Life Pharmacy in Manukau does a pretty good range of your usual pharmacy fare with additional…read morecustomer service that's pretty consistent. They recently got a re-vamp and while the store is smaller it still manages to fit in all the necessities. I love looking at their OPI section, which they display really well and they have a pretty good range of perfumes and colognes to browse. When i'm in a hair pickle I usually pick up extra bobby pins and hair ties from here, then end up buying something completely different- those salespeople are just too good! Apart from their beauty products, they have a good range of over the counter medicines should you need them. The ladies there are helpful and always make good suggestions, but don't put on too much pressure to buy (I've had to buy antihistamines for myself after a crazy reaction, and they were certainly not cheap). They also provide piercing services here and they can usually do it for you straight away or within 30 minutes. Pharmacies are definitely not cheap, but Life Pharmacy does some great deals every week that you might find handy and the staff can help you out with whatever you're after or even if you're just after some advice on a product.

Half pharmacy, half gift store really and the gifts are really what set this pharmacy apart from…read morethe rest. The gifts are set out by scent, so there are different spaces for citrus, lavender, rose and so on which makes it really easy to find what you're looking for. The center of the store always has some incredible display of the latest offerings and additionally this pharmacy boasts a large range of natural skin care and cosmetic brands. I bought some pretty pastel purple Italian glass pots here the other day, am yet to use it for a prescription though.

This is a lovely shop for gifts but the prices are quite high, for the gifts and everyday personal…read moreitems. My friend from Australia was over recently and we had just done the Mt Eden Volcano climb, we headed down and into Mt Eden shopping district for lunch, on the way we popped into this pharmacy as my friend needed to buy deodorant (she had hers confiscated at the airport, remember no bigger than 90g! Or whatever it is!). She looked at several and then upon choosing came up to me -"is this normal?!"; it was under $10, but not by much. She has lived in several places around the world including Sydney and isn't fussed by money, but even she was shocked at basic items such as deodorant being so expensive in Auckland. I explained that Mt Eden is also a 'well-to-do' suburb so perhaps they were just that bit more pricey here as well.

I love the product so took my time choosing laundry and kitchen items in the 25% online sale . The…read moredelivery hadn't arrived and I had no communication 1 week later . I emailed and got told the order was in the warehouse because the postal code only not the area name was on the address . my address came up automatically so not my mistake .The billing address had the area name ! I had to cancel as I was out of the product and needed it . Im more than disappointed and feel let down by a company that has always been so professional and efficient. The story goes on but 2 weeks after order I had no refund no communication and no apology until I called for help and straight after the call a refund came through.

Going to the Ecostore reminds me just how many chemical-laden products we use everyday. I am not…read moreexactly an eco-warrior but it can't be good for us (or the environment) to clean everything we wear, eat off, & sleep in with that stuff. Plus, if we're going to embrace this whole "clean eating" thing we probably shouldn't ingest the stuff off our fork or through our pores. Ok. Rant over. What's great about the Ecostore is that, they actually work. Not like some of that other hippy-loving stuff. We've been using their dishwashing liquid, powder and body wash in our house for a couple of years now and everything always comes out squeaky clean. I don't know if I'll be giving up my heavy duty chemical oven cleaner or bathroom cleaner anytime soon, but it's a start. Yes, you can get a limited range of their products from the supermarket but their store is wonderful. They have a much wider range (including a great range for bubs) and other brands too. You can also refill your containers for a cheaper price! For me, these guys have not only made being eco-friendly a breeze but cost-effective too. Noiice work, Ecostore!!

Not really a fan of purchasing anything from a store that has clearance in the title I decided to…read morego in one day to see what it was actually like. The store is set out in five main section, foundation, eyeshadows, nail polish, lip colour and mascaras just to make things easy. The brands you will find are Revlon, Loreal, Elizabeth Arden, Maybelline, Covergirl, Almay and Rimmel and a few other random ones. The range is not overly large, hence the 2 score which is a shame. What they do have which is good are the eyeshadows. Many of the Loreal products must be US imports as New Zealand does not get the HIP pigment ranges that you will find here. These are really good, they apply well and stay put without creasing and you can pick them up for around $10. The other product worth coming in for is the Rimmel eyeshadows. They are this seasons colours that you will find in Farmers but at half the price. There is a big range of mascaras though these are not brands I buy but do so for the eyeshadow because I go through them quick and these ones are well priced and do the job well.

