The sad truth about living in this beautiful but ever-so-slightly third world paradise, is that there are plenty of beauty brands that aren’t available here. Luckily, with the massive boom in ecommerce, and in particular the popularity of beauty sites, there are now plenty of great online stores that ship internationally and for FREE!
One such website is BeautyBay.com, who stock a massive range of haircare, skincare, make-up and nail products from amazing international brands. Some of the highlights include Too Faced, bareMinerals, Deborah Lippmann, Mario Badescu, Neom , This Works and Urban Decay.
Worldwide delivery is free, or you can pay extra for Express Delivery which will reach you in 3 to 4 working days for £14.95. Orders sent via this method will be assigned a tracking number so the progress of the parcel can be followed online. Depending on the size of your order, you may also be subject to import duties so we would recommend placing smaller orders under R500 in value (as these will be exempt from customs charges). You can visit this website for more info on import duty and taxes.
Here are my top picks for what to buy from BeautyBay:
Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque (250ml for £18.32) is a revitalising hair reconstructor for dry, damaged hair. A combination of macadamia oil and argan oil along with tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe and algae extracts rejuvenate and rebuild the hair, leaving the hair deeply nourished for improved elasticity and shine with long-lasting conditioning benefits.
AlphaH Liquid Gold (100ml for £27.56) is a powerful overnight resurfacing and firming lotion for normal or combination skin types. This cult skincare product is enriched with silk proteins and licorice extract and works to jump start the skin’s metabolism, tightening enlarged pores and giving a brighter, clearer complexion. This also makes an effective acne treatment when used in conjunction with other blemish fighting products from the AlphaH range.
Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette (£19.95) is a chic eye shadow palette featuring six neutral shades with a sophisticated matte finish. The newest addition to the universally worshipped Naked range, it features four brand new matte shades, one best-selling shade and a shade that was previously exclusive to another Urban Decay Palette, the Naked Basics is a handbag essential.
Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File (£14.65) is my nail file of choice. It is made from the finest lead crystal and carefully treated to create a filing surface that gives perfect results. Traditional nail files can leave the nail edge rough or uneven but the crystal file smooths the nail edge completely, sealing it, leaving not a trace of a split or catch. It also does the job in a third of the time – one of my holy grail products for sure.
Neom Restore Candle (75g for £14.81). Classic jasmine combined with a zingy, fresh ginger and a hint of deep sandalwood is the perfect feel good fragrance. Gently soothing away stress and leaving an inspired new person in its place! Also perfect for mental fatigue and nausea. Neom Luxury Organics candles are made using only vegetable wax and pure essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances so they burn without releasing harmful pollutants, toxins or soot.
Go forth and shop, my beauties!
Images via.