Holidaying from the Beauty Hall
From Florentine history to the Californian sun, take a trip around the world with some of our favourite international Beauty brands
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Holidaying from the Beauty Hall
From Florentine history to the Californian sun, take a trip around the world with some of our favourite international Beauty brands
Who needs a holiday when you can get all the benefits from a trip to Liberty? Maybe that’s a slight exaggeration - we don’t have a beach in the Beauty Hall, but we do have some of the most celebrated names in skincare, makeup and fragrance from around the world. Whether you like to bask in the Tuscan sun, hike through the Austrian Alps, bathe in Hungarian hot springs or swan around Downtown New York, these are the brands that bring global expertise to your beauty routine. An added benefit: no risk of lost luggage.
France
France’s expertise in the field of Beauty needs no introduction - whether it’s their pharmacy-style skincare, the flower fields of Grasse, or quintessential Parisian elegance, the country is the birthplace of some of the finest names in Beauty and fragrance. Head to The Fragrance Lounge on Lower Ground to discover Ex Nihilo, L’Artisan Parfumeur, Chloé, Vilhelm, Matiere Premiere and Infiniment Coty Paris. Upstairs in the Beauty Hall you’ll find even more French favourites, from Diptyque, Sisley and La Mer.
Italy
Nobody does craft quite like the Italians - from ‘fatto a mano’ pasta to exquisite Beauty formulas. You’ll find the latter from names like Acqua di Parma, Santa Maria Novella and Dr Vranjes, who continue Italy’s artisanal legacy through their products. Hailing from Florence, Dr Vranjes’ bottles are made from Tuscan glass, and mimic the shape of Brunelleschi’s famous ‘Duomo’, completed in 1436. As for Santa Maria Novella, the apothecary-style brand goes even further back, founded in 1221 by Dominican friars, who grew ingredients in the convent garden. Then there are the 20th Century greats: Acqua di Parma and Dr Vranjes. The former was founded by Italian baron Carlo Magnani in 1961, whilst the latter was developed by the Bollati family in the 80s and 90s. Like Dr Vranjes and Santa Maria Novella, both champion Italian know-how above all else.
Austria
If the mountainous terrain and verdant beauty of the Alpine landscape is more your thing, then Susanne Kaufmann is the brand for you. Inspired by the resilience of the region’s plant species, the Austrian founder is a pioneer of natural ingredients which are powerful, effective and no-nonsense. Growing up in the picturesque Bregenzerwald region, Susanne first learned about natural remedies from her grandmother. As a young woman, she was the fifth generation to take over her family’s hotel, Hotel Post, where she first developed her skincare products for use in their spa. Slather yourself in the Mountain Pine Bath Oil for a similarly indulgent moment of self-care.
Sweden
Think of Sweden and you probably imagine sleek, minimalist design, Nordic vistas, and maybe a glimpse of the Northern Lights. There’s something of all of these in every Byredobottle, whose elegant form might be a contender for the 21st Century’s most iconic fragrance packaging. Within each minimalist flask lies a smooth and hypnotic blend of memories and ideas, distilled into a clear elixir like melted ice from a glacier. The brand was born in 2006, founded by basketball-player-turned-artist Ben Gorham after a chance meeting with Swedish perfumer Pierre Wulff. Byredo has since expanded into skincare and beauty, and each product carries the same Swedish signature as the original fragrances - from swooping mascara tubes to highly-pigmented lipsticks.
Turkey
Istanbul is a city with a rich and layered history. With the Bosphorus river running between the European and the Asian sides of the city, it’s teeming with life, boasting numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as a thriving culture of shopping, dining, music and more. Born from this multisensory city is fragrance brand Nishane. The name means ‘mark, sign or symbol’, and each fragrance is inspired by stories from theatre and literature in Turkey and beyond.
Hungary
Bathe in the thermal waters of the Racz Fürdő - a spa built by founder Stephen de Heinrich de Omorovicza’s ancestors back in the 1800s. Inspired by the healing mineral properties of the country’s naturally occurring thermal lakes, Stephen and his wife created a brand which would capture the tradition of thermal bathing and the potent ingredients associated with this national ritual. The brand’s famous thermal cleansing balm contains Omorovicza’s signature Moor Mud, which comes from a seven-metre thick layer at the bottom of Lake Hévíz, where it’s been fermenting for over 2000 years.
Brazil
Ever wanted to visit Brazil’s oldest pharmacy? The essence of it is contained within all of Granado’s products, which carry the legacy of their original retailer, opened in Rio de Janeiro in 1870. The company was the first to compile an official register of Brazil’s medicinal plants and herbs, many of which they sourced from nearby Teresópolis to use in their formulations. With over 150 years of beauty expertise behind them, their vibrant candles and scents carry the same energising spirit as the city in which they were born.
The USA
East Coast vs. West Coast, which will you choose? For those who find New York’s 24/7 energy more appealing, Malin & Goetz and Le Labo carry the spirit of Downtown in a bottle. These New Yorkers don't have time for fuss or frills, preferring a routine that’s simple and stylish (and suitable for limited cupboard space in a small city apartment.) For the Hollywood types, makeup artist Gucci Westman’s label, Westman Atelier, and Hourglass have more of that sun-soaked, Los Angeles glow. Shimmer in gold highlighter, dusted on with big fluffy brushes fit for a movie star.
New Zealand
New Zealand’s natural beauty has a mythic quality, enhanced by the fact that it’s simply so far away! If you can’t stomach the flight, then let us introduce you to Emma Lewisham instead, a Kiwi skincare label which shares the same perspective on beauty as its homeland. The products’ purple packaging is both friendly and chic, and the formulations are easy to use, but fiercely effective. Committed to preserving the natural beauty of New Zealand and beyond, the brand prides itself on being the world’s first certified Climate Positive and 100% circular skincare label.
Japan
There’s a reason why so many of the world’s greatest innovators travel to Japan for inspiration. The country has a unique knack for combining ancient knowledge and craft with a futuristic attitude, never prioritising one over the other in their pursuit of excellence. This ethos is captured in many of the world’s most well-loved Japanese brands - from tech companies, to Beauty labels like Suquu. With a focus on the relationship between inner and outer radiance, Suquu’s luminous makeup and skincare products are a testament to Japan’s unmatched point of view.
