The Complete Guide to Online Shopping: Beauty & Grooming

Beauty Expert

www.beautyexpert.co.uk

From Aesop and Aromatherapy Associates to Murad and Ren, this site covers all the big names in beauty products. Ordering is straightforward and the goods often arrive within 24 hours. There's also a link to Mankind, a brother site for men's products.

08704 436 031

Geo F Trumper

www.trumpers.com

This online arm of the traditional gentlemen's barber stocks an excellent range of fine tonics, fragrances and grooming products for the man about town, as well as wet-shaving sets, beard-trimmers and manly manicure essentials.

020-7272 1765

Jo Malone

www.jomalone.co.uk

It's all about presentation here. Well, not quite all - the products are great, too, ranging from glamorous Pomegranate Noir candles to vitamin-E hand treatments. But, whether it's for a girl or a guy, a cream-coloured, black-ribboned Jo Malone box will go down almost as well as a package from Tiffany & Co.

020-7720 0202

Les Senteurs

www.lessenteurs.com

For posh perfume - much of it by brands not widely available in department stores - it's hard to do better than this website. Scents are categorised according to their strongest note (oriental, citrus, tobacco, aquatic, and so on) and cover many of the classics as well as modern favourites.

020-7730 2322

Liz Earle

www.lizearle.com

Launched 11 years ago, the Liz Earle skincare range has a loyal, if secretive, following. Its sensible packaging may put off those looking for something more obviously glamorous, but this is serious skincare - rich in natural ingredients and properly affordable. Who needs Eve Lom when you can have Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish hot- cloth cleanser for a bargain £11.95? Shh. Don't tell everyone.

01983 813 913

Love Lula

www.lovelula.com

This online organic apothecary stocks all the best organic brands, including Green People, Trilogy and Spiezia. It's committed to stocking no products that contain parabens or artificial fragrances, or have been tested on animals, but its best feature is its well-informed, personal service.

08702 426 995

Miller Harris

www.millerharris.com

Lyn Harris is on to a good thing with her signature collection of fragrances - fans love their elegant packaging and straight-talking descriptions (Citron Citron is one of the most popular). This Christmas, look out for her limited-edition geranium bourbon candles and Jane Birkin-inspired L'Air de Rien perfume.

020-7629 7750

Neal's Yard Remedies

www.nealsyardremedies.com

Selling handmade unguents designed to be as natural, biodegradable and environmentally friendly as possible, the Neal's Yard online store covers all the old favourites - from the geranium and orange bath oil to the frankincense nourishing cream - all in the company's trademark blue bottles. It also does flannels, body-brushes and other accessories.

08452 623 145

Pout

www.pout.co.uk

Great for glamorous stocking-fillers, this groovy make-up store (if Dita Von Teese worked in a shop, this would be the one) sells covetable Canadian and American brands as well as its own products. The shamelessly girly packaging adds to its glossy image.

020-7379 0379

Space NK

www.spacenk.co.uk

Founded by Nicky Kinnaird in 1993, this store still reigns supreme among luxe beauty queens. Its choosy attitude (products are all pretty high-end) and welcome embrace of new lines has helped to draw in a new generation of shoppers, though old favourites such as Kiehl's and Phyto have a faithful following.

020-8740 2085