so a couple weeks ago I was in Hawaii, my first trip to the US as an adult (I was 9 last time and not so much into beauty ;) )
Now that I’m home, some new faves are beginning to emerge from the haul. So far I’m in love with....
-Urban Decay Pore refining peel
- Victoria’s Secret gloss balm (not to mention the huge stash of perfumes and lotions)
- Valjean Laboratories Glow facial serum
- Crest 3D radiant white toothpaste
- garnier foaming micellar cleanser
no doubt there will be more things to add as I go but for now, those are rocking my world
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New finds from America
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yeah i got one big body spray (bamboo coast), three lotions and 7 scents in rollerballs ;) :D
Macs I only use oil cleansers to take off my makeup then follow with a cleanser or micellar water if my skin needs it so no idea if its any good for makeup removal but it's entirely balanced and leaves my skin feeling amazing.
Macs I only use oil cleansers to take off my makeup then follow with a cleanser or micellar water if my skin needs it so no idea if its any good for makeup removal but it's entirely balanced and leaves my skin feeling amazing.
tabucutie yeah you'll love it! My recommendations beauty wise:
- Nordstrom Rack on Kuhio Ave (there's one at Ward Village too) - I got my LimeCrime Velvetines lipstick for less than $10, a UD lip Palette for $5, a UD nail polish for $6 etc.
- Sephora at Ala Moana is marginally cheaper then Sephora on Kalakaua Ave, but both are pretty good.
- The Victoria's Secret at Ala Moana and the one on Kalakaua Ave had very similar specials, but both are amazing and worth going to
- Macy's at Ala Moana was roughly the same price as Sephora, and I got the UD palette there as Sephora had run out
- Longs Drugs (drugstore makeup) is cheaper at Ala Moana but was so out of stock it wasn't even funny. The Kalakaua Ave one was a couple bucks more but well stocked
- Urban Outfitters stock a good selection of beauty as well - check out Valjean Laboratories serum, and Urban Outfitters perfume.
- duty free at Honolulu airport is okay, nothing amazing. I wouldn't bother setting aside too much cash for it, personally.
- bath and body works candles are awesome, but their shower gel and lotion ranges are lovely too
- contrary to what i thought, you CAN get Lush and the Body Shop in the states. But they're not that exciting, pretty similar to home.
- check out every day things like toothpaste; they have some good stuff!
- Nordstrom Rack on Kuhio Ave (there's one at Ward Village too) - I got my LimeCrime Velvetines lipstick for less than $10, a UD lip Palette for $5, a UD nail polish for $6 etc.
- Sephora at Ala Moana is marginally cheaper then Sephora on Kalakaua Ave, but both are pretty good.
- The Victoria's Secret at Ala Moana and the one on Kalakaua Ave had very similar specials, but both are amazing and worth going to
- Macy's at Ala Moana was roughly the same price as Sephora, and I got the UD palette there as Sephora had run out
- Longs Drugs (drugstore makeup) is cheaper at Ala Moana but was so out of stock it wasn't even funny. The Kalakaua Ave one was a couple bucks more but well stocked
- Urban Outfitters stock a good selection of beauty as well - check out Valjean Laboratories serum, and Urban Outfitters perfume.
- duty free at Honolulu airport is okay, nothing amazing. I wouldn't bother setting aside too much cash for it, personally.
- bath and body works candles are awesome, but their shower gel and lotion ranges are lovely too
- contrary to what i thought, you CAN get Lush and the Body Shop in the states. But they're not that exciting, pretty similar to home.
- check out every day things like toothpaste; they have some good stuff!
Elise it's this one - super smooth shadows (UD is always amazing) with intense pigmentation, I'm SO in love with it!
I’ve used it legit every day since I got home Maree lol.
Tannygirl that’s really interesting, but no. I didn’t go over with a mindset of ‘I want x from y brand’ because i felt that would close me off to the fun of playing with new things. The only exception to that was a Maybelline foundation and lippy I I trialled on BR but wanted in slightly diff shades. I was just like ‘ I need a good range of things to play with over the winter’ and that mindset allowed me to make some awesome random discoveries. I knew things would be well priced and I really tried not to double up on types of product, with the exception of mascara. I’m SUPER happy with my haul. I was well short of my 46kg luggage limit but no regrets.
Tannygirl that’s really interesting, but no. I didn’t go over with a mindset of ‘I want x from y brand’ because i felt that would close me off to the fun of playing with new things. The only exception to that was a Maybelline foundation and lippy I I trialled on BR but wanted in slightly diff shades. I was just like ‘ I need a good range of things to play with over the winter’ and that mindset allowed me to make some awesome random discoveries. I knew things would be well priced and I really tried not to double up on types of product, with the exception of mascara. I’m SUPER happy with my haul. I was well short of my 46kg luggage limit but no regrets.
