◊ Truth In Beauty
Tuesday September 23rd, 2008
I love to shop and consider myself pretty savvy when it comes to online purchasing. Let’s face it Key West is not known for its shopping malls.
I subscribe to ShopSmart.com, a magazine from the publisher of consumer report. They cover everything from Med spa, saving at the supermarket, sex and shopping, and everything else you could possibly want.
In the November issue Shopsmart checked out more than 2 dozens beauty websites and narrowed them down to the best ones.
Here’s a sneak preview:
Best Overall Selection: Beauty.com
Loads of high end products, this site features over 200 brands. 30 days on unopened products or, for certain items, if you don’t like the color. Free shipping if you spend $49 or more and you can combine purchases with drugstore.com its sister site.
Great For hard-To-Find product: Beautyhabit.com
This site has the best choice for European brands. I love the fact that you can purchase sample pack of six products for $15 before ordering full size items. Free shipping on order of $100 or more, that high compare to other sites, and there’s no returns on open or used products; otherwise 14 days on most items. I’m a huge fan of this site.
Great For Trendy Brands: Beautyofasite.com
This site is all the about the newest, coolest trends. One free sample with every purchase.
Shipping is free on orders over $75 otherwise $5.95 to $8.95. Return policy is 30 days and unless the product is damaged you pay for it. Store credits or exchange only. No refunds.
Best Prices: Buymebeauty.com
Limited selection with rock bottom prices and a clearance selection that can’t be beat. Shipping free on orders f $35 or more; $4.95 on orders of less than $35. Return policy 30 days on unused unopened products, unless they are damage. You have to call or email before returning product. Shipping is on you.
Great return policy: Cosmeticmall.com
This site offers all kinds of goodies. make-up, skin care, bath/body products and some. Shipping$5.95 plus 93 cents per pound. 30 days return policy on most products for any reasons even after they’re opened.
Great Drugstore make-Up Selection: Drugstore.com
Tons of the most of the popular drugstore brands. Shipping is free on your first nonprescription order of $25 or more; free on orders of $49 or more after that. Returns are free if a product is damaged, defective, or incorrect. Returns are free on certain products if you don’t like the color. Otherwise, products must be unopened and unused.
Great For Freebies: Sephora.com
Huge selection of products and the best reward program with deluxe free samples with order $100 or more. Shipping is free on orders over $50; otherwise $5.95. Return policy 60 days. Free return shipping. Store credit after 60 days.
Great For Organic Products: Skinbotanica.com
Cosmetics with all natural and organic ingredients. Shipping Free on orders over $49; otherwise $5.95.
Return policy 60 days.
Best shipping deal: Skin-one.com
Skin focused site with products from all over the world. Return policy 30 days. Products must be at least 75 percent full. You have to pay return shipping fees, and no returns are allowed of an opened product if you received a sample of it with your order.
Best online version of a walk-in store: Walgreens.com
Shipping Many items qualify for free shipping of purchases of $50 or more; otherwise $5.49 for 10 pounds or less.
Return policy 30 days.
Sad Site: beautydepot.com
Slim selection. You have to buy $99 to get free shipping or else $7.95 or more for UPS ground. Cosmetics and many other products were not returnable and there’s no toll free costumer service. BOO!
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