The Look is a cheap cosmetics shop in the market. It's pretty much what you'd expect from such a…read moreshop with piles of unbranded eyeliners, lipsticks, foundation, eyeshadow etc. As Aniela has pointed out, it's not the kind of place you'd buy from if you have sensitive skin as it can be difficult to find out the ingredients of the products and natural products can be much easier to trust. However, if you usually by cheap branded make up anyway, the makeup here may not be particularly worse in quality and the prices are definitely a bonus if you're counting the pennies. They also sell a huge amount of fragrances and aftershave by well-known brands so if you're into perfume, you may well find something at a good price to suit your nose's taste!

I don;t want to sound terrible, but I just can't really give The Look much more than this. I have…read morequite sensitive skin, so I am quite carefull about what I buy in terms of cosmetics. I would never buy anything here, as I have no idea where it comes from. There are baskets and baskets of different bits and pieces of jumbled up make up, that due to the lack of order, you have to pick up and look at. I felt that everytime I did this, I was getting the evil eye cast over me by the shop ladies. One upside is that they do stock incredibly bright nail varnishes at reasonable prices.

When you walk into Rose and Co it's as if you've stepped back in time to an old fashioned, but very…read morebeautiful apothecary. Arranged in ordered chaos are the sweetest smelling bath fizzers, lip balms and soaps. You can make your own gift box of bath treats (they look like little cakes, so cute!) The shop is crammed full of gifts and trinkets to suit every personality and they even have a vintage clothing boutique downstairs where the outfits are made to original 40's & 50's patterns. The shop is a big promoter of Agent Provocateur, Lolita Lempicka and Dr Hauschuka, and there's plenty of choice of products. The shop plays soft vintage music and creates a cosy, happy atmosphere to shop in. The decor is divine and the staff also dress up in 40's attire with full make-up and curled hair. I was amazed whilst walking around and loved the whole feel of the shop. I can't wait to take my mum shopping there next week!

The Victoria Quarter is the perfect location for Rose & Co, whose interior reminds me of a Betty's…read moreTea Rooms, very quaint with chandeliers, cake stands, antique furniture and vintage wallpaper. The first products you're likely to see are the 'bath fancies' that closely resemble tiny beautifully-made cupcakes - what a treat! The room is lined with glass cabinets and polished wood drawers, some tantalisingly opened to reveal neatly displayed goodies such as jewellery and cosmetics, including Burt's Bees and Dr. Hauschka. They also sell beautiful vintage-style sewing kits, a lovely gift and a rather kitsch way to inspire one to make-do-and-mend in a stylish and fun way! They sell books as well, all with a vintage theme and many with a photography or illustration focus, such as 50s pinups or burlesque. Downstairs is the boudoir selling lingerie and carefully selected vintage-style dresses, including some pretty cute 'ethically-made' dresses from Tara Starlet made in the UK and designed by none other than Tara form BBC's eye-opening documentary series 'Blood Sweat and T-shirts'. Yay!...And not extremely expensive at £65 for a dress. The lingerie section includes some rather pretty vintage-style underwear from Elle MacPherson. The products in this shop are not cheap but it is definitely worth a visit even just to browse and inhale the delicious smells. Or perfect for a special gift.

The fragrant bouquet that emanates from an aromatherapy shop is such a comforting and distinctive…read moreone, it never fails in redirecting my feet to hypnotically enter the establishment responsible. ID Aromatics has the feel of a compact but useful wizard's apothecary. I half expected a diminutive and bespectacled man in heavy and ornately decorated gowns, to assist me in finding a potion. Surprisingly, this was not the case. However, the man behind the counter was very helpful in answering my questions and guiding me through the benefits of certain products. And he had glasses on. There is a vast assortment of essential oils, face and body creams, soaps and massage oils. The flavours are as varied as they are intriguing. I purchased a bar of soap named 'All That Jas.' As the owner of highly sensitive skin, I am pleased to report no adverse effects. It is an exotic blend of jasmine oil and flowers, St. John's wort and wild oat flower essences. It is considered to be a rescue remedy type of soap. This may be a result of the placebo effect, but I do think I am experiencing better quality sleep after using it in my evening shower. Another product I was fascinated by, were the ear candles. I have been to a salon for a candling session before, and whilst I could feel the advantages of the process whilst being utterly relaxed, it was a fairly expensive luxury. This set of two ear candles at £3.95, would enable me to repeat the treatment on a regular basis, under the supervision of a responsible adult! A useful yet somewhat anonymously located shop, waiting to be discovered to heal your soul.

