Try to buy organic and avoid additives? Is your body (sometimes) a temple? Well, you’re not alone: more of us than ever are considering what we put into our bodies these days. And with sales of natural and organic skincare products up by 20 per cent in recent years, it looks like we’re questioning what we put on them too. Then again, who wants to run the risk of ending up with a face like the Toxic Avenger’s because of a suspect additive?

Sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate – two ingredients used in a raft of skincare products to make them foam – have, for example, been known to cause dermatitis, eye irritation and mouth ulcers in some cases. Parabens – preservatives used in everything from deodorants to moisturisers – are thought to negatively affect testosterone levels, while phthalates – as well as being virtually unpronounceable – have been linked to asthma, cancer, obesity and reduced fertility in men. So you can see why it’s worth saying ‘balls’ to some of your bathroom cabinet’s nastier chemicals.

Or maybe, recognising that the human race in the last 60 years has begun to negatively impact the planet at a rate unprecedented in the previous 10,000, you – sensibly – care about the planet too. Which means it’s worth avoiding products containing palm oil (linked to deforestation and climate change) and microbeads – those seemingly innocent tiny plastic beads used in shower gels and face scrubs (often simply listed on products as PE, PP or PET) that find their way into rivers and oceans where they collect toxins and are often eaten by unsuspecting wildlife.

And don’t think that opting for natural ingredients will compromise the efficacy of your products either: natural grooming products can be every bit as good as synthetic ones (a study by the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia, for example, revealed that tea tree oil is as effective at treating zits as traditional chemical remedies like benzoyl peroxide).