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Cosmetics and skin-care in Budapest

Last activity 15 March 2014 by Marilyn Tassy

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Mear

Hello everyone. :)

I'll be staying in Budapest for a few months starting June, and I'm trying to decide wether I should postpone my cosmetics shopping until then, buy online, or go for the tax free.

Perhaps some of you can tell me a little about the prices of quality brands in Budapest? I'll mainly be looking for Dermalogica products, but any information about the general price of cosmetics would be very welcome.

Aurélie

Hello Mear.

Welcome to Expat.com!

Hope other members will be able to help you :)

Thank you,
Aurélie

Stephanie99

Hi Mear
I use Clinique and find it is cheaper here in stores than from strawberrynet online and definitely cheaper than in Australia, where I'm from. I buy here from a place called Douglas and the Clinique stores around town. There are lots of places with various brands.

Apparently there can be hefty taxes to pay if you order online and have it delivered here, if the package has contents worth more than 45 euros.

I'm sorry I don't know about Dermalogica though...

Mear

Thanks Stephanie, that answers my question. :) I was considering buying from Strawberrynet, but I'll just wait then.

Mear

I usually buy from Strawberrynet at home, but I had hoped it might be cheap enough in Budapest that I can stock up a bit. :) I still haven't found either Dermalogica of MD Formulations, and I'm not too big a fan of Clinique, but I'm thinking of trying out that Hungarian brand whose name I can't remember.

fireroller

Ordering from within the EU cannot involve taxes, as this is one of the main obsessions of the whole thing. But it can involve theft in the Hungarian post office, I must say, so make sure such risk is not on your side (e.g. according to German online shopping regulations it is not).
As I understand, there are good alternatives solutions like the Pickpackpont system
http://translate.google.hu/translate?sl … pont.hu%2F

C'mon,  support the local economy and save the environment and buy locally... at least from a local onlineshop:-) 
Time for some nepotism: I happen to nearly be involved in this MLM onlineshop specialised on organic products, maybe you find a few things you like (click on the tiny English flag below the leaf on the top right, in case you prefer that language ):

http://www.biyovis.hu/tapolcai

I found 'Face and body care products' on the left hand side menu.

Stephanie99

Mear wrote:

I usually buy from Strawberrynet at home, but I had hoped it might be cheap enough in Budapest that I can stock up a bit. :) I still haven't found either Dermalogica of MD Formulations, and I'm not too big a fan of Clinique, but I'm thinking of trying out that Hungarian brand whose name I can't remember.


Give Strawberrynet a go, just buy one thing, should be OK. They tend to wrap it up like a gift anyway, so you might be alright.
Sorry to hear you can't find your brands, I hate that sometimes, but then other times I strike it lucky with new ones that I know I won't get back home! :)

fireroller

There is another larger onlineshop, Zoldbolt.hu ('greenshop') specialized on green/organic products, they have also 'beauty' sections:
since it is in hungarian, I recommend viewing it through google translate:


http://translate.google.hu/translate?sl … g-egeszseg

Mear

Ordering online isn't really an option for me while I'm in Budapest, but thanks for the tip anyway. :)

fireroller

Actually, in case someone is nearby, Zöldbolt (zoldbolt.hu) do have a shop kinda near Déli Pu:
http://goo.gl/maps/UjmW

Kiss János altábornagy u. 35.
1126 Budapest,

Open:   
Mo-Fr: 12:00-18:00
and  Thu: until 19:00
Telefon: 06-20-916-3275

I know that the owner Adrián Zelenák speaks English fluently, probably some of the others, too, but don't know how often he is in (you could ask per email)
(end of Advert)

gosubmit

Mear wrote:

Hello everyone. :)

I'll be staying in Budapest for a few months starting June, and I'm trying to decide wether I should postpone my cosmetics shopping until then, buy online, or go for the tax free.

Perhaps some of you can tell me a little about the prices of quality brands in Budapest? I'll mainly be looking for Dermalogica products, but any information about the general price of cosmetics would be very welcome.


i have to say that some nice cosmetics are available at different shops in malls in budapest. you just have to have a look on prices. i remember purchasing cosmetics for about 50k ft recently. Take those cosmetics at discounted prices, which is put up in front for sale. Grab them for sure..

Hang around muller, drogerie and rossman shops and compare the prices. i did by deadsea products available in westend, mammut malls i guess.

P.S: I am just a male but i used to shop a lot for family at home, so may be i am not too good in cosmetics but i am just sharing my experience.

Ivet

HI.
Im using Nuskin products that are natural and based on Ageloc technology.
I would absolutaly suggest you this.Easy to order and shipping at home.
Have a nice evening.
Iveta

phillipsshawn

It would be better if you order online.You will then have various varieties and you can select easily what you want. I only use organic and natural products and sometimes I make these products at home. A fantastic read about organic and natural skin care products.

Marilyn Tassy

If you are only coming for a few months I would bring what you need with you.
I have used Shiseido products for over 16 years and find they are very overpriced in Hungary.
I usually stock up with at least a 18 month supply of products on my visits to the US and put extra creams in the fridge to keep them fresh until needed.
The cost in the US for example the eye cream is $55. before tax, in Hungary I have see it sold for just under $150. with the VAT! I will use Avon or some other product before spending $150. for a jar of eye cream.
Worst case, I will pre pay on line and have someone from the US mail my products to me as a gift.
Avon prices seem to be the same in both HU and they US but high end products such as Lancôme, Shiseido and others are way over priced. Might as well just save up for a face lift then pay $150. for a jar of cream.
I am willing to try out some local Hungarian products but unsure of  if they are what I am looking for.
Hate to spend allot on a product only to toss it in the drawer and never use it.
If anyone knows of a good local Hungarian product for mature skin, please pass on the info.
My long time Hungarian/American friend just retired in Budapest and she agrees with me about products in Hungary.
She believes as I do that little items just as good cosmetics are more precious  in Hungary then in the US because they cost more then double in price in HU most times.
I have been bringing my own from the US since 1978, hair color products, face creams and small drug store items like favorite headache potions etc. Just more comforting to use products you already know and trust.
These days HU does sell many good products, I no longer have to ship over my hair coloring as Matrix now has distributors in HU. Those prices are the same as I pay in the US with my professional Hairdressing papers.
My new DIL is from Japan and says my fave eye cream only costs $30. in Japan, they mark it up for US sales but they really mark it up in HU.I sometimes wonder if we should just use old household items like mayo and cucumbers like our great-grandmothers did, much cheaper and in any case you can't fight off time no matter how much you spend on products.

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