Beauty made simple

If you have a remotely ethical mind-set, making sense of all those beauty products out there can be a minefield — starting with long, puzzling lists of worrying ingredients.

Now we have some welcome guidance. In her new book, Skin Deep (Pan Macmillan £7.99), Pat Thomas, the editor of Ecologist, provides a thorough run-down of potentially harmful chemicals lurking in everyday beautifiers. I especially like her uncomplicated lists (of petroleum-derived ingredients and synthetic fragrances prone to cause skin irritation, for example) and “lifting the lid” exposés. Some of these are particularly alarming, such as the fact that, in the UK, we spend £5 billion on cosmetics annually, yet nearly half of us use the products only a couple of times, if at all, polluting the environment without even benefiting something as trivial as our vanity. Meanwhile, in America, bubble bath now has to carry a health warning that prolonged use may raise the risk of urinary tract infections. You may not have time to follow Thomas’s suggestions to the letter — and whip up your own deodorising remedies — but scaling back to a few choice products is a crucial first step towards reducing the toxic burden we place on ourselves and on the planet.

Thankfully, some brands are striving to make things simpler for baffled consumers. Most of us know that we can seek out the Soil Association’s seal of approval to be sure a product is as organic as possible. But what if we are willing to sacrifice a modicum of do-gooding for the quick results that we have come to expect? Korres offers a solution: the Greek beauty brand prints a checklist on its packaging that shows whether a product contains the ingredients we worry about, such as mineral oil, silicone and sulphates. Remarkably, it isn’t afraid to admit when it uses something from which customers may shy away (for example, its 93.3% natural Wild Rose instant brightening and illuminating vitamin C mask contains fragrance), but we can at least make an informed decision — which, these days, is half the struggle.

Lust of the week

Stale hair isn’t such a bugbear of modern living now the smoking ban has been enforced, but for banishing mustiness after festivals and house parties, L’Occitane Aromachologie Control Mist does the trick. Spritzed onto dry hair, this formula, rich in essential oils, leaves a soft sheen and a fresh-from-the-fields lavender aroma. Available from Thursday, £13.50; 020 7907 0301

Hot tip

Soothe sensitive skin with a 10-minute daily massage using Jurlique's pleasantly nongreasy skin balancing facial oil. £34; 0870 770 0980

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