Product watch - beauty treats

Flu season is imminent and while cosmetics can’t cure streaming eyes or a sore throat, there are some wonderful beauty treats to soothe your skin and senses.

Hope in a Jar

Philosophy’s best-selling Hope in a Jar cream has a night-time partner. New this month, Hope in a Jar Night, €46, promises results (increased hydration, glowing complexion and diminished fine lines/large pores) in less time (a fortnight). The key ingredients are glycolic acid (a natural exfoliant), beta glucans (natural sugars that boost the skin’s immunity) and Qusomes (the innovation the brand is really shouting about, these little water bubbles parachute the cream’s active ingredients through each layer of skin). The name is so on-the-nose. Don’t all face creams represent hope in a jar/bottle/tube?

Grapefruit vs Gloom

Origins grapefruit-scented Gloomaway range really makes you feel good about the day ahead. The Gloomaway Body-Buffing Cleanser, €28, contains palm and coconut oil cleansers and exfoliating, crushed apricot seeds. The Gloomaway Body Soufflé, €34, contains olive, grape seed and apricot oils. This cream cocoons you in moisture and citrus fragrance, keeping you uplifted for hours.

Fresh Eyes

There are buckets of irritated-eye remedies available but I always reach for Eau Thermal Avène Ysthéal+ Eye Contour Cream, €29. This contains camomile and is 68% Avène thermal water, the only French spring water recognised by the country’s health ministry for its therapeutic benefits. It feels deliciously cool, absorbs quickly and layers smoothly under makeup. If your eyes are puffy, don’t bother with roller-ball applicator creams. These only redistribute fluid temporarily (which your fingers can do for free with a light massage!). Prevent the puff by sleeping on your back with your head elevated, cleansing thoroughly before bed and using a humidifier (see below).

Spray on some Sunshine

Clayspray is a mask-in-a-can. There’s no way to dress that up but it’s not a gimmick: the aerosol can is more hygienic than a jar and better maintains the benefits of the mineral-rich red and white clay formulae. Sourced from San Sebastián, the red-clay products contain iron, collagen-boosting silica and regenerative and healing magnesium. Clayspray Glow Red Clay with Cacao Masque, €55.60 at feelunique.com (includes free Clayspray Hydrate Water Spray), will leave your skin luminous.

Breathe Easy

A bedroom humidifier benefits both your respiratory health and your looks. Dry air makes hair dull and saps your skin of precious H20. A humidifier leaves skin more supple and keeps nasal passages and lungs lubricated, speeding your recovery from colds, curbing snores and keeping asthmatics and allergy-sufferers comfortable. HoMedics Cool and Warm Mist Air Humidifier, €154.99, offers a sauna-like heating option while the more compact HoMedics Ultrasonic Cool Mist Oscillating Humidifier, €99.99, better suits those with kids or pets running around. Both are virtually silent. Available at Argos.