Smiling Gives You Wrinkles
What Should I Buy at Target and CVS? A British Beauty Editor Shares Her Wishlist
Published: 14 May 2026 at 05:15 Europe/London
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Episode notes
When I moved from London to St. Pete Beach in 2021, I thought my years as a Beauty Editor for titles like The Daily Mail and Cosmopolitan, and even working at Boots, meant I knew a lot about brands and the products available. But I was wrong. The American drugstore is a different beast - the choice is overwhelming! And since appearing on Channel 4's Escape to Florida, the number one question I get from my British followers is: 'What beauty products should I actually buy when I visit America?' So in this episode, I'm sharing my latest 'American Drugstore Haul,' and talking you through the US exclusives that me and my friends love.
Products mentioned include:
The Target Finds
- Vacation® Sun Care: The Classic Whip SPF 30 is a must for the texture alone, plus the Chardonnay Lip Oil.
- Odele Haircare: Grab the Air Dry Styler - it’s the only thing that handles Florida humidity for my wavy hair.
- Pixi Hello Kitty: The US Pixi makeup range is much broader; look for the limited edition blushers and palettes.
2. The Drugstore Exclusives (CVS & Walmart)
- CeraVe US-Only Formulas: The SA Body Wash (miracle for "chicken skin") and the Skin Renewing Retinol Serum (purple label) are hard to find in the UK.
- Aquaphor Ointment Spray: A dermatologist favorite for dry skin and grazes that’s much easier to find here.
- Neutrogena Glow Perfect Pen: A brilliant, affordable dupe for the YSL Touche Éclat.
- Maybelline Baby Lips: This is another one my best friend Leah buys all the time. Specifically, the cherry shade in the orange and red packaging! They are tinted lip balms that leave a really lovely wash of color on the lips.
- Olay Skincare Body Washes: Huge bottles with high-performance ingredients like Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid.
3. The "Boring" But Brilliant Essentials
- Tide To Go Pens: Essential for clumsy travelers (and kids!).
- Welly Band-Aids: High-quality plasters in cute, reusable tins.
- Advil PM / Melatonin: My go-to for beating the jet lag on the red eye flight back to London.
I am also going to add this list to my website thebeautyed.com - don't forget to subscribe if you visit!
And also, don't forget to follow me on Instagram and also Smiling Gives You Wrinkles®
