From Italy to Switzerland, These 9 Countries *Really* Make the Best Beauty Buys

Have you ever wondered where your beauty products are made? As a beauty journalist and self-confessed hair, makeup, fragrance and skincare obsessive, I test a lot of beauty products in my job. Many products make their way to theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK beauty desk. But, after inspecting the packaging of my beauty products, I started noticing that some of my favourite beauty buys all have a common thread; the countries in which they are manufactured. For example, some of my much-loved foundations are all made in Italy, whereas all the best eye pencils I've tried originate from Germany.

You see, some of our favourite brands, both mass and luxe, will rush to certain manufacturers, labs and factories across the world to help them create and formulate their products. At industry trade shows such as Cosmoprof in Bologna, Italy, manufacturers from around the world will exhibit to the industry to showcase their latest innovations and technologies, which brands will then tap into to help them create the next big formulations.

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(Image credit: @thatsaleaf)

As such, certain countries have gained a reputation for pioneering high-performing products in their category—think the very best mascaras, efficacious skincare and results-driven hair products. Much like each country is known for its cuisine, they are also known for their own specialism in manufacturing beauty products and game-changing formulations. 

Looking at where a product is manufactured can often give you a clue about how good the formulation might be. Take Beauty Pie, a beauty buyers club that allows members to access products from the best-of-the-best labs across the world (without the inflated prices that come with retailer markups). Its products are often made in the same laboratories as the premium beauty brands we all know and love, and they also share where all of its products are made.

And the TikTok algorithm has found me, because I have recently discovered beauty product developer Alexis Androulakis (one half of the @thelipsticklesbians duo), who, along with her wife Christina, goes into beauty retailers to test formulas, and then guesses where they are made before checking the product label—spoiler, she's always right. And it's fascinating to see where the best formulations come from around the world.

To find out more about the countries that make the creme de la creme of beauty products, I tapped the new product developers at Beauty Pie and Emma Lewisham for the trailblazing countries that are leading the way when creating beauty products.

1. Best Beauty Products From Switzerland: Skincare

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(Image credit: @donna.bartoli)

Beautiful landscapes, watches and chocolate are just some of the best things in Switzerland, but its skincare is also highly regarded by beauty industry insiders. "Switzerland is known for its excellence in skincare all around; from sourcing cutting-edge ingredients and finding the very best chemists to technical advancements in production, 'Swiss made' is the gold standard in skincare," says Katie Houston, Beauty Pie Senior Skincare NPD Manager. As such, you'll find many Swiss formulations to be both luxurious and efficacious. 

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2. Best Beauty Products From Italy: Premium Makeup Textures and Haircare

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(Image credit: @inmysundaybest)

If it's luxurious makeup formulas and high-performing hair care that you are after, then Italy is the place the find them. " Italy creates premium textures, which is where we source our lipsticks and foundations from," says Jessye Reddick, Senior Colour NPD Manager at Beauty Pie. Italy also produces some of the best hair formulations in Europe. "Italy creates amazing technical hair care treatments with beautiful luxe textures," says Lucy Philpotts, Beauty Pie Senior Body, Haircare Devices NPD Manager.

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3. Best Beauty Products From Japan: Innovative Skincare Formulations

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(Image credit: @thatsaleaf)

Japan had to naturally make this list. Japanese formulations are among some of the best in the world, which is why J-Beauty is so popular—the products are effective and the textures feel amazing to use too. "Japan are experts in beautiful and particularly lighter textures," says Houston. "The extensive skincare regime means lots of interesting innovations in more unusual formats, such as ampoules, essences, and hybrids. J-beauty is a huge trend right now, so producing in Japan means we are in the best place to take advantage of exciting new innovations," she says.

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4. Best Beauty Products From Germany: Precision Eye Pencils

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(Image credit: @thatsaleaf)

Germany is highly regarded for its precision eye pencils and long-wearing formulas. In fact, during writing this story, a quick scan of my eyeliners confirmed that they were indeed made in Germany. "Germany is an amazing source for technical delivery systems, we source pencil and pen products here for ultra-precision and long-wear formulations," says Reddick.

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5. Best Beauty Products From Korea: Innovative Formulas

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(Image credit: @donna.bartoli)

Korea is another country that is continually innovating impressive formulations that both perform and are a luxury to use. Reddick confirms that Korea is one of the world leaders when it comes to innovative formulations across skincare and makeup. From BB creams to skincare and liquid eyeliners, a lot of my favourite products are made in Korea.

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6. Best Beauty Products From France: Bodycare and Fragrance 

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(Image credit: @iamjessicaskye)

France is well-known for its pharmacy skincare brands, but it's also a big player in creating luxurious body formulations, and, of course, it's the home to Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, where some of the most popular fragrances are made. France is known for its beautiful luxe textures and innovative formula formats," says Philpotts.

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7. Best Beauty Products From New Zealand: Sustainable Beauty

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(Image credit: @laraworthington)

Sustainability is a huge talking point in beauty, and New Zealand is one of the countries that are trailblazers. One brand which is paving the way for sustainable yet luxurious skincare is Emma Lewisham. "In recent years New Zealand has become known as a leader in the world of sustainability, especially when it comes to beauty and wellness," says founder Emma Lewisham. "Thanks to the country’s ever-evolving attitudes to the way we look after our planet, New Zealand is owning the space for sustainably created formulations, creating a new wave of sustainable skincare."

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8. Best Beauty Products From Australia: SPF and Suncare

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(Image credit: @donna.bartoli)

It is well-known within the beauty industry that Australia's suncare is second to none. Because of the country's strict regulations around sun protection (it has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world), its SPFs must be broad-spectrum (offering both UVA and UVB protection), and they are also more water-resistant than those in Europe. These are some of the best non-sticky, lightweight yet effective Australian SPFs you can find in the UK.

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9. Best Beauty Products From the UK: Bodycare

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Last but not least, our very own United Kingdom is a pioneer in results-driven bodycare. Philpotts explains that the UK is home to technical and efficacious body products.

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Next Up, Tonnes of New Products Landed on My Desk This Month, But These 10 Were the Best

Eleanor Vousden
Beauty Editor,Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK

Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman Home and junior beauty editor at beauty website Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections with written and styling work.Working as a beauty journalist since 2015 after graduating in fashion journalism at the London College of Fashion, she has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.Eleanor’s journalistic focus is to provide readers with honest and helpful beauty content. Through words, video and live broadcast, she has interviewed several celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and top dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson. She has a particular interest in finding solutions for acne and eczema, which she has experienced firsthand. She has also amassed a large collection of fragrances and can never say no to a new candle.When she’s not writing or testing Wholesale Replica Bag beauty product or treatments, she’s on the seafront in her hometown of Brighton and Hove, where she lives with her partner and her miniature dachshund.