Tried and tested

Revlon Colourstay 12-Hour Eyeshadow Quad in Coffee Bean, €7.50

A good daytime pick thanks to fairly sheer pigmentation, these subtle browns make for an office-appropriate result that layer and blend well together. A decent price for four shadows too.

Smashbox Softbox Eye Palette, €55

The best bet for brides out of the bunch, soft pastel colours and a really good shade edit mean you’ll get tons of looks from this kit, both on the big day and honeymoon, as well as long beyond.

Bobbi Brown Tortoiseshell Palette, €57.50

In two iterations to suit cool and warm skintones, each Tortoiseshell palette contains eight shadows for both day and night in a mix of matte, shimmer and metallic finishes. Expect great wear from this kit.

Urban Decay Naked Palette, €36

The lust-have palette that’s set a thousand beauty blogs alight, 12 creamy shadows in lots of creams, taupe and brown, right up to dramatic black, are best suited for those with a warmer skintone.

Neutrogena T/Gel, €6.16

Beloved of men the land over, Neutrogena T/Gel is great for calming an itchy, irritated scalp and it now comes in new variants for different hair types and scalp conditions. Great on a budget.

La Roche-Posay Kerium Intensive Treatment, €15.50

A high-tech treatment which delivers fast, effective results, this is far more than a mere scurf-clearer. It exfoliates the scalp and powers through the root causes of dandruff, aiming to deliver clean, flake-free hair in three weeks.

Vichy Dercos Anti-Dandruff Treatment Shampoo, €11.50

Not only does this treat visible white flakes and the irritating itching that comes with dandruff but it helps to strengthen the scalp over time too — and that helps knock the problem on the head for good.

Head and Shoulders Hydrating Smooth and Silky, €3.59

Sometimes the oldies really are the goodies and this is genuinely really great. It smells fab, keeps the scalp clear of annoying flakes and it does deliver smooth and silky locks. I’m really impressed with it.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Melt In Cream 50+, €17.50

Sensitive types get on great with La Roche-Posay skincare and the brand’s Anthelios suncare is also a good bet if you find you suffer reactions to SPFs as they’ve reduced the chemical content in this new product. Non-perfumed, it’s also paraben-free.

Shiseido Urban Environment UV Protection Cream, €33

Designed for daily wear, this is a really well-formulated sunscreen that’s easy to incorporate into your daily routine as it doesn’t add load or fuss. Scent-free, it has some skincare benefits and contains anti-oxidants.

Clarins UV Plus HP Day Screen SPF40, €36

A really good pick for those with drier skins, this offers excellent protection against UVA and UVB rays as well as some nice skincare properties. It wears well on the skin and doesn’t cause congestion.

Nivea Sun Pocket Size SPF30, €5.79

Broad spectrum UV protection and a really handy size that’s great for the car, handbag or weekend away, make this little bottle from Nivea one of the best bargain buys you’re ever likely to make.

Stockists

Bobbi Brown at Brown Thomas; Clarins at pharmacies and department stores; Head and Shoulders at supermarkets; La Roche-Posay at pharmacies; Neutrogena at supermarkets; Nivea at supermarkets; Revlon at larger Boots stores; Shiseido at department stores and large pharmacies; Smashbox at Debenhams, Arnotts and selected pharmacies; Urban Decay at Debenhams; Vichy at pharmacies.

* Check out Kirstie McDermott’s blog at beaut.ie/blog/