The high street favourite is launching an organic skincare range. H&M organic skincare is will hit store shelves early March 2010. According to their site, the range includes shower gel, body scrub, body lotion, hand cream and lip balm in raspberry and melon or lavender and mint, "all of which are based on natural and organic ingredients and are certified by Ecocert". The wording around the ECOCERT certification is a bit fuzzy (is it simply some of the ingredients that have the certification or is the products as a whole?), but this foray into higher-quality products by such a large-scale high street store is good news, I think. Would love to hear from those who have their own organic skincare ranges on the subject. What do you think? Greenwashing or the real deal?

Head of design for H&M Ann-Sofie Johansson says "it felt like a natural step, since we’ve worked with organic cotton garments for a few seasons now. There’s also a strong demand from our customers for organics, and I hope they will be as excited as I am about the new products."

Products come in recycled polyethylene packaging and a range of make up (not explicitly stated that it's organic anywhere) and organic cotton make up bags are also being launched.

The brand as a whole is making the move into a more sustainable business model, with a commitment to 'increase the use of organic cotton by 50% each year until 2013'.

Prices for the new skincare range start at  €3.90 and go to €6.90. (You can do the conversion into £.)

Muji, the makers of my favourite travel radio alarm clock, the purveyors of the minimalist, hyper-organised aesthetic to which I am a slave (as the perpetual wish list I am now keeping on Posterous has made painfully clear), are bringing their simple, lovely skincare to the UK. Japan has been privy to Muji's skincare secrets for, well, as long as they've existed.

So what do we have to look forward to? A capsule collection of the popular Muji skincare products and ranges, which is based on the water of Japan's Iwate region, apparently renowned for it's softness and tiny particle size (all the better for absorption). The sensitive skin range, high moisture range and three cleansers (an oil, a milk and a gel) will kick off Muji's entry into the UK beauty market.

The two ranges are free from alcohol, parabens, artificial colouring, mineral oils, synthetic perfume (and perfume full stop in the sensitive skin range). 

The sensitive skin range includes star ingredients grapefruit seed extract, which is naturally moisturising, and Portulaca Oleracea (Common Purslane) extract, which protects the skin. Not sure what their concentration is, but worth noting. Same with the peach extract, Hyaluronic Acid and Lipidure ® (Polyquaternium -51) in the high moisture range. 

When can you buy the goods? At the end of March, both in store and at www.muji.co.uk. With prices ranging from £7.95 to £16.95, I foresee them being an instant hit.