Best places to buy cosmetics and toiletries Best shops for buying toiletries and cosmetics

Thousands of shoppers have voted in our annual top of the shops poll to reveal the nation's favourite shops for buying toiletries and cosmetics.

Our results table below includes big high street chains such as Boots, The Body Shop and Superdrug alongside department stores John Lewis and Debenhams. Find out the best and worst places to buy your everyday and luxury toiletries and cosmetics. 

The table reveals customer scores and ratings for toiletries and cosmetics shops. Which? members should log in now to unlock the table to see the shops ordered by customer score and to see how customers rated each shop on factors including price, product quality and service. If you're not already a member, discover the benefits of getting full access for one month for £1.

Toiletries and cosmetics shops reviewed
ShopProduct rangeServiceStore environmentPricingAfter-sales and returnsCustomer Score
99pStoresSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
BootsSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
DebenhamsSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
FenwickSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
Harvey NicholsSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
House of FraserSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
Independent
department stores		Subscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
John LewisSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
LushSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
Marks and SpencerSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
PoundlandSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
PoundstretcherSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
SelfridgesSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
SuperdrugSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
The Body ShopSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
The Perfume ShopSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content
WilkinsonSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only contentSubscriber only content

Using the table
Sample sizes: 99pStores 105, Boots 105, Debenhams 105, Fenwick 105, Harvey Nichols 105, House of Fraser 105, Independent department stores 105, John Lewis 105, Lush 109, Marks and Spencer 105, Poundland 105, Poundstretcher 104, Selfridges 105, Superdrug 105, The Body Shop 105, The Perfume Shop 107, Wilkinson 105
Customer score: This is based on a combination of overall satisfaction and how likely people are to recommend the store to a friend

How Which? rates toiletries and cosmetics shops 

The toiletries and cosmetics category was part of the Which? shops survey, the biggest of its kind in the UK.

For the survey, Which? surveyed 11,784 members of the general public online between February and March 2013 about the shops they had visited in the past six months. Shoppers were asked how satisfied they were with shops they'd bought toiletries and cosmetic products from and how likely they were to recommend those shops. These factors make up the Which? customer score.

Our survey respondents also rated shops selling toiletries and cosmetic products for 14 factors covering price, service, store environment, product quality, product range and after sales. These are shown as star ratings in our table above and are were made up of the factors below:

  • Customer service – staff knowledge about products, staff helpfulness and staff availability
  • Store environment – ease of finding products, tidiness of store, store environment and queuing time
  • Price – price, sales and special offers
  • Product quality
  • Product range – range of products and products being in stock
  • After sales and returns

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