9 beauty and wellness insiders reveal what they always bring back from abroad 

From the best Korean skincare products to buy from Seoul to French Pharmacy finds in St Tropez, and ultra-high-polyphenol olive oil in Corfu, some experts really will go the extra mile to get their hands on brilliant beauty, wellness and foodie essentials. We asked nine jet-setters, including nutritionists, hairstylists, and aesthetic doctors who explore the world as part of their jobs, to share the products they always pick up on their travels.

Here’s the destinations and products that they recommend adding to your own (rather unique) souvenir list. Trust us, it is far more interesting than duty-free…

Images left to right: Nutritionist Emma Bardwell shopping at a local market; Derm Angela Tewari sharing her skincare recommendations; Chinese medicine practitioner Katie Brindle at The Governor’s Olive Mill in Corfu; Functional hormone nutritionist Pippa Campbell visiting the LA Erewhon store; and behind the scenes in the latest in K-beauty.

Pippa Campbell, functional hormone nutritionist

From Los Angeles: “I discovered Erewhon, the organic supermarket with its fresh soups beautifully displayed in glass jars and big traiteur-style lunch boxes, when I went to Beverly Hills. I was so excited that I was there every morning when it opened at 7 am! Luckily, I had taken an extra empty suitcase and freezer packs, so I brought back Wagyu beef burgers for my son’s Christmas present, gluten-free flour tortillas of all sizes, cashew nut milk yoghurts and kefir, paleo granolas, plantain chips made with coconut oil and lots of different freshly made salad combos.”

From Boston: “I’m often in Boston for conferences and Eataly, an Italian restaurant, has the best homemade gluten-free pizzas. I’ll bring back a pizza base and a gluten-free tiramisu. If you can’t get there in person, you can get their gluten-free pastas shipped .”

Dr Maude Calveley, aesthetic doctor

From France: “Two things I always stock up on because they’re cheaper in French pharmacies are Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water Cleanser for sensitive skin, £19 which is gentle enough for my dry, reactive skin and La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 SPF50+, £21. We can get the same sunscreen here but 30 to 50 per cent cheaper across France, and its Mexoryl 400 filter protects against the ultra-long UVA rays that drive ageing and pigmentation”.

From the USA: “Image Skincare Ormedic Balancing Lip Enhancement Complex, £22.50 is the only thing I use on my lips, and the clinic-led brand is everywhere in the US but hard to get hold of on the UK high street. It’s about a third cheaper there too. The product itself is far more than a balm: alongside shea butter and avocado oil, it contains palmitoyl tripeptide-5, which gently encourages the lips to firm and look fuller over time, so it gives a subtle plumping effect from skincare rather than filler”.

From Japan: “I always bring back Curél Intensive Moisture Facial Cream, £22.50 because — while you can get it in the UK — it is cheaper at Japanese drugstores, around £12 to £13 there versus about £19.50 here. Curél is Japan’s number-one brand for dry, sensitive skin, built around ceramides, the barrier lipids that reactive skin runs short of. It is also fragrance- and alcohol-free, so there is nothing to sting. My skin is dry and sensitive, so it is a genuine everyday staple for me”.

Dr Jennifer Owens, aesthetic doctor

From the USA: “I love the Ciele Skin Tint SPF50, £33 because it is the only makeup I trust to give proper SPF protection (usually I would always say not to rely on makeup for UV protection, but this one bucks the trend) and it is so helpful for controlling my melasma. It’s in Sephora in the US but not here yet.

I buy melatonin, which is not available over the counter in Ireland or the UK, from Trader Joe’s because it’s very reasonably-priced and super helpful for jet lag. I don’t recommend longer-term melatonin supplementation, but it is excellent for adapting to different time zones and melatonin.”

From South Korea: “I stock up on the amazing Franz Skincare Naked Sun Shield Peptide Patches, £15.71 as they can be applied to the skin to physically block UV rays (excellent once again for controlling my melasma) and are especially useful for swimming, sailing, or any activity where you are sweating or getting wet and reapplying sunscreen effectively is a little tricky. They are a Korean brand but have a significant American presence, so I pick it up in either location.”

