beauty.com

Full review
Shopping online, in my view, is easier than patronizing brick and mortar stores. Granted there is still an element of uniqueness to actually seeing and feeling the products, but often times I would rather spend traditional daylight hours playing with the kids than dealing with crowds at the local storefronts. One of the online stores that I like to purchase cosmetics and pampering products at is Beauty.com.

This site offers excellent selection, comparable or low pricing, reliable shipping, accurate charges, and frequent specials. Some of the items that I have purchased here include Philosophy, miscellaneous cosmetics, fragrance, and gifts.

This site was purchased by drugstore.com in February of 2000. Although you can access Beauty.com via the drugstore.com site, I recommend going straight to Beauty.com. The reason for this is that the specials may vary. For example I have received free shipping with a purchase minimum of $25.00, versus the $49.00 total required at drugstore.com.

Much like drugstore.com, the search capabilities at Beauty.com are good. This merchant offers specific ways to shop:
• shop by brand
• your list™
Along the top bar you can choose between Home, Boutiques, Makeup, Fragrance, Skin Care, Bath * Body, Hair Care, Accessories, Gifts. Additionally they offer a standard search bar that I have used with consistent success.

One of the features that I like about Beauty.com is the listing of Gifts With Purchase, on the home page. This is beneficial to me and them, as it usually tempts me to buy. I also like the listing of Editors Picks. Some times I want to try something new, and that jumpstarts the browsing process. Other times I know what I want, and intend to stay on task. For those excursions it is nice to use the standard search box, which always takes me to the proper product. Also I like to use the your list™ feature, which acts like a personal shopping journal.

Beauty.com carries a nice variety of brands, and they have multiple brand boutiques. I suggest visiting the site, allowing you to understand what is offered. I will mention that they don't offer M·A·C, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Stila, La Mer, Prescriptives, or Origins. But those can be purchased at Gloss.com.

In addition to selling beauty products, Beauty.com offers special editorials and helpful advice by makeup artists. Whether you are looking for application tips or want to catch up on current trends, it is likely that you will find an insightful article.

Brand Boutiques
• Alfred Dunhill • Alora Ambiance • Anna Sui • Anthony Logistics for Men • Astara • Au Courant • Awake • B.Kamins, chemist • Blue Grass • Bobby Jones • Burberry • BVLGARI Fragrances • Calvin Klein Fragrances • CARGO • Carolina Herrera • Cellex-C • Comptoir Sud Pacifique • CRABTREE & EVELYN, LTD • DDF • Delux Beauty • Dermanew • Diamancel • Dolce & Gabbana • Elizabeth Arden • Ellen Lange • Erbaviva • FACE Stockholm • Fresh • Good Home Co. • GoSmile Tooth Whitening • HairArt • Innoxa • Jack Black • Jaqua Girls • Jing Jang • JOEY New York • KEIKoMECHERI • Kevin.Murphy • Klein-Becker usa • Lierac • Lippmann Collection • Lola • LORAC • Mason Pearson • Mustela • Murad • NARS • Oscar + Dehn • Osmotics • Passion For Women • Paula Dorf • Peter Thomas Roth • Philip B.• philosophy • Phyto • Poetic Waxing • Rescue Beauty Lounge • Sekkisei • shu uemura • Skin Alison Raffaele • Somme Institute • S.T. Dupont • Sue Devitt Studio • Sundari • Sunflowers • tarte • Terax Hair Care • The Art of Shaving • Tweezerman • Versace Cosmetics • Walker • Warren-Tricomi • White Diamonds • Zirh

Payment
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Diner's Club and American Express.

Shipping
Nonprescription Orders
Standard Shipping - $5.49
3-Day Shipping- $8.95
2-Day Shipping - $14.95
Overnight Shipping - $29.95
This merchant consistently offers free shipping for orders that total a minimum of $49.99.

your list™
This feature acts like a personal shopping journal. You can tailor it to your preferred uses. Attributes of your list™ include a Rx report, View options, e-punch alerts, and easy reordering. Recently they improved the feature, offering this explanation:
"Ordering the basics is simple with your list™. To make shopping easier (and quicker) we’ve improved this record of your previous purchases and favorite items.
Now, we’ll suggest similar items if something you buy regularly has been discontinued, e-mail you if a product on your list™ is on sale, and much more."


(Items in Italic copied from Beauty.com.)

©2003 Lisa_J