Eco-conscious queens (with money to burn), unite at Sabon.

Outside the storefront, you’ll be greeted by a girl handing out free soap samples. Inside, you’ll find fabulous skin care products that aren’t tested on animals and are made from down-home ingredients like brown sugar, honey, and olive oil. Customers can (and are really encouraged to) test out products throughout the shop, and you’ll soon realize that “all-natural” doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice smell or a pleasant texture. Though the products are a bit pricey, they work, and you’ll feel better knowing that what you do buy is packaged in recyclable containers.

The cosmetics department at the Chestnut Hill Bloomingdale’s didn’t win Best of Boston for nothing: here, you are virtually submerged in top-of-the line, elusive, and oh-so-covetable products (Macy’s, this ‘aint).

The recently-renovated area is gorgeous, bright, and well-organized, and is surprisingly relaxed for a department store. This all enables you to browse at your leisure, which may sound counterintuitive for a mall store. And no need to worry about dodging aggressive salespeople and laser-like perfume sprays (a turnoff for any mall shopper) – the employees are simply there to help and inform as you need them.

The Fresh store will draw you in because it’s pretty – the mood is light, minimalist, and calming, and attractive, simply-packaged goods line the shelves. But the complete and utter edibility of their products will awaken your inner fanatic.

Their insanely-yummy smelling stuff will hypnotize you and become instant favorites. Devotees of long-standing lines like Sugar, Milk, Rice, and even Sake can’t get enough of the brand’s innovative take on scent. Oh, and their products are great, too – the Sugar Lip Treatment and Brown Sugar Body Scrub are cult classics. (Just take out a loan. You’ll need one.)

Ah, Sephora. Not only is it a beauty junkie’s heaven (stocked to the gills with a gazillion great brands), but it’s the store that turned coveting luxury and hip brands once only seen within the pages of Allure magazine into a shopping experience within reach. Now, even those in suburbia can touch and feel and – gasp! – buy Cargo lipgloss and Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer.

And it’s about time. Sure, there’s the internet. But purchasing (at non-drugstore prices, mind you) new makeup colors and scents absolutely requires trying before buying. Sephora has given the mainstream that opportunity and we have maxed out our credit cards because of it. Whoopee!

At first, Ulta seems to be the poor man’s Sephora. But give it a second look, because it might just be genius: one-stop shopping where you can buy drugstore AND higher-end brands in one place. And, there’s an in-store salon.

The staff is friendly and there are always coupons and discounts to take advantage of (which is a good thing, since the prices at Ulta are a bit higher than comparable items elsewhere).

If you’re all about finding bargain beauty goodies (and who isn’t these days), head on over to Target. There are plenty of drugstore brands that rival more expensive ones, and Target has them all at great prices. Because when magazine after magazine rates a product like Maybelline Great Lash mascara tops year after year, why spend more than you have to? Target also carries brands like British favorite Boots, Bare Escentuals, and the always-great Sonia Kashuk line – so you even have more to choose from than just Cover Girl.

And when it comes to hair styling tools, Target is a no-brainer. They have an almost overwhelming selection of the latest curling irons, flat irons, hot rollers, and hair dryers at all price points for your primping pleasure.

Don’t be put off because you don’t recognize any of the brands at Sally’s. And don’t think you have to be a “professional” to shop there, either. Sally’s could very well be a really great secret among those in the beauty “know”.

Give yourself plenty of time to explore this little store – you’ll want to take your time to figure out just what everything is and does. (Don’t be afraid to ask the staff what they recommend – they’ll know.) A huge collection of nail care products and gadgets; professional-grade hair color supplies (a great money saver if you know how to DIY); awesome hair-removal products; and a great array of hair styling tools and brushes all make Sally’s a must-visit.

Just because you’re no longer 13, doesn’t mean you can’t go into Bath & Body Works.

Sure, there are still the old standbys (hello, Cucumber Melon!), but the store has really grown up along with its clientele. They’ve not only expanded their own brand, but they also now carry more exclusive lines like Murad and C.O. Bigelow.

While Bath & Body Work’s signature fragrances are still center stage, they are updated seasonally, and their promotions (usually something like 5 for $30) can’t be beat. But no longer are body lotions and shower gels the only things to buy here – there are higher-end skincare lines (like the one from Patricia Wexler M.D.), smile care products from Supersmile, and a dizzying array of lipglosses.

Though you may not be familiar with Lush, it’s a chain with over 500 locations all over the world. They are all about natural ingredients, and don’t test on animals. From incredible, super-duper popular bath bombs to handmade soaps and incredible shampoos, the products at Lush are scrumptous in both scent and look.

And while you may go into sensory overload when you walk into the store, the staff is almost unanimously friendly and helpful and will take their time to explain and help you sample the wares.

Shopping Barney’s was my very first experience with discovering then-unknown and cutting edge beauty products like Kiehl’s and Molton Brown. And today, Barney’s continues to impress with a very well-edited selection of pricey products, and some you’ve still never heard of (like Lipstick Queen) – even in this day of the WWW and Sephora. So, yes – it is possible to still impress your friends with a new luxury brand that’s not yet mainstream.

While the staff can run the gamut between completely snobby to writing down your favorites and letting you know when new goodies arrive, they are knowledgeable and passionate about what they sell.

One visit to the super-chic M.A.C., and you’ll feel as though you’re a professional. Which is pretty spot-on, since so many professionals use the brand. M.A.C.’s products are excellent quality, long-lasting, and cutting edge in terms of colors and formulations. This top-of-the-line stuff is worth every penny…and, frankly, a better value than many specialty brands.

But the best (and most dangerous) thing about setting foot into M.A.C? It’s the fact that every single freaking employee can give you a makeover right then and there, and empty out your wallets in the process. (Though, the flipside is, you’ll look amazing.)

Back in the olden days (you know – the early 90’s), we were all about the Body Shop. It seemed so ground-breaking with its natural, non-mainstream products, and its almost lab-like atmosphere. The Body Shop was green before being green was so cool and trendy.

Fast forward to 2008. The shops are still around, and you may have forgotten about them. But they’re worth another look for pretty affordable, no-frills merchandise, most notably the hall-of-fame Body Butter and Tea Tree Oil. But for fragrance junkies who want something a bit different than traditional perfumes, the best part of the Body Shop is their selection of perfume oils which can be mixed, layered, and even added to their unscented body products.