Monday, March 25, 2013

American Makeup - I need your suggestions!

A good friend of mine went to America on exchange for six months back in January. Now she has settled in and is having an absolute blast, I plucked up the courage to ask whether or not she would be able to pick up some makeup products, since she is in AMERICA and all.

When she said yes I basically had a heart attack and squealed for joy, but the problem is now I have to construct a list that doesn't consist of a gazillion products (more like 3 products). Though I have always drooled over all the American brands I never really thought about it seriously because I thought I would never get any of them! Now that I can, I'm stuck for what to get.

Do you have any suggestions of your favourite products or brands that cannot be passed up? I would love any of your suggestions!

The brands I have been thinking about are as follows - I have no idea how I am going to narrow my picks down to about 3 products!
- Soap and Glory
- Wet and Wild
- Real Techniques
- Topshop
- EOS
- NYX
- Tarte
- Urban Decay
- MUA
- Too Faced
- Benefit
- OPI
- China Glaze
- MAC
- NARS

Obviously we have access to some of these in Australia but the price different is crazy!

If you have any specific suggestions from any of these brands (or others) I would be so grateful if you could let me know.

36 comments:

  1. If you're a fan of nail polish, I'd stick with that... anything else can always be delivered via parcel forwarding... except nail polish, perfume and selected skincare!
    xx

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    1. Oooh, hadn't thought of that. Thank you! Still, postage is soooo expensive!
      xx

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  2. omg hahaha this happened to me. My friend went to America and asked me to give her a list of stuff I wanted but my list was actually so so so long, so I ended up only getting like 3 things xD

    Definitely, wet n wild eyeshadows (THE BOMB), Maybelline baby lips and some MAC products? Since it's so expensive here.

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    1. Thank you so much Sheri! I think I might have to get a MAC lipstick because as you mentioned, they are crazily expensive here in Australia. I have heard wonderful things about the Wet n Wild eyeshadows, especially the trio in Walking on Eggshells (I think that is what it is called...)
      xxx

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  3. Must must MUST get the Naked 2 palette or the first one, depending if you like cooler or warmer neutrals.
    My bestfriend ordered it for me for my birthday and I love it to bits :D

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    1. Oh my goodness, I really must. I like warmer neutrals - is that Naked or Naked2?
      xx

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    2. They say that the original naked palette is the warmer neutrals but I just thought that the naked 2 looked more wearable on a day to day basis :)
      Look up swatches, There are so many haha :D x

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    3. Thanks a heap - I will keep looking up reviews and swatches. If I do end up deciding to get one of the palettes, it will take me so long to make my choice!
      xx

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  4. The first thing I would get my hands on would be the LORAC pro palette!!

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    1. Thanks Dawn - I just looked it up and it looks gorgeous!
      xx

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  5. Don't go for Real Techniques, Candice. The brushes are amazing, yes, but you can get them for US retail prices on iHerb and I have a code that'll give you $5 - $10 off your first order, depending on how much you buy. I'd probably not gravitate towards NARS because, once again, I've found somewhere the sells NARS at US retail prices and has $10 flat rate shipping. If you're limiting yourself to three products all up, don't go for EOS. Pick one up off eBay. Soap and Glory is quite reasonably priced here in Australia now and can be bought from Kit Cosmetics. I'd be most inclined to go for products from Tarte and Urban Decay, purely because they can't be bought here in Australia.

    If you want those codes and links to those sites, just email me at dontstopbuying@hotmail.com

    Happy shopping! xxx

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    1. Thank you so much Sophie! This has been a HUGE help! I have heard whispers about iherb. I had a look at the website a little while ago and based purely on what I saw, I decided it looked dodgy, however I have not read one negative review so I think I might have to go for it!

      I didn't realise you could get Soap and Glory here - I shall be hunting that down!

      Thank you so much again Sophie!
      xxx

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  6. You want Wet and Wild eyeshadows they are the bomb.com (lol!), NYX lipglosses and maybe a blush and then you have to get a Tarte amazonian ckay blush!!! Anything else tbh the price difference is not that big. i was in the USA a couple of weeks unless she is in Hawaii then it is alot cheaper! lol but on the mainland its only like £2 at the most! definitely get the products that we cant get easy here!!!

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    1. Haha, glad you think Wet n Wild shadows are the way to go. The NYX soft matte lipcreams look so beautiful.
      xx

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  7. I'm so jelly! My friend went to America too, though she gave me a strict spending limit though and couldn't find some of the things I asked for. I agree with Sophie! Stick to things that are totally unavailable here or have a huge price difference. I would say definitely grab some Wet and Wild, Tarte (Amazonian Clay blush would be at the top of my list!), NYX, Benefit and MAC. Also if you're really interested in Nail polish, transdesign.com or head2toebeauty.com are great websites, I've ordered from both and I totally reccommend them!

