin sounds like a good shout though!

I always get melatonin (helps sleep!) and lots of USA medicines, the antibiotic creams + headache tablets that are sold in tiny boxes will 100s in (great for the handbag!). Tend to stock up on makeup we don't get over here and USA candy too.

You can get napraxin (sp) in pharmacies there too. It's prescription only here so worth stocking up.

I'll be honest, the only thing I brought back was 12 sachets of meatloaf seasoning mix ... we all have our own "thing" we love, I used to live there. I was pretty disappointed with the shops to be honest, mostly tourist tat, ventured to a mall that used to be good and just like here in the U.K. so many shops have closed

I did this last year and also did a thread but in the. End I just got some super strong cold /flu tablets (we got Covid) that you can't get in the UK and melatonin (10mg Walgreens Own brand cherry)

I also considered Crest white strips and bottles of Advil but they are so huge!

Went to The North Face outlet and got some things from their to if that's your vibe

Everything is crazy expensive though give the exchange rate and the COL in the US. On the previous thread people recommended secret deodorant but was v expensive!

We brought back some food too.

I actually think the US is behind Europe in beauty product terms. European/Asian SPFs for example are way superior to the US SPFs. All the make up and beauty products from the US I'm sure are available in the UK. Plus the US is so expensive now due to general inflation and the poor exchange rate with the pound.
I visit a fair amount as my family stay in LA and usually the only thing I buy are Lumigan eye drops as they are fab at brightening the whites of your eyes. Though I will stop these as they contain bimatoprost I think which is not great for your eyes!
Crest whitening strips-I buy these online from Irish companies and never buy them in the US.
Melatonin-good for jet lag when you get there but I find they give me horrible scary nightmares so I try not to take them.

Where do you find the crest strips?

Thanks all. Shame, I was looking forward to a good drugstore browse!

A drugstore browse is still worth it!

I always buy Anbesol (the US stuff is super strength), ibuprofen and tylenol (because no blister packs!), melatonin, eos lip balm as US has better flavours and teeth whitening strips.

@MiddleParking honestly just Google them. I've bought from loads of different companies over the years, I think the last one was Cali white though I couldn't find that the last time I searched. I bought from this company most recently
Sorry for the long link 🙈
https://advanced-whitening.co.uk/product/crest-3d-white-whitestrips-professional-effects-luxe-edition/?trueroas=21081839987&cometsource=google&comettnetwork=g&cometcampaign=21081839987&comettadgroup=157362326622&comettadid=694232364947&comettkeyword=advanced%20whitening&gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAABUFIKm3DzrdXS7a1o0NiaaajBmn9&gclid=CjwKCAjwnv-vBhBdEiwABCYQA4sAYyR1FKEGLP8sXb4AV-nmBGgYl331KN3O8sKdy69hsrApxSyZRoCMvUQAvDDBwE

I was in NY last September and planned one of my days to be a shopping day. To be honest felt like others, in that a lot of skincare etc I could get cheaper at home. The only things I did get were some sandals in Old Navy which were in the sale, and also a couple of pairs of Anne Klein ballet flats. They are much more comfortable and supportive especially on my instep. The only place I can find them here is in TK Maxx if I'm lucky.

Bonine travel sickness pills! Magical!

I miss the days of $1.86 to the pound, those trips to Florida when the DC were little and going with empty suitcases and returning with excess luggage. Walmart individual pecan pies at 75c, cheap clothing, cheap great quality T-shirts and jeans at Old Navy, Adidas outlets for discount trainers, Levi stores where they had every style, size and leg length for peanuts, and if your legs were even shorter, they’d adjust them in store.

sigh….

I came on to say Bonine but someone has beaten me too it.
I like cinnamon toothpaste and Irish spring soap.

Peanut butter M&M’s obviously!

I enjoyed the Dollar Tree.

Everything is super expensive.

I’m going to Seattle next week ☺️
I remembered the stick antiperspirant is called suave.