All duty-free was not created equal. The duty-free section at Liberia Airport in Costa Rica was the size of a closet. Not Mariah Carey’s closet either. It was miniature with nothing good in it either. Just liquor and cigarettes. So I guess, it was more like Mischa Barton’s closet… #Allegedly
At Heathrow, on the other hand, five hours was barely enough time to experience the cornucopia of brands on display. It was well worth missing lunch at Yauatcha. I’m planning another European trip to include a stopover in London just to hang out at Heathrow. P.S. I absolutely *HATE* to fly. #SickInTheHead
Travel Retail is one of the most lucrative markets in the beauty industry. Many companies create products exclusively for the duty-free traveler and finding them at the airport is always a highlight of my trip. This time, I somehow managed to snag a bottle of Clinique Even Better essence lotion, which is only just now making its way to the US from Asia. #First!
‘Limited editions’ and ‘exclusives’ are just two of the ways brands spark curiosity, interest, and the need to have at the airport. Somehow I missed BOSS MA VIE, Gwyneth Paltrow’s new fragrance, available exclusively at duty-free worldwide. I had heard that Marc Jacobs was adding Daisy Dream to his Daisy franchise, but didn’t realize he was launching it first as a duty-free exclusive in June, a full month prior to its scheduled July global rollout. #Insider
Silk Blossom display dwarfed any other at the Jo Malone boutique. Had I not previously purchased three bottles, I would have so grabbed one. Lovely. During my 5 minutes in the shop, I was reminded no fewer than 687364 times that it was a limited edition fragrance not to return. Ever. I was dying to ask: “so is this a limited edition scent”? #ShouldHave
YSL Touché Eclat is a perennial duty-free favorite with its own mini tester unit at every checkout line. Sort of like Trident or Tic Tacs at the supermarket. When I spotted WILD EDITION that I haven’t even seen in the US, however, I almost creamed my pants. Obviously, I got my claws on a pen. #HogWild
Lastly, I never ever ignore the candy aisles at duty-free and Heathrow was no exception. Chunky Kit Kats, Toblerone bars with crunchy almonds, and chocolate domes filled with Baileys were just a few of the items I snatched up this trip. Don’t even get me started about the bags of mini Bounty bars. #BartInACandyStore
Leave ample time to enjoy the incredible duty-free experiences in London, Zurich, and I hear Dubai. Whether you need a last minute gift or have a few hours to kill before boarding an international flight, everything and more is completely in your face, which makes online shopping so last year. #InstantGratification
