Women Travelers - What beauty items are cheap to buy in Europe?

Hi Everyone!

A new poster to these particular forums.

Off to Italy and France in July on my own and hoping to pick up some cosmetics items that may be cheaper in Europe than here in Australia.

I am a big fan of MAC makeup, Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier, but willing to try some new brands of makeup/beauty that perhaps are only available in Europe.

Any suggestions?

My personal favorite is BioTherm, which I can no longer (easily) get in North America. I believe it is pretty widely available in western Europe - I've bought in the Netherlands and Britain. Can't say how the price might compare to what is familiar to you.


p.s BioTherm is primarily skin care, not cosmetics/make-up, although they do make nice lipsticks

Now that there are Sephora shops worldwide, it's much easier to find European cosmetics brands that were once exclusive to Europe. However, if you're in Paris you might want to browse in the big Sephora on the Champs-Elysées to compare prices.

I like to browse the Pharmacie Fouhety on rue du Four in Paris . It has a large selection and good prices on skin care products.

As noted, Sephora is often cheaper in the US, but colours vary. I cannot for instance find my colour of lipstick at Sephora in China.

The German (now in more than 20 countries although they did close their rather pathetic US stores, and the largest beauty chain in Europe) Douglas is similar to Sephora and has some great house brand products and accessories. I love their €7,95 bags and have numerous ones. http://www.douglas.de/douglas/Accessoires-Mode-Taschen-Douglas-Fr%C3%BChlingserwachen_product_3000043247.html

Nivea - the real Nivea, not the made in Mexico product sold in the US in a limited line.

Boots products in the UK - often for £1, again not the very limited line sold in the US at Target but the vast expanse of products. (I realise that OP didn't mention going to the UK, but I cannot say often enough how much I enjoy Boots in various countries)

Sometimes manufacturers sell different products or product lines in different countries. Alberto hair care is an example; I like the UK product and stock up when I am there for instance.

Although some posters here disagree, I find wandering the aisles of grocery stores and 'drugstores' in different countries interesting. Even a walk through Monoprix can be enjoyable for instance.

Now that there are Sephora shops worldwide, it's much easier to find European cosmetics brands that were once exclusive to Europe. However, if you're in Paris you might want to browse in the big Sephora on the Champs-Elysées to compare prices.

I love that Sephora and have done much damage there AFA my wallet is concerned.

Bobette

I love Sephora and so dissapointed that there isnt one here in Australia! I had a great time in there (my bank account didnt enjoy it!) while in the States

I'm sure I'll be able to find something to take home :p

A friend just had me get her a Kent hairbrush in the UK. They're more than 50 percent less there than in the US.

I tend to pick up things I can't get in the US. Compeed, homeoplasmine cream, lots of cosmetics in Japan. Papaw ointment in Australia. I get my son Lamarin in Germany. Some hair products and eye drops in France.

I adore Marvis toothpaste and it is still cheaper in Italy. I don't if La Roche Posay is available in Australia but the Anthelios AC SPF 30 is wonderful and not available in the US, so I stock up in Paris.

When I was at CDG in April 2011, Chanel nail polish was cheaper at the duty free shop in Terminal 2 than it is at local department stores in Texas. I was really surprised because I compared the costs earlier this year in Madrid, Zurich, Paris, and even Ensenada and Dillards was cheaper - even with sales tax. I may have only saved $2 per bottle. I was flying non-stop so I did not have to worry about the liquids restriction.

I declared the purchase on my US customs form. I was asked what I purchased for $100 and I replied nail polish. The officer asked me if I worked for a nail salon. I told him what I do for a living. He then asked me if I had purchased a large quantity of nail polish for friends. He looked confused when I told him that I had only purchased four bottles. I explained that it was Chanel, that it lasted forever, and that it was the best nail polish that I had ever used. He waved me through.

Don't laugh at me but everytime I'm in France I head to Monoprix and stock up on Biolane Lingettes Épaisses - wetnaps! They just smell so much better than the ones I get here. 1Euro each for the pocket pack.

http://www.biolane.fr/3-15-Produits-Le-Change-Lingettes-Epaisses-H20.html

Wouldn't the weakness of the dollar wipe out most savings you might get buying in Europe. I get hives every time my fiance mentions wanting to go shopping in Paris and Rome while we're on our honeymoon in Europe. ;)

I tend to pick up things I can't get in the US. Compeed, homeoplasmine cream, lots of cosmetics in Japan. Papaw ointment in Australia. I get my son Lamarin in Germany. Some hair products and eye drops in France.

Compeed has been available in the U.S. for a few years. Can't remember what it's called, though I think it's packaged by BandAid. Don't know about prices.

Wouldn't the weakness of the dollar wipe out most savings you might get buying in Europe. I get hives every time my fiance mentions wanting to go shopping in Paris and Rome while we're on our honeymoon in Europe. ;)

It depends on what you purchase. Often brand name products such as Longchamp, GEOX, etc can be found cheaper in the US (unless on final sale prices in Europe) Other products vary; I just bought a pair of Papillio Madrid for €24,90 with free shipping vs the $70+++ I have seen in the US. If one knows where to look for sales at which time of year one can generally find the 'best' price, whether in the US or in Europe.

My Sephora makeup is a little cheaper still in the US.

For the most part, drug store prices are still much cheaper in Europe/UK. For instance, full size 3-1-1 compliant toothpase is around 0,55 (for 75ml or 100ml); Boots products are often on sale for 3-for-2 or £1. Even with the exchange rate, those prices are better than what I see in the US for decent quality items. (Of course, there are not generally coupons in Europe for those crazy 'free' shopping trips at CVS etc) I'll happily spend time at Monoprix, or Rossmann, or Boots, comparing prices on the better quality toiletries and beauty items, and buying whatever is a decent price whereever I am at the moment.

My standard 'stock up' list includes for instance £1 Boots Ingedients shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, and £1 Boots house brand tampons when I am in the UK (or in a country with a Boots with similar prices, such as Thailand or the Channel Islands)

Petit Marseillaise bath gel in France!! So cheap, so good. So much better than the cheap bath gels I can get stateside, and on par I think with L'Occitane and the like for a fraction of the price. I beg friends who visit France to bring me as much as they are willing.

They've got an amazing range of scents-- there's a fabulous lemon-verbena one and a cedar vetiver one that reminds me somehow of Hermes. A 250 mL bottle runs less than 4 Euros. And, smells great in the shower, great on the skin, but won't stink up the room (you know, those overly floral people you can smell 20 feet away? This stuff isn't like that).

Hi all
I'm new here and this is my first post :)

I'm not sure if these are available in Australia, but I'd definitely recommend picking up Bioderma and Embryolisse products whilst in France!
The Bioderma micellar cleansing solutions are impossible to find in most places and ridiculously overpriced on the internet. They're amazingly gentle and effective cleansers. Embryolisse does a brilliant moisturiser that I like to bring with me on trips.
If you're into fragrances, I'd also recommend checking out Serge Lutens and Caron in Paris. Caron does really beautiful face powders and both Serge Lutens and Caron have cosmetics which are difficult to find elsewhere.

In Italy, I'd recommend checking out Santa Maria Novella. They have some very natural skincare products and I also love their scents. Very Italian and the packaging is lovely.