beauty

'I just went to the US. Here are 12 products I brought back with me that you can buy in Australia.'

Everyone knows the very best part of travelling to a different country is checking out the beauty aisles. Oh! And the sights. Obviously, the sights, history, etc.

So when I was recently honeymooning it up in the US, you best believe I spent a fair portion of my time leaving my new husband at a bar and slinking my way into a beauty store. Because I needed to see ALL OF IT. Try ALL of it (read: what I could afford haha).

So you know what I thought I'd do? Share some of my purchases with you. The best part is that all of these products can be shipped to Australia. How good! So what's my newest beauty obsession can now become your newest obsession, too (sorry).

Watch: Speaking of jetting off to the US, here's a peek at my in-flight skincare routine. Post continues below.


Video via Mamamia

Now, before we get into it, I just want to preface this by saying, yes I went HAM in Glossier. This is a thing that happened. But, look. I'm clearly in the correct line of work, so – there's that. 

Further to this, as of this week Glossier now ships to Australia (!!) so the good news is that you can suss out what's really worth adding to your stash.

Off we go.

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Glossier Stretch Fluid Foundation, $66.

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 This literally launched the week before I paid a visit to the Glossier store in Brooklyn – and I was excited, nay ECSTATIC, to get it on my face. 

There are 28 shades available, and the Glossier assistant swatched a few different options on my cheek, and we settled for shade 'Light 2'. The formula is a delightful gel-cream consistency, and the coverage is lightweight and leaves your skin looking even and fresh. It's already moved into high rotation in my makeup kit and I'm so stoked I got my hands on it.

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Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy, $14.14.

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I've seen this EVERYWHERE (thanks, TikTok) and know it's supposed to be a winner for dry, cracked skin (ME). I picked up a tube at Target and it literally saved my gross, irritated, aeroplane skin. I used it all over my face to seal in moisture, and it kept the dry skin around my eyes smooth and happy. Such a goodie.

Glossier Boy Brow, $35.

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With a set of brows comparable to a dense garden hedge, I'm an absolute fiend for brow products – especially those that make taming your 'pillars quick and easy, This is one of these products. 

It reminds me of my fave Benefit Gimme Brow and makes your brows just look.. better. The colour is spot on, and it volumises, fluffs and sets your brows like an absolute dingin' dream.

Glossier Cloud Paint, $39.

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 Another cult buy, the Glossier Cloud Paint was one of the first products on my list. As someone who uses cream everything I really wanted to see if it really lived up to the hype. 

It comes in 10 different shades and I picked the colour 'Puff'. It complimented my skin perfectly and added a nice pop of colour, without being too in-your-face. The consistency is a little thinner than I expected, but it blends beautifully and melts seamlessly into your skin.

Glossier Ultralip, $35.

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 If I had a dollar for every lip product I bought on this trip, I would be a VERY wealthy lass. But in any case, I also chucked the 'Ultralip' product in my basket, and have absolutely no regrets. I chose the shade 'Lucite' and it's the perfect shade for my lips and gives off a stunning amount of shine and colour - great for an everyday lip lock or to layer over lippie.

Glossier Futuredew, $51.

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 Look, it's been ten years, but I FINALLY tried it. And you guys! It's good. It really is. The people weren't lying. 

The oil-serum hybrid particularly works wonderfully under makeup (especially if you're on the dry side of town) and makes your skin smooth, glowing and juicy-looking. One of my fave purchases TBH.

Starface Pimple Patches, $25.70.

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 These are the cult celeb-loved pimple patches you've most likely seen everywhere. Upon being blessed with a couple of beautiful pulsating chin heads, I accidentally bought the XL version from Walmart and looked like a real yellow treat while visiting the Grand Canyon – BUT my spots healed really nicely before having to attend a wedding.

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow, $50.95.

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I was making my cute little way out of Sephora after spending approximately all of our honeymoon money, and spotted this on the way out from Urban Decay. I swatched the shade 'Lithium' it on my hand, and it applied like a cream but looked like a powder and was so pretty and metallic, I just... needed it.

Kristin Ess Daily Cleansing Shampoo, $26.80.

I've tried a lot of Kristin Ess products, including The One Signature Shampoo, but I haven't come across this one in Australia. My hair was a frizzy, dry shampoo-covered mess in the humid US weather, and I grabbed this formula at Target. It made my hair feel silky smooth, clean and shiny without feeling like it was stripped or that gross 'rubbery' feeling. I accidentally left it in the shower in New York, and my husband is not okay (he loved it). However, it looks like you can buy it online via Fresh Beauty Co – so BRB while I right my wrong.

Aquaphor Lip Repair Immediate Relief, $9.54.

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 I was at the checkout with about 75 products and the lovely lady at the register said she couldn't ever be without her Aquaphor lip balm, so I RAN BACK and snapped one up. A similar formula to the ointment, but for lips, it's dermatologist-recommended and relieves dry, chapped lips like a saint. I've been forgetting to bring it to work every day and my lips are literally rejecting every other lip balm I use. 

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Hairspray, $16.72.

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I was looking for a heat protectant and found this. And my humid Hagrid-like hair was so very pleased with the results. It's a smoothing treatment and heat protectant in one and levelled up my shine by ten million. Smelled really bloody good, too.

Glossier Balm Dotcom, $27.

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 More Glossier! I know, I know. And wildly expensive for a lip product, too. But this multi-tasking balm looked too good to pass up. I got the original scent because I'm basic, and it's beautifully thick, hydrating and nourishing. 

Have you tried any of the above products? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

At Mamamia, we independently curate and write about products we rave about in our group chats and think you should know about too. If you purchase a product we have recommended, we may earn a small commission.

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