Best beauty Web sites

Thanks to ShopSmart mag for insights on four great sites to buy beauty products, and two to avoid:

benefitcosmetics.com for all-around good beauty products. I have their ooh la lift! for lightening skin under the eyes, and it works great...when I use it! Shipping can add up tho ($4.49 plus $.99 per item). Fyi, they have booths in many department stores.

threecustom.com to re-create lipsticks, foundations, and blushes that are discontinued.

beautysak.com for gifts and fancy stuff.

perfumebay.com to search for old favorites by the decade they hit stores. But watch out for "tester bottles," they are too good to be true.

ShopSmart suggests AVOIDing these sites:

ulta.com which says they have discounted prices, but SS testers found that to be untrue.

beautydepot.com says they will match any competitor's price, but you have to wait for them to get back to you after emailing the competitor's link.

Unfortuantely, Consumer Reports is still building ShopSmart's web site, but you can buy it at major books stores and at grocery stores. Get a free 30-day trial here.