Dr Brendan Khong, aesthetic practitioner

From South Korea: “I’ve discovered some amazing South Korean skincare favourites, including the Dr Reju-All Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Cream, £25.90 which contains 1200 ppm PDRN, 20,000 ppm collagen, niacinamide, panthenol and hyaluronic acid. That means it is the secret to ‘glass skin’, working to hydrate and soothe the skin barrier. I love this moisturiser in the summer as it has more of a gel consistency than a heavy cream. It’s just come to the UK now.

Another great find was the Mediheal PDRN Moisture Sun Serum Smooth & Tone Up, £13.44. Korean SPFs are elite, and this one is highly moisturising but not greasy, with a slight tone-up property that harmonises the complexion. I loved this so much, I bought three for good measure.

One of my favourite things I got from Seoul, though, was the Mediness Neck Feel device, £198. My friend Namvo, a fabulous influencer from NYC, told me I had to get this, and it was the first thing I ordered from Coupang, the Korean version of Amazon. It helps to decompress the cervical spine, relieve tension and reduce neck pain. I get a lot of tension and neck pain due to my work, and this has definitely helped, but you can’t track it down anywhere else.”

Dr Maryam Zamani, oculoplastic surgeon and aesthetic practitioner

From St Tropez: “In St Tropez, my first stop is always accessories shop Mana St Tropez as I love every single bag and hat in the store. I’ll also make the time to go to Gaz Bijoux, a jewellery shop where I get all my fun, summer accessories.

In fact, the French have me covered in the winter as well, as I pick up the generic pharmacy vitamin D ampoules, which have 100,000 units in one shot. I take one a month during autumn and winter and definitely stock up on them when travelling!

Finally, if you have thinning hair as I have, look for René Furterer Triphasic Shampoo,£13.77 in the local shops. It is great for hair thickening.”

Dr Ahmed El Muntasar, aesthetic practitioner

From the USA: “If I’m in the US, I always pick up Aquaphor Healing Ointment, £9.07. We have some similar products here, but I find myself reaching for Aquaphor for everything from dry lips and irritated skin to supporting the skin barrier after in-clinic treatments. It’s one of those simple products that earns a permanent place in my travel bag.”

From France: “Biafine is a cult French pharmacy product that’s fantastic for soothing irritated or sun-exposed skin after a day outdoors. It’s something many French households have in their medicine cabinet, but it’s still surprisingly difficult to find in the UK.”

From Italy or Greece: “Healthy skin isn’t just about what you apply topically either – it’s also a reflection of your overall health, and good nutrition plays a huge role in that. That’s why I never come home empty-handed from Italy or Greece. I’ll usually bring back a really good extra virgin olive oil. High-quality olive oil is rich in antioxidants and healthy fats that support overall health, and I love incorporating it into my diet once I’m home.”

The one I take abroad from the UK: “I always make time to browse local pharmacies when I’m abroad because that’s often where you’ll find products that haven’t yet made it to the UK. However, there’s one product I recommend visitors to the UK actually pick up while here too. In fact, I never travel without the Intradermology Synergy 6 SPF 50, £49. It has an incredibly elegant finish, works brilliantly under makeup and gives broad-spectrum protection while also helping defend against environmental pollution and blue light. As a cosmetic doctor, I’m a firm believer that the best sunscreen is the one you’ll actually enjoy wearing every day, and this is one I reach for time and time again.”

Katie Brindle, podcaster and Chinese Medicine practitioner and Hay’ou Method founder

From Corfu: “When I say I’m obsessed with The Governor Olive Oil, £39.95 I really mean it. In fact, I recently travelled to Corfu just to visit the olive mill where it’s produced and sat beneath the mill’s 1500-year-old matriarch tree. The Governor has up to ten times the polyphenols of an average high polyphenol olive oil, and is even being used in medical trials for Alzheimer’s and cancer. I call it liquid gold. I’ve been taking a spoonful every morning and have noticed a real difference in both my skin and digestion. I’ve become such a fan that I now use the full range, from balsamic vinegar to their skin balm.”

