No matter how busy we are, it's comforting to know these days we can order just about anything from home. More and more beauty companies have gone mail order; now many of

the most fashionable products are the ones only available by post. Over the next two weeks, we'll be looking at some of the companies we've come across, from the very well-known to the very obscure.

Virgin Vie (0870 909 9092)

l The Virgin Vie catalogue costs #1 and offers a selection of goodies that you'll find in the Virgin Vie stores (one of which should be landing in Scotland before the end of the year) - classy Swiss skincare, toiletries, hair care, fragrance, men's skincare, aromatherapy and a small collection of cosmetics. Virgin Vie also offers customers the chance to host classes, at which consultants will explain the concept of Virgin Vie and its products. Customers can then place their orders with their consultant and receive their products from her - basically, it's the perfect excuse for a girlie night in. If you would like to host a Virgin Vie Class, telephone 0870 909 9095.

Le Club des Createurs de Beaute (0990 90 20 90)

l Regular readers of this page will already be familiar with this Parisian-based brochure which features beauty products from six French experts. Included are Professor Jean Cotte's Cosmence range of skin and bodycare, Jean-Marc Maniatis's haircare, perfumiers Michel Klein, Jean-Pierre Demery and Tan Giudicelli and designer Agnes b's cosmetics. Our favourite products from the brochure - which costs #2.50 - come from Agnes b's beautifully packaged, always up-to-the-minute, good quality make-up collection, including: Monobulle eye shadows in Copper Gold and Ultra-violet (#5.90 each), Stay-On Lip Colours in Praline Gold and Taffeta Plum (#8.90 each).

L'Occitane (0171 290 1421)

l If you're down in London, check out L'Occitane's beautiful, old-fashioned-style shops on Regent Street and Kensington High Street. This Provencal company has been going for 18 years, but only recently opened its own stores in this country and became available by mail order. It sells several ranges of products based on natural plant essences and extracts, the best known being their traditionally-packaged Shea Butter collection, which is ideal for drier skins. Other delights include the comprehensive skincare range, the haircare collection, essential oils and floral waters, fragrances, men's products and home fragrances. Other products include: the Shea Butter Hand Cream (#8.95), Shea Butter Vegetable Soap (#1.95), Shea Butter Shower Cream (#6.50) and Styling Spray for Hair (#6.50). Incidentally, lucky Edinburghers will find a selection of L'Occitane products available in Jenners' Bath Shop.

Caudalie (01202 890339)

l This French company is quietly winning over customers in Britain with its simple and reasonably priced range of products. Caudalie is the measurement of time during which the taste of wine lingers; indeed, Caudalie products are made from seeds from the white wine grapes used for Sauvignon and Semillon wines. Grape seed extract is a powerful antioxidant, able to repair free radical damage, one of the major causes of prematurely ageing skin. The range comprises a basic skincare collection, an eye cream, a lip conditioner, ''anti-wrinkle capsules'' and the body lotion which has received publicity for being model Carla Bruni's beauty must-have. Included in the range is the award-winning Grape Seed Body Lotion (#12.50) and the Grape Seed Gentle Cleanser (#12.50).

Space NK (0171 636 2523)

l Space NK Apothecary is the London chain of cult beauty stores which sell products generally not otherwise available in this country. Due to overwhelming demand, owner Nicky Kinnaird has launched a catalogue featuring a selection of some of the bestselling products from her stores. Devotees of Stila and Nars make-up; Kiehl's, Philosophy, Eve Lom, Jurlique and Remede skincare; Bumble & Bumble and Phytologie haircare, and fragrances by Chantecaille and Antonia's Flowers will find some of their favourite products in this sleek catalogue. Pictured is Kiehl's Creme With Silk Groom (#15.50).

find of the week

You may have noticed that The Body Shop's latest campaign is to clear the name of hemp, one of the world's most versatile plants. Hemp earned its bad reputation by being related to marijuana, and as a result, it has long been banned in America. It can be used for food, fuel, cosmetics and building materials and has been estimated as having more than 25,000 potential uses. Now, drawing on the plant's ability to provide heavy duty moisturising, The Body Shop has launched a range of hemp products. Choose from Lip Conditioner (#3), Elbow Grease (#5), 3-in-1 Oil (#5) which comes in a traditional oil can, and the Hand Protector (#6) and Soap in a Tin (#2), which are pictured left.

For our Rimmel competition, we asked which lipstick was its bestseller. The answer was Coffee Shimmer Lasting Finish Lipstick and the 25 winners are: Mrs J Matrundola (Edinburgh), Catriona Stewart (East Kilbride), Mrs D Cosgrove (Bearsden), Beatrice Moore (Kilsyth), Fiona Thomson (Uplawmoor), Mrs Helen Glue (Kirkwall), Mrs SG McLean (Paisley), Rebecca Ellen (Gartocharn), Alex Coyle (Glasgow), Kirsty Baird (Darvel), June Thomson (Ralston), Irene Bowden (Bearsden), Mrs JM Haldane (Greenock), M Stevenson (Irvine), Mrs M Wardrope (Lockerbie), Mureen McMahon (Falkirk), L Carmichael (Dundee), Mrs MC Sloan (Blantyre), Fiona Campbell (Broomhill), Mary McCaffery (Largs), S Cuthbert (Orkney), Mrs E Webster (Eaglesham), Miss M Gibson (Dumfries), Margaret McDougall (Clydebank) and Ms C Dennett (Glasgow).