The best pore-cleansing toners

Salicylic skin tonics were once the preserve of spendy brands, but serious skincare is now in every chemist

The best silicone-free primers

Silicones smooth and blur imperfections, but the way they peel and bobble under fingers drives me to distraction

The best emergency spot treatments

Acne patches, when loaded with the right ingredients, can shorten a spot’s lifespan by days

‘I gave a blueberry facial to a vegan dog’: inside the pet pampering boom

From cat spas to dogs Fitbits, pets are more fussed over than ever. What’s behind the mini-me phenomenon?

Sali Hughes’s 40 best sustainable beauty brands

From packaging to ingredients, the Guardian’s beauty editor picks the top brands doing their bit for the planet