Fashion and beauty, food and drink, gardens and books to enjoy in the sun – while it lasts …
There’s nothing like a mid-summer heatwave to make us feel like we’re on holidays. Make the most of it with our glossy guide to summer beauty, spas, must-haves to beat the heat, outfit ideas, resortwear, footwear, beach bags and sunglasses from Irish brands. You can also save our recommendations for the perfect lunch menu, at-home pizza kits, rooftops and terraces around Ireland, gorgeous gardens to visit and brilliant new books to add to your reading list. Remember to stay hydrated and find shade during the midday sun – and take extra care with kids and pets. Here’s how to handle the hot weather with ease …
BEAUTY BAG: Sun protection is the most vital step in any skincare routine, even if you’re not heading abroad. So we were happy to discover a new suncare line that’s made here in Ireland. With industry experience working at Charlotte Tilbury, Amelia Slattery recently launched Solas Skin, available at solasskin.ie. Also made in Ireland, Cork-based Doctrine has just launched matcha-infused skincare to restore dry skin. Find Beauty Editor Sarah Halliwell‘s favourites – from Merit Beauty‘s SPF50, Cosmeceutical brand Oskia‘s Midnight Elixir night serum, Chanel’s Les Beiges collections, Double Wear Stay-in-Place 24H Concealer by Estée Lauder and travel-friendly bareMinerals lipstick – here. For an extra glossy summer, we’re opting for Victoria Beckham’s Posh Gloss and Maison Crivelli‘s Musc Nurasana as our scent of the season, a contemporary take on musk.
TOTAL R&R: What better way to freshen up than with the Summer Radiance package at Eden One in Dublin 4 or the Glow Up package at NYX Hotel Dublin Portobello. Further afield, Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa in Meath is the first spa in Ireland to offer the new Comfort Zone Skin Regimen Longevity facials (Pro-Collagen and Vitaminic), while Cashel Palace Hotel in Tipperary – one of the top spas in the country – offers a two-night Recharge wellness programme, with Westman Atelier beauty, Memo Paris products and Irish linen Loom pyjamas in the boutique. Discover the best spa destinations here.
STAY COOL: Whether you’re looking for 7 outfit ideas from the style set, 11 must-haves to beat the heat, 14 buys for French-girl cool or 15 essentials from our favourite resortwear brands, we have all of the easy, breezy dressing inspiration you need. You can also shop our edit of pretty summer shoes for staycations or travel, statement sunglasses from Irish brands and the best beach bags for all your bits at home or abroad.
GARDEN PARTY: Dust off the Ooni pizza oven. There comes a point in every Irish summer when we suddenly remember that we bought a pizza oven during lockdown. Should the sunshine continue to cooperate, these meal kits are worth having on standby. And if it rains? That’s what the impulse-buy gazebo is for … If you’re looking to make a perfect slice, Ciara McQuillan reviews five pizza kits from Irish retailers – plus an option for fresh pasta.
SPRITZ SEASON: It’s that time of year when restaurants are packed, menus pop and cocktails dominate. See six terraces and rooftops in Dublin and Cork, plus an option for amateur mixologists here. Tom Collins, anyone? Just add an umbrella for your very own cocktail experience at home.
PICNIC TIME: Kitty Coles’ preferred menu for a long, lingering lunch in the sun starts with prawns and broad beans with paprika oil, Greekish roast chicken with lemon potatoes (if you’re barbecueing the chicken, follow her cookbook Make More With Less) and macaron cake with pecans, cream and strawberries – ideal to channel Wimbledon vibes. Subscribe to THE GLOSS Table newsletter to find all of these recipes and much more monthly.
GARDEN WALKS: There’s no shortage of gorgeous grounds in Ireland, with stunning hotels to boot. Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny, which celebrates 20 years this summer, is defined by its gardens, created by former owner Lady Charlotte Wheeler-Cuffe, a celebrated botanical artist, gardener and plant collector. The Bollinger Champagne Garden has just opened at Culloden Estate & Spa in Antrim, offering prime views of Belfast Lough. There’s even a new Glasshouse at Dromquinna Manor in Kerry, in addition to regular summer garden tours and a botanically-inspired lunch menu in the airy Boathouse Bistro. Extend a visit with a stay in one of its pretty Potting Sheds, where private patios are scented with sweetpea. Try the two-night Natural Pause package at Killarney Royal Townhouse in Kerry that includes a guided walk of Killarney National Park with a local expert and optional lunch in its new Fig Restaurant. Finally, one further bonus of any visit to Ballymaloe in Cork is its new woodland sauna, best enjoyed with a dip in the outdoor pool. See the latest hotel news and travel trends here.
GOOD READS: You don’t have to resort to potboilers this summer. We recommend brilliant new books and too often overlooked authors to add to your reading list. Pick one up, find a comfy spot and make hay while the sun shines this weekend.
