Here’s what’s big on our beauty radar this week, from an exclusive new beauty arrival to some luxurious gift ideas and treatments…
THE NEW ARRIVAL
Stop the press: this is VERY exciting news for beauty-lovers. A new beauty brand lands at The Loop duty free in Dublin and online at www.theloop.ie from today – and it’s only Pat McGrath Labs! Now we can get our hands on fabulous items such as the sparkling Mothership palettes, Lust Gloss for lips, and the cult Skin Fetish Sublime Skin highlighters. Though I’ve spent time at the Selfridges London counter, I’ve only tried out the MatteTrance lipsticks, and they are really super-matte, really punchy. But now we can look forward to having a serious browse when passing through the airport (after our Butler’s coffee, naturally – the single best moment of travelling). www.theloop.ie
THE GIFT IDEA
We all know someone who is sleeping badly, or stressed, or in need of some TLC (not least ourselves). We love this luxurious gift idea from lovely Irish brand Jane Darcy – the Luxury Sleep Set, €155, in gorgeous oyster-coloured (or ivory) silk, features a silk pillowcase, eye mask and hair ties, plus scented candle. It’s gorgeous quality, and yet machine-washable at 30 degrees, so not annoyingly precious. The perfect comfort package as the nights draw in… www.janedarcy.ie
THE SKIN TREAT
Where do you stand on mud masks? I admit to going off them a fair while ago – they can be so messy, and then they dry onto your skin, making them tricky to clean off. Everyone instead got into sheet masks (though I’m not a mad fan): personally, I always prefer a good hydrating mask, especially one you leave on (too lazy to remove it), but that doesn’t make you look too weird in the meantime. But then a skincare insider I trust hugely was raving about Omorovicza’s Ultramoor Mud Mask, saying she now uses it once a week and swears by it, having previously been sceptical. And so I put on a hair band and ventured back into the mud. And what do you know – it’s actually incredibly soothing and calming to apply, and beautifully cooling (and cool beauty is hot right now and Clarins has some super-cool skincare worth checking out.
It’s enriched with healing thermal waters and therapeutic minerals of Budapest – and it’s the epitome of home spa, making you feel transported, even in your own crappy old bathroom. After removing it, my skin felt clean, refreshed and boosted, with that kind of inner warmth you get after a cold swim. €94, at SpaceNK, Grafton Street, Dublin 2; www.spacenk.com
THE SKINCARE SOLUTION
Pestle & Mortar are launching these Spot Dots for October. They are Hydrocolloid Dots with salicylic acid and tea tree oil that are designed to clear spots ASAP. They come in three sizes, small, medium and (scarily) large, and are not only great for teens but also for older hormonal skin prone to breakouts. €12, from October 2. I really like the P&M Essentials skincare line to use alongside these – pure and simple, with no fuss or unnecessary extra ingredients, the cleanser and face cream are an ideal starter skincare set, suitable for sensitive, dry and troublesome skin, from €20. www.pestleandmortar.com
THE TREATMENT
Voya Spring Tides Menopause Spa Treatments have been designed to support symptoms associated with the menopause, available at three locations in Ireland: The Ice House Hotel in Co Mayo; Voya Seaweed Baths in Strandhill, Co Sligo; and Fota Island. At The Ice House, for example, the Spring Tides Face and Body treatment focusses on de-stressing and re-balancing, via calming combinations of aromatherapy, reflexology and massage. €140, www.icehousehotel.ie.
