Irish pride
Located near Carron in Co Clare, the Burren Perfumery is a rambling collection of stone buildings that are home to a perfume and soap-making business and tea rooms. Nibble on generous portions of cake and browse lovely, organic bits and bobs like these Soil Association-certified Organic Healing Balms, €15, in Arnica, Borage, Calendula and Comfrey. That’s not all — the perfumery has a wide selection of fragrance, soaps, organic skincare, candles and teas on offer.
www.burrenperfumery.com
By using seaweed, one of our only indigenous natural cosmetic resources, the Walton family in Strandhill, Co Sligo, have turned Voya into a super-stylish spa brand with serious cult appeal. Beautiful formulations, effective products and all-important, gorgeous packaging add up to products you want on display in your bathroom. New to the range are excellent muslin cloths, €12, which turbo-charge any cleansing routine, and the delectable Balmelicious organic lip balms, also €12.
www.voya.ie
Vintage-inspired packaging, a tight edit of products for men and women at affordable prices, and, best of all, bubble bath that is gloriously sulphate-free — so that means no horrid, tight-feeling skin post-soak — the Handmade Soap Company is blazing a trail with its naturally nice pamper products. Pick up the lavender, rosemary, thyme and mint bubblebath, €9.95, for yourself, and some of the brand’s lovely, individually-wrapped soaps, balms and creams as good-to-get gifts.
www.thehandmadesoapcompany.ie
Brilliantly-priced considering the quality, fabulously-scented and elegantly-presented, Max Benjamin candles outperform offerings many times their €18 price point. With loads of lovely scent combinations on offer, you’re spoiled for choice. Fragrances include cassis and white jasmine, grapefruit and pomelo, mimosa and sweet amber, plus true lavender. The wax used in each burner is 100% natural and not from petroleum-based sources.
www.maxbenjamin.ie
Galway’s gorgeous candle emporium, Cloon Keen Atelier, has just branched out into fragrance with Bataille de Fleurs, €70. Chosen by Dublin Castle to scent the soaps, lotions and diffusers for the royal visit and state dinner during the Queen’s visit to Ireland in May, you can now bag a bottle of this mimosa-, jasmine- and bergamot-scented wonder for yourself.
www.cloonkeenatelier.com
In its brown apothecary packaging, Kinvara Skincare’s Rejuvenate Rosehip face serum, €26.95, means business. The ingredients underline that commitment to serious skincare too: 17 active, botanical extracts include evening primrose and rosehip oils, plus vitamins A and E. That adds up to an antioxidant and omega oil-rich potion that’s a boon for dry and mature skin types. Use as a first step before moisturiser for softer, smoother skin.
www.kinvaraskincare.com
A classic with mammies the nation over, L’Onglex nail polish remover, from €3.67, was bought by an Irish firm and given a thoroughly modern makeover in 2010. Now in acetone and acetone-free versions, this super-charged nail polish remover can tackle anything and quickly found favour all over the beauty firmament and became a staple, once again, in the bathrooms of mná na hÉireann. Why? Because, quite simply, it performs, and now that it’s Irish-owned, we’re delighted to support it.
www.longlex.ie
If there’s one thing we should do well in this country considering our strong and abiding love of the stuff, then it’s fake tan. Happily, we do: here are four home-grown purveyors of the best glow-job you ever had.
Pretty packaging, a high concentration of DHA, organic ingredients and nice masking perfumes mark out this Gradual Bronzing Moisturiser with SPF15, €19.99. For fans of a subtle glow, apply once for a light result or use to extend your holiday colour.
www.karoracosmetics.com
Northern Irish brand He-Shi has a clever sampler for summer: at €21.25, the Discovery Kit offers 50ml sizes of three popular products. You get Exfoliating Bodywash, Express Liquid Tan, Day to Day Gradual Tan plus a mini mitt inside a travel-friendly bag that’s perfect for weekends away.
www.he-shi.eu
Fame, €19.99, the newest starlet in the Rockstar stable, taps into this year’s trend for skin finishing. Organic, skin-friendly ingredients are whipped up into a stay-put bronzing solution that washes off when you want it to. Perfect for commitment-phobes!
www.rockstartan.ie
You’ll know this one from Dragon’s Den. Tan Organic, €34.99, offers a natural tanning solution in an aloe vera base. A nice point of difference, this helps to keep skin supple and moisturised while the tan does its work.
www.tanorganic.ie
And don’t forget: Irish brands are selling online too. Beautyfeatures.ie is taking on the big guns like Strawberrynet and HQhair with an excellent product offering, cheap postal rates and excellent swift delivery. Browse brilliant brands like Moroccanoil, Dermalogica, The Balm and more.
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