A blissful independent store squirreled away near the train station. Entering the shop is a delight…read morewith warming scents hitting you as you walk through the door; it is like a magical cove hidden in a darkened street. This shop contains hundreds of vials of essential oils, natural cosmetics (soaps, bath oils, moisturising creams and such like) bases for cosmetics and wooden boxes to store your kit in. Staff are welcoming and knowledgeable offering advice the products as well as a friendly chat. You can see what countries the oils originated from and chose from a range of organic varieties. You can loose yourself in here eyeing up the heavily populated shelves packed with goodies.

Dreadful company. Zero Customer Service…read more They sent me a £150 garden storage box that was so badly damaged it is unusable. I asked for a return - they refused because of their 28 day policy - I told them I don't want a return, I want a refund under the Sale Of Goods Act because the item was faulty. They refused and ended the webchat. There is no phone number to speak to them - the number on Google just rings and rings and no-one answers - rang weekday at 1pm - phone rang solidly for 10 minutes without answer. Do Not Use. They actually deserve minus 5 stars.

House of Fraser is a brand I've visited many times recently, mainly at my local Manchester store…read morelocated on Deansgate, that store basically is everything that this branch in Leeds is not, large and spacious, with the Manchester branch spanning across 6 floors and having more room across those floors for an enjoyable shopping experience, meanwhile this branch just feels rather unwelcoming and cramped. Unlike many branches of House of Fraser (HOF), this store doesn't really have much of an impressive feel to it, which is a shame. The selection of fragrances here seemed good, prices seemed competitive but there didn't seem to be any offers on, I did like how they had all the bottles in one area so you could spray them yourself, without different stands such as one for Armani and one for Hugo Boss, which in a way was okay as it made it easier to view a slightly limited selection of fragrances they had in store, however an issue was the mixing of male and female as there was about two female perfumes in the male fragrance section, luckily I spoke French and was able to read the bottle before disaster struck! The staff here seemed okay, they didn't seem too friendly, they seemed slightly helpful, perhaps average at best, yet slightly impersonal. I really didn't like this store mainly down to it feeling small and cramped compared to other stores, yet still this is a nice brand for a city like Leeds to have, and there is reasoning for this place not to warrant a single one-star rating, so I feel House of Fraser in Leeds deserves a slightly generous two-star rating.

I've discovered Victoria's Secret. Both in the literal sense, and the metaphorical…read more For those that haven't, this is a high end lingerie shop. You can expect the whole gamut when it comes to undies, including varieties of pants that I didn't even know required a name, and bras of virtually every conceivable colour, shape, and style. (That's perhaps hyperbole, but there is a massive range.) I've been to another branch in the states a few times, but never found anything that inspired me to spend the whole fifty quid on a bra. This time, it was different. If you're not au fait with the whole deal, the best thing to do is to actually speak to one of the assistants. The two ladies who helped me were not only super friendly, but excellent in helping me navigate the overwhelming mass of garments before me. As well as beautifully crafted smalls, the shop also has a number of perfumes, make up, night wear, and other bits. The whole shop smells amazing, actually. And if you're in any doubt as to sizing, get measured -- I discovered I'd been shopping for the wrong size my entire adult life. (Which is probably something tons of women do.) It's worth noting, however, that here you'll likely be a size bigger than you thought, since it's an American brand so the sizing works differently. A lovely shop, with fantastic staff, but worth saving up for since the price tag ain't shy.

