Start your September reset with Sarah Halliwell’s guide to what’s new in beauty …
BOOKING IN: New season, new health regime. Edelle O’Doherty, nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner, has joined the team at Nuala Woulfe’s renowned Skin Clinic & Day Spa in Glasthule, Co Dublin. O’Doherty can help with issues from improving gut health, to addressing skin health, menopause symptoms, weight loss, energy levels, sleep issues or general wellbeing. Book in for a health and wellness review (from €80), nutritional therapy (from €175), for a personalised nutrition and lifestyle plan, and consultations to explore everything from digestive problems to food allergies/intolerances and women’s health issues. www.nualawoulfe.ie
NEW OPENING: Acupuncturist and facialist Amanda Nordell has opened a new Acupuncture & Wellness Studio. Her signature treatments include synergy facial acupuncture, pure Gua Sha facials and NeoLifting; a non-invasive facial sculpting massage technique that includes buccal (inside the mouth) massage. Nordell is a name to know if you’re interested in a natural approach to making the most of your skin, and seek a “face-lifting” effect without injections; I visited her once many years ago, and found her holistic approach really uplifting (in every sense), and effective.
Nordell also addresses various health needs, including anxiety and stress relief, pain management, female health, fertility and overall wellness enhancement. Her approach is holistic, and features a combination of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), acupuncture and herbs for health and wellbeing, and to support stress and pain management, plus women’s health. There are late appointments available on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. We can’t wait to book in.
Amanda Nordell Acupuncture & Wellness Studio, Windy Arbour, Dublin 14; www.amandanordell.com.
LIP BOOSTS: We’re seeing lots of lip-boosting balms and products landing this season (perhaps it’s offering a low-key alternative to the chemically induced pillow-lip look that’s trending these days.) We don’t all want to put ourselves through procedures such as a “lip flip”. Remember DuWop Lip Venom, launched in 1999, which had a chilli-like tingling effect on lips to plump them? The latest lip launches aren’t quite so dramatic – Lip Venom was designed to “mimic the flush on your lips that comes from kissing someone” – but focus more on care and hydration for lips. Witness the huge popularity of Laneige Sleep Mask (available at SpaceNK) for lips (since Kate Moss told me she uses it, I am slightly obsessed with it).
I’m a fan of Dr Pawpaw Overnight Lip Mask (€10.95, at pharmacies and www.lookfantastic.ie), an award-winning lip treatment from the UK brand, and I’m also trying and enjoying the lip balm of the moment, Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment, which comes in delicious sugar-high flavours such as salted caramel and watermelon, plus a strawberry one that everyone under the age of 25 is going mad for – apparently it smells like a doughnut.
Although the Rhode marketing feels squarely aimed at the younger market, a good lip balm appeals to every age, and these have a nice silky feel to them – I can absolutely see why they’re popular, even beyond the celebrity link. It’s £16stg www.rhodeskin.com.
If you love a punch of colour with your lip care, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Lip Blur is seriously uncompromising – one of those that can easily end up on your teeth if not applied with care. The colour is very smoothing and it’s a great choice if you want bold colour that’s long-lasting but doesn’t dry your lips out (there’s hyaluronic acid in here) – older lipstick-lovers will know the pain of drying matte lip colour that leaves a prune effect around your mouth. The big Blur comes in various shades including the classic Walk of No Shame. I like the bright Wizard of Oz-esque Ruby shade – go bold or go home. €34; www.brownthomas.com.
COOL CUSTOMERS: As the days cool down, it could be time to embrace the lower temperatures in a big way. Cold is the new black! Skincare is cooling down, too: see more through this link; thegloss.ie.
Wim Hof instructor Níall Ó’Murchú has a new book out, The Power of Cold, and if you’ve ever wondered about all this cold water swimming and even ice baths, this is what you need to read, to discover the benefits for body and mind. If you’re even braver, book in to one of his (rare) Advanced Wim Hof Method sessions in Dublin. Or get further immersed via a few days learning the Wim Hof Method retreat at the Cliffs of Moher Retreat (the next one is later this month). Keep an eye out for local beach gatherings too – they are hugely popular. www.breathewithniall.com
BODY TREATS: I have a passion for body creams, with current favourites including Sisley’s Black Rose (with its enduringly beautiful scent), holiday-scented Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (see more new arrivals here, and Voya’s gorgeous, natural Buoyancy Body Butter (€38); read more about the focus on this great Irish brand here. And here are some more of our body cream favourites.
New to the list is the most recent one I’ve tried, Evercalm Barrier Support Body Balm by REN Clean Skincare. I instantly loved the neat fliptop lid and recyclable packaging. The (definitely unisex) balm is thicker than most – you need to warm it in your palms and use only a small amount, as it’s concentrated. No overly strong scent, no stickiness and lots of seed oils and ceramides to support your skin. Use on very dry or sensitive skin, to soothe post-shave irritation or anywhere you need a hit of gentle hydration. A worthy addition to the excellent Evercalm range. €40 for 90ml.
FURTHER AFIELD: We’ve just spotted that Liberty of London – which is easily our favourite store to head for when in London – is launching its own beauty line, starting with perfumes. They already have their own candles, and there’s more to come. We can’t wait to go and try it out. Lisa Eldridge and Jones Road beauty are both there too! Should you need more encouragement…www.libertylondon.com