From China: “I travel to Hong Kong specifically to buy tea because the range and quality available are on another level. In China, tea is like wine. Every year it changes vintage, matures and develops its own character. So I go to specialist tea shops with friends who speak Chinese and take part in tea tastings to choose the best. I always love discovering a new jasmine tea, as this is what I drink in spring and summer”.

“Many of the ideas that eventually became The Hayo’u Method were born from my travels and fascination with traditional self-care practices. I never leave without my Takara Foot Patches, £5.99 – stick-on pads filled with natural ingredients like wood vinegar and bamboo sap. I place one on the sole of each foot overnight to help draw toxins out of the body, improve sleep and boost circulation. Feet are central in Chinese Medicine as the soles act as a meeting point for the body’s energy pathways, including six primary meridians (energy channels) for major organs.”

Emma Bardwell, nutritionist and author

From France: “I always make a beeline for a French pharmacy and I inevitably come home with brands like La Roche-Posay, Avène and Caudalie because they’re brilliantly formulated and often considerably cheaper from their home nation. They’re the sort of fuss-free products that quietly do their job but still get great results, which is very much my approach to nutrition too. My skin is quite dry, so I stick to hydrating cleansers and ceramide-rich moisturisers. I particularly like the skin soothing effect of La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 ,£19.90 which I drench my skin in before bed, like an overnight mask. I buy Avene’s Cicalfate+ range for its restorative effects, and Caudalie Self-Tan Sun Drops , £19.

From Italy: “I always bring home a wedge of proper Parmigiano Reggiano from Italy. The flavour is incomparable and it’s naturally rich in protein and calcium. I grate it over soups, salads, roasted vegetables and pasta for weeks after I’m home. It also keeps incredibly well and is so much cheaper than what we get here, making it one of the easiest foodie souvenirs to sling in my suitcase.”

From around the world: “One of my favourite holiday rituals is wandering around local food markets and stocking up on spices like saffron, cinnamon, sumac or ras el hanout. They always seem fresher, more aromatic and better value than buying tiny jars at home. As a nutritionist, I love that these herbs and spices add flavour without relying on lots of salt or sugar, and they contain lots of anti-inflammatory plant compounds called polyphenols.”

Mia Newnham, hair stylist at Jo Hansford

From Seville: “Travel has always been one of my greatest passions, and I love discovering the hidden gems that make each destination unique, so some of my favourite finds have become lasting staples in my everyday life. For example, while enjoying a sunny afternoon on a terrace in Seville, I asked the waiter for his local recommendation and was introduced to Puerto de Indias Strawberry Gin with lemonade. Served ice cold, it was love at first sip, and it has remained my go-to summer drink ever since”.

From Greece: “Another unforgettable discovery came while exploring Cape Sounio in Greece, where I came across the beautiful vanilla fragrance called Maison Tahité Vanilla Eau de Parfum, £90. I instantly fell in love with its warm, sophisticated scent, and it has become my signature fragrance. Thankfully, it is now stocked in a few places here, like Liberty London and The Perfume Shop, making it much easier to enjoy a little reminder of my travels back home.”

Dr Angela Tewari, dermatologist

From France: “The last time I was in France skiing, I bought Avene Ultra Hydrating Lip Butter, £9. They have really cottoned on to the hydrating effects of spring water. This contains probiotics and postbiotics for the skin barrier. I loved it when I was on the slopes”.

From the US: “You can’t get melatonin in the UK, and while many people take it to help with sleep, I don’t have trouble dropping off, but I do take it for longevity because it helps with oxidative stress. I take 3mg daily”.

From India: “I have family in northern India and always pick up Vatika Hair Oil, £5.99 which you can now also get on Amazon, luckily. It’s great for scalp massage as it contains lemon, which is anti-inflammatory”.

Anabel Kingsley, trichologist – the American-inspired nighttime routine

From America: “Whenever I am in America, I have to pick up Thorne Melatonin 3mg, which is a brilliant sleep aid. I pick up a specially compounded retinol cream from my dermatologist Dr Ellen Gendler in New York. I would 100 per cent bring back the delicious Long Island tomatoes and sweetcorn if I could too!”