I hasten to add that this post is not America specific, it just so happens that 99.9% of the products and brands that I want and can not have are based in the States...
You know the drill, you are scrolling through the likes of Instagram and stumble on a product that you must have, only to discover it is exclusive to Sephora. Soul crushing. I know what you are thinking, Sephora now ship to the UK and other territories - true but certain brands are some what embargoed meaning unless you are due a visit to good ol' US of A (or anywhere else that has a Sephora) chances are you are going to go without.
I've been told that Sephora was indeed in the UK around 10 years ago (correct me if I'm wrong) and didn't do as well as anticipated. I totally understand cutting your losses and moving on but if ever there was a time to re-launch within the UK it is now. I could all but guarantee that Sephora on a main British high street would do phenomenally well and could become a somewhat tourist attraction. Ask yourself this if Sephora opened in London next week would you not try your darnedest to visit at some point? I know I'd book train tickets.
In the same vain, I also ask why Bath and Body Works has not ventured into Europe full stop? If ever a brand could give both the Body Shop and the likes of Yankee Candle a run for their money it is B&BW. If I am entirely honest I'd be more excited to see a B&BW store within the UK and Ireland, over Sephora but then again I do enjoy candles and hand sanitiser more than any normal person should.
It also confuses me greatly that Wet 'n' Wild have expanded into Ireland but nowhere else? I could not tell you how many people Google my blog for swatches and in general ask how to get their palettes. Whenever I am in the US I will spend hours in "Drugstores" tracking down all my favourites. If you ever get the chance to try Wet 'n' Wild make-up do it - the lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes are well worth purchasing.
I've gave up second guessing the logic behind beauty brands as in truthfulness it is a little boggling - maybe there are international restrictions in place and a whole lot of red tape? Or maybe lesser known to the mainstream brands do not sell as well as hoped - it seems Boots have dropped Sinful Colors nail polishes after a fairly short run? Who knows all I know is that not being able to have a product makes it all the more irresistible.
What are your thoughts? Is the grass greener on the other side in terms of international and hard to come by cosmetic brands, or is it a case of wanting what we can not have (with ease)?
It also confuses me greatly that Wet 'n' Wild have expanded into Ireland but nowhere else? I could not tell you how many people Google my blog for swatches and in general ask how to get their palettes. Whenever I am in the US I will spend hours in "Drugstores" tracking down all my favourites. If you ever get the chance to try Wet 'n' Wild make-up do it - the lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes are well worth purchasing.
I've gave up second guessing the logic behind beauty brands as in truthfulness it is a little boggling - maybe there are international restrictions in place and a whole lot of red tape? Or maybe lesser known to the mainstream brands do not sell as well as hoped - it seems Boots have dropped Sinful Colors nail polishes after a fairly short run? Who knows all I know is that not being able to have a product makes it all the more irresistible.
What are your thoughts? Is the grass greener on the other side in terms of international and hard to come by cosmetic brands, or is it a case of wanting what we can not have (with ease)?
So true!
ReplyDeleteI've often found myself hunting for places online that stock them and found the mark up to be eye watering, even on budget brands!
♥ Fran - www.frannymac.com xx
I find this is a topic I could spend hours talking about, I find it massively frustrating that the most "hyped up" products aren't available for us in the UK. As for having a Sephora in the UK although I'm all for it I wouldn't travel 4 and a half hours to go to London, maybe Manchester? But that's still two hours away from me Ha ha. I've started using a shipping company now called shipitto for all my USA product requirements.
ReplyDeleteDid an entire post on it on my blog too.
www.kmcbeauty.co.uk
xx
I always want what I can't have from the UK... Feel Unique is great because they can ship some things, but Boots and Super Drug don't :/
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I hate to be a debbie downer, but as much as I love Sephora and Black & Body Works and it was be amazing to just nip in on a Saturday (without spending 6 hrs on a plane) you just know if they venture back, they would jack up the prices so high it would be disgusting. I think the reason why Sephora is so amazing if because of the value of their own stuff and the AMAZING sets they compile, I dread to think how much they would charge for them over here :( x
ReplyDeleteNah you are not, you make a really good point. You only have to look at Aus prices to realise that - still doesn't stop the heart from wanting haha :) x
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ReplyDeleteHaha, I would definitely travel for a Sephora and BBW! Just came back from Chicago last month and was giddy in both of those shops. I also.can't walk past a drug store when I'm in the USA!
ReplyDeleteI live in Sweden and about 90% of my beauty items are bought abroad during trips or from internet stores located in other countries. The prices and variety in my country just is not good enough.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a shame :( it is frustrating when brands don't ship to your country let alone stock in stores!
DeleteI would love to see more availability of brands such as Korres in physical stores - I HATE guessing scents online! Europe is littered with Sephoras and I think the novelty would soon disappear were it in the UK :( x
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it helps but Debenhams stock Korres in-store :) x
DeleteWhile exclusivity is an issue in itself that can actually squander a globablised market, some of these issues don't really comply with EU legislation, which directly affects which counties we can and can't trade with. On an individual scale, we can buy from other countries, but when the value of the items we buy break the customs limit, we will be fined for them.
ReplyDeleteThe cost of international shipping never normally breaks the bank. I take no issue with buying overseas if it's a product I'm really lusting over.