That is such a cute palette, I like the colours and the price. I hope I find one while I am there.
Quick question Trudi, NBR but did you happen to bring any food items back with you? Except for the shopping and beauty products I was hoping to bring back some foodstuffs for my dad who has never left the country. Just wondering if you know the protocols or rules related to this? Also did you get charged any goods tax for the stuff you brought back? I imagine I will be buying stuff not only for me but family nieces/nephews/co workers and wondering if I need to set extra money aside.
Quick question Trudi, NBR but did you happen to bring any food items back with you? Except for the shopping and beauty products I was hoping to bring back some foodstuffs for my dad who has never left the country. Just wondering if you know the protocols or rules related to this? Also did you get charged any goods tax for the stuff you brought back? I imagine I will be buying stuff not only for me but family nieces/nephews/co workers and wondering if I need to set extra money aside.
You can bring back food but you MUST declare it at Customs (on the return form). Everything you put in your mouth is considered a "food" so that includes chocolate and lollies.
The NZ Customs website say that you should not bring in:
Fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, honey, ingredients used in cooking and all dairy products
Alive or dead plants and seeds
Wooden items
Alive or dead animals or any products of such
Traditional/herbal medicines
You can bring back wooden items (make sure you declare it) and Customs will check it for bora and possibly want to fumigate it (at your cost).
If you are unsure about food items, Customs will check it out and either allow it through or destroy it so make sure you declare it because if you don't and they find it, you will be fined on the spot.
What we have found the best to do is pack this stuff in an easily accessible piece of luggage all together so they can check it out.
Your bags will be scanned as you exit the airport so don't think you can hide anything from them :).
The NZ Customs website say that you should not bring in:
Fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, honey, ingredients used in cooking and all dairy products
Alive or dead plants and seeds
Wooden items
Alive or dead animals or any products of such
Traditional/herbal medicines
You can bring back wooden items (make sure you declare it) and Customs will check it for bora and possibly want to fumigate it (at your cost).
If you are unsure about food items, Customs will check it out and either allow it through or destroy it so make sure you declare it because if you don't and they find it, you will be fined on the spot.
What we have found the best to do is pack this stuff in an easily accessible piece of luggage all together so they can check it out.
Your bags will be scanned as you exit the airport so don't think you can hide anything from them :).
as long as food is sealed/packaged you can bring it back easily.
I brought back (and totally recommend):
- boxes of Honolulu Cookie Company cookies - these are AMAZING. They have sample boxes laid out and you can go in and help yourself to try them out, then put a box together. 10 in a box is $8.95 and they have other options as well. The cookies are delicious, my faves are dark chocolate kona coffee, white chocolate coconut, white triple chocolate macadamia and just the simple coconut ones, but they're all good. They do a stamp for every $5 spent, I think.
- Mauna Loa macadamia nuts - they have other brands (eg Island Princess, Hawaiian Host) but these were the best imo. You can get everything from a half oz snack pack right up to a huge pack of them, and they're fresh, tasty and delicious.
- Hawaiian flavours of Hi-Chew (haichuu) Japanese candy, especially the lilikoi (yellow passionfruit - divine!)
- flavours we can't get here of things like M&Ms; (I brought back coffee nut ones, and caramel ones, but could easily have bought more), coffee flavoured pretzels, pineapple pretzels etc. There's the usual american range of candy bars and chips and things as well.
- coffee! Kona coffee is excellent, and I picked up two packets of a vanilla macadamia blend that's really really good.
There's also a HUGE range of macadamia, pineapple, coconut etc products.
Things I never ended up buying but was intrigued by:
- kona coffee butter
- some of the tropical jams, like guava and lilikoi
Things I loved over there but couldnt really bring back:
- Starbucks 'everything' croissants - basically a standard croissant with cheese and seeds baked into it, so good
- Mahaloha Burger onion rings
- just about the whole menu from Cheeseburger in Paradise, the Cheesecake Factory and Hard Rock Cafe
- local beer, esp Kona and Maui breweries
- onigiri (japanese rice balls) - i love these and you can't get PROPER ones in NZ like you can in Hawaii!
- these amazing guacamole flavoured corn chips I had somewhere!
- pizza slices from Nana Lu at The Street by Michael Mina; a social house - basically a restaurant created likea food court with all these great little places around a central bar.
