The New Mood In Beauty Is Classic With A Twist

Main featured image via Chanel Beauty.

With fashion taking a somewhat sedate and classic approach this season, beauty falls very much in the “classic with a twist” mode. For lips, that means natural shades (check out the Luna by Lisa range, €12; www.lunabylisa.ie, and Chanel’s AW collection of creamy nudes and lattes) – or else the hottest of hot reds. We’re glad to be back in black clothes, as championed on the Valentino catwalk, and nothing sets off a black wardrobe better than red lipstick. Whether you’re working at home or in the office, there are always times we want to pull ourselves together – without too much time or effort.

Beyond smooth, even skin, our fallbacks for looking “dressed” fast include mascara (Lush’s “Naked” plastic-free mascara is intriguing, €12) plus a quick zip of eyeliner (Shiseido MicroLiner Ink for precision, or Tilbury for something more smudgy). For hair, the goal is sleek rather than fluffy and parched: Alfaparf Milano Smoothing Hair Oil (€19.50), at salons; www.alfaparfmilano.com) is ideal for summer-dried ends. Mousse is back, too, this time round for texture and care, minus the crispiness: try Aveda’s Nutriplenish Foam (€37; www.avedastore.ie)

Finally, a scent to delight you (and those around you) whether you’re at home or in the office; Sycomore, from the Les Exclusifs de Chanel collection, is a peerless autumnal scent; new Sycomore Extrait, €240 (15ml), is the most concentrated version, in the tiniest, prettiest Baccarat glass bottle. This month I’m using…

ONE-STOP WONDERS I’m using Venn Skincare’s All-in-One Concentrate (taking the “Age Reversing” bit of the title with a pinch of salt – it’s good, but not that good!), and it’s certainly a ditch-the-rest kind of discovery. If your skin is reacting to too many different lotions, try clearing the decks for something “one-stop”; this multifunctional blend of actives is designed to deliver maximum results. €110; www.vennskincare.com and Harvey Nichols Dundrum. 

Venn Age Reversing, All in One Concentrate at Harvey Nichols Dundrum, www.vennskincare.com

PURPLE REIGN We’re seeing a purple patch in perfumery: violet has long been considered an old-fashioned note, but modern twists take it to a new level; Christine Nagel’s Hermessence Violette Volynka celebrates the powdery coolness of this flower by pairing it with leather, the scent of the finest Hermès bag. Ormonde Jayne’s new eau de parfum, Babylonia balances the sweetness of violet with airy iris to great effect. It’s seriously long-lasting, too; €150, at Parfumarija, Dublin 2. 

TREAT YOURSELF Sometimes you want a treat to lift you as the days get shorter. A body oil such as Jo Malone London Jasmine & Neroli body oil is skin-softening and fragrant; €108, at Brown Thomas Dundrum. It makes a luxurious gift, too. Mervue organic skincare makes your daily cleansing ritual a little more lovely: made in Galway, Mervue is a finalist in Arnotts Pitch 22, a support for start-ups, and will be in store and online from November. Try the chamomile cream cleanser, €29.95; www.mervuenaturalskincare.com.

Mervue Superfruit Cream Cleanser, €29.95; www.mervuenaturalskincare.com

GOOD TO GO REN skincare has long been a favourite of mine – the fabulous Rose Otto Body Oil makes such a lovely gift. Try out skincare with travel minis, from just €12; the Evercalm Ultra Comforting is ideal for red or irritated skin, while Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic is a brilliant exfoliator and brightener (€18). www.renskincare.ie

Ren Moroccan Bath Oil, €41; www.renskincare.ie

IN TRANSIT A vanity case seems quaint, somehow, harking back to the days when foreign travel felt both glamorous and guilt-free (and you could take more than a tiny moisturiser with you). A modern take on old-school travel, handy for work trips, Antler’s Clifton Vanity case (€99), in colours from black to blush pink, slots neatly on top of the cabin bag. www.eu.antler.com

 Antler’s Clifton Vanity case in blush pink, €99; www.eu.antler.com

BALMS FOR THE SOUL I visited the Burren Perfumery in Co Clare in the summer, and it really is a gem. Everything is made by hand by people who really care about what they’re doing. You can join a perfume session with Cate and create your own blend of essential oils; you’ll learn so much. The fragrant gardens – and the cakes – are alone worth the drive. Try Wild Rose eau de parfum, or the organic balms, all inspired by the surrounding landscape. A true beauty destination. www.burrenperfumery.com

Honey and Beeswax organic lip balm, €9.50; www.burrenperfumery.com

BACK IN TOWN Grown Alchemist, the luxurious Australian beauty brand that looks great in your bathroom, returns to Brown Thomas this autumn; it’s also at Dublin 2’s Indigo and Cloth. www.grownalchemist.com

Smoothing Oil, Alfaparf Milano, €19.50, www.alfaparfmilano.com

Bold high pigment lipstick, Yves Saint Laurant, €37 at Brown Thomas.