Hi Alice, I’m trying to balance getting some good products for my ageing skin with avoiding animal testing. I couldn’t see anything about the latter on your site so was wondering what your policy is about this.

Hi, there’s a whole chunk about this in my skincare book but you’re right, it’s not on the website. Animal testing for cosmetics has been banned for decades in the UK/EU, so no product you can buy here will have been directly tested on animals (though in years past, some of its ingredients may have been tested on animals). What about companies that also sell their products abroad in places that still have animal testing for cosmetics? Sometimes they may be required to submit their products for animal testing abroad, although new arrangements are constantly being made to avoid needing to do this. The best way to find out is to ask a company directly – the ones that can prove their credentials against animal testing will be keen to tell you.