Shopping in Havre de Grace

To call The Body Shop a mere skin and body care store is to miss half of what makes it special. Late founder Dame Anita Roddick was a pioneer for ethical business practices; upon opening her first store in Brighton, England, in 1976, she developed company values such as "Defend human rights" and "Protect our planet." She somehow balanced principles and profit, partnering in global campaigns with UNICEF, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, and the United Nations, all while expanding her brand into 2,500 locations in 60 international markets. After her death in 2007, then-British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, “She campaigned for green issues for many years before it became fashionable to do so and inspired millions to the cause by bringing sustainable products to a mass market. . . . She was an inspiration.”

Indeed, the Body Shop exhibits an eco-friendliness that's hard to come by in a company of its size. Its products have been fair-trade since 1987, and its Against Animal Testing movement led to a UK-wide ban of animal testing of cosmetics. The products are made from ingredients harvested from around the world: shea butter from Ghana goes into body scrubs and butters, and Indian artisans craft wooden massagers and tote bags that are screenprinted by hand. But all that isn't to say the company's production practices overshadow its final products. Skincare treatments such as the Blue Corn 3-in-1 deep-cleansing scrub mask often appear in Allure, Marie Claire, and other national publications.

“Consignment” means the store buys directly from consumers and designers; the staff only accepts high-quality new and gently used items. Chic dresses, jackets, tops, and accessories often come with tags attached from designers including Prada, Versace, Gucci, Cole Haan, and Coach. Some recent bargains include a brand-new beaded cashmere sweater from Saks Fifth Avenue for $32 and an Ann Taylor jacket for $24. Formerly $400 prom gowns may go for $32–$42, while mint-condition Coach and Prada handbags can sell for $60–$75.

Garnering Delaware Today magazine's Best of Delaware award for Best Bargain Shopping Upstate, Designer Consigner owner Michelle Scott-Costa collects a diverse assortment of women’s apparel and accessories. Inventory includes items that initially graced the display cases of high-end designers such as Banana Republic, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci, among others. Of the gently used garments brought in by her 1,200 consigners, Michelle accepts only clean, designer items free of stains and werewolf-claw marks.

Douglas J. Lavenburg, M.D. leads a team of optometrists that oversees the welfare of patients’ eyes and vision with up-to-date optometric techniques. But their services extend beyond eye exams, vision correction, and LASIK surgery. Microdermabrasions, pulsed-light hair removal, and Botox revamp complexions, and facials sprinkled with Obagi professional skin products, keep wrinkles at bay.

Like friendly, escapable black holes, the ineluctable pull of hardware stores attracts everyone who lives in a modern structure or appreciates a well-crafted daiquiri. You don’t have to drive to the suburbs for your hardware fix with today’s Groupon to Ace Hardware Stores: you get $20 worth of blenders, key copies, cable splitters, watch batteries, house paint, and more for $10. Your Groupon is good at the Federal Hill and Waverly stores for any product and service. Whether your potted plants need special food to survive in your cold basement apartment, or your outdated faucet needs a 21st-century fix, the friendly folks at your local Ace Hardware can lead you to the perfect solution.

Leave embarrassing fashion dopplegängers in the dust with today's Groupon for one-of-a-kind clothing finds at Blu Vintage Boutique. Today's deal gets you $60 worth of expertly cultivated tops, skirts, purses, and more for $25. Boutique and vintage options ensure that you won't end up at a cocktail party wearing the same dress as your boyfriend's ex, the catty one who refuses to return Doug’s Harry Potter Monopoly board.Follow @Groupon_Says on Twitter.