FAQs
Top Questions
We follow a cleaner ingredient and formulation approach because we believe in the power of these ingredients to help even the most delicate skin feel and look better. Please refer to our full Ingredient Disclosure.
We will never test our products or ingredients on animals nor do we use suppliers who test them on our behalf. Our products do not contain animal-based ingredients or animal derivatives. Each Plenaire product has been registered with the Vegan Society.
It’s important for us to provide complete transparency around our ingredient approach including our choice of fragrance raw materials.
After careful consideration and lots of research, we have chosen synthetic fragrances for our products over natural ones.
Synthetic ingredients in fragrance allow the creation of more complex and unique signatures which is the main reason for this decision. We wanted to be able to create a fragrance that is a true reflection of our brand, that is instantly recognisable and loved.
Safety
All Plenaire fragrances comply with EU Cosmetic regulation and IFRA standards. The IFRA Standards form the basis for the globally accepted and recognized risk management system for the safe use of fragrance ingredients and are part of the IFRA Code of Practice. This is the self-regulating system of the industry, based on risk assessments carried out by an independent Expert Panel and supports the IFRA commitment to provide products that are safe for use by the consumer and to the environment.
If you have very sensitive skin, it’s important to always patch test a product for 24 hours before choosing to invest in it.
Synthetic versus Natural approaches to Fragrance
Synthetic fragrances contain chemicals that are not of a natural origin while natural fragrances contain ingredients only from a natural origin- generally, this means essential oils. While a lot of synthetic fragrances contain parabens, phthalates and synthetic musks, it is entirely possible to create a synthetic fragrance without any of these materials, as we have achieved with our fragrance.
It is important to mention that synthetic fragrances do not necessarily cause more allergic reactions than natural fragrance. Both of them contain ingredients called allergens – substances that cause allergies. Almost all essential oils contain allergens, and many are not suitable for all occasions, for example, during pregnancy or for babies.
It is also not true that a natural fragrance is more sustainable than a synthetic one. In fact, the environmental impact of producing essential oils can often be higher when compared to synthetic perfumery ingredients.
Plenaire signature
Our products all contain a signature fragrance which we have developed in collaboration with a leading perfumery expert, here in the UK.
Our perfumer, Jean Charles Mignon studied chemistry at the University of Poitiers and Le Havre and began his perfume career at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery before completing Perfumery School in Grasse under the guidance of Robertet Senior Perfumers Michel Almairac, Jean-Francois Latty and Jacques Flori.
“When I was a child, my parents were florists so I was always in contact with flowers and gradually became familiar with the different species and their particular scents. My favourite smell has to be the rose (of course!) in part because of its richness, but also because of the power and impact this natural raw material delivers– there is nothing quite like it!"
The Plenaire signature fragrance, entitled Innocent Mind opens with light notes of white nectarine, leading to a heart of rose, orris and violet on a base of clean vanilla and creamy musk.
After balancing our key principles of safety, pleasure and sustainability, we are presenting this delicate signature in all of our products.
After listening to many of you, we have created a capsule of luxe beautiful accessories to complement our launch.
Our soft cloth flannels, durable canvas bags and gorgeous head knotwraps help to support our consumers to avoid plastic where they can make do with beautifully designed yet more circular alternatives.
We are proud to collaborate on these accessories with the Rewrap Collective, an NGO that creates ethical seed to shop cotton and canvas by empowering local artisans while providing employment to women in Mysore, India.
Where possible we like to team up with independent designers. Our knotwraps are organic 100% cotton and have been designed by us in collaboration with Rachel Breeden, an independent California based graphic designer. You can find more of Rachel’s original and beautiful patterns and vintage 70’s style prints here.
Sustainability
Polypropylene ( PP)
After careful consideration and researching the pros and cons of plastic versus glass and other materials as far as safety, durability and lifestyle suitability, we chose to use BPA free PP for our packaging, for tubes and bottles.
Half a century ago, two new members of the polyolefin family became available: Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP). These two plastics offer all of the traditional applications used for PVC, paper, metal or glass. They possess increased durability and are significantly more wear resistance when compared to traditional products such as paper.
PP is rugged and resistant to different chemical solvents, acids, and bases. PP’s resin identification code is 5, and it is recyclable. This cloudy plastic – the kind that is most popularly used for yogurt containers-is more efficient to manufacture than virgin plastic. PP is often eventually recycled to make brooms, brushes, garden rakes and plastic trays.
It is important to remember that all plastics are not equal in this regard. A distinct advantage remains: these materials are environmentally-friendly.
In summary, Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP). benefit the environment because they
Break down more quickly, taking just 20-30 years compared to over 500 years for some other plastics.
Take fewer natural resources to produce,
Generate fewer waste products in production and disposal and are widely recycled,
When burned, they do not generate toxic gases (like chlorine from PVC plastics)
In addition all of our tubes have the advantage of being mono material PP, making them more effective to easily recycle.
