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When it comes to beauty products, it really pays to shop local. MAC cosmetics is cheapest in Canada (its homeland), Burt’s Bees lip balm is about $3.99 in the US but almost double the price in Australia and US brand Revlon sells its lipsticks in the states for about $7.99 but $21.99 in Australia.
Traveling to Europe opens your eyes and beauty cupboard for exotic finds you won’t find in your hometown department store.
We’ve round up our best European beauty buys, you can find them at your local Chemist, grocery or department store.
Beauty Products to Buy When Traveling in Europe
Written by: Iona Y.
Sachajuan Haircare
Intensive Repair Shampoo | Normal Hair Shampoo | Conditioner
Created in Sweden, this simple professional haircare brand is as minimalistic as its packaging. It cleanses thoroughly and leaves you with the salon hair smell for a fraction of the price. The range is well know for its hero product – the Hair Repair. The shampoo and conditioner for normal hair is quite good too. If you don’t have the luggage space to accommodate full size products, these guys sell travel minis.
To protect your new beauty products, wrap them securely in your clothing and add them to your packing cube in your suitcase.
Dior Cosmetics
Must Buy:
Diorshow Black Out Mascara | Hydra Life Pro-Youth Sorbet Essence
It’s a household name that needs no introduction. You can find Dior at your local department store but Dior Cosmetics will most definitely be cheaper in its motherland (or, duty free). At the very least, you’ll have the whole range at your fingertips- not the edited versions that filter to your local beauty spots. What I love about Dior products is that their makeup colours are pigmented and deliver on colour.
If you have extra dollars to spend, invest in their skincare, especially its Pro-Youth Sorbet Essence to your perfectly cleansed face, alone or under the Pro-Youth Sorbet Creme, for a perfusion effect that deeply reinvigorates the epidermis. Apply Pro-Youth Sorbet Essence to a cleansed face, alone or under your night creme.
You’ll want to look your best when you travel! Read my travel tips to Pack Light Stylishly!
Bourjois
When I’m in Paris, I spend a fair amount of time in Bourjois. From what I’ve seen, you can only get the full collection at one of their stores. I love their mini lip glosses and nail polishes. I love its Record Liner 48 Hour Waterproof – a liquid eyeliner that really stays put.
Must Buy:
Their Sixties Remix Edition complete with liquid eyeliner and a nude lip
Korres
Founded in Athens, Greece – this brand brings natural beauty and luxury at the same time. Think modernised apothecary in clean and pretty packaging. Well known for its lip butters, the range has a full skincare set to boot but if you live in Australia or New Zealand, stock up whilst you’re overseas as there’s a very limited range.
Pick up the Wild Rose or Greek Yoghurt range if you come across it. If you had to pick one, choose the Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial – an overnight facial in a jar that peps up the skin overnight.
If you look hard enough, you’ll be able to find most of the recommended products online or even at home but if you have time to shop, buying local will save you money and help you make a few exciting discoveries to brag about.
What are your favorite beauty products? Share in the comments!
For more tips and ideas on traveling to Europe, please read:
- How to Pack for a Multi-Country European Vacation in Spring
- Ankle Booties: The Best Shoes for Travel to Europe in Spring
- The Experts Reveal the Best Carry-on Suitcases for Traveling Europe
- Traveling Europe just got easier with Go Euro!
Hope you found this post on what to buy when traveling in Europe helpful. Please share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Author Bio: Iona Y juggles multiple hobbies when she’s not playing with lipstick and sharing beauty tips. One of them just so happens to be a dating blog. Drop her a line at www.30everafter.com.
What to pick from Russia. Please suggest the brand
Hi Shruti, thank you for your question. We’ll share your question here so the author of the article can reply. I would also highly recommend that you join our TFG facebook group and post your question about beauty products from Russia there: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelfashiongirls/ Its a fabulous community of helpful female travelers that have the best advice and recommendations to share. If you need any help with packing for Russia, you may find this article helpful: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/what-to-wear-in-russia-in-winter/ Sorry I could not have been of more help ☹️
Kiko cosmetics are great. Picked some up in Italy.
Dior mascara was about the same price in the duty free as in the US but Chanel is a real deal. But the best are the pharmacies, which have an amazing array of wonderful skin care products at nearly half the US cost, even when currency exchange rates are taken into account. Most things come in carry-on friendly sizes but I broke the TFG rule and checked a bag on the way home because I had bottles and tubes too large for carry-on.
Thanks for sharing the tip on pharmacies 🙂
I just wanted to mention if you are in France you should also check out a wonderful cosmetics and beauty product line called Clarins. It’s highly underrated and a lot of people outside France don’t seem aware of it, but I’ve loved their cosmetics for years.
Great tip! Thank you 🙂
I just want to thank you! I am traveling to Paris for the first time ever and I am feeling much less anxious due to your great travel guide. Keep enjoying traveling and share with us! 🙂 Thanks again.
Thanks Amanda 🙂 That’s awesome to hear!