Is there a better way to embrace a cold, rainy, Monday morning than stepping into a hot bath with a…read moreLush candy bar or Melting marshmallow? Add a steaming cup of Columbian coffee and half an hour later, I feel ready to face the world. Over the years I've probably tried every bath bomb, body lotion and face mask Lush do. It's the candy bars and melting marshmallows I always come back to though. The pastel pink doesn't hurt my eyes like some of the other colours and I love the sweet smell they emit. I'm also a sucker for their honey soap, Happy Hippy products and their massage bars. They're sticky but the essential oils in them definitely help to untie knots in the back and shoulders. The cool layout of the stores, the cute staff in the Brighton branch, the fresh ingredients of the products and the ethics of the company - none of the products are tested on animals - all give Lush an advantage over other beauty stores. Now, about that massage...

I like what they're going for with their natural, handmade products, but I can't help but feel a…read morelittle assaulted by the heady, overwhelming scent that escapes from the shop door and hits me in the face, every time I walk past! It's sort of like having your head involuntarily submerged in a giant vat of bubble-bath...okay, there are worse things, admittedly, but it's a pretty intense experience! For this reason, I like to get in and get out, which is a shame, because they have a lot of interesting products. I tend to stick to basics like moisturizer when buying for myself, because well, buying a set of 24 mini bath bombs for myself just feels a little extravagant! The 'Enzymion' face cream is amazing...great for oily skin as it's not too heavy and with Papaya and Aloe Vera extract, its really refreshing too! I also really like the bath bars as they last well and aren't sticky. The lavender one is especially effective if you need a long, hot, relaxing bath. Because I find lots of Lush products all together quite overpowering, I often just buy one or two items to mix with other bits and bobs, if I'm pressie shopping. However, they do put together quite impressive themed gift boxes, which come pre-wrapped, making Xmas shopping an absolute cinch- perfect if you need a last minute gift!

The Body Shop may have opened its first store in Brighton and indeed once upon a time, the…read morecompany's forward-thinking ethical philosophy was right at home on the streets of Brighton. Sadly this is no longer the case. Since the L'Oreal takeover, there have been serious question marks over the legitimacy of The Body Shop's ethical image. Since the parent company certainly aren't towing the BS's original party line, how can we be sure that some of the Body Shop's ingredients and products aren't now tested on animals? And even if they aren't, it doesn't seem right that they are owned by a huge multinational anyway. It's a ll a bit depressing really- the Body Shop, once a beacon of light, leading the way in ethical high-street shopping, seem to have been co-opted! For all of the reasons above, the North St branch depresses me a little. Like Tasha S. I have fond memories of walking around the Body Shop as a child, enthralled by the fruity smells and bright colours. My mum used to stuff my Xmas stocking with mini soap shapes and 'Save the Planet' animal flannels...it would seem those magical Body Shop days are all but gone! The North St shop seems sleek and corporate- you can clearly see the transformation from hip, socially-conscious small business to L'Oreal style branding and styling. Such a shame :(

I used to love The Body Shop as a kid. They had that tangerine bubble bath that everyone seemed to…read moregive me for my birthday! Whenever I went there it seemed kinda magical too with all the colours and smells. Then Body Shop parties started happening; I was guilted by friends/lured by wondrous smells into buying spending a fortune on items that'd be less money and probably better quality in Boots. Nowadays, the place makes me sneeze so I don't go in there. It always looks a bit quiet too - I wonder if their decline isn't just for me.

I always know I'm staying at a posh hotel when the products in the guest rooms and communal…read morebathrooms are Milton Brown. Simply designed, their products look elegant and smell and feel divine on your skin. They do all the usual hand creams, moisturisers and skincare products you'd expect as well as luxury bath and body products like bath salts, body scrubs, oils, sprays and rubs. The names are a little fancy pants - Ambrusca, Cedrus and Desert Bloom - but I've yet to smell something I didn't love. If you have a partner or friend whose having troubles unwinding, they also do a small range of sleep inducing room aroma rockers, temple soothers and bathing elixirs. Be warned though, the prices are on the steep side with a pot of warming ginger and eucalyptus body scrub costing just under £30 and their incredible White Mulberry candle costing a whopping £49. I know it burns for 80 hours and is an incredible fusion of green team camomille and ylang ylang but I guess I'll have to wait til I check in somewhere fabulous!

