As many more of us become concerned at the state of our planet, with preserving the environment and maintaining the delicate balance of flora and fauna in our world, so we’re looking at ourselves and our lifestyles.

Reducing our impact on our surroundings extends to the life choices we make and the products we buy – from choosing to reduce our carbon footprint, to recycling, from saving water to going organic.

Happily, being environmentally beauty-aware is becoming easier as more skincare brands embrace the organic ethos, offering a wide range of products specifically designed to answer our individual beauty needs.

What does organic mean?
Perhaps the most well-known organic certification in the UK is that of the Soil Association, which is awarded to products that are at least 70% organic. But labelling can be confusing – not least because individual countries have their own organic standards and classifications.

What you can count on if you buy something organic is that ingredients are high quality and natural, additives are minimal and non-GM, and production methods are ecologically sound.

The packaging too is often recyclable and minimal, in its way reducing the harmful effects of landfill.

Beauty Tried & Tested: Going back to nature - Organic beauty
Organic skincare products exist to suit a wide range of budgets, from the not-so-expensive to the designer label end of the market. And when thinking of price, remember the potential cost to your skin and the environment of additives in toiletries.

Organic skincare makes sense and it’s good to know we are able to redress the ecological balance a little, do our bit for the environment, as part of our beauty regime.

Products to try:

Green People Eye Cream (£7.99) – rich but non-sticky and with the light floral fragrance of rose geranium. This is designed to be used at night, the essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals it contains hydrating and nourishing the delicate eye area.

Essential Care Organic Superfruit Concentrate (£26) – with avocado, sea buckthorn, pomegranate and rosehip, you only need one or two drops of this nutrient-rich serum. Use as a weekly treat, at night or daily under your regular moisturiser.

Aubrey Organics Lumessence Lift (£29.99) – containing CoQ10, oat protein and algae extract to reduce wrinkles, boost collagen production, firm and tone the skin, this moisturiser is rich enough for night-time as well as daytime use.

Purity Organic Skincare Facial Wash (£4.99) – cleansing and soothing this wash is fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin. Its blend of aloe vera and sweet almond oil hydrates as it cleanses.

Melvita Naturalift Anti-Ageing Cream (£30) – light and easily absorbed this can be used morning and evening to rejuvenate and firm your skin. Ingredients include argan nut proteins and oligopeptides from hibiscus seeds, supporting elastin and collagen production.

Balm Balm Tea Tree Foot Balm (£5.99) – soothing and hydrating for tired tootsies, this contains anti-bacterial tea tree oil, but the fragrance is not overpowering, rather nicely medicinal. Marigold extract calms rough skin while jojoba and sunflower seed oils add their moisturising magic.