Hurry up and open a proper store in Scotland!! I love Victoria's Secret for amazing underwear. It's…read morealways so silky and soft and it's great when they do a deal on the bras and panties. Can always find my size and love all the different colours and designs. I also like the Pink section, however some of there stuff is a bit of a mess as it's more the studenty young person section. I love all the underwear as it lasts really long and always have really pretty designs. A lot of the clothes can be a bit on the cheesy side, but I like some of the tops for the gym. I bought a new bikini this time which fits really well and is super pretty. Also treated myself to a gym top (they are made quite big so went for Xs and fits nicely), and a nightie from The main VS. This place is probably a bit more on the expensive side for underwear but it's so worth it. Maybe it is a good thing they don't have one in Scotland otherwise I would be there all the time!

I called in The Perfume Shop today with my friend while in Bradford, who was looking to pick up…read moresome new perfume. This store is basically a fragrance shop for men and women, but I have to admit the name can be a bit off-putting for men as the "Perfume Shop" gives an impression that they focus on Perfume and Women, which I feel they still do, which is a shame. This store is a decent size, although fairly average compared to other stores in the chain. The woman who served me in the store lacked confidence and sales techniques, she couldn't work out basic math puzzles to what 15% would be, meanwhile the other man who worked there overhearing the situation also tried to work it out, he even began to dispute that I had worked out the answer before him saying "That's not right" only for me to get it right so technically it's Aaron 1 Perfume Shop 0, which interestingly was the result from the past Bradford City home-game as they faced Northampton. My friend was looking at picking up the Chanel 5 perfume, the female server also lacked the confidence and skills to be able to recommend certain products, I asked what was the best value and she said it depends how much you are willing to pay. Wrong. The 100ml is better value as it would work out cheaper per ml than the 35 or 50, this is what I was looking at. The server also didn't seem to know the pries of thing, she did try overcharging me than the 15% off you would get if you signed up to the loyalty scheme, she told me about this and then said it has already been knocked off, so I had to bring up the website to show her evidence that she was being deceitful, and I ended up paying the price it should have been. I also had a look at the mens aftershave when my friend has finished, they also lacked confidence to recommend products and the selection seemed poor, I did get a few samples but I was mainly upset with how I was treated with the staff and the lack of basic skills they had, meaning I certainly wouldn't recommend the store, which even used pressure selling to get my friend to buy the perfume using the approach "The offer ends today you won't get it another time,"

My first experience of Bodycare was in Wakefield, field of the dead, and so it didn't put a…read morepositive swing on the place really. Bracing myself I popped into the Leeds branch hoping for a more pleasant experience and that, thankfully, came true. Avoiding the peak hours - which are pretty tough - I popped in to grab a bargain on my hair products and shower gels, which I did, but in fact ended up spending more than I planned on account of all their notorious deals. Crafty Bodycare. Naughty Bodycare. It was all part of their devious plan. I'm not certain that they are cheaper than Wilkos, but then, I haven't been so bothered that I have found out. They certainly have a huge range of choice, from the more typically expensive to the very cheap, and so you'll be certain to find what you need. Essentially they are cool if you are nearby and need shampoo - but watch yourself, there are deals there that are set to trap you!

If, like me, you resent paying anything more than a quid for shampoo yet don't want hair like Stig…read moreof the Dump every morning, Bodycare is a great place to come to pick up name brand toiletries at bargain-basement prices. There's buy one free on lots of stuff, and as well as recognisable mid-range brands they stock a lot of posher stuff too, including Aussie hair products and Lush-style bath bombs. A good place to come for presents, they have lots of boxed sets at Christmas and brand name perfumes at about £10 cheaper than they are in Boots. Just be prepared to queue - this place gets manic at the weekends.

You can't really argue with this shop - it certainly has a whole load of cards for sale. Bordering…read morethe shop, wall to wall, there are cards stacked up by category - Mother's Day, Fathers' Day, Birthday (and all the major ages), condolences, weddings, congratulations and more. There are plenty of options here, albeit very standard options. The majority of their cards were as cheap as 99p, which is excellent if you are a little less than flush, although I will say that for that price you won't get the most inspiring choices. As I was browsing I overheard a frustrated customer saying "All I want is a simple 'to my sister' card!" They sell a number of other bits too, like gift wrap for a few pounds, and amusingly "ideal gifts", as they were labelled. I'm not sure why an empty tacky perfume bottle for £12.99 is an "ideal gift" but kudos for trying! At least they make an effort, right? Anyhow. If you are stuck and that birthday is edging ever closer, this shop will sort it. But if you want something special, jog on.

