As we face the end of the summer and start to consider autumn (we look forward to wearing coats and jumpers again, as for dark evenings – not so much), here are three beauty items that are giving us a lift. Think of it as a back-to-school stationery kit, but for your beauty bag…
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1. An uplifting scent
Cosmoss Sacred Mist eau de parfum, in its sage-green glass bottle, is lovely for this time of year. Many scents claim to be uplifting – this one actually is, with its freshly picked herb garden notes, bright bergamot and subtle florals, from geranium to jasmine. As Kate Moss described it when she came to Brown Thomas to launch her brand: “Oak moss is the grounding smell in the scent – it’s natural protection. And the tonka bean is magic; there’s also geranium and bergamot in there to uplift.” It’s particularly good if you’re stuck in an office somewhere, with no greenery in sight. STOP PRESS: You can currently get hold of it from €39.50 (30ml) – in fact the whole range is on offer at Brown Thomas right now.
2. A touch of flush
There’s so much blush around that we should all be glowing pink. But these are not traditional powder blushers that leave a slightly dusty finish. The current wave of blush has a definite liquid slant, promising a “dreamy glow” as well as a bit of colour for your cheeks. Not all deliver – some are unnaturally shimmery and give your skin a slightly robotic pinkness, which isn’t a great look. And good blending is key when using these, unless you’re looking to champion a 1980s Working Girl effect, with a streak of strong colour down your cheekbone (wow, the make-up in that movie is something else – if you can shift your focus from a young and brilliant Harrison Ford, or a whispering Melanie Griffith, topped by unfeasibly enormous hair).
We’ve found several that excel in a natural-looking finish; I like Rare Beauty’s Matte Liquid Blush – the colours are beautiful and the texture is super-light on the skin. €25 for 7.5ml at Space NK (or mini 3ml for €15).
bareMinerals, a brand we haven’t thought of in a while, has new Complexion Rescue products out including “Blonzer”, a clunky word (combining blush plus bronzer) that’s destined not to catch on, and a Highlighting Blush, €30 at Boots. They’re similar to the Vieve Sunset Blush Balms (€24), launched in February 2023. The textures are nice, with squalane for moisture, and yes, the combined blush and bronze effect can be flattering on mature skin when used sparingly. Why the extra box packaging, though? The tube is fine by itself.
An alternative is using your regular blush but adding a bit of glow to go with it – Vieve’s Skin Dew (from €12) mixes well with moisturisers and is great for bringing a bit of radiance to the skin.
3. The pharmacy steal
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Fluid SPF50 is a daily moisturiser with built-in SPF. While a separate SPF is always best, this is a great travel companion (50ml) as it delivers both hydration and invisible UV protection for less than €20 (currently on offer for €12.66 at Boots, was €19). It works well as a primer for make-up, too.
