'Self-acceptance is really important': Health and haircare among talking points at Feelgood Live
Dr Nicola Ralph, Sabrina Hill and Esther McCarthy pictured at the Feelgood Live event, which took place at Marina Market, Cork. Picture: Noel Sweeney
The impact of hard water on hair, supplement use for menopause, consistency over perfection in our food consumption, and two key skincare steps to never skip were among the valuable insights covered at the second annual Feelgood Live event in Cork.
Over 200 women experienced a morning of movement, conversation and inspiration at Feelgood Live, in association with PrecisionBiotics, Nourish, and Ireland’s Blue Book, at the Marina Market on Sunday morning. The event began with a low-impact workout led by Lesley Giltinan of Lean With Lesley, kicking off a high-energy mood among the crowd.
Menopause expert Dr Fionnuala McSweeney and dietitian Aoife Hearne spoke on the women’s health and wellbeing panel, offering expert advice on making positive day-to-day changes.
Hearne emphasised the importance of consistency over perfection in our diets “It’s less about perfection and more about being ‘good enough’. Consistency tops everything; being ‘good enough’ is good enough,” she said.
“There are no ‘good foods’ or ‘bad foods’; there’s just food. There’s no morality when it comes to food.”
She emphasised the importance of reducing the pressure we put on ourselves when it comes to healthy eating for the whole family.
“If you don’t eat broccoli one night, that’s not a crisis. We’re not raising kids to eat broccoli; we’re raising kids to have a healthy attitude to food as an adult.”
Dr McSweeney said many things can impact a woman during perimenopause or menopause, including pressure to have children, ageing parents to care for, and financial strain, and she approaches each patient from a lifestyle perspective too, encouraging everyone to keep a symptom diary.
“Perimenopause is a period of transition and a process that is different for many women,” she said.
She emphasised the benefits of strength training, sleep, nutrition, and other factors for women, with Hearne noting that women often consider restricting their food intake, but she advises “including rather than excluding” foods and being kind to your body.
“Self-acceptance is really important here,” Hearne added. “We are all here because our ancestors had enough food to survive. Eating enough is important. We are seeing women underfueling chronically.”
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Dr McSweeney suggested focusing on body composition rather than a number on a scale as we age. “Focus on how I can make my body stronger and fitter for old age,” she suggested.
The morning’s second panel focused on hair and skincare with consultant dermatologist Prof Nicola Ralph and hair stylist Sabrina Hill from Kopper Salon in Cork city.
Prof Ralph said women are bombarded with adverts for all kinds of skincare as they age, but she recommends just two essential steps for everyone.
“Don’t spend your money on expensive moisturisers — SPF in the morning and topical retinol at night will do. If you don’t have sunscreen in your daily routine, you’re wasting your time,” she said, adding some tips on how to start incorporating retinol into skincare routines.
She also highlighted the importance of treating our necks and backs of hands with the same care and products we use on our faces.
Hill shared some advice for caring for hair, and cited environmental damage as one of the main causes of hair issues she sees in her salon, with hard water being a particular concern for many of her customers.
“Our water is damaging hair. Irish water has a lot of minerals; it’s usually hard,” Hill said.
“My favourite product for anyone who needs to reset their hair is a really good scalp shampoo.”
The frequency of hair-washing changes from person to person, but Prof Ralph suggests regular washing to treat scalp concerns.
“I’m a fan of people washing regularly if they have scalp issues and using the right products,” she said.
The audience was highly engaged and their questions for the experts included seeking advice on supplement use, pre-wedding skincare, hormonal headaches, skin and hair care tips for sauna-users, and budget-friendly product suggestions for scalp care.
editor Irene Feighan thanked attendees and noted how Feelgood aimed to share lived experiences from Irish women. She paid tribute to healthcare trailblazers including Vicky Phelan and Laura Brennan.
"All of these women had a huge impact on our healthcare — here's to women telling it like it is, without shame or fear," she added.
Feelgood Live attendees went home with a goody bag worth over €100 and spot prizes were given out throughout the event. Ticket holders also availed of offers at vendor stalls at the event from Getset Nutrition, Irish Pride, Ipera, and On The QT, as well as food and drink discounts at Marina Market traders Alchemy Coffee and Bowld, and refreshments provided by Good For You, Unrooted and OAC.
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