Bare Essentials

Every now and again a brand comes along that changes the way we perceive a particular type of product. And skincare is such an over-populated, over-hyped beauty category that it can often be hard to see the wood for the trees. But Nude, a new brand to Harvey Nichols this Summer, stands tall above the crowd with an enticing combination of super-stylish packaging and a purist, chemical-free ethos. The collection is based on the principle of working with the skin's own biology using ingredients that the body can actually recognise. Pre and probiotics strengthen the skin's natural defences, helping to reduce premature ageing, inflammation and dehydration; peptides, phytoactives and bioactives target the causes and signs of ageing; while antioxidants defend against environmental aggressors. The natural components of the formulae help nourish the skin with fatty acids and hydrate it with water and probiotic cultures and herbal extracts optimise these processes. Nude has really put some thought into the impact of the consumables on the environment. The beautiful looking, edgeless boxes with a tactile, pebble-like appeal are entirely recyclable and even the bottles within contain 40% recycled plastic. The aim is to make the entire packaging set fully biodegradable within the next few years. There's a full range of face and body products within the collection including scrubs, cleansers and lip treatments, so that if you so desire and you like the company's worthy principles you can make your whole beauty routine go Nude. Nude is available at Harvey Nichols London now and at Manchester from August, from £18.