- ALL the Japanese options at Shirokiya, the japanese food market under the Ala Moana Center
That's all I can think of for now lol
I brought back (and totally recommend):
- boxes of Honolulu Cookie Company cookies - these are AMAZING. They have sample boxes laid out and you can go in and help yourself to try them out, then put a box together. 10 in a box is $8.95 and they have other options as well. The cookies are delicious, my faves are dark chocolate kona coffee, white chocolate coconut, white triple chocolate macadamia and just the simple coconut ones, but they're all good. They do a stamp for every $5 spent, I think.
- Mauna Loa macadamia nuts - they have other brands (eg Island Princess, Hawaiian Host) but these were the best imo. You can get everything from a half oz snack pack right up to a huge pack of them, and they're fresh, tasty and delicious.
- Hawaiian flavours of Hi-Chew (haichuu) Japanese candy, especially the lilikoi (yellow passionfruit - divine!)
- flavours we can't get here of things like M&Ms; (I brought back coffee nut ones, and caramel ones, but could easily have bought more), coffee flavoured pretzels, pineapple pretzels etc. There's the usual american range of candy bars and chips and things as well.
- coffee! Kona coffee is excellent, and I picked up two packets of a vanilla macadamia blend that's really really good.
There's also a HUGE range of macadamia, pineapple, coconut etc products.
Things I never ended up buying but was intrigued by:
- kona coffee butter
- some of the tropical jams, like guava and lilikoi
Things I loved over there but couldnt really bring back:
- Starbucks 'everything' croissants - basically a standard croissant with cheese and seeds baked into it, so good
- Mahaloha Burger onion rings
- just about the whole menu from Cheeseburger in Paradise, the Cheesecake Factory and Hard Rock Cafe
- local beer, esp Kona and Maui breweries
- onigiri (japanese rice balls) - i love these and you can't get PROPER ones in NZ like you can in Hawaii!
- these amazing guacamole flavoured corn chips I had somewhere!
- pizza slices from Nana Lu at The Street by Michael Mina; a social house - basically a restaurant created likea food court with all these great little places around a central bar.
- ALL the Japanese options at Shirokiya, the japanese food market under the Ala Moana Center
That's all I can think of for now lol
@Imoshen: that is super helpful thanks. Definitely looking at bringing back snacks,candy, chocolate maybe chips. I want to get a tin of liquid cheese or nacho cheese. Tinned goods. Great idea for easily accessible bag. I might use one piece of luggage as the "food/customs'" bag. Last thing I want is to get a fine or have goods chucked. I will declare EVERYTHING!
@trudijoy:thanks for the helpful hints. I hadn't thought about bringing coffee back will definitely have to grab some. Those cookies sound amazing, do they come in sealed packaging? When did you purchase in relation to when you left? I'd be be keen to grab some to bring home but don't want them to go off.
By any chance did you get to try cake? My mum wants me to bring back cake though as that is fresh goods I don't think I ccn bring it back. The closest I could probably do is buy boxed and sealed stuff and bring it back to make it...
By any chance did you get to try cake? My mum wants me to bring back cake though as that is fresh goods I don't think I ccn bring it back. The closest I could probably do is buy boxed and sealed stuff and bring it back to make it...
I forgot to add that if it is tinned or vaccum packed (ie purchased from a supermarket or store) that it's highly likely that Customs will allow through. They are looking for food that you have purchased at the local markets (spices, coffee beans etc) that have not been "processed" and packaged correctly in air tight seals.
Have a good time! Try not to spend too much ;).
Hawaii is beautiful and bring back some Kona coffee :).
Have a good time! Try not to spend too much ;).
Hawaii is beautiful and bring back some Kona coffee :).
cake is probably pushing it tbh. It would have to be sealed, which wouldn't make it any good. You could get her American packet cake mix lol
The cookies all come individually packaged and they last about 30 days. I got the box I'm eating now midway through my trip, so they're probably 2 and a half weeks old, and they're fine. The company suggest you eat them within 30 days :)
The cookies all come individually packaged and they last about 30 days. I got the box I'm eating now midway through my trip, so they're probably 2 and a half weeks old, and they're fine. The company suggest you eat them within 30 days :)
@imoshen:yup that's basically what I was thinking buying from supermarket. I have watched enough border control to avoid plants/meat/fish etc. I'll definitely bring back coffee I'm sure my dad will enjoy it .
@trudijoy: perfect I didn't want the cookies to go off befor I get back. I'll buy them the second week though doubt they will last long on my return.What a great idea!
@trudijoy: perfect I didn't want the cookies to go off befor I get back. I'll buy them the second week though doubt they will last long on my return.What a great idea!
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