1 PEOPLE

A wonderfully wide range of women have been getting in touch to join our GLOSSiest beauty panel this month, and we were interested to hear from beauty-lovers of all ages. One lady in her seventies noted that she generally finds “an incredible lack of reviews directed to my age group, which seems an oversight. My generation have an interest in beauty products, especially ones that are age-appropriate. And we now have time and space to indulge ourselves.” Another lady told me: “I am over 70 years of age and wear make-up each day, rain, hail or snow.”

First, skincare that suits more mature skin doesn’t have to be brutally expensive. It’s a bit like razors sold to men and women, the pink women’s ones always costing more; often, you find the price of skincare goes up when it’s targeted to an older audience. I met a woman in her eighties with the most wonderful skin this winter, and she told me she religiously used Avène, the affordable French pharmacy brand (though I suspect staying out of the sun was the key contribution to her fantastic complexion). Avène’s range of daily SPF30 moisturisers (from €22 at www.boots.ie) is really good for every age; for age 70-plus I’d recommend the Hydrance UV Rich Hydrating Cream (€25). And another French brand, Embryolisse, has trusty moisturisers for less than €20; the multi-use richer Lait-Crème Concentré is €26.99.

Along with wearing a daily sunscreen, experts such as Jennifer Rock, The Skin Nerd, and Eavanna Breen of Akina Beauty Clinic recommend incorporating vitamin A into your routine; Breen says from menopause onwards, if you haven’t already: “Retinol is known as the gold-standard skincare ingredient for the simple reason that it offers so many functions to help the skin. It is capable of reducing fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen, it treats pigmentation and is an antioxidant capable of protecting the skin from UV induced free radical damage.” Breen offers online skin consultations.

If you do want to indulge in more luxurious skincare, consider something like Sunday Riley’s Ice Ceramide Moisturising Cream (€63.94; www.Arnotts.ie has a great range of Sunday Riley products): it’s rich and pillowy, and you only need a small amount so it lasts for ages. One 80-year-old I know who has wonderful skin swears by Clarins’ Double Serum (from €72 at pharmacies nationwide); she says it’s the best skincare product she’s ever used, and stockpiles it. I’d also recommend Clarins’ recent Total Eye Lift, a soothing cream for around the eyes.

Another option is Decléor’s White Magnolia range, launching in March. This French heritage brand is particularly good for creams and oils that feature beautiful and fragrant plant extracts and oils (who would not enjoy an SPF15 face cream that has the scent of neroli bigarade, or orange flower?). They do still use the dreaded term “anti-ageing” on their packaging at times – but the products themselves are skin-enhancing, and feel luxurious. The White Magnolia Rosy Cream (€99, at www.beautyfeatures.ie) is ideal for mature skin that might be on the dry side, as it’s both firming and cossetting, without any heaviness or greasiness; I love its soft rose colour and soft fragrance. Yes, there are cheaper versions; but a key difference is that this one isn’t packed with silicones unlike other rosy creams we’ve tried.

2 PLACES

Where will you be booking into, beauty-wise, once lockdown lifts? Naturally, hair salons will be top of the list – so many of us miss that feel-good ritual. This Mother’s Day do buy a voucher for your favourite salon, or else for someone in your little black book of therapists and expert practitioners that you want to see reopen. For skin and relaxation, ours include www.andreasbodyrestoration.ie, www.nualawoulfe.ie, www.tamanspa.ie, www.calmbeauty.ie and www.skinbyolga.ie for wondrous Biologique Recherche facials, and of course hair salons from Brown Sugar to Peter Mark and every local gem in between. Who’s in your little black book of beauty? Please let us know via Instagram, you can message me on @sarahhalliwellbeauty.

3 THINGS

Anything that relaxes us, uplifts us or generally goes towards making us feel better is top of the list right now. On my relaxation radar at the moment: Ground bath salts (€45 as part of a set, with body brush, at www.brownthomas.com) – they smell so good (although they disappear fast as it’s hard not to throw in a big pile of them at once). The brown glass jars look lovely in the bathroom, too. For a better night’s sleep, I’m using Anatome’s Recovery + Sleep lavender oil (£35stg, www.anatome.co), as it helps to relieve tension – a few drops on pulse points works wonders – and REN skincare’s new & Now To Sleep pillow spray which has a lovely herbal scent. As part of Brexit changes, REN are setting up an Irish distribution centre, due to open within the next few months. But for now, it’s better to buy from pharmacies as the website is charging €13 delivery. See this recent post by contributor Leonard Daly for more Irish beauty websites helping us to avoid charges.

I’ve also been trying out these Cryo Therapy Globes by Corinna Tolan. I’ve used Teresa Tarmey’s CryoBall (£129stg, www.teresatarmey.com), a “sculpting ball” that’s kept in the freezer – roll it across your face for a soothing home facial. It’s the equivalent of a morning espresso for your skin: Tarmey uses it for her red carpet clients (including the always radiant Sienna Miller) to “depuff and distress skin”, and it certainly gives you a glow. It can also be soothing if you clench your jaw at night. Tolan’s version looks more like a pair of metal maracas; keep them in the freezer and then gently roll them as a chilly massage tool to enhance circulation and generally firm your skin. I like the idea that they can also be used to ease hot flushes or reduce swelling on the body. Being honