AMERICA – HOME OF the brave. And Sephora.
Americans are #blessed with an abundance of beauty products available in their local ‘drugstore’, (it’s a chemist, stop kidding yourself).
And yes, while the Internet means we have access to pretty much all the same stuff, it costs a considerably less pretty penny to ship.
There’s hope though – with Wet ‘N’ Wild and NYX having recently taken over Penneys and Boots alike, maybe we could see some of these bad boys hitting our shelves soon?
1. Tarte Cosmetics
There were significantly rumblings that this beloved brand would be made available soon, but no more word since. :(
Must-have products: Their Shape Tape concealer (above) is, by all accounts, one of the best mid-range, high-coverage concealers on the market. Also, any of their palettes – but those warm neutrals in the Tartelette palette would look on our dressing table for sure.
2. Milani
That gold packaging though …
Must-have products: Blush seems to have died a death in terms of being an absolute must in people’s beauty routines. You’ll make an exception for Milani’s ones though – super pigmented and cheap.
Update: Cloud 10 Beauty now stock Milani. Yay!
3. Jordana
A sister company to Milani, Jordana have been on the trot for 25 years. Let’s hope we’re not waiting another 25 years for them to land here.
Must-have products: Their 12hr Made To Last eyeshadow pencils seemingly rival Urban Decay’s offerings in terms of quality.
4. Lorac
You’ll probably be able to get most Lorac stuff off Amazon, so take solace in that.
Must-have products: Beauty bloggers are always – and I mean, always - banging on about the Pro Palette (above). The Cobra Mascara is also supposed to be stunning for your lashes.
5. LA Girl
Now, admittedly, the packaging leaves a lot to be desired, but trust me when I say some of their stuff is the business.
Must-have products: Their HD Pro Concealer can also be used for cream contouring, don’t you know?
6. Bite Beauty
One of Sephora’s most prized offerings, be sure to peruse the Bite stand if you’re planning a trip to America anytime soon.
Must-have products: Pretty much the only thing people ever talk about in terms of this brand is their lipsticks – a creamy formula that’s second to none.
7. Illamasqua
Kind of unfair including this, because once upon a time the brand was available here in BT2.
Now, you have to buy the stuff from Belfast, which is just wholly inconvenient. The odd pops up on ASOS too.
Must-have products: The brand boasts nail laquers that are, eh, hard as nails.
8. Marc Jacobs Beauty
Honestly, who cares if it’s any good? Look. At. The. Packaging.
*sobs for eternity*
Must-have products: The Re(marc)able Foundation is high-coverage, but has a weightless feel. Also, it has no oil – a big plus for greasy-faced gals like me.
Update: A limited selection of Marc Jacobs products are available in Brown Thomas.
9. Neutrogena
We’re all familiar with their extremely fruity smelling scrubs, but did you know they did makeup too?
Must-have products: Given that we are dealing with a skincare brad, you’d expect their foundations and concealers are too legit to quit. And they are! Particularly the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup.
10. Colourpop
These are, allegedly, the brains behind Kylie’s Lipkits because they’re made in the same factory.
They make a whole host of products though, if lipstick ain’t your thing.
Must-have products: Eh, everything? The Lippie Stix, their Liquid Lipsticks, their Super Shock eyeshadows … Major gorge.
