29-07-2025
The Duty-Free Beauty Buys That Are So Good, They'll Have You Sprinting To The Gate
@Getty Images: Photo by Niceguy/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Even when your flight is on final call, let's face it, there's always time for a last-minute beauty dash through duty-free. It starts innocently enough; a quick grab of the face wash you forgot to pack or a discounted fragrance, but often spirals into a basket full of serums you don't actually need and lipsticks that look suspiciously like one you already own. That's where we come in, with years of expertise and beauty know-how, to help you zero in on the best beauty buys at duty-free that are worth splurging your hard-earned cash (and precious carry-on space) on.
Rushing through the seemingly endless beauty aisles at the airport can feel a bit overwhelming, so to save yourself hours of spritzing and swatching, it's best to go through security with a pre-planned list of exactly what beauty products and fragrances you need to restock in your cupboard. From cult-favourites like Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair and Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream, to the La Mer moisturiser celebrity MUAs are obsessed with, duty-free is the best place to stock up on those luxury beauty must-haves we'd typically try to save on.
So, if you've got a trip coming up soon and the main question on your mind is what to buy at the airport (guilty!), we've curated an edit of all the products you definitely should make room in your carry-on for. 1.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair
Ever since I tried this product, it has been a constant in my beauty stash. Although I love to try other night serums and treatments, I always find myself coming back to Estée Lauder's ANR thanks to its effective and frankly, reliable formula. 2.
Chloé Eau de Parfum For Her
If there's one perfume I'm always drawn to for a quick spritz before a flight, it's Chloé. The delicious, floral fragrance is especially perfect for summer holidays. 3.
La Mer Moisturising Soft Cream
If there's ever a time to treat yourself, it's when a product is tax-free. La Mer's Moisturiser is a firm favourite of many MUAs as the super-rich texture helps to transform skin. Packed with hardworking ingredients, it restores moisture and creates a radiant base for make-up. 4.
DIOR Backstage Face & Body Foundation
Flying to a hot destination? Why not pick up one of my all-time favourite foundations for summer – Dior's Face and Body Foundation. Not only does it offer hydrating, light coverage, but it also makes the skin look plump and glowy without feeling cakey. It's created with hyaluronic acid, is water and heat-resistant, and sits perfectly on the skin all day long. 5.
MAC Lipstick
If ever there was a brand known for its iconic lipsticks, it's MAC, so why not treat yourself to a brand-new shade just before your holiday? 6.
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Duty-free is stocked with the very best in skincare, so you can pick up your faves at a discounted price. Clinique's Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is perfect for those with sensitive skin looking to gently melt off make-up and impurities. 7.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant
Fewer products have earned cult-status quite like the Eight Hour Cream by Elizabeth Arden, which has a longstanding love affair with beauty editors and skincare lovers alike. This multipurpose cream is ideal for solving dryness and irritation, not to mention it makes the best hydrating lip balm.
Georgia Scott is a beauty product writer for Bauer Media, writing for Grazia. Georgia specialises in beauty writing and spends her days hunting for the latest trending beauty products to get her hands on and review.