Safety
While this plastic is non-biodegradable and still comes from non-renewable sources, it's often considered to be a better and somewhat safer plastic than other alternatives and is not linked to health issues, like other plastics.
Polypropylene containers do not leach harmful chemicals into food or liquids. They commonly contain yogurt, medicine, drinks, ketchup and medicines. PP is BPA free which is a commonly found toxic compound linked to various health issues. BPA has been linked to developmental issues during pregnancy and childhood, linking it to birth defects and neurological disorders. It's an endocrine disruptor, and also tied to asthma, breast cancer, heart disease, leukaemia, prostate cancer and other issues, obesity, testicular cancer, and thyroid issues.
Staying Plastic Free
No plastic is really environmentally friendly.
If you’re looking to reduce your use of plastic, check out our list of suggested resources here:
https://friendsoftheearth.uk/plastics/living-without-plastic
https://www.plasticsfree.co.uk/
https://www.goingzerowaste.com/
https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/lucy-siegle/turning-the-tide-on-plastic/9781409182986/
Following a mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle.
Our going in approach is to encourage “conscious consumption” with our audience. In our promotional materials we encourage our customers to be more mindful in how they consume as well as think about a more circular approach to buying. Only use how much you need, be present and conscious of waste.
We would like to recognize that Sustainability doesn’t come from packaging alone, though this has a significant impact on it. What is often forgotten is that much of the process of being more sustainable comes from our own actions in the usage process, not simply materials and packaging alone.
Bearing this in mind, we have created 3 skin cleansing formats that qualify as waterless cleansers, in other words, require less water to work perfectly.
Further we have made it easy to use formats like Rose Jelly, Skin Frosting and Tripler by creating luxe Plenaire face flannels that not only help optimize/reduce the use of water in the cleansing process, but also make it efficient and a pleasure to use.
Our Skin Frosting Deeply Hydrating Mask simply wipes off and can be used without water. Apply on a clean, dry face, and relax for 20 minutes. Wipe away with a warm washcloth or a damp Plenaire face flannel.
Our Tropique Enzymatic Exfoliant is a leave on exfoliating cleanser, and designed to be used without rinsing with water.
Rose Jelly Gentle Makeup Remover is not waterless in the classic sense, but designed to work with very little water. It relies on Sucragel technology rather than traditional cleansing technology that’s more frugal with water while being a pleasure to use, and has the added bonus of being gentler on skin than many ordinary cleansers. Simply apply on a full face of makeup, and add a bit of water to turn into a rose-colored milk. Rinse or simply wipe away excess makeup and product using a damp washcloth or a Plenaire face flannel.
Remember to be mindful, by turning on the tap only when you need to.
Sustainability is a core value for Plenaire. We believe that convenience, great design and safety can coexist with sustainability. Our approach was created by looking at best practice in the across the industry, but also from we heard in the dozens of focus groups and social listening platforms as we created the brand. As far as possible with Plenaire, we have tried to make the best material choices that we can without compromising safety and consumer experience. You can read more about these issues and related policies in our full statement on materiality and sustainabilityhere.
Delivery
We will send you an email as soon as your order is on the way. For tracked orders, you can use the tracking link provided in your email or located in your account to check where your order is.
Have you checked for any delivery cards? Your parcel may have been left somewhere safe, such as with a neighbour or been taken to a local depot.
Our Delivery Information page can give you more information and timescales.
If you do need to report your order as lost then please contact our Customer Service through your account.
Our Delivery Information page can tell you the timeframes associated with our different delivery options alongside their costs.
Don’t worry, if your order cannot fit through the letterbox or requires a signature then you should receive a calling card. This card is from the courier and lets you know where your parcel is and how you can collect it.
Returns + Refunds
Please refer to our returns policy page for more information.
If you still need help or have any further questions then our Customer Service team is on hand to help. You can contact them through your account.
We try not to make things complicated for you, log-into your account to contact our Customer Service team and they’ll do the rest.
You will need to tell them the reason for the return so they can choose the best option for you.
Please refer to our returns policy page for more information.
We want all of our customers to enjoy their products so if you are not happy with your order then you can send it back to us.
All we ask is that you let us know that you do not want the order within 14 days of receipt and make sure the products have not been opened, once you have obtained your RAN (Returns Authorisation Number) you will then have a further 14 days to return your item.
To get the order back to us safely please to log-in to your account and contact our Customer Service team.
They will send you all the information you need, but you can also refer to our returns policy page for more information.
As soon as we receive your order, we will review the reason for return and let you know what we plan to do next.
You should receive an email to notify you of any action taken.
Your refund should be returned to your account within 5 working days and we will send you an email to let you know it’s on its way.
If you do not receive your refund and it has been 10 working days since you received our email, then you will need to contact our Customer Service team through your account.
Website
Please refer to our Terms and Conditions page.
If you are having problems accessing the checkout or any part of our website, then please get in contact with our Customer Service team straight away so we can fix this for you.
Please refer to our Privacy Policy page.
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