Simple Skincare

Simple Skincare is a British brand founded in 1960 to address sensitive skin needs, among the first to formulate without artificial fragrances, colours, or harsh preservatives. Now part of Unilever and PETA certified cruelty-free, Simple occupies a rare space in mass-market beauty: transparent ingredient lists, genuine fragrance-free formulation, and dermatologist validation. Their range spans facial cleansers, moisturisers, micellar waters, and boosters. The 10% Niacinamide Booster Serum stands out as a clean-formula, clearly-dosed active serum competitive with specialist brands. Trade-offs across the range include SLES as the lead surfactant in the Moisturising Facial Wash; Hexylene Glycol at high concentration in the Micellar Water (a fragrance allergen in a product used without rinsing); controversial UV filters in the Rich Moisturiser (Octinoxate under hormonal disruption review and unstabilised Avobenzone); and an SPF 15 sunscreen moisturiser with no published test report and protection levels inadequate for Indian outdoor UV conditions. The Refreshing Facial Wash and Niacinamide Serum are the cleanest picks in the range.