Whenever I go to the UK, the first and last place I stop to shop is Boots, the Chemist. There's no real equivalent in the US that I know about - none of the major drugstore chains like Rite Aid or even Duane Reed in NYC come close. I just read this morning that Boots products are coming to all Target stores and 450 CVS and 350 Shoppers Drug Stores. I am sure that they won't have the full range of Boots' products but if they even have a small percentage of their makeup, I will be one happy gal!
Boots' No 7 line of beauty products is made by the same company that makes Chanel products. Their colour range is great and I love the way the make up goes on. Their Protect and Perfect serum got a huge boost after Professor Lesley Regan proved on BBC2's Horizon last month that it actually did what it claimed and it is now sold out in the UK. You might be able to find it on eBay for about three times the original cost in GBP, which means about six times what it would cost in the US.
Another great thing about Boots, and most other UK stores, is their loyalty program, which puts any in the US to shame. I sometimes got a point per £ spent and then could sometimes redeem this for a point per pound! My other favourite item at Boots is the "Joy RIde" anti-motion sickness medicine. Anything that's got a name like that has to be great!
Boots also carries premium labels including Chanel, Dior, Lancome and Clinique. They also carry a limited range of home accessories, which were always very stylish. You can buy anything from Boots, from car insurance to candy... I can't wait to see what Target has.
P.S. That wacky woman you saw doing the happy dance in the aisles of the Target this morning was me! Thrilled that I can get all of the things I love on this side of the pond!
woo-hoo! I so understand you! Boots is my first & last stop, too. I love their Botanics range. My bag is always heavy coming home b/c of all the little jars and bottles from Boots.
ReplyDeleteSo this very exciting news indeed. Especially I since you cart it all back as carry-on. I will be happy with even a small selection, too!
Fairfax- my Target got the Boots makeup/skincare line last month. They have the no 7 makeup line (lipsticks and eyeshadows are fab), skincare, and Botanics line, I think. I'm with you, I wish they would carry other Boots products. Maybe they'll add those too?
ReplyDeleteOh, by the way, now I'm planning a trip there tomorrow morning to see if they have that Protect and Perfect Serum. Must get that!
ReplyDeleteI saw an ad for Boots in InStyle last night. I had completely forgotten about it!
ReplyDeleteHey -- Yes, Boots is in all Target and some CVS with their 5 most popular lines - No7, Botanics, Mediterranean, Feel the Difference and Sleep. Products go on sale at Target this Sunday thru Saturday. Some of the names have changed, so your Perfect & Protect is called Restore & Renew -- and it is still available on the shelf! Tell your friends, bring them along and if you are lucky, your neighborhood Target will have a Boots Beauty Advisor to guide you through all the products you miss. She will usually be around Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Glad you wrote this blog and love Boots! Pass on the good news!
ReplyDeleteI noticed them the other day, but I've been even more excited about the Agatha Ruiz de la Prada stuff.
ReplyDeletePink.. I have some of Agatha's stuff from the UK. It's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank-you for visiting my blog-I must say I found reading yours really interesting and went right back to the start! What really mae me laugh was that you wish you could have Boots the chemist in the States, and I wish we could have Target! If only Boots would sell some of Target's range over here!
ReplyDeleteIf you ever want to contact me lots of people do so through Flickr.
Enjoy your weekend!