Buying cosmetics is one of those real indulgences all women love. But it does involve both time and money - two things which are not always in plentiful supply.

So what if I said you could take as long as you need and treat yourself to your favourite products, or create a glamorous new you, without necessarily breaking the bank?

Well you can, by logging on to one of the many virtual retailers selling cosmetics over the internet. They are open for business 24 hours a day, offer all the leading brands and, in many cases, great discounts too.

Logging on to Superdrug is like walking into a store, with vibrant colours, clearly sign-posted departments and a wide selection of products at competitive prices.

Select Beauty from the Go Shopping options on the home page and click on Make Up from the drop-down menu provided. You will find a list of brands to choose from, which can then be viewed by product category (foundation, blush, eye colour, etc.).

The range is enormous and there are some great offers to be snapped up. You will need to add £2.50 for delivery but only have to wait 24 to 48 hours for your order to arrive. You can pay an additional £2.50 on top for a weekday evening drop off, or a total of £5 if you would prefer a Saturday morning.

Boots also has a web site, which is currently under reconstruction and soon to be relaunched as wellbeing.com, in conjunction with a new digital TV channel. There will still be a full online shop with all the company's usual product ranges available for purchase over the web.

Brighton-based Island Trading offers branded cosmetics at discount prices, with savings of up to 50 per cent in some cases. All products are guaranteed the genuine article and are completely unused, although some may be manufacturers' returns or unopened testers. All this means is you can expect plain white packaging rather than the posh boxes you are used to.

Search for your favourite brand from the likes of Almay, Bobbi Brown and Max Factor or pick a specific product type (lip gloss, mascara, and so on) to view what is currently in stock. They sell out fast, so this is a site to visit regularly and act quickly if you see something you fancy. Delivery is free and takes up to 14 days.

Finally, Class Cosmetics claims to offer up to 75 per cent off the recommended price of leading makes. I found Elizabeth Arden lipsticks at £5, instead of the usual £12.95, and Revlon foundation at £4, compared to £13.50. Stocks are limited and products change from week to week. Add £1 for delivery in around three to four days.

www.superdrug.com
www.boots.co.uk
www.island-trading.com
www.classcosmetics.com