What’s the famous line about not knowing what you’ve got until it’s gone? Well, as an expat living abroad in London, you don’t realize all of the random things you love until they’re no longer available for purchase in your country. For example, when your favorite eye cream is not for sale in the UK and the prospect of buying it comes with a $30 shipping fee. Or, when UK/EU laws for skincare mean they cannot sell a specific formulation of a coveted serum – but they will in the U.S.!? Or, how about that cheap but oh-so-lovely eye pencil that you just cannot find a replacement for in the UK? I could go on – and I’m sure every expat can relate, whether it’s makeup, skincare, food or others.
Inspired by what I cannot have in the UK, here are four of my U.S. favorites for skincare and makeup that I just cannot live without and had to purchase while stateside for the Christmas holiday.
1. Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment
I love Sunday Riley’s lactic acid serum. I’m no skincare expert, but this serum does something magical to my skin after I’ve applied it – it just always looks better the next day! Interestingly, this serum used to be available in its lactic acid formation in the UK, but is no longer. According to Cult Beauty, this is due to an EU regulation that now stipulates that no lactic acid treatment with a 10% concentration (or a pH that’s lower than five) can be sold. As a result, Sunday Riley has issued a new formulation with glycolic acid at the same 7% concentration, combined with a with lactic acid salt at 3% and a pH of 3.5.
While it’s getting rave reviews in the UK by beauty bloggers I trust like Caroline Hirons, I still couldn’t resist to scoop up the product I know and love from Sephora while in Boston. I do want to try the new glycolic formulation and compare the two, but given that it’s pretty easy to get the new formulation in the UK, I’ll have to purchase once I am through with this one.
2. Dermadoctor Wrinkle Revenge eye cream
I cannot tell you how many eye creams I have tried. Far too much money spent and only one that I really like so far. Why? I have dry skin, including my under eyes. I haven’t found an under eye cream besides Dermadoctor’s Wrinkle Revenge that hydrates, lasts a good amount of time and layers well under my under eye concealer.
Interestingly, this product also used to be available in the UK on Cult Beauty, but their products are no longer for sale on the website – and I’m not sure why. Now, to get this wonderful eye cream, the only option is to order directly from the company, with a $30 shipping fee. So, when I am back in the U.S., I make a big online order of a few of them from Sephora to stock up. In writing this post, I noticed that it’s suspiciously out of stock on the Dermadoctor website, so I hope it’s not the end for this amazing eye cream. I’m not sure how I will cope….Thankfully, it’s still in stock at Sephora, so stock up people!
As a side note, if you know of any life-changing eye creams, send ’em my way. I’ve only got another 2-3 months with current my eye cream stock, so it’s time to start testing some new ones in the meantime.
3. Tarte Creaseless Concealer
Speaking of dry under eyes, I have found the holy grail of hydrating under eye concealers from Tarte. It’s called the Creaseless Concealer and it’s made with maracuja oil. I have pretty dark under eye circles, so I first do a layer of Estee Lauder’s double wear concealer (UK link) and layer the Tarte one on top. Despite what Tarte says, it does crease, so you need to set it to reduce crease potential. I use the smallest amount of Make Up Forever’s Microfinishing Pressed Powder in white (UK link) with my beauty blender to set it and it works really well. I also like how it’s buildable and you can apply more after a long day. After a long day and I need a re-fresh, I use the teensiest bit of face oil in my under eye crease (re: not the entire under eye unless needed), either May Lindstrom’s The Youth Dew (UK link) or Darphin’s 8-Flower Nectar (US link). Then, I apply the concealer and I look instantly refreshed! Confession: the serum and oil recommendations are eye-wateringly expensive but amazing. Don’t believe me? Check out this review on The Youth Dew and this one on 8-Flower Nectar. However, I’m always looking for tips on more affordable ones to test!
Ok, back to the Tarte Creaseless Concealer. My only small annoyance with this product is how Tarte changed the packaging. It used to be in little squeezable containers, which were incredible. In the squeezable containers, you could get every ounce of the product out. I am soooo that person that cuts the container open and scrapes product out with a Q-tip! My worry with the glass (plastic?) tubes is that I’m going to waste so much good product, which is super annoying, especially when it’s hard to get in the UK!
While Tarte technically does carry this product in the UK on QVC, I am utterly confused by it. The shade range is incredibly limited and it’s not labeled the same way as it is in the U.S.. I have no idea if any of the super vague sounding shades match mine, which again, is annoying Tarte! Am I Light Medium Neutral? Light Sand? Keep it consistent Tarte so I can buy more from you! Or, at least give us a little guide on how the names here in the UK translate to the U.S. shade range.
For those who may ask, I’ve also tried Tarte’s other cult concealer Shape Tape and I find it drying. Instead, I would recommend another one that I got a sample of recently, Kat Von D’s Lock It Concealer Creme, which is for sale in the UK at Debenhams. Shade for shade, it exactly matches the one I wear in Tarte’s Creamy Concealer. It would still need a mix with my Estee Lauder Double Wear to provide the coverage level I need for my under eye circles and setting powder (it also definitely creases despite what the website says), but it’s so creamy and hydrating! Naturally, my shade (light neutral 11) is currently the ONLY ONE out of stock on the Debenhams website (sigh), but I hope when the time comes to re-stock in a few months, it will be there.
4. Maybelline Define-A-Line Eyeliner
Last but certainly not least, a more budget-friendly but cult favorite of mine. I love the creamy texture of Maybelline’s Define-A-Line Eyeliner. I always buy the shade brownish black from CVS. Note: Maybelline always puts it somewhere awkward like the lowest rung on the ground next to the floor (clearly not a priority product for them, sigh). It seems like such a simple thing, pretty much every makeup brand has an eyeliner pencil in this shade. However, this one just goes on easily, its self-sharpening and doesn’t hurt your eye at all when applying. I cannot tell you how many super hard eye pencils I’ve tried. Ouch, ouch, ouch. And, who wants to shapen an eye pencil constantly? This one runs about $8, but with all the CVS ExtraCare bucks I rack up in between visits to the U.S., I always score a deal. While they do stock Maybelline in the UK, they do not stock this product.
Final Thoughts
Well, this post became rather long rather quickly! I guess I was quite passionate about my U.S. skincare and makeup favorites. For more of my beauty recommendations, reviews and trials, visit: https://thesavvybostonian.com/category/fab-finds/beauty/