More Toiletry Choices In The UK???

Hi there!! First of all, this is my first time back on this forum after being away for a long while dealing with personal issues!!

Anyway, having spent a long time actually in the USA, while doing shopping, mostly in such places as Wal-mart, Target, Shopko, etc. I cant help but look in total awe at the vast amount of toiletry choices on the shelves, like bubble and foam baths, body washes, shower gels and body lotions, soap bars, moisurizers, etc. Then I come back here and feel totally discontented that there isnt the same amount of choices that there is in the USA!! I mean, in the USA, theres literally aisles and aisles of the stuff there to choose from compared to here where theres maybe just one aisle in Boots or Superdrug or even in grocery stores!!! For, example, theres WAY more Dove or Nivea, or Olay products in the USA than there is here, as well as other brand names that just dont exist over here in the UK!! So, this has got me wondering if theres a way where we can buy all the same stuff in the USA over here??

Does anyone know where, in the UK, we can buy all the same products in the USA over here, even any online stores??

I would really appreciate this!!

Thanks!!!!

Hello,

I totally agree with your sentiments.

What are you looking for in particular? For me, I was looking for Tom's of Maine toothpaste, Dr. Bronner's soaps and Paul Mitchell shampoo. The first two I found in health food stores, and there's one salon in my neighborhood that carried PM products.

I've also resorted to using The Body Shop products, because I can get those anywhere in the world and know that I won't feel homesick or miss my toiletries wherever I am.

HTH

Amazon?

I have tried Amazon and theres not a great deal of choice on there, either!!

I am just looking for more choice in brand names like Dove, Olay, Nivea, as well as other brand names exclusive to the USA!!!

You could try new stuff?

There are a lot of great products here that I've actually come to prefer.  The only thing I still pick up from the US when I'm there is Secret deodorant and Noxema.  Otherwise, I've just found replacements for everything.  It's a lot easier than trying to stick to stuff I know I just can't get here.

It's funny but I really love the Radox shower gel (it's green and smells soooo fresh) that you can't get here and I loved the Sure deodorant spray I bought at Boots the last time I was over. I always stock up on the Radox when I'm over.

Drugstore.com delivers internationally.

Cool, I'll check them out. Thanks

What are you looking for in particular? For me, I was looking for Tom's of Maine toothpaste, Dr. Bronner's soaps and Paul Mitchell shampoo. The first two I found in health food stores, and there's one salon in my neighborhood that carried PM products.

If you are in London, Debenham's on Oxford Street sells Paul Mitchell in the salon.

Frankly I've swapped to UK brands quite happily.  The only thing I wish I could get here is Noxema.  Bigger Boots seem to have a decent selection of stuff, we've got two quite big ones here in Coventry.

Personally I don't like too much choice anyway - I get confused!!  For instance I hate Subway for that very reason (my whole family think it's hugely amusing that I panic at the thought of dealing with Subway)

Bigger Boots seem to have a decent selection of stuff, we've got two quite big ones here in Coventry.

I used to work in a flagship Boots store and we had:
-1 aisle of soaps/shower gels
- half an aisle of deodorants
- 3 aisles of luxury bathing
- 4 aisles of shampoos/hair products
- 3 aisles of self-selection make-up
- 5 aisles of facial beauty products (Dove, Nivea, Olay, Roc, No7 etc.)
- 2 aisles of body products (lotions, creams, shaving products etc.).
- and about 10 different make-up/beauty counters.

I'm with marmaladejar on too many choices! After my first 6 month stint in the UK, I experienced a bit of "Reverse-Culture shock" after arriving back in the US-- I was massively overwhelmed by the number of options there were  (and had a semi-break down because of it! lol)

Now I mostly get whatever's here...I use Nivea/Dove bodywash whenever they're on sale, but I'm more than happy to try anything.  I still import Secret deodorant, though I think I remember seeing a stick deodorant in my (rather large) Boots recently,so I'll probably switch to that when I run out.

I'm with marmaladejar on too many choices! After my first 6 month stint in the UK, I experienced a bit of "Reverse-Culture shock" after arriving back in the US-- I was massively overwhelmed by the number of options there were  (and had a semi-break down because of it! lol)

This is my life right now.  I find this thread amusing because my big outing today was to find a body wash to replace my favorite UK brand - Original Source lavendar and tea tree.  The reverse of the OP, I was actually saying who needs all these "different" types of Dove, etc.  It just felt like a million versions of things I don't want.  Hilarious that 6 hours away from me some else is going through the same thing in reverse.

Americangirl - good luck, I know how much of a struggle this is! 

PS I cry pretty much every time I am in a US grocery store as well.

It's funny but I really love the Radox shower gel (it's green and smells soooo fresh) that you can't get here and I loved the Sure deodorant spray I bought at Boots the last time I was over. I always stock up on the Radox when I'm over.

I'm with you windycitywids,  I am always stocking up when I'm in the UK. In fact, I prefer products in the UK to US. I don't really go for big name brand stuff, and I like products without parabens or sulfates. That being said, I really love Radox and Simple products, which do have the bad stuff in them! But I can't wait to get back and get my overpriced Cowshed.

PS I cry pretty much every time I am in a US grocery store as well.

Completely understandable---Is there really a need for an ENTIRE US-Sized aisle full of chips/crisps/pretzels?!

But I can't wait to get back and get my overpriced Cowshed.

After getting one of their freebies in a magazine, I'm just about hooked! I <3 Cowshed