French pharmacy brands have always been championed for their results-driven skincare offerings. Recently though, niche US beauty brands have been creating some noteworthy formulas that are giving the French a run for their money.
Last year, Glossier’s launch into the UK proved that fangirl success in the US can translate across the pond and a handful of other brands are now following in its footsteps. Here are the latest US brands that have launched in the UK to know about..
US beauty products
1 of 5Herbivore
Top line: Herbivore has made quite an impact in the US for its clean, natural formulas. With clever ingredient blends, Insta-friendly minimalist packaging and names including Pink Cloud and Moon Fruit, it's hard not to love this brand. Hero product: Using gemstones and pineapple and papaya enzymes, the Brighten Instant Glow Mask, £38, gently exfoliates the surface layer of your skin without leaving it red or irritated. It's the perfect pre-party complexion brightener.
2 of 5J One
Top line: Admittedly this isn't born and bred in America, it's Korean. However, it has been doing phenomenally well in Sephora and that's good enough for us. This one-man-'brand' consists of a multitasking jelly formula that hydrates, plumps and primes your skin for make-up. Hero product: Naturally it's the J One Jelly Pack. The jelly texture is cooling and comforting on your skin and it keeps your skin hydrated for hours, which in turn ensures your make-up lasts longer.
3 of 5Saturday Skin
Top line: With its millennial pink packaging it's hard to imagine Saturday Skin wouldn't be a success, but fortunately the formulas live up to expectation. Everything is lightweight and layerable, designed to hydrate your skin, reduce the appearance of your pores and smooth out fine lines. Hero product: There is very little not to love about any of the products, but if we had to pick one it would be the Balancing Act Skin-Smoothing Lotion, £31. The featherlight formula gives skin an instant boost of hydration, whilst miraculously appearing to shrink your pores. If you like to layer serums and lotions rather than using a traditional, it's definitely worth ordering Freeze Frame Beauty Essence, $47, from Peach and Lily (hopefully it'll come to the UK soon).
4 of 5CeraVe
Top line: No frills, just straightforward, effective skincare. CeraVe is enormously popular in the States for the simple fact it's cheap and it works. Whether you've got acne-prone or sensitive skin, or you battle with eczema, this line of cleansers and moisturisers will have a soothing, hydrating formula for you.Hero product: The Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 25 is packed full of hydrating ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, and there's SPF 25 protection in there too - and, it's only £9. It is a product that we should all have in our bathroom cabinets and handbags this summer.
5 of 5Drunk Elephant
Top line: It might not be landing in the UK until the autumn, but for those who like to invest in their skincare it's worth having DE (as it's known on social) on your radar. The brand's neon and white packaging is not only Insta-friendly, but the formulas are also exceptionally good. Developed on the pretence of 'no nasties', it offers gentle but effective formulas that will have people asking what you've been using on your skin. Hero product: The C-Firma Day Serum is a game-changing, highly potent vitamin C serum. Yes, it's on the expensive side at $80 for 30ml, but you really will see results in less than two weeks of use. If you don't want to wait until October, you can order from Sephora now.