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Published 08 Jan 2026

Would You Eat your Moisturiser?

There’s a lot of information in the press and from the government about eating healthily, but there’s a lot less attention paid to all the chemicals in many of our cosmetic products. Skin provides us with a protective layer, but it’s also designed to let certain particles in. Think about hormone patches, nicotine patches, topically applied pain relief….these permeate through your skin to deliver the dose directly to your system. So it’s the same with many other ingredients in cosmetics that we apply.

Beauty and personal care products can make us look and feel better, but they also carry the potential for detrimental consequences to our long-term health. Numerous studies have demonstrated a link between the chemicals present in many cosmetic products and a range of health problems. On their own or in small doses the products are relatively safe, but the cumulative effect of them over the years, particularly in combination with other products, can be harmful. There’s a perception that product safety is strictly regulated but there are regulation gaps that make it possible for potentially dangerous chemicals to be part of our everyday lives.

So it’s up to us to try to make sure we’re careful about what we apply to our skin. It's worth going for organic or natural options where possible – not just for your health, but to cut down on pollution from chemical runoff too. 

Unfortunately, cosmetics made from all-natural ingredients tend to be more expensive.  You can try making your own but this isn’t always easy or effective. I’m delighted to be able to introduce the range of skin care products from Fair Squared – they use natural, Fairtrade, and where possible organic ingredients. They smell lovely, they are non-greasy and absorb into the skin readily, they really moisturise nicely, and as natural products go, they’re not too expensive. They come in glass jars with screw top lids so they are completely plastic free. You can reuse the jars or they are readily recyclable.

Browse the range and see what you think:  

Open glass jar of Fair Squared day cream with screw top lid

 


 

Sally Phillips, Owner and Director of Chimney Sheep

Sally Phillips

Inventor of Chimney Sheep

PlanetCare Microfibre Filter Starter Kit

PlanetCare Microfibre Filter Starter Kit

How does it work?

This ingenious washing machine microfibre filter kit uses cartridges to physically catch and retain the fibres that come loose when you wash your laundry. Each cartridge will last around 15-20 loads of laundry and is easily replaceable in just a couple of minutes.

Fibre retention is based solely on physical retention with the help of clever patent-pending technology.

You can also send the used cartridges back to us and we'll forward them on to PlanetCare. They will ensure that they are reused or recycled.  This ‘closed loop’ system ensures that there is minimum wastage throughout the whole process.

Something to think about:

Doing the laundry can have a huge environmental impact, whether that be using tons of energy running the washing machine and tumble drier - or the pollutants that are released from the products you use. Using a microfiber filter is just one way of reducing that impact. Why not make a few more changes - we've tons of handy tips in our blog.

What's in the box?

You'll get everything you need to fit your PlanetCare washing machine filter with these handy starter kits, meaning you can get it in place and start catching microfibers straight away.

The Mini Starter Kit includes:

  • 1 housing top with a cup, 1 holder, 4 screws, 1 tube (1.5m), 1 silicone lubricant, 1 counter, and 3 filter replacement cartridges.
  •  3 cartridges. These can last up to 60 washes.

The XL Starter Kit includes:

  • 1 housing top with a cup, 1 holder, 4 screws, 1 tube (1.5m), 1 silicone lubricant, 1 counter, and 3 filter replacement cartridges.
  • 13 cartridges. These can last up to 260 washes.

    Note: All the filter cartridges are 100% recycled and refurbished for use again and again via a closed-loop service.

      Is it easy to install?

      The microfiber filter is very easy to install. In fact, for most washing machines this process takes less than 10 minutes. The filters are compatible with all types of washing machines.

      There's actually a handy how-to video and a useful installation guide  you can take a peek at if you need a little bit more guidance.

      It’s a good idea to position it high enough above the floor/surface so the cover can be removed to change the filter and position the device so that it is easy to screw the cover back after each filter change.

      Please note: you will need 13 cm on the side of the washing machine and approx. 60 cm in height clearance so that you will be able to easily unscrew the housing and change the filter comfortably.

      The filter must be placed outside the washing machine on the drain hose. It should not be raised above the height of the drain hose exiting the washing machine. The hose length should be held to a minimum. Raising the filter and a long drain hose will both reduce the efficiency of pumping and filtering and should be avoided.

      What are the dimensions of the filter housing?

      The filter housing alone, without any attachments, measures the following:

      • height 325 mm, width (hose attachment direction) 122 mm, and depth 130 mm.

      Is the microfiber filter easy to use?

      For the first load, just make sure the filter cover is replaced correctly and screwed tight before using the washing machine. Try a short wash and make sure all connections and covers are fixed and watertight.

      It’s also a good idea to hold the top of the device when replacing the filter cover to avoid putting pressure on the bracket fixings when unscrewing the cover.

      After that, you do not need to do anything until the cartridge is full.

      Easy!

      How does the closed-loop system work?

      When your cartridge is full you can send it back to us directly, simply go onto the delivery website Parcel2Go and produce a label to send the cartridges to us, don't forget to include your order details as we'll refund you the postage cost. We then send these off to PlanetCare who disassemble the cartridge and remove the fibres and filtering medium.  This is done in a controlled environment, ensuring that caught fibres do not pollute water or the environment.

      What does Planetcare do with the fibres?

      At the moment PlanetCare is safely storing the used filtered materials. Once they have sufficient quantity, they will reuse/recycle it all. At the moment they are planning to reuse the materials by converting them into insulation mats. But, they're always on the lookout for viable solutions and will choose the best available option to reuse/ recycle the fibres.

      The waste will never be burned or sent to a landfill!

      The remainder of the cartridge is cleaned, and fitted with a new filtering medium ready to be used again.

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