THE BEAUTY INSIDER:

PLANET-FRIENDLY BEAUTY

What we put on our body is just as important as what we put in it, right? Thankfully, you can now choose everything from organic beauty products (pesticide- and preservative-free) to eco-friendly (encouraging recycling and minimal waste), cruelty-free (no animal testing) and vegan ones (no animal-based substances). They're not only gentle on the skin but they're kind to the planet too – hurrah! To help cut through the options, we asked our beauty expert and Selfridges personal shopper Rose Gallagher to pick her favourite earth–loving cosmetics.

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Kypris Glow Philtre Mask

If you've used an exfoliating facial scrub recently, you may have unknowingly smothered tiny bits of plastic (or microbeads) over your face. That's bad news for us and our oceans. At Selfridges we have removed all beauty products containing plastic microbeads from our stores. Organic enzyme exfoliators such as the Glow Philtre mask are a clever, eco-friendly alternative – and my beauty go-to. The fruit-derived formula (suitable for all skin types) gently cleanses, revitalises and polishes the skin to give it a healthy, youthful glow.

 

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Organic Pharmacy Skin Radiance Facial Capsules

Beauty starts from the inside out, and these skin supplements from The Organic Pharmacy are a great addition to your daily regime. Packed with ingredients like acai, goji, rose hip and zinc, they enhance skin radiance – ideal for the winter months. Take one a day (I keep mine by my kettle as a reminder to take with my first drink of the day) and say goodbye to dull, tired skin.

 

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NEOM Real Luxury Intensive Skin Treatment Candle

NEOM's organic products are so pure you can even use this candle on your skin. Trust me, it works: simply burn the potent, aromatic blend for 30 minutes, cool for two minutes and then massage onto your whole body. The nourishing cocoa butter and rich almond oil will instantly hydrate and reinvigorate the skin. Apply to slightly damp skin to seal in extra moisture.

 

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Cowshed Moody Cow Balancing Body Lotion

At this time of year, I find comfort in balancing aromatic blends in everything from my perfume to my candles, and even body care. Cowshed's organic Moody Cow range – a soothing mix of rose geranium and frankincense essential oils and manuka honey and cinnamon extracts – is designed to be uplifting, alleviating stress and anxiety. I use it before bed (post shower or bath) and it leaves my skin super soft and my mind ready for a great night’s sleep. Sweet dreams.

 

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Thierry Mugler Angel Refillable Eau De Parfum Spray

Thierry Mugler is famous for its cult fragrances such as Angel (its first ever perfume), so it's great to see the brand is now offering eco-friendly refills of each of its bestsellers. What's more, the dinky-sized bottles are perfect for slipping into your handbag or suitcase.

 

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Zoeva Brush 227V Soft Definer Vegan Brush

Zoeva brushes are to your make-up bag what butter is to bread. Available individually or in sets, you can build a collection to suit your needs. The 227V brush is one of my favourite multi-taskers – I use it to blend out shadows or apply pigment to lids. And for all you cruelty-free beauty aficionados out there: this particular style has synthetic bristles so it's vegan-friendly.

 

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First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads

My highlight from the First Aid Beauty skin care range, these cruelty-free Facial Radiance Pads are enzyme-based exfoliators that can be applied twice daily. Use the pre-soaked pads before make-up to even and brighten the complexion. The handy pads are ideal for travel, but make sure you apply an SPF moisturiser as they make the skin more sensitive to sun damage.

 

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Foreo Luna

Removing my make-up is the first thing I do when I get home from work, so a cleansing device like the Foreo Luna is always top of my wish list. Not only does this little silicone device enhance the power of your cleanse, it ensures that any additional products penetrate more effectively. This fully recyclable device only needs to be charged around 2-3 times per year and the head never needs to be replaced, making this a very eco-friendly choice.

 

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Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow

One of the things I love most about Charlotte Tilbury'srange is the way the products create a glamorous finish that takes seconds to apply. For me, the holy grail of her collection is Filmstar Bronze and Glow – a dual, cruelty-free product containing a bronzing powder and an illuminator. Sweep the bronzing powder around temples, along cheeks and anywhere else where the sun would naturally hit; then add a radiant sheen to the fullest parts of the face with the highlighter, emphasising cheekbones, the bridge of the nose and cupid's bow. Et voilà!

 

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Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

There are lots of brilliant foundations out there and I'd always recommend a personal consultation to find the right one, but the closest I've found to a one-for-all is Illamasqua Skin Base. Offering anything from light to full coverage depending on how much you apply, this cruelty-free product creates that 'no-make-up-make-up' illusion with a glowy, dewy finish. There's no SPF in the formula so it photographs beautifully, and it comes in 28 shades.

 

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