Vegetarianism has never been so popular as more and more people become conscious of what they are eating, where it's come from, and how it will affect their health.

But do people stop and ask themselves the same questions when it comes to what they are putting on their face? With so many brands of cosmetics around, it's easy to take the easy option and go for the cheapest, or the most well-known range available.

Many women faithfully stick to the brands they've used for years, with little thought of what goes into the products designed to make them more beautiful.

But there are alternatives.

With a little help from Trude Mostue, star of BBC1's Vets in Practice series, Beauty Without Cruelty have just launched their new range of cosmetics.

Available from most health food shops and independent chemists, the range is a "cruelty free" alternative to some of the mainstream cosmetic brands around.

According to Trude, a fresh new look and exciting palette of colours, combined with a strong policy against animal testing, makes the range unique.

Says Trude: "Of course animal welfare is very important to me, so it's great to wear make-up and know that no products or ingredients have been tested on animals."

The Beauty Without Cruelty company philosophy promises no animal testing on finished products or ingredients, cosmetics free from animal-derived ingredients, including lanolin, ensuring the range is suitable for vegetarians.

And with prices ranging from £2.25 for a defining pencil to £4.95 for Ultra Fine Loose Powder, buying Beauty Without Cruelty products needn't break the bank either.

Meanwhile with World Environment Day coming up on June 5, Body Shop boss Anita Roddick is reminding people of their obligation to the environment and is promoting a number of natural products available over the summer.

Anita says she never leaves home without her Vitamin E Moisture Cream, which she calls her "skin's comfort factor when I'm on the move".

Other favourites include Brazil Nut Conditioner to keep her hair frizz-free,, Hemp Hand Protector and aromatherapy oils.

"When I get to where I'm staying, I run a bath, put in a few drops of a favourite essential oil and let the room fill with fragrance," she says.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.