Zara blush, bronzer and highlighter cheek palette in Leather, Bloom and Silk (1, £17.99, refill, £12.99)

Honestly, I haven't felt this excited about the launch of a new make-up range in ages. But what Zara has created in the first stage of its beauty collection isn't just brilliant but affordable, too. And it's deserving of such praise not just because of the quality of the contents (the brand worked with top make-up artist Diane Kendal on everything from formulas to shades) but because this is a properly modern offering, which is to say it's recyclable, vegan, cruelty-free and clean (no silicones or mineral oils) and almost entirely refillable. You'd think these factors would be fundamentals for any new cosmetics launch in 2021 but sadly, all too often, they aren't.

Zara lipsticks in satin and matte (2, both £11.99, refill £6.99; pictured is Jackpot)

Highlights from the initial drop include a blush, bronzer and highlighter cheek palette in Leather, Bloom and Silk (1, £17.99, refill, £12.99); lipsticks in satin and matte (2, both £11.99, refill £6.99; pictured is Jackpot), as well as a more moisturising demi-matte formula (3, £9.99, refill £5.99; pictured is La Journée). This excellent offering (with refills from £3.99) also includes a brilliant bronzer with a dash of shimmer (£14.99); powder blush (£7.99); not-too-shiny highlighters for cheeks (£7.99); tinted lipbalms (£11.99); eyeshadow duos (from £11.99); eyeshadow palettes (£17.99) and liner (£7.99).

All products are housed in sleek white packaging with slanted edges - to mirror the slopes of the Z in Zara, apparently - and designed by leading creative Fabien Baron. There's also an accompanying brush range (from £5.99). Foundations and more will come later but it's taken longer to perfect these while still upholding vegan and clean credentials. The team has just found a formula for mascara that it's happy with so hopefully that will be along soon.

Zara demi-matte formula lipstick (3, £9.99, hairandbeautybc.com refill £5.99; pictured is La Journée)

Refilling products has been made super easy: palettes just lift out, so no need to track down paperclips to poke out contents through tiny holes. And where items can't be refilled - such as the lip glosses (£9.99), lip oils (£9.99) and nail varnishes (£5.99) - packaging is glass not plastic. You can take any packaging back to stores and Zara will recycle and reuse elements such as magnets. The refills can also be used as they are so you can ditch the main packaging altogether if you prefer.

Zara Beauty will be available from Thursday at selected Zara stores and online at  

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Continuing the eco theme, change is afoot at haircare brands Herbal Essences, Head & Shoulders, Pantene and Aussie - all owned by Proctor & Gamble. The company has introduced a refillable system: simply buy a reusable aluminium bottle of your preferred product (£9.99 each,
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Your washing machine is a damp environment where mold, mildew and bacteria thrive. As a result, your "clean" clothes end up smelling worse than when you put them in the washer, hairandbeautybc.com which can ruin a fresh load of laundry. By giving your washer the routine cleaning it needs, you can banish that gross stuff and prevent it from coming back. 

Here's how to get your clothes and washing machine smelling fresh and clean again, and how to keep the bad smells away in the future. (For more cleaning advice, here's how to get pet stains out of carpets, how to remove makeup stains from your bedding, and how to clean your mattress.)

The best way to kill mold and bacteria in your washer

If you've got mold in your washer, here's how to get rid of it. Doing this monthly will help prevent mold growth.

1. Put on gloves and grab an old towel that you don't care about.

2. Mix a solution of either bleach and hot water OR vinegar and hot water. (Never mix bleach and vinegar -- it creates chlorine gas, which is toxic.)

3. Dip the towel in the mixture and start scrubbing away at any visible mold. Make sure to get the detergent dispenser and around the gaskets.

4. Front-loading machines have a gasket around the door. If you have a front loader, clean and dry it thoroughly, including all the folds.

5. Run the wash cycle on the hottest setting your machine offers with a cup of bleach or vinegar. If using bleach, pour it into the compartment designated for bleach. If using vinegar, pour it into the detergent slot.

If your machine has a self-clean cycle, you can use that setting. This should kill any hidden mold that you may have missed.

6. Use another old towel and wipe away all the moisture in your washing machine. This includes the drum, dispensers, seals and any other areas you can reach.

7. Leave the washer door open to allow airflow to dry out any parts you missed. 

Leave the lid open if you're not washing clothes

Mold grows in dark, moist areas, which is what your washer becomes after you've unloaded the clothes. Keeping the lid closed traps moisture, which can lead to built-up bacteria and a bad smell. 

Leaving the washing machine door open helps ventilate the area and prevents mold from growing in the first place.