BEST OF THE REST

THE NIGHT CREAM 4 | BALADE EN PROVENCE SOLID NIGHT CREAM, £12.50

Balade bars are made using a traditional French artisan process (each product is blended with natural oils and butter before being left to rest for 30 days on wooden shelves, allowing the oils to fuse together), credited with preserving the natural nutrients and properties of the ingredients so your skin can reap the benefits. ‘Using a solid moisturiser felt strange, because I’m so used to the formula being wet,’ says Keisha. ‘But once I got into the habit, it felt like a luxurious self-care ritual; and in the morning, my skin felt supple and plump, thanks to the combination of the ingredients and the stimulation of blood flow while massaging it in.’

THE EXFOLIATOR

5 | GLOSSIER BODY HERO EXFOLIATING BAR, £12

Instead of using a hard grain like sugar, Glossier has opted for finely milled, biodegradable bamboo powder, which is powerful enough to slough away dead skin cells, but not so powerful that you scrub yourself raw. The brand has also added a dose of sunflower seed oil and aloe leaf juice; ingredients lauded for their nourishing abilities, which help skin hold on to moisture for longer. Perdita was sceptical: ‘It just didn’t feel like it was exfoliating my skin in the same way my sugar scrub or loofah does. But once I was dry, there wasn’t a flake or dry patch in sight. My skin felt freshly buffed and smooth, and the scent of orange blossom lingered for hours. At this price, it’s a steal next to luxury scrubs.’

THE TOOTHPASTE 6 | PÄRLA ORIGINAL 62 TABS, £6.95

Pärla tabs come in a reusable glass jar, and the refill subscription service sends top-ups to your door in a compostable bag every four months – a win, since traditional toothpaste tubes aren’t recyclable. The key ingredient is fluoride, 1,450ppm of it – enough to protect against cavities and decay (toothpastes containing 1,350 to 1,500ppm fluoride are the most effective, according to the NHS). ‘Once you get past the initial texture (it’s a little chalky when you first put it in your mouth), the experience is not so dissimilar from normal toothpaste,’ says Gabrielle. ‘Plus, it’s less messy, because there’s no foam.’