Q I'm thinking of trying out organic skincare and cosmetic products. Are the benefits really worth the shake-up to my beauty regimen?

A It depends on what your motivation is.

Most diehard fans of a mineral make-up brand such as Bare Escentuals swear by how its all-natural ingredients do wonders for the skin. (This will be one of the brands sold in multi-label cosmetics store Sephora when it opens here later this year.)

Essentially, mineral make-up stakes its beauty cachet on being free from synthetic and potentially irritating preservatives, dyes, oils or fragrances, and dermatologists have agreed that it can improve complexion if used over a sustained period, ranging from a few weeks to a few months, depending on varying skin conditions.

Now, if you have larger green concerns beyond just what's good for your skin, seek out eco-friendly brands such as Australian skincare label Jurlique, which takes the all-natural thing one step further.

The packaging for the products is made from 80per cent recycled materials. The label also owns the farms on which its ingredients are grown, so that it can practise green farming methods to ensure the soil isn't depleted of its nutrients.

Personally, I see no reason to fear synthetics, which may be getting an undeserved bad reputation with the mineral make-up fad, but serve essential functions such as stabilising cosmetic formulas. But if you can save the world a little from harmful eco-practices with a moisturiser, why not?

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Sep 26, 2008.