Product watch
When there is no threat of having to expose any flesh, the incentive to exfoliate, moisturise, wax and fake tan goes out the window.
When I was faced with attending a wedding recently off the back of a few very busy weeks’ of work, I feared I would look like an orc in a dress. Tired eyes and dry, patchy skin made me despair, but I was saved by the miracle power of oils.
Rosehip oil has been my saving grace. It’s been a celebrity and dermatologist secret for years and it’s been back in the news because Kate Middleton’s facialist revealed she uses the oil. Did I mention Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham are fans too?
What’s great about rosehip oil in particular is it’s a dry oil and so doesn’t sit on the skin but sinks right in. It also means you can wear it as a luxurious base for your make-up, or add a drop or two to your regular moisturiser for added effect. I use Trilogy’s organic Rosehip Antioxidant+ (€32.95), but Botanics does an organic facial oil with Rosehip for €14.99.
When it comes to the body, oils are like SOS treatments. I’ve been a fan of Clarins’ body treatment oils (€44.73) for years now. They’re instantly soothing and toning and the scent of the natural plant essences is reviving. I also like Elemental Herbology’s Botanical Body Repair (€35) but only available in SpaceNK in Dublin.
We can’t talk about oil without mentioning the all-rounder, Johnson’s baby oil (€1.48). I’m a bit of a scrooge when it comes to lavishing expensive products all over, so I supplement the fancy stuff with baby oil on my arms and legs. It’s a great quick-fix for skin if you have slacked off on exfoliating.
For ultimate luxury try Perfumed Dry Oil like Nuxe’s Huile Prodigieuse (€31.35), a beautiful French product that gives a sort of effortless sensuality. You’ll be disrobing in no time!
I was taken off guard recently when I tried a sample of a new spa brand called [Comfort Zone]. I opened a tiny sachet of Renight Vitamin Integrator and applied it. I felt like the sparkles from a magic wand were being applied to my face. This stuff is incredible, a nourishing, super-vitamin oil for depleted skins with provitamin A, group B vitamins and Vitamin E to help neutralise free radicals (booze, cigarettes, stress, sun, diet, pollution). The Renight Vitamin Integrator is €50, Recover Cream is €73.25 and Tranquility body cream is €94.16. Stocked in Fota Island Resort, Cork and Spa Sula in Westport.
I have dark circles and fine lines under my eyes — what is the best way to cover them?
You know you’re in need of some urgent attention when you start looking at your own under-eye area with a sort of horrified fascination. We’ve all been there, burning the candle at both ends and all of a sudden it looks like you’re sporting two black eyes. There are a few approaches here.
Conceal: I think Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Concealer Kit (€33) is one of the best on the market. Blended well, sometimes this is all you need to make your face look presentable and foundation can be foregone. It’s thick in consistency and covers everything. Set it with the accompanying powder to stop it sitting in fine lines.
Brighten: The king of the highlighter-concealer, Touche Eclat (€35) gently covers and illuminates — good for brightening dark circles.
Treat: Clinique are launching Even Better Eyes (€38) in August, a dark circle corrector. It is very lightly tinted, so gives an immediate effect but the really exciting bit is it lightens the area by 30% in 12 weeks.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
