Beauty: Save your skin and the planet

CELEB GET THE LOOK:
It can be hard to achieve a fresh and natural yet defined look, but
Margot Robbie manages just fine for an LA gala last weekend. She uses a copper brown on her eyelid, accented underneath with a pale gold. Try Laura Mercier Extreme Neutrals Eye Shadow Palette, Â£45. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) — CELEB GET THE LOOK: It can be hard to achieve a fresh and natural yet defined look, but Margot Robbie manages just fine for an LA gala last weekend. She uses a copper brown on her eyelid, accented underneath with a pale gold. Try Laura Mercier Extreme Neutrals Eye Shadow Palette, Â£45. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

placeholder image — CELEB GET THE LOOK: It can be hard to achieve a fresh and natural yet defined look, but Margot Robbie manages just fine for an LA gala last weekend. She uses a copper brown on her eyelid, accented underneath with a pale gold. Try Laura Mercier Extreme Neutrals Eye Shadow Palette, Â£45. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

As more shoppers demand products free from plastics and artificial fragrance, Beauty editor Stephanie Smith finds advice from clean brand Previse, new to Harvey Nichols. Plus celeb Get the Look featuring Margot Robbie and top beauty picks from the counters and online this week.

In a complex and toxic world, it makes more sense than ever to adopt a natural and uncomplicated approach to skincare.

Clean beauty brand Previse DermApothecary believes we should not have to choose between healthy skin and a healthy planet and its motto is “powered by nature, not by chemicals”. It has brought to Harvey Nichols its ZeroFragrance plant-based, unscented products, formulated with dermatologists, free of artificial scent and essential oils.

Founder Sean Patrick Harrington says: “While other companies are trying to remove plastic micro-beads from their products, Previse never used them.”

Previse ZeroFragrance range is at Harvey Nichols.

Previse experts have come up with the following tips for naturally healthy skin:

Use a mild soap free of dyes, fragrances and alcohol. Astringents dry out skin.

We know how nice it feels to take a warm or even hot shower when coming in from the winter cold. Previse recommends warming up with a thick wool blanket, heating pad or heated blanket. And when it comes to showering, the advice is to taking a short, lukewarm shower with a gentle cleanser. Avoid long, hot showers, which can strip the skin of its protective lipid barrier, causing more dryness.

Use oil-based products for rehydration. After showering, when the skin is still moist, apply a natural oil-based product, such as Previse BodyMist Vitamin E Oil (£21). Also, creams that contain humectants, such as alpha-hydroxy acid or glycerin, draw moisture to the skin. Humectants are great for the face, hands and body.

Strengthen your face’s skin barrier. It is important that you use a daily facial moisturiser that does not clog your pores, such as Previse HydroFoam Hyaluronic Moisturiser (£46). With daily use, serums and creams help keep the skin hydrated and better able to repair itself. The added benefit is a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.