1 PEOPLE

We generally approach celebrity beauty brands with caution and healthy scepticism, but let’s just consider Rihanna. The singer/actress made a huge impression with her Fenty beauty line, not least because the shade range for foundation offers a properly full spectrum, shaming many other brands into doing better. And the highly pigmented lip and eye shades draw in a make-up-mad young audience. But what about an older audience – should we swerve the counter entirely?

The answer is definitely not – though I’d personally steer clear of the highlighters, I love the Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow (€18); it’s a lovely subtle shade and for every age, and in fact ideal for drier or thinner lips. And the longwear eyeliners (€20) are sleek and stay on well. And does the just-launched skincare line have anything to offer us? I just got a little tester set (€36) from Boots to try out. The pale lavender colour of the packaging is notable – it reminds me of Nude, the natural brand launched by Irish entrepreneur Bryan Meehan nearly a decade ago (with Ali Hewson as a partner); it was way ahead of its time, focusing on being eco-conscious – what a shame it didn’t stay the course.

Anyway, as for Fenty Skin – my first impressions are that it’s a savvy and sensible range. I like the fact there are only three products to start with, and that they all do more than one thing. The brand has a cruelty-free ethos (though is not currently certified as such; the Leaping Bunny or PETA cert is the best guide to be certain). The Invisible Moisturiser SPF30 (€34) is a quick and easy way to prep your skin for the day – and it’s refillable (refills are €29 – not as compelling a saving as we’d hope for). But the texture is undeniably good, making it a winning one-stop hydrator/protector. Rihanna is the celeb to watch when it comes to beauty. At Boots nationwide, www.Boots.ie.

2 PLACES

When salons open again, there’s going to be a rush to get those roots done – and frankly to just go and sit in a salon like normal. As a dog-owner pointed out to me the other day, dogs can still get groomed but not humans … One place we’ll be heading is new South William Street salon NHO (New Hair Order), opened by colour specialist Mark Byrne, ex-Brown Sugar. The salon looks the business. And, as with beauty brands in general, we’re looking to salons that consider their footprint, so we love that NHO is using Davines, one of our favourites – the excellent Italian brand is one of the few that honestly takes the environmental impact of its haircare as seriously as the quality. 26 South William Street, Dublin 2; www.nhodublin.com.

3 THINGS

We’re seeing a lot of balmy lip shades launching in time for spring. But which ones are genuinely worth our cash? I’ve been trying out YSL Rouge Volupté Shine (at Brown Thomas and Arnotts from January 27). They are expensive, at €35.50, but luxurious and rather beautiful. I really like the silky soft texture, and the fact you also get a generous hit of colour. My tip is no.130 Burnt Suede, a soft peachy rose that’s flattering, moisturising and endlessly easy to wear.