There are certain beauty products you just can't get here in the U.S. of A. That is, unless you take the very real risk of getting them through the internet. Instead, you've likely settled for adding these cult favorites to your mile-long wish list of products to haul back the next time you (or a very lucky friend) are traveling abroad. And then, you're probably so scared of running out of said products that you only use teeny-tiny amounts.
But luckily for us, the past year has brought a host of A+ international brands stateside. Fancy French serums? Check. Exfoliators from South Korea? Check again. Makeup from Germany and Italy? You got it. Ahead, we've gathered our favorite overseas beauty brands that are now available in the U.S. and our choice items from each.
When we got word that Italian cosmetics brand Kiko Milano would finally be available online in the U.S., we literally jumped out of our seats. You see, we had heard many an international beauty editor and blogger rave about the brand's high-quality products, but have never gotten to try them ourselves.
When we finally did, we quickly realized that the line truly delivers. Plus, you can nab almost every product for $20 or less. Our favorite so far is the Flawless Fusion Bronzer, which is a smooth and creamy matte powder that glides onto the skin and never looks patchy.
Kiko Milano Flawless Fusion Bronzer Powder, $18, available at Kiko Cosmetics.
Although we've been able to purchase Embryolisse's classic Lait-Crème Concentré online at Sephora and Birchbox for quite some time, this past month the brand unleashed a ton of products at Target that weren't available in the States before.
This serum, in particular (which my mother, aunt, and grandmother all love), was one I'd only ever seen in French pharmacies — making it an extremely annoying product to run out of. It's lightweight, yet potent, and it seriously improves the skin's texture. For those of you who aren't looking for powerful line-reducers just yet, grab the brand's Hydra Mat Emulsion; it's a great moisturizer for oilier skin types.
Embryolisse Anti-Age Re-Densifying Serum, $75, available at Target.
German brand Catrice Cosmetics — which has been exclusive to Ulta since this past summer — carries a host of different eye, base, and lip products. If you're new to the line, we suggest starting with the Liquid Metal Eyeshadows. The creamy powders have an extremely pigmented and metallic finish that looks gorgeous applied all over the lids, or worn as a liner. We prefer applying it with fingers rather than a brush for the most opaque color.
Catrice Cosmetics Liquid Metal Eyeshadow in Under Treasure, $4.99, available at Ulta.
Glow Recipe is known for sourcing the best products from South Korea — in fact, it's one of only a few brands that have brought moisturizing peels to the U.S. — and Primary Raw is certainly no exception.
This milk peel uses fermented, soybean-based milk to exfoliate the skin. The first step of using it involves sweeping a giant cotton swab around your nose, chin, and any other areas with uneven texture. Once you're done exfoliating, you can move on to the pre-drenched soy-milk sheet mask to calm the skin.
Primary Raw Doyou 2-Step Face Therapy, $6, available at Glow Recipe.
Another French brand that's stolen the hearts of our editors is Bourjois. Although it's typically only available in Europe, you can actually also buy it online at Asos.
Bourjois carries a large collection of trendy color cosmetics, from a chocolate bar-shaped bronzer to non-drying liquid lipsticks. Although we love most products in the range, the latter is definitely our favorite. The liquid lipsticks feel watery at first, but dry to a velvety, almost powder-like finish. The best part? These fellas layer incredibly well throughout the day, so you won't get that gross, crumbly effect on your lips after a few hours.
Bourjois Rouge Edition Aqua in Feeling Reddy, $11.53, available at Asos.
Pixi's skin-care products have been available in the U.K. for years, and have only made it to Target stores and online at Pixi.com in the last month. I've already written a lengthy love letter to my favorite product — the Glow Mud Cleanser — so I won't go into too much detail. But in short, it is a slightly gritty, yet extremely gentle cleanser that removes all my face makeup while exfoliating my skin with glycolic acid.
Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser, $18, available at Target.
Yet another A+ Asos find is Barry M cosmetics, hailing from London. This green lipstick reacts to your lips to create the prettiest natural flush of pink.
Barry M Genie Color Change Lip Paint, $8, available at Asos.
Blithe is yet another South Korean brand now sold on Glow Recipe. Its Patting Splash Mask is a concentrated toner that's great for those looking for gentle, daily exfoliation.
"You can use it kind of like a toner, but it also treats your skin at the same time," says Sarah Lee, cofounder of Glow Recipe. Lee recommends pouring a capful into cupped palms while in the shower and allowing the water to dilute the liquid before splashing and patting it into your skin. Due to the lactic acid in the formula, the lightweight liquid removes dead skin cells and improves skin texture.
Blithe Patting Water Pack in Energy Yellow Citrus & Honey, $48, available at Glow Recipe.
Although Vaseline has been available in the U.S. upwards of 100 years, we had to give these adorable little tins a shoutout. For the past few years, they've only been available in the U.K. but last month they made their way stateside. There are four different versions of this retro-looking balm to choose from: blue (Original Formula), green (Aloe), pink (Rosy Lips), and brown (Cocoa Butter). But our favorite is definitely the soothing aloe-infused tub.
Vaseline Lip Therapy Balm Tin in Aloe Vera, $4.39, available at Walgreens.
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