I recently went to a ‘green’ fashion show in Camden town. It was part lecture and part glamour. And although I left feeling slightly like I had been to church to get a telling off, (instead of for adultery, it was for wearing cotton) it gave me a real insight into being an ethical buyer. So now I am fully aware of where to buy my fair trade t shirts. But what about cosmetics?

The fact remains that we can actually make a difference by carefully choosing our cosmetics, whether for reasons of a political, ethical, or even vain nature. The trick is finding the products that a) work, and b) don’t have a hefty price tag. I am loathed to spend three times the amount on something just because it has the word ‘organic’ on the packaging as ‘organic’ now seems to be a brand, and a big successful brand at that.

So I have taken the time to find some of the best ‘green’ products around, starting with the Green People. The Green People make cosmetics, hair and body products, baby care products, the lot. The founder of Green People, Charlotte Vøhtz, started the company because of her daughters eczema condition. “I realised that we all are children of the chemical age and that man-made chemicals found everywhere, combined with changing dietary habits, profoundly affect us all.”
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Summer is a time of fun and frolic — lots of sunning and swimming to be done! However, summer can be a dangerous time of year for your skin, especially if you don’t properly protect yourself with sunscreen.

Summer skincare routines can vary depending on skin type. If your skin is oily, then you may experience more breakouts than usual. If your skin is dry, the heat could prove even more drying.

When choosing a sunscreen for your face, take your skin type into consideration. For oily skin, choose sunscreen that’s designed not to clog pores or cause breakouts. Good choices are sunscreens in mist or spray form, which are naturally light. You can also try a sunblock made for children’s sensitive skin. One good, economical choice is SunSense Toddler Milk SPF 50 Roll On, available for around £5.99.
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