Molton Brown is another one of those places that just smells fantastic…read more This store is a more upmarket affair than other high street cosmetic chains like The Body Shop, or Lush, but fear not, with that hike in price comes some seriously covetable products. Being a man, I am more interested in the men's side of things here and the range is pretty impressive. They have various body washes, moisturisers and hair products, as well as "lip savers", which I had never heard of until I went to Molton Brown - I really didn't' know my lips were in danger, but apparently so! The products on offer are a little pricier than some of the competition, so I would recommend either buying/asking for them as gifts. Sometimes you have to wonder exactly how much your lips need saving when you're looking at £10 a pop for this wünder cream. The presentation and packaging is pretty special though, so you most certainly won't look stingy by offering Molton Brown products as gifts to the man in your life. And ladies, there's also a great range for you, so go check it out for yourselves.

It's rare to find a shop that has good quality health and beauty products at cheaper prices than…read moreSuperdrug. It's worth popping into Savers on a regular basis however, for they seem to get well known brand at half the RRP. I've picked up Oil of Ulay serums and moisturisers here for for a bargain and the same hair serums they sell in Boots for £3 cheaper. There's new stock everyday and often they seem to get shipments of products which have just changed packaging. We're talking £18 for serum in the new box at Boots and £7 for serum in the old box here? It's a no brainer, isn't it?

Unfortunately, Savers does not have light bulbs, which is what I was looking for. But they do have…read morepretty much anything you might have to rush out and get for your home: paper towel, cleaning supplies, toothpaste, any kind of baby product, hair dye, face cleansers, make-up, shampoo, eye drops ... all these emergency items. I'd never heard of a home and beauty type shop, so it was quite interesting to walk through Savers yesterday. It's like a grocery store without the food, really. Although there are sweets. Prices are indeed, quite cheap, and there's a January Sale going on that has several items discounted - almost reduced by half, I'd say. If you're a really big fan, you can apparently become one officially on facebook, or follow them on Twitter. Oh, what an age.

Way before Lush and other cool companies emerged, Body Shop founder Anita Roddick was sourcing and…read moreselling beauty products made from natural ingredients. Now a worldwide chain owned by a multi-million cosmetics giant, The Body Shop still sells a great selection of natural products from body butters, moisturisers and soaps to mud and honey face masks. The problem is, the packaging and shop layouts feel a little dated and corporate now. I rarely go in and when I do, I usually leave empty-handed. Another problem is, when do I do go in to buy gifts for other people - the staff usually try to sell me products I don't want, like lip glosses and tea-lighters. I know it's company policy to try and sell customers 3 or 4 products but as a customer, its kind of irritating!

I like Body Shop products, but my five stars is for the fantastic personal service I received from…read morea brilliant member of staff. Care was taken in ensuring I knew what was in some of the skin care products when I said I'd had a reaction to some of the vitamin C range and also the vitamin E range too. They allowed me to return two expensive serums, without the receipt, as I'd had a reaction when first trying it out and also let me return a body butter I'd received due Christmas at the full price, not the sale price. I think this is great service and I wouldn't hesitate to return to try more products.

Anytime we are in UK got to find one of these stores. Great prices great products. If you need…read moremakeup to makeup brushes. Face cleaners, anything it just might have it.

Large store of the chain which stocks a good variety of perfumes also the usual items which they…read morestock deodrant , hair care , hair colour , baby care , make up this store never disappoints service is good

I like this branch of Superdrug:…read more It stocks the same products as Boots at a fraction of the price. It's small enough to wander round and leave in 10 minutes. And the girls behind the counter usually play fun pop music. Last time I went it was Amy Winehouse. This time, it was The Ramones and 'Beat on The Brat.' There's all the usual toiletries you need - moisturisers, serums, shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, bubble baths, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc - and a great selection of beauty products from companies like Maybelline, Rimmell and Bourgeois. I just got two new lipsticks and an eye-liner for under a tenner!

This Superdrug isn't a huge city centre one, but it's way bigger than the diddy neighbouring Boots…read morebranch, and therefore a handy place to have locally if you're in a need of more choice when it comes to your toiletries and cosmetics! You'll find all the usuals, as well as some food, but there's no pharmacy here. The best thing about it is the deals they sometimes have - usually some shape of chocolate lurking around the till area to tempt me! They do 9 packs of loo roll for £2.99 too which is good. And last year they had dozens of reduced easter eggs, always nice if you're a fellow chocolate lover!

Savers sells lots of health & beauty products, toiletries, perfume as well as first aid kits,…read moreplasters and things for the home. It has really competitive prices so you can always pick up a bargain. The perfume and aftershaves they sell are often really cheap. Shelves are always well stocked and you always end up buying more than you went in for as they have so many good deals. I find there is always a big queue here though so it sometimes puts me off going in.