Wonderful natural beauty products from TRESemme, Sanoflore and more

About five years ago a staycation took me to The Beckford Arms, a pub with rooms in the fabulously named village of Fonthill Gifford in South Wiltshire. It was July but, as so regularly happens with our unpredictable climate, an unstoppable deluge meant I spent two days curled up by the fire and taking long bubble baths rather than roaming the countryside. Good things came out of the bad weather though. 

Firstly, I managed to sample an extensive amount of their incredible food menu while sinking fishbowls of red wine, and secondly I discovered Bramley, a glorious collection of bath and body products created by Chloe Luxton, who owns the pub with her husband Charlie.

It’s one of those wonderful ranges that puts the plants at the heart of everything and since my early encounter with the range, it has exploded across the country – you’ll now find it in more than 350 hotels, pubs, restaurants and stores.

Luckily, nothing has been lost as its popularity has boomed and the bubbles, cream and washes are still packed with therapeutic plants, all chosen for their remarkable properties and moreish scents.

The Body Lotion (£14; 01373 813100, bramleyproducts.co.uk) blends juniper, sweet orange and bergamot essential oils in a nourishing, lightweight moisturiser. 

Of course, harnessing the power of plants is nothing new, so the important thing as a consumer is to make sure you choose brands which do it well, using interesting, natural ingredients to the best of their potential, rather than simply bunging a rose bud on the bottle and asking each other, “Will that do?” 

Around for more than 30 years but only recently arrived on these shores, Sanoflore has an impressive line of products made with scrupulously organic credentials. The ingredients are largely sourced from the Vercors Regional Natural Park and Drôme in France, which has been organically farmed for almost half a century and has incredibly pure air to boot.

Check out the Crème Magnifica Anti-Imperfections Moisturiser (£19.50; 0800 046 1683, feelunique.com), which manages to leave skin silky without needing to use silicone. It contains organic mentha piperita, a patented complex of nine essential oils including antibacterial peppermint oil and peppermint floral water for a clearer complexion. 

Another French company, L’Occitane, has long been singing the praises of immortelle, a flower than grows in Corsican scrubland and never fades, hence its name. L’Occitane patented it over a decade ago and has been harvesting by sickle and distilling its magically effective essential oil – which has twice the antioxidant power of vitamin E – from the seeds ever since.

The latest addition to the hugely popular range is the Immortelle Divine Cleansing Balm (£34; 0800 368 9000, loccitane.co.uk), which melts like butter into skin, transforming into a cleansing oil that removes dirt and make-up while replacing moisture rather than stripping it away. 

Don’t think that seeking out botanical benefits rules out the most cutting-edge creams and ingredients; it’s not just hippies who know there’s gold in them thar hills.

Goldfaden Plant Profusion Supreme Serum (£175; 020 8740 2085, spacenk.com) is a powerful nourishing skincare concentrate; antioxidant raspberry leaf and comfrey leaf stem cell actives, white tea leaf and garden cress sprout work together to increase cell turnover, reduce inflammation and improve luminosity.

If there’s anyone to have on speed dial if you’re working with plants, I image it’s the green-fingered boffins at Kew Gardens. That’s exactly who Boots has been chatting to about its Botanics Skincare range, and they’ve been helping keep ingredients of the highest quality and efficacy, while ensuring they are sustainably sourced.

The All Bright Illuminating Radiance Balm (£8.99; 0345 070 8090, boots.co.uk) is light and quickly absorbed and uses hibiscus to help your complexion glow.

It isn’t just skin that can benefit from botanicals, however. There are plenty of hair products that are turning to nature. The L’Oréal Paris Botanicals Fresh Care line will leave your style beautifully soft while making the most of ingredients from natural, more sustainable sources.

One of the products that caught my eye was the Geranium Radiance Remedy Shine Vinegar (£9.99; nationwide). It might sound astringent rather than pampering, but it is infused with geranium essential oil to help it refresh dull or coloured hair. Mist on before an evening out to revive your style, leaving it fabulously shiny and smelling fragrant.

Finally, coconut oil and aloe vera are the key ingredients that replenish and restore in TRESemme Botanique Nourish & Replenish Hydrating Mist (£6.10; 0345 070 8090, boots.co.uk), a leave-in conditioner that detangles and moisturises without weighing your hair down. The brand is also a bargain if you’re looking for a high-street option that is free from sulphates and parabens.