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    1. Thank you Tashi!!! Wet n Wild it is! Now I just have to find which eyeshadow palette I want! I have heard only incredible things about the Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes too, so that must get put on my list as well. Thanks for the website recommendations too! Ahhh, this is all so exciting!
      xx

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  8. I'd go for the Lorac Pro Palette - so annoyed I didn't pick that up when I was in the US last year :p Definitely go for MAC and Benefit - the markup in Australia is ridiculous ($15 for a MAC lipstick vs. $35 here, $30 for a Benefit blush vs. $55 here). I'd also go for a Tarte blush since they are hard to get a hold of, though you can definitely find websites that sell it. Nail polish is so (relatively) affordable there - go for OPI and Essie, they're $8 or so at the most expensive (like New York City, cheaper in the suburbs or on sale).

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    1. The markup is absurd - I just don't understand how it can be! Thanks for your recommendations - I've been having a look through all your posts at all the incredible things you picked up...there are so many beautiful things to choose from!
      xx

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  9. I would definitely get a MAC lipstick, I've read before you want one so nows a great chance :)
    Things like NYX and China Glaze can be bought online for super cheap from shops like CherryCulture.com.

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    1. Okay, MAC lipstick it is!!! :)
      Oooh thank you, good to know. I'm hoping to avoid all postage costs if my friend can pick it up though!
      xxx

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  10. You can get Soap and Glory in Australia from Kit at very reasonable prices. You can order Wet and Wild, Real Techniques, EOS, NYX, Urban Decay, MUA, Too Faced, OPI, China Glaze and Nars very easily online at US prices, often with free shipping. So that leaves Tarte, Benefit and MAC.
    I would go with a tarte or benefit blush, a mac lipstick and a mac eye shadow personally :)

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    1. Thanks for your input Mishelle. I have decided that at least 1 MAC product is a must! I think I'll go for a lipstick, but now I have to choose what to get! So tricky!

      Thank youuuu!

      xx

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  11. I would definitely suggest asking for products from brands like EOS (I bought every flavour balm when I was there in November!), Tarte, Wet N Wild and probably MAC because you cannot buy legitimate MAC products online at the US price as their website doesnt accept australian credit cards anymore.

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    1. The EOS balms are so appealing! I think I am going to have to go for a MAC lipstick because they are just SO much cheaper in America. Tarte and Wet n Wild also look like the way to go. Thanks for your input!
      xx

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  12. You must get the NYX blushes, NYX soft matte lip creams and round lip glosses, one of tarte kits consisting of blushes, Wet n Wild shadow palettes ( forgot the name) which house 8 shades in a pan and their lipsticks. If you want get an Urban Decay primer potion at least. :)

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    1. THANK YOU Nivedita! They are all exactly what I want - as well as a MAC lipstick...Now I have to pick my shades!

      xx

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  13. I would definitely say some wet n wild goodes, and tarte has the best blushes(the amazonian clay ones) they are pigmented and long lasting. Also NYX has some amazing lip products so I would say some of those.

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    1. Thank you so much Miranda. Now I just have to read millions of reviews on the best shades to pick! :)
      xx

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  14. I would sy MAC ( lipstick, 4 eyeshadows quad, one blush) because there are really good quality products and really light weight, perfect for travelling. or if on budget try Sleek palettes.
    xxx Marina

    beautiful me plus you by Marina Bergmann

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    1. Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry - your comment went into my spam folder :( Thanks for the recommendation - everything from MAC looks stunning. I've heard a little about Sleek but I don't know much about the brand. Thank you!
      xx

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  15. Real Techniques brushes are THE BEST. Seriously. I would also recommend MAC lipstick or blush, NARS blush, and OPI polish––they're my favorite formula. So exciting!

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    1. I've not tried any real techniques brushes but I have heard only wonderful things about them. Oh my, the NARS products do look incredible but they are so expensive. I'm going to get a MAC lipstick though, just not sure which shade...
      xx

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  16. Wet n Wild, NYX and MUA. If it were me I'd go for the stuff not available at all in Australia and treat myself to the fancy expensive things occasionally :) NYX blushes are amaaaazing, and I'm sure your friend will appreciate the travel friendly packaging the products of these brands come in!

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    1. Thank you so much! Good to hear that the NYX blushes are pretty good - I LOVE the look of the cream ones especially. The MUA shadows look good...
      xx

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  17. Ofc you have to get the Maybelline baby lips and the Wet n Wild trios! I would also recommend getting NYC Sunny Bronzer if you're interested in matte bronzers, I have it and I use it daily! :)

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    1. Thank you Angel, it was nice to get different suggestions but now I have so many decisions to make! :)
      xx

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Questions? Opinions? Feel free to comment as I love to hear what you have to say!

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