What To Buy When You Visit The USA
An exhaustive shopping list for trips to the US, or when others go to the US. One to save or to forward to friends and family as a major hint when they visit the land of the stars and stripes.
This is a much requested piece of content as I regularly talk on my Instagram about the things I buy when I visit the USA, or when a friend or family member does. Whilst the American list was most in demand, I will be doing a French Pharmacy version soon too - promise - and possibly an Australian and South African one too as they have some gems...
In terms of US store options, I see Duane Reade as like Superdrug and CVS as like Boots. CVS bought Target’s pharmacies 5 years ago so in larger Target stores you can sometimes get the two in one store (a bit like Lloyd’s Pharmacies was in Tesco). Health is a big commercial market in the US; doctors cost money so the role of a pharmacy is much more crucial as it can deter the need for further medical care. That’s why you tend to be able to get stronger stuff OTC there, I’d imagine.
American supermarket culture isn’t similar to the UK, at least not in big cities. The joke that New Yorkers use their ovens to store shoes isn’t so far from the truth - people just eat out more or buy prepped meals.
Whereas we have lots of small grocery stores, American inner cities tend to only have food markets, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods (which honestly makes Waitrose look like Costco but is a joy to browse in) and cooking at home is a lots more expensive. Erewhon is getter bigger and bigger, it’s like a health-food store / premium food store - and then Target, which is probably most comparable to a Wilkinsons or B&M. There’s Walmart obviously, but you don’t see them so much in the middle of big towns - thats more a suburb or out of town thing where there’s literally more space.
Oh and then skincare wise there’s Sephora, which we have now but is far more of a non negotiable go-to in the US than it is in the UK - and Blue Mercury which is kind of a Space NK and Ulta which I don’t know well but every time I’ve been in has been more sort of glamorous-beauty brands in my humble opinion, and less my thing…
Banned Ingredients
Generally speaking British people want American medical and skincare products because they work quicker. This is because they are stronger and some contain substances we cannot access in the UK. We often talk about something being “banned” in the UK and it therefore not being good for you - this is not always true.
Ingredients are “banned” by default in Britain until research and testing proves otherwise. The British testing system is years behind - I noticed this particularly when going through fertility treatment. Some supplements proven in US markets to help are “banned” here (included in my list below). We used to be part of European testings - meaning if any EU country did research we could benefit from it to speed up products getting on our shelves, but not the case now.
Given the long queue of research needed to support against (currently) terminal illnesses, it’s unlikely substances like (stronger) retinol, THC, melatonin and DHEA will ever make the cut here in the UK in the medical world. I dont say this to encourage you to ignore advice, but I say this for you to consider in your own research. Conversely when it comes to food testing we are quite quick and I do trust the British system. It has banned things like Mountain Dew as it contains ingredients known to be carcinogenic…
Anyway, I’ve broken my list down into the following sections:
Beauty & Skincare
Pharmacy & Health
Food, Utility & Pantry
Fashion & Clothing
Here’s my list…
Beauty & Skincare
There are only a handful of brands that we can’t get hold of directly in the UK anymore, but that doesn’t mean the actual products are the same in the UK and the US. Retinol strength in particular, will vary. New legislation in the EU means that brands who want to sell to EU countries have to limit retinol strength to 0.5% (most effective ones have 1-3%). Is this a sudden, unexpected perk of Brexit? No. The major cost to US brands for all European markets (UK included) is shipping the product to anywhere in Europe (UK included) in the first place. Product usually lands in the UK, Amsterdam or sometimes northern Germany and is then taken around the continent.
So, even though we may not be in the EU, we are still very much part of Europe from the perspective of freighting, so the products for us will be shipped in the same cargo loads unless a brand is prepared to do separate UK shipping - which is phenomenally expensive - meaning they’d have to raise prices. So in a “long story short” type round up: in the next three years we will either have to settle for weaker retinols, or buy them in the UK and expect a price hike - or - buy them in the US and bring them home… With that in mind, here’s my shopping list for beauty:
Pat McGrath’s Matte Lipsticks - It must be something in the “matte” formulation as it’s the same for Rose Inc too, you don’t see these often in the UK at all.
CVS Advanced Nail Polish Remover Pads - Just super handy to have. They some in individual sachets so I keep them in my handbag. They remove even the toughest of polishes, including staining from reds/browns etc.
Salt Eau de Parfum from Ellis Brooklyn - you really haven’t lived until you’ve smelled this perfume. It’s holidays and sunshine and joy in one.
Sunnies Fluff Mate Lipstick - Filipino brand found in well stocked US stores. If lipstick doesn’t usually stay on your lips you need these.
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream & Primer - Whilst the brand do stock in the UK for some reason you can’t find this. It’s very good.
Olive and June Nail Polish - the only non gel polish I find lasts me more than a week.
Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palettes - much, much cheaper in the US and has a slightly different formulation (in my opinion) and it stays on for longer.
Burts Bees Cucumber Mint Lip Balm - You can get this in the UK, but it’s much more widely seen in the US and its complete favourite.
Burts Bees Cold Sore Solution - A must have for anyone who gets them, or for spots that just won’t shift.
Crown Affair Shampoo and Conditioner - found only in Sephora. It is incredible and worth the price tag.
Maybelline Falsies Mascara - You don’t see this particular mascara in the UK often if at all. It genuinely looks like you have false lashes on and doesn’t smudge.
Sephora’s Cucumber Eye Masks - The US versions have a higher caffeine level and they’re excellent (and cheap at $3).
Crest Whitening Strips - any will do, but my favourite are the Glamorous White ones as you only need to wear them for 30 mins. People rate the Walmart ones, but I think these are better.
Neutrogena SPF70 Body Mist - A rare product only found in the US. Protects against UVA, UVB and blue light so an essential for any desk workers.
Olay Retinol Body Moisturiser - A new find for me (thanks to Andrew Wheatcroft) and my word, my body is firmer and younger.
Target Towelling Scrunchies - The best invention ever but hard to find; they’re sometimes with the manicure stuff and other times with towels. But they allow you to pop your wet hair up and dry it naturally without damage/tightness.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum - The Cerave range is so much wider in the US and do not miss the opportunity for this serum with 10% vitamin C in.
Fenty Lip Mask - Whilst you can get this in the UK it’s sold out everywhere and is probably my favourite lip salve.
Supergroup Ultra Sunscreen SPF 30 - You can get a version of this in the UK, but the formulation is far better in the US. A physical sunscreen; this is perfect for my fellow pigmented friends.
KP Bump Eraser - if you get chicken skin or problems with in growers, you need this. The US formulation is different to the version you can get in the UK.
Nod Pod - marketed as a weighted blanket for your eyes, this brand is amazing. You can get in the UK here but it’s about £10 cheaper in the US.
Essie Stay Longer Top Coat - You can get Essie in the UK, of course, but the formulations seem to be better in the US to me. From asking around its because they are stronger for the hotter climate..? I don’t know if this is true but this is my favourite top coat and makes regular polish last a lot longer.
Pharmacy & Health
A love for pharma-shopping on “the other side” of the Atlantic isn’t one way... Whilst we Brits tend to get extremely excited over the plethora of painkiller options and fertility health, Americans feel the same way about our antihistamines when they visit us. Please do your own homework and seek professional advice before buying any of this - these are things I have used myself, but all humans are different. Here is my list: