A body oil that smells of figs? Yes please

Sómas Studio in Cork creates some lovely fragrances, with room mists, diffusers and candles and now with new body products, a Black Fig & Vetiver Salt Vitamin E Scrub (€29) and a Black Fig & Vetiver Sweet Almond Body Oil (€25). They even do a Rhubarb room mist, which is a crazy idea but somehow appealing. When you consider that the candles, in scents such as Rosewood & Pear, are €29 compared to Jo Malone’s at €56 (same size), it makes even more sense to support an Irish company. Especially one as well-presented as this. From www.somasstudio.com. 

The solution for aches and pains

Emerging from another punishing bout of Covid, I’m finding Nuasan’s Muscle Relief helpful in warming and soothing aching muscles around the shoulders and neck. Scientist Dara Scott’s Galway-based range includes shower gel (a nice bright eucalptus that helps to wake you up) and moisturiser too, but this gel, with its eucalyptus, mint and arnica is helpful for anyone sporty, or indeed entirely lazy but just achy and creaky. www.nuasan.com 

The fabulous face oil

Hard to do an Irish roundup without mentioning Ground’s oils; my current favourite is the Restorative Jasmine Absolute and Frankincense face oil. It’s €40 for 30ml; compare that to Charlotte Tilbury’s new face oil, which is €72 for the same amount (the bottle looks bigger, but it’s still 30ml). While the Tilbury smells lovely – there’s plenty of lavender in there – both are based on fruit and seed oils (Tilbury’s mainly avocado, olive, barbassu seed and sunflower, while Ground’s main oils are rosehip seed, camellia, borage and geranium) and both will nourish the skin. Both are lovely to use, but I can’t see that you’re getting €30 more skin improvement from one to another. www.groundwellbeing.com 

The hidden gem skincare star

London-based Irish skin expert Marie Reynolds has a lovely skincare range which includes the outstanding Reson8 Epidermal Blanket. Recommended for use in conjunction with her Elixir, a blend of oils such as apricot, marula, rose and neroli (but you can use it over any serum or facial oil), it is designed to calm and stabilise the skin. If your skin is sensitive, or very dry, this is an effective option that’s very pleasant to use. Its beautiful natural scent and lack of filler ingredients help to make this a real hidden gem. €65, at www.mariereynoldslondon.ie.

Main featured image: Dolce and Gabanna via Jason Lloyd Evans