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I bought my first ever proper perfume from Sephora when it was at my local shopping centre years ago (Anna Sui Dreams..not been without it since) I agree with some of the comments above, if it were here they would need stores in as many cities as possible as the market outside London is just as valuable. Also, it would need to stock the same as the USA to be as successful and the ones across Europe dont stock alot of the same brands. I would like to see it back but not as just a flagship store. I know they are rolling out across Australia but there is only one in Sydney at the moment, hopefully the UK is on their to do list 😊
ReplyDeleteWould love to see a wider range of products in the UK :( AND Sephora too! There must be a new store opening in the UK, They're everywhere but here!
ReplyDeleteSerene | I Am Serene L
My previous comment disappeared but I'll delete it if this is a duplicate!
ReplyDeleteWe are quite lucky in Ireland that we've got wet n wild, nyx & physicians formula here recently, and we've had Catrice and essence here for years, while the UK seem to be slower at getting these brands?
I'd love to see Bath & Body works here, and sephora, but I'd agree with others, I'd hate them to come if they just jack up the prices like they did when Abercrombie and Hollister came to Dublin!
www.justmylook.me
Yes I could not agree more! I really wish there was a Sephora and a Bath and Body Works in the UK! There should be more Victoria Secret stores too - I know there are a few in London but thats so far away for me :/ haha
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I am so desperate for a Sephora to open in the UK! I completely agree with you, it would do so well.
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I remember Sephora and Bath & Body Works being in the UK! There was one of each at The Bentalls centre in Kingston but being the poor student I was I couldn't afford to shop at either (I blame myself for their subsequent downfall lol) I did shop both closing down sales buying glittery body lotion from BBW and a lip felt from Sephora. They should so both come back now the markets have changed!
ReplyDeleteWell I live in Australia and the situation here is quite dire - in terms of availability of brands and shipping costs. Most of the high end brands are here and the price they charge are almost double the cost of the product in the US. Revlon lipsticks up to $25, Estee Lauder lipsticks up to $50. Secondly we don't have easy access to brands such as Milani and Colour Pop - they are just not sold here. Also Tarina Tarantina's products cannot be shipped via Haute Look to Australia either, for some reason. Yes we have a Sephora in Sydney, but it is not shipping nationally. I would love to try their own brands. It is surprising that the beauty brands can't or don't want to expand into other markets. I am totally surprised that Sephora is not in London. Urban Decay arrived just last year in one shop - Mecca Cosmetics. And although we do get Maybelline and L'Oreal - we only get half their products. So sad....
ReplyDeleteI've been reading up on Australian beauty and to be honest I am so shocked, the prices are insane and I believe that the one of the few brands that don't hike up their rrp is Illamasqua? What a joke - I will not complain again about prices or availability as you guys have it so much worse! P.S thank you for introducing me to Tarina T products!
DeleteTrue, I definitely want products more if they're not readily available!
ReplyDeletePhilippa - ByPhilippa
Ah, trust me it's definitely worse living in Australia! Even though there may be a Sephora in Sydney here, they still aren't online. I completely feel your pain haha xx
ReplyDeleteEllen Rozalia | www.ellenrozalia.com
You really do - what a nightmare both in terms of brands and prices. The UK definitely has it better, I can't get over how much products cost in Aus! x
DeleteI love finding unique beauty products that you can't get in the UK if I go abroad! Whoever I'm with hates having to jump into every chemist or beauty shop while I mooch through the products though.
ReplyDeleteGeorgia | Georgia's Make Up Addiction
OMG...you should live in Portugal...Yes, we have sephora...but we can buy all the products online too..I would love to be able to buy soap n glory for instance, and it is impossible to have it delivered to portugal :(
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with this post!! We don't have anything like B&BW in the UK and I so so want it! Shipping is also a nightmare from sephora :( I loved sinful nail polish and it was so cheap! I wondered where it had gone.
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prettymadthings.blogspot.co.uk // x
Where do people usually get their B&BW products from in the UK (If you do)?
ReplyDeleteNikita | nikitabatavia.com
Whilst I would love a lot of brands abroad to come here, I guess we would miss that "want but can't have/access" aspect to it that I like when searching for stuff like this online.
ReplyDeleteI do love Bath & Body Works though. Would love for them to come to the UK!
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I'm torn between the thought of having Sephora on my doorstep (ie London) and it losing it's appeal somewhat. I can remember my first visits to the US years ago when I'd get $2 to the £1 and visiting Sephora and the likes of Abercrombie & Fitch and having t-shirts you just couldn't get in the UK. Now visiting the US, whilst of course still having it's thrills (CVS being one!) has lost it's edge a little because you haven't got as much of that exclusivity.
ReplyDeleteDespite Sephora shipping to the UK now I have yet to take advantage and the only time I was going to the limited edition palette I wanted wasn't allowed to ship to the UK!
There's also of course the element of cost, not even thinking about the price differences there's also the fact that when I'm on holiday the cost/money doesn't count so I can walk into Sephora or Bath & Bodyworks and justify buying 100000 candles and lipsticks... if it was on the high street I'd be more conservative.
Victoria x
FlorenceandMary.com
Bath & Body works were in the UK years back. There was one in Bluewater. I loved it - such a shame they disappeared.
ReplyDeleteI remember the sephora in the shopping centre near Angel, Islington... It was an odd choice of location given that the area wasn't anywhere near as nice as it is now
ReplyDeleteWe used to have Bath and Bodyworks shops in England, not sure how many there were but I would visit one in Watford as often as I could.
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