I usually use Johnson's Cotton Buds - simply because they were the first cotton buds I ever tried and I was satisfied with them and so never branched out into another brand. However, I recently sent my partner shopping and on the list was cotton buds and they came back with another brand, namely Boots own brand Cotton Buds. They cost just £1.05 for 200 cotton buds - which obviously equates to around 0.5p per cotton bud which is a very good price and about 35p cheaper per packet than the Johnson's equivalent. I know that's not a huge saving, but as my grandmother always said, if you take care of the pennies then the pounds will take care of themselves!

The cotton buds come in a hard case - which I like because I find it easier to store them in a hard case than in a plastic bad like some cotton buds come in. The container is see through plastic and has a lid that lifts off - and it's simple but it's functional. Each cotton bud is dual ended with the cotton tip at each end and so they are traditionally designed. The cotton tips are made out of 100% pure cotton and so they are really good quality and are very adequate for the types of jobs for which they are designed. They tips are soft and smooth and so they are delicate but so still clear well, particularly if they are wet first.

The central bit that you hold on to when using them are made of cardboard instead of plastic, but the work equally well. I guess cardboard is probably more environmentally friendly than plastic as well.

I have used these cotton buds over the past month and to be honest I think they match up to the Johnson's Cotton Buds in every way - and so I really can't see any reason to go back to the Johnsons ones that cost more. They are a good quality product.