Seeing Paperbox as I slowly descended down the escallator in St Johns Centre made my heart skip a…read morebeat. As I approached it sunk. As a stationary fanatic, I thought it a personal insult to call a (sorry, if you read my reviews, I have a real hatred for tacky card shops) stationary shop something that could easily be mistaken for a paper shop, which in my opinion would be so so so much better. The reality is that Paperbox is a below-par car shop that I'm sure if you routed around long enough, would be able to sell you a semi-decent card... you'll have to really search though. If you need a card pronto, and don't really care about what is on the front, this is probably a cheaper bet to Clinton's accross the way.

I'll never forget my guy friend talking about his mum being so excited to visit him in Leeds. Not…read moresee him though...oh no! Her main conern was getting on down to Jo Malone to purchase one of the 'heavenly candles' that she just 'needed!'...nice to see you son, now, lets go shopping! I never understood the appeal until I went to visit the store. With fresh, white and clear displays, the shop looks very contemporary and chic. They have an arrangement of skin, bath, body and make-up supplies along with lovely, fresh frangrances and of course, the sought after candles! They offer bridal consultations on their products so you can leave behind some very stylish table favours. In this store, they even do mini treatments like a ten minute hand and arm massage! A perfect pick-me-up mid shop!

Jo Malone sells luxury beauty and bath products with a minimalist stylish look. Upon entering their…read moreshop you immediately inhale a gorgeous fresh floral scent. The shop is clean and spacious, and the staff are immaculately presented. First impressions of the shop may be slightly intimidating if you are generally of a somewhat thrown-together, dishevelled appearance as I am, but the staff greet you with warm friendly smiles and are very helpful. The prices reflect the luxurious nature of the products, with a candle, though delightfully scented, costing £38.00! So for most these products would be a special treat or a gift. They have obviously cottoned on to this fact, putting together beautiful gift boxes which are packaged in gorgeous vintage-look cream boxes with black satin bows. Tapping into the special occasion nature of their high end products Jo Malone offers gifts suitable for weddings and a fragrance combination menu, encouraging brides to be to create their own perfect scent by mixing and matching combinations of pre-existing scents...or maybe (says my cynical nature) just a subtle way of encouraging customers to buy more products! With delicious scent combinations and beautifully designed packaging, Jo Malone exudes taste and luxury. Not a regular stop-off for those on a tight budget but perfect for extra special gifts for those who enjoy a pamper.

Top Brands...Check! 60% off for Christmas...Check!…read moreMy favourite perfumes in store...Check! What's not to love? Whether your killer scent is Dior, Givenchy, Moschino or even Vera Wang - the perfume shop have prety much got it covered. It's easy to find a fragrance you love with the HUGE choice and the perfumes tend to be a little cheaper than you'd find them in stores like Boots or Debenhams. Take advantage of the sales and hit up the shops now!

It's not often that I actually purchase my own perfume, usually I get enough stock at Christmas…read morefrom family, but on this odd occasion I found myself in need and so made a quick stop off at The Perfume Shop. I'd been past plenty of times before, I'm following them on Twitter, and have seen the shop abuzz with custom and offers, so it was the first place I could think of to try. (P.s. I'm sure their Twitter is worth following - I'm sure they have competitions and such going on.) A friendly chap asked if he could help, so I asked for a few testers to see which one I'd buy this time, and the service was really swift and efficient - down to brief but accurate descriptions of the floral notes! If you're at all indecisive this would be quite handy as they really seem to know they're scents. The other boon is the range - there's pretty much every brand you could think of! Anyway, I managed to pick myself up a huge bottle of the original Ghost perfume for under £25. I also now have a reward card and the chap serving me was fab. Friendly, chatty, efficient and I now can walk the streets of Leeds smelling delightful. An all round win you might say!