Think of it as a back to school beauty kit …
1. A bright scent
New season, new scent? Perhaps you keep to your signature scent all year round – we admire your loyalty and commitment – but many of us change what we wear according to season, mood or occasion. That might mean wearing warmer, woody scents as the nights start to draw in, or craving something sunny, like orange flower, for brightness and optimism.
This season’s key note is oud (also known as agarwood), with Tom Ford Beauty championing the mysterious note in Oud Voyager eau de parfum, with geranium and a red peony accord. Your starting point for embarking on an oud odyssey should be new Cork boutique Republic of Oud. Book a consultation to unearth a unique new favourite (we love Ajmal’s rich, citrus-infused Hatkora Wood).
Le Labo’s latest scent, Eucalyptus, doesn’t really smell like the green plant at all, apart from a faintly medicinal quality at first spray. Think notes of cedarwood, thyme, olibanum and labdanum. It’s herbaceous, resinous and smoky, green and fresh all at once, and has a beautiful depth and complexity without ever feeling heavy. You could wear this in the office without overpowering your colleagues – an important consideration for a new term scent. From €174, 50ml, at www.dublinandcorkdutyfree.ie.
SEE MORE: We’re Addicted To This New Perfume
2. Modern blush
When did blush become so lush? Cheek colour has never been so sophisticated. Forget brushing on a powder: now gels, liquids, drops and balm sticks deliver glowing, natural-looking colour that really gives your complexion a boost. Since letting my hair grow out to its natural silver, I’ve found I definitely need more cheek colour. Chanel’s rose-coloured Baume Essentiel is an easy way to swipe on translucent colour with a gleam (€48). I also rate the recent Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Blush Glow Sticks (€40).
The newest arrivals are Victoria Beckham’s Colour Wash Blush Water Tints. These are, in essence, an elevated take on Benefit’s Benetint, which we dabbed on lips and cheeks in the eighties. Victoria Beckham’s are beautifully subtle and glide onto skin, in coral, berry and blush red. An investment buy, but a tiny drop goes a long way. €51 for 6ml at Brown Thomas.
SEE MORE: 8 Need To Know Beauty Buys This Month
3. A trusty concealer
Autumn beauty trends include a welcome return to wearing tons of eyeliner (it has to Irish brand Hildun, for €18 excellence), as well as a passion for brown mascara. But our daily kit includes a concealer. We’re currently passionate about Hourglass Vanish Airbrush for €41 at Arnotts. It glides on like silk, covers anything you want to erase, and stays put. Everything in this line is excellent, and essentials this good make a real difference.
SEE MORE: Victoria Beckham by Augustinus Bader The Concealer Pen
4. A hair makeover
Hair is everything, as Fleabag told us. And a new season can be a good time for an update, whether that’s a colour refresh or a new style. I went to Danielle Garner’s Wildflower salon in Ranelagh, Dublin 6 (handily located opposite the Luas station), for a consultation with the brilliant Tori-Lee Bridgeman (@torilee_hairartist). A key part of the service here is colour consultation. Bridgeman says that lots of the salon’s clients are looking to grow out their natural colour; I wish I’d come here when I was doing it, to be eased through the lengthy process in a more painless way! Not all hair salons support you with grey hair, but Wildflower is all about the natural approach.
Bridgeman talked about the damaging effects of hard water (the team recommend the Hello Klean filter for the shower) and countered the effects using a Malibu C detoxifying treatment, followed by the Oway Silk n Glow mask, to restore brightness and lift even dulled grey hair. She recommends the Act + Acre range for problematic scalps.
There are lots of small details that make this salon special, from the lavender-scented heated towels to the popcorn served with your drink. Most importantly, if you’re looking for a proper in-depth consultation, great cuts and a focus on the health of your hair, Wildflower is a name to know, in an area that has more than its fair share of good hairdressers. There’s often a waiting list, but persevere: you’ll be delighted with the results. Blowdry from €50, colouring rituals from €75, haircut and finish €95.
