Global Beauty

• Why US La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Is Different from the UK Version (Ingredient Guide)

  Same name, different products. The US version was a medicated acne treatment; the UK version is a cosmetic moisturiser. Here is what each contains, why the law splits them, and what that means if you want benzoyl peroxide in the UK.

• Can You Buy French A313 Pomade at Boots or Superdrug? (UK Sourcing Alternatives)

  A313 is not a cosmetic that UK shops forgot to stock. It is a French medicine with a narrow approved use. Here is what that means for finding a genuine tube, and for using it.

• Buying Skincare from US or French Sites to the UK: The Customs Fees and Post-Brexit VAT Guide

  One number decides how a skincare parcel from the US or France is taxed: £135. Below it, the seller charges VAT. Above it, you pay VAT and a handling fee before delivery. Customs duty on skincare is zero either way.