There are a number of carbon calculators available on the Internet that can estimate your carbon footprint according to the consumption habits of your lifestyle. They might question, for example, how far you travel to work each week, what your monthly gas bill is or how many air miles you fly each year. There are none yet which specifically pinpoint brands or product types but there are a few that incorporate the total amount you spend on beauty products like the Government's Act on CO2 calculator. The eco point is of course that it's not whether we configure our calculations correctly, but rather what impact we actually have (or don't have) on the environment.

If you want to lower your carbon ‘beauty' footprint a good way to start is by using magic potions and beautification lotions made from organically grown ingredients. Organic farming increases the accumulation rate of soil organic carbon (SOC) in the earth, thereby sequestering more CO2 from the atmosphere. The Rodale Institute estimates that if 10,000 medium-sized farms converted to organic production, they would store enough carbon in the soil equivalent to taking 1,174,400 cars off the road.

The farming practices used to create organic and natural products incorporate less chemicals, pesticides and synthetic substances during production and transportation thereby releasing less CO2 into the atmosphere than traditional farming practices.

With half the UK's CO2 emissions created by industry and commerce supporting our ‘everyday' lifestyles it's a good idea to look at reducing our carbon footprint in all facets of our lives - including our morning face cleansing routines. By taking a closer look at product labels and learning more about the ingredients on them we are able to choose products that are friendlier to our bodies and the earth.

Other useful carbon calculators are Carbon Footprint, Resurgence, Coinet and Carbon Balanced.

Did you know our skin is always changing?

We are constantly producing new skin cells. Studies have found that we produce more skin cells in the middle of the night and fewer at midday. If you want your age defying and moisture-boosting products to have maximum impact apply between late afternoon and early morning, as this is when your skin is most likely to absorb what is put on to it.

A number of contributing factors determine the speed to which this skin transformation takes place including stress, sleep, application of beauty products and, if you're a woman, the stages in your menstrual cycle.

The week leading up to your period increased water retention leads to puffier and less elastic skin. Pimples and skin disorders are more likely to pop up as the oil secreted from pores takes a rollercoaster incline and then dramatic decline. Whilst menstruating less blood circulates in the outer layers of the skin and it retains less moisture resulting in a paler appearance and increased skin sensitivity. During ovulation the skin is at its optimum colour due to improved skin micro-circulation. This makes perfect biological sense as this is when our bodies want to attract the opposite sex to make babies.

Exercise, a healthy diet, plentiful sleep and regular exfoliation to remove dead skin cells will improve the look and feel of your skin. Ultimately however there are some influences that we must accept will forever be changing the way we look.

Hydrogenated fat is where vegetable oil is heated under high pressure to make it solid. It is used because it extends a products shelf life, improves texture, is easy to work with and is cheap. On food labels it may be called vegetable shortening, vegetable fat or oil. Margarine has a high quantity of hydrogenated fat. Hydrogenated fat is not a good fat to be feeding our bodies. It offers little nutrients to our cells and in fact it destroys the essential fatty acids (EFAs) we need to function well in both a physical and mental capacity. When heating the vegetable oil to turn it into hydrogenated fat, hydrogen gas and nickel or copper is added which replaces the EFAs with saturated and trans fatty acids.

Saturated fats like butter and coconut should be kept to a minimum in the diet. Trans fatty acids are unnatural and compete with the EPAs to be absorbed. They lower good cholesterol, and increase bad cholesterol, which attributes to the clogging of arteries.

When it comes to cosmetic and skin care products the BDIH state that fully hydrogenated oils are ok as they do not contain trans fatty acids. Conventional beauty products use mineral oils instead to create stability and consistency in a product, and these have far harsher effects to our heath.

The good news - there are alternatives such as coconut or palm fat, which harden naturally at room temperature. But they are in a lot of processed foods so read packets carefully if you want to avoid this nutrient-zapping ingredient.

There are a few words (i.e. ‘natural') in the beauty industry that are commonly thrown around by companies to make their cosmetic, toiletry or cleaning products sound safe. And why not? If it's true that is.

The problem is makers and creators of these products have varied ideas of what some descriptive phases actually mean, particularly those that are not standardised. ‘Dermatologically tested' is one such hazy phrase where you'll find a disparate collection of opinions. Unfortunately there are no standard industry wide definitions setting out how a product must be tested and manufacturers tend not to be forthcoming with this information.

Dermatologically tested could mean a product has been tested on human skin and proven not to cause irritation or allergies; that it has been tested on animal or human skin; and/or that it's been tested in a laboratory by a dermatologist. It really depends on who you ask.

So be careful, as some companies are even sketchy about whether or not their products even passed the tests. By saying ‘product X has been dermatologically tested' does not necessarily translate to ‘successfully dermatologically tested and safe for all human skin types'.

How do you know if a claim is true? If you can't find an explicit statement on the packaging, promotional material or website contact the company direct and ask them. If they don't give you a straight answer test it yourself by applying a small amount to the back of your hand and wait a few days to see the result. This is the best test of all since we all have different skin types and can react in different ways. The only way to really know if a product is safe for your skin is to try it out. Request a sample or test in store so that you're sure before buying.

Of all the lush organic and natural cosmetic products available I'd have to say my favourite is Sante's Concealer Pencil in light beige. This concealer is fabulous because it's the only one I've ever been able to find that exactly matches my skin colour. Not only does it provide excellent coverage under the eyes after a sleepless night but it feels like it's doing that softer area of my face some good. Certified organic it's made from shea, jojoba and chamomile extract. I pretty much use it every day that I have to get out of bed (which is most of them until I win the lottery!).