I was a tad bit skeptical about the makeup, I mean it was so cheap that I figured it most be those…read morefake parallel import products. I am all for a bargain but when it comes to makeup and things that you apply to the skin, it can be a bit dangerous. I decided to walk in to check out what it was all about, last time at a makeup clearance I scored a lipstick by Revlon that is still one of my favourites. After I walked it, the place had a whole lot of things going on, from the ugliest tights I have ever seen in my life to bangles bracelets and makeup. The makeup was good and so was the nailpolish. I still wasn't impressed by the makeup so I stuck to buying the Sally Hansen nail products.

Really cheap compared to the other two big grocery chains…read more Pak N Save Albany is a spacious, organised and clean looking store. Some of their other locations I have shopped at have been cluttered or messy but this one always seems to hold a high standard. Deli and seafood counters look very well presented and fresh and their bakery makes really good grainy bread and rolls. Saved approximately $25.00 on my weekly shop today compared to my usual local grocery store. Cheers Pak N Save!

BEWARE OF MEAT! Pak…read moreN Save is a great idea in theory (food is sold and carted by the customer without the fancy frills of expensive packaging) but I have always been weary about the quality of the food being sold there. Just seemed too good a price to be true... Apart from the occasional tasteless apple or leathery lettuce, it's never been too much of a funky food adventure. Pak N Save is quite good for items already packaged by the manufacturer, so while there are fresher grocery stores around, I do find myself wandering into one every now and then to stock up on soap, flour and other cabinet items. BUT... what happened tonight will be enough for me to swear off Pak N Save food forever! In a last minute effort to throw together some dinner I ducked into the Pak N Save Albany and ended buying the Beef Sirloin Steak Marinated (on sale for $12.05/kg this week). Upon frying it, and cutting it to check how well done it is, I found that it was an unusual pink colour. I threw it back into the pan thinking it would cook more, but the peculiar pink never seemed to cook away. Then I tasted it... There cannot be a cow on this green Earth to have produced such a fake-tasting, rubbery Franken-steak; no matter how many hormones it has pumped into it's system, no matter how secretly omnivorous it may be! What I tasted should not even be labelled as "beef"! Hell, even nitrate-heavy, endtrail-laden hotdogs would kick this "meat" out of their refrigerated section! Waste of time, waste of money, and waste of internet gigabytes doing online searches of "meat glue". Unless you're a starving backpacker willing to momentarily shelve your standards of what passes for meat, steer clear! Pay the extra bucks elsewhere and get a decent cut of beef.

First rule of Importers Clearance sale: have a plan. Second rule of Importers Clearance sale: take…read moreyour credit card. These things don't seem to run on a particular timetable but nonetheless have become a regular event at the Auckland Showgrounds. I'm not sure where the stuff comes from but I don't really care. It's perfume, cosmetics, makeup, haircare, toiletries and more, hugely discounted on a MASSIVE scale. It's an ugly crazy bun fight and this is the kind of shopping you need to prepare for. Be fed, watered, have your parking money ready in cash (or be prepared to walk as I do from Puriri Ave) and get your head in the game. Oh, and do not under any circumstances bring a handbag or bag of any kind. If you do, you'll have to leave it in an unpoliced bag area, thus creating anxiety and the risk of rushing. This place is overwhelming so take your time and be careful because you will spend thousands if you let yourself just go for it. So get a catalogue, figure out what you're going to buy and then (good luck) try and stick to it. I always spend more than I intend; I just can't help it. To be fair though, a shop here will see you through a year or so and you can buy better quality than you can usually afford. Just try to maintain self-control!

I know so many people, women in particular, who have really problematic skin. One of my friends…read moreintroduced me to this store. She has had sensitive skin forever, and she tends to swell up and get quite bad reactions from regular skincare on the market. She found the products from The Natural Skincare Company and hasn't looked back since. This store specializes in sensitive and problematic skin. Because the products they use are all natural and organic, they have none of the chemicals that regular skincare does, and as such are incredibly gentle on the skin. They have a pretty wide range of commercial organic skincare ranges as well as their own range which as a customer they can actually tailor make for you depending on your skin type etc. it's like your very own skincare recipe that you can go back and make alterations to depending on what exactly your skin needs. It's pretty fantastic. Best facial cleanser I have used.

Great bunch of ladies. Good value, informative training in nice venue. All the products you need,…read moreloads of great colours and the best brand. You can get your nails done on a Saturday by a student or arrange to go and buy your product if you work during the week. It's not far from my house and I'll always be their customer and look at future classes.