Helping to save you money

As well as only stocking leading brands, we offer superb value for money. So, although all the prices on display are the recommended retail prices, whenever you spend at least £10 we'll give you 5% off and whenever you spend at least £25 you'll receive 11% discount.

Consequently, our prices for many items can be lower than at supermarkets, department stores, chemists, health-food shops, the internet and any other skin care shop for miles around.

Cash, debit cards and most credit cards welcome. Also, if you're shopping with friends, you can if you like combine purchases for maximum discount.

Helping to save you time

Approximately 200 new "all-natural" toiletries arrived in British shops in 2008. So, how do you go about deciding what's right for you? Does it have to be trial and error?

We think there is an easier way. We only stock what we'd use ourselves, or are happy to recommend.

Like you, we don't want to risk wasting time and money, so we are discerning. With so many companies jumping onto the skin-care bandwagon, each claiming to be oh-so wonderful, we need to weed out copy-cats and the pretentious.

Although for you price may not be everything, even so we can judge a lot from the supplier's recommended retail price. Generally, lower-priced products tend to be shallow, whereas the higher priced-products have more depth. In practice, it's the difference between having to use the same amount whenever you use the product and needing to use less the more you use it.

For everyday use, a product should be reasonably priced. For example, we stock Skin Food's cleans all make-up remover which, at £4.99 for 100ml, is excellent value. Simple, professional packaging, nice feel and consistency, as are other products in the range, also £4.99 for 100ml, including Shaving Gel, Mud Masque, Light and Nourishing Moisturisers, one with SPF15 and Manuka Honey.

A well-designed product is a pleasure to experience. Creams and lotions should be easy to apply, gentle and smooth, with no odd smells or sticky mess. With bath oils, no residue around the bath. With shampoo, the dispenser never jams. With soap, the consistency lasting to the end of the bar.

Another difference is economy of scale. A larger company can pay less for ingredients and packaging than a small company. To recoup costs, a small company will normally have to charge a much higher price, regardless of whether the product itself is any good.

We tend to reject products that are highly priced, unless the company is highly reputable. Mainly, a high price is to give the impression the product will work and make you forget you are paying for the outer packaging. Many companies (particularly the smaller ones) have an inflated idea of the worth of their creations, so price accordingly, but generally the products are a let-down.

We rate personalities: are the suppliers nice people to deal with? If an established company, is it making a profit? If not, then that could suggest its products are not as good as its hype. We read between the lines on their web sites.

When we associate Muse Organix with a product, we are endorsing overall qualities, including design and effectiveness. If, for whatever reason, including trusting intuition, a product or supplier doesn't pass our tests, we don't stock the brand. Simple.

At Muse Organix, we like you to be delighted with whatever you buy.