House of Fraser Apothecary

One of my favourite department stores is House of Fraser - I have been shopping there for years. When I was working in London I would often pop in and browse the cosmetic counters and never quite be able to resist purchasing something, other times I would enjoy a fabulous lunch in the Albert Roux Cafe which sadly isn't there any longer :-(

These days I am more likely to pop into House of Fraser in Lakeside or Bluewater but the stores are just as enticing.. and even more so now they have launched their new Apothecary section. This section is an oasis of calm amongst the hustle and bustle of the store. I managed to escape into it when doing Christmas shopping and was able to take the time to explore the brands and products. I was like a child in a sweet shop, everywhere I turned there was something tempting on offer.

The concept is to make the Apothecary a beauty destination which will offer a mix of contemporary, classic, niche and global brands, across cult and everyday products.

House of Fraser say that the Apothecary will be staffed by fully trained advisors who care about their customers and recognise that traditional practices are as relevant and desirable as new technology.

As I visited late one evening, the section wasn't manned so I wasn't able to put to the test this claim. Nevertheless I enjoyed mooching about and spotting brands that I hadn't heard of.

Exclusive to House of Fraser are the following brands - Deborah Lippmann nail polishes - something I am keen to try soon , Electric Body skincare and Cereria Terenzi candles. New to House of Fraser are MOR, 3LAB, Hissyfit and Trilogy. They have also created their own range called Apothecary.

Two brands that really drew my attention were MOR and the Lip Nectar priced £16 

Such cute packaging, really different, it had shelf appeal. I have the marshmallow version.

I was expecting this to be smelling all sweet and sugary but it actually smells of peppermint. It is pink in the tube but comes out clear with tiny flecks of gold and pink. It is a really glossy gloss and it gives a slight tingle on application - Nice pout!

The second brand to catch my attention was Body America's Vermont Va Va Voom Face and Body Scrub £7 & Bath and Shower Foaming Mousse £7

I love the attractive, retro designed packaging and the idea of a product containing Green Apple, Maple and Blueberry is appealing.

These products are paraben free and contain organic ingredients. Suitable for all skin types.

The Scrub is an incredibly gentle cream with the actual scrub bits very fine. The foaming mousse is a liquid that is transformed into a mousse by the pump bottle.

Both products had a very pleasant, apple fresh scent. I found them to be enjoyable and fun to use with no drying effects.

I recommend taking a look at this brand and visiting the Apothecary either in store or online at www.houseoffraser.co.uk