Beauty standards differ depending on where you are in the world, and so do the products that promise to make you prettier. In our Globetrotter series, we highlight our weirdest and most worthwhile finds from overseas.
Abby Fazio is as passionate about discovering under-the-radar beauty products as we are. Fazio co-owns and operates New London Pharmacy, a 50-plus-year-old apothecary store in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. The pharmacy isn’t just a mecca for makeup artists and beauty junkies in search of cult finds from brands like RMS Beauty and Kevyn Aucoin, but also the only place to buy certain overseas-based brands in the U.S. We asked Fazio to spotlight a few of her current favorites from Europe that no beauty globetrotter should be without.
“The best toothpaste ever. Especially good for smokers and red wine drinkers,” Fazio says of this luxe Italian import, produced by one of the oldest pharmacies in the world — Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella was established by the Dominican Fathers in 1221. Its all-natural formula contains iris powder, bloodroot, propolis, spearmint, cinnamon, clove and peppermint oils, white clay and bicarbonate of soda to freshen breath and fight cavities.
J&E Atkinsons I Coloniali Deep Massage Body Cream with Myrrh Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
This jar is packed with history: Not only is the body cream made by a 200-year-old London fragrance house, its star ingredient, myrrh, has been used for centuries in the Middle East and Africa to tone and revitalize the skin. “The smell is divine,” Fazio says. “And it makes your skin baby soft. What's not to love?”
This skincare brand from Spain makes highly concentrated products without harsh ingredients. “This NLP exclusive from Spain gives you moisture and glow, a perfect two for one,” Fazio says. Not only does it contain antioxidants and cell-repairing actives, this lightweight lotion features iridescent pigments to brighten your complexion instantly.
“Finally! A completely organic sunscreen that is both matte and sheer. Well worth the price,” Fazio says of this German import. You’d be inclined to agree if you’ve been disappointed by other physical sunscreens that leave a chalky cast on skin — this one’s lightweight, silky texture is better than any other organic formulas we’ve tried.
