madameX

I flew out of JFK on THAT morning when they announced the new restrictions on cosmetics. At the last minute, I threw everything into the checked bags and hoped for the best -- cosmetics, suntan lotion, conditioners, everything I usually want to pack for feal of spills or leakage. I guess the caps were on tight, and my containers secure, because nothing leaked. However, I packed the real liquids in an outer pocket of the suitcase, just in case. The makeup case went inside the suitcase. My other insurance is that some of these items (the toiletry case and all) were put into Ziploc bags, which always seem to do a good job of containing moisture (wet bikinis, etc.) Ziplocs come in a range of sizes.

TSA still seems to be undecided about some makeup forms -- they let me have my "traditional" stick-forms of lipstick and gloss in my handbag. I think they are pickier about tubes of gel-like gloss.

madameX

I should also add:

First: I meant to say that I usually check my bags except for a carryon, which holds my valuables (cameras, some jewelry) and cosmetics. I have always carried on all my toiletries and cosmetics for fear of spillage, melting lipstick while the bags wait on a tarmac, etc. But those carry-on days are over for the time being.

The Ziploc bags worked great both for my husband and myself, although we had no leakage problems -- they have worked inthe past. If you buy cosmetics in Rome, you may want to stash them in these bags onthe trip home.

Second: as someone else noted, the Via del Corso has a number of cosmetic shops, some that carry both "better" and lesser brands. 'Sorry, but I forget the name. The Rinascente department store also has some good brands as well as the usual suspects (Estee Lauder.)

Angela_m

Maybe someone else can confirm this, but I seem to remember that the Sephora in Florence (haven't been in the one in Rome) carried very few cosmetic products. They had mostly body lotions, shampoos, etc. and certainly not any U.S. products like MAC or Estee Lauder.

SeaUrchin

I wouldn't want to pay for Sephora cosmetics unless I could bring them home with me. They would have to be in checked baggage but then in that case you could take your own from home. What am I missing here?

TexasAggie

Hi SeaUrchin

I guess for me it is a good back-up plan. If my checked baggage were not to arrive in Rome for me, it's nice to know I could pick up a few essentials right at the train station at a store I am familiar with. I'd likely try to pick slightly different colors than I wear at home for everyday so that I wouldn't end up with duplicate sets of the exact same stuff. Then I'd just take it home with me in my checked bag.

SeaUrchin

I always have fun buying cosmetics in Europe, the saleswomen seem to be much friendlier in the cosmetics counter. They usually give me a full makeup session. I think I wrote about one experience in one trip report to Rome. She convinced me that I was wearing all the wrong colors, put them on to prove it, and she was right! Yes, def. if you are checking bags, buy some cosmetics and let us know if they chose a different palette for you too, they seem to take cosmetics seriously.

mama924

Has anyone thought of using cake mascara? It is dry and applied with a brush that needs to be moistened then wiped across the cake. I remember this from when I was little and would watch my mother apply her make up. I googled it and there are a few brands between 7 and 25 dollars. I was thinking of buying it for my trip to Italy. All of my make up is in dry form otherwise so should be allowed to carry it on if rules don't keep changing between now and October 17. I use Bare Escentuals makeup. Even the foundation is dry and it is excellent. I always used Chanel or MAC before discovering this and the coverage is fantastic and you don't look like you are wearing make up at all. Just nice even coverage and skin tone. It is sold at Sephora or they they have their own stores scattered
about US malls. You can also buy it form QVC, but I would recommend Sephora so you can test it out before buying.

Just a thought.

PeggyE

mama924, I use BE also but was concerned to take it on board since it is a loose powder. Is that taking a chance it will be confiscated? I just switched to BE a few months ago...love it! But don't want to lose my investment. What do you think?? And where did you find cake mascara? I'm glad a few women can talk about this without getting put down. I'm packing everything else, just don't want to look dead after a 15 hour flight! We are going to Italy Sept 5th, can't wait!

TexasAggie

To all you Bare Escentuals users...

I have been hovering on the brink of trying it out. How good is it? I still have very oily skin and cream/liquid foundations slide right off. Matte powders don't look so hot after a few hours either. Does BE really work differently?

Sigh. Perhaps I'll have to veture to the nearest Sephora store and just try it myself

W9London

back to the OP's question on the cosmetics in Italy, there is a store called Limoni which looks like a national chain. The one in Milan was smaller than a typical Sephora, but quite extensive brands including Clinique, Dior, Estee Lauder etc. Hope you can find one in Rome.

luxing

I use Everyday Minerals (loose mineral powder foundation), so that's good to go for carry-on, as is most of my makeup.

My question concerns moisturizer and sunscreen. I have really sensitive skin that gets rashes whenever I use skincare with fragrance or chemical sunscreens. At home, I use Cetaphil cream for mositurizer and DHC White sunblock (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide blockers only). Are there comparable non-fragranced moisturizers and physical sunblocks widely available in drugstores all over Europe? Or can anyone recommend a non-tinted all-physical-blockers powder sunscreen of at least spf 25? (I suppose it's too much to expect to get powdered moisturizer. Does such a thing exist?)

Otherwise, I think I might just have to check my bag.

luxing

I use Everyday Minerals (loose mineral powder foundation), so that's good to go for carry-on, as is most of my makeup. (Note to TexasAggie: I personally didn't like the shine in BE. For me, Everyday Minerals' Intensive Formula is excellent - I have combo skin and it holds up really well on my oily parts without drying out the dry. They give free samples. They're online only, though. )

My question concerns moisturizer and sunscreen. I have really sensitive skin that gets rashes whenever I use skincare with fragrance or chemical sunscreens. At home, I use Cetaphil cream for mositurizer and DHC White sunblock (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide blockers only). Are there comparable non-fragranced moisturizers and physical sunblocks widely available in drugstores all over Europe? Or can anyone recommend a non-tinted all-physical-blockers powder sunscreen of at least spf 25? (I suppose it's too much to expect to get powdered moisturizer. Does such a thing exist?)

Otherwise, I think I might just have to check my bag.

luxing

Sorry for the double post. (Didn't think the first one went through.)

SeaUrchin

I wish the dry makeup worked for me but at my age any powder on my face makes me look like a zombie. Maybe I need the glow so I look like I am still alive? I wonder if the ones you are recommending are different, I'll have to go over to Sephora and try it for myself, too.

TexasAggie

Thanks, luxing. I'll have to go look up the brand you mentioned.
Good luck with your search SeaUrchin Hope you have fun shopping!

mama924

I LOVE Bare Escentuals! I was VERY skeptical about it when I saw it on QVC. I stumbled upon the store in a mall while Christmas shopping and tried it. Still using it! I have tried all makeups from drug store to Henri Bendel. Can't compare. If you are shiny or glowy you must us the mineral veil over the foundation. At first the mineral veil only came in one shade and it was too pale but now it comes tinited. It is great and gives a nice finish.

As for cake mascara, there is a brand named Longcils Boncza, another by La Femme, and another by Paula Dorf. Drug Store .com carries some of them. Just do a google for it.

I enquired on another board about places to buy toiletries and someone mentioned a store named Upim. Also, I heard Fiumicino had lots of toiletries and cosmentics at the airport.

annw

Is anyone else considering sending ahead the banned personal products (idiosyncratic skin care products etc.) by mail to their first hotel?

luxing

annw: I thought briefly about that. I was wondering, though, if 2-star hotels (the kind I generally stay in) would accept and hold such items. And also, if everyone started doing that, the hotels could be awash with toiletry packages! In any case, I'm curious if anyone has done that before and how it worked out.