Tried and tested

“Every time I walk into a department store or turn the pages of a glossy magazine, I’m bombarded with seductive-sounding beauty products."

"The choice –and pressure to spend – is endless, so I’m relieved when Biologique Recherche facialist Aime promises to give my skin a bespoke workout.

“She picks out products suited to my specific needs, rather than sticking to a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s the central ethos behind the French brand, which despite being 35 years old, has only recently launched in Ireland.

"Products containing a high concentration of botanical and marine extracts (and no nasties) are mixed on the spot, turning the spa into more of a science laboratory.

"Aimee works on half my face at a time (using a very effective skin-pinching exfoliation technique) to illustrate before and after differences with gasp-inducing effect: one side is plumper, fresher and remarkably less sallow after treatment.

“After 90 minutes of custom pampering, my skin has never looked better.” Biologique Recherche facials cost from €95 for 90 minutes.

See vedasbeauty.ie for further details.

SMOOTH OPERATOR

“French skincare brand La Roche-Posay is known for its sensitive skin products. Over a four-week period, I tested one of its cornerstone items, Hydraphase UV Intense Legere SPF 20 day cream, to see if it delivered on its promise.

“A lightly-scented cream, it feels rich, more like a night cream. I had to give it a little time to thoroughly soak in before applying foundation — a minor inconvenience . The results after a few weeks of daily use were well worth a few extra minutes in the morning.

“My skin looks clear and bright, and feels fantastic. It has the lovely plumped-up feeling that I normally only experience after putting on a rich night cream.

“As someone who frequently suffers dry patches and itchiness when I try a new product, I’m amazed by how well this cream suits my skin, and how quickly I saw an improvement.”

* Hydraphase UV Intense Legere SPF 20 day cream is currently on offer at €17.24 (was €22.99) and if you have easily irritated skin you may find the results worth the investment. Grainne McGuinness

* La Roche-Posay is currently running a promotion in aid of Temple Street Children’s Hospital, called ‘You Share, We care’.

Share a selfie with your favourite La Roche-Posay product and say why you like it, using the hashtag #yousharewecare and in return the company will donate to the hospital €1 per selfie shared for the first 10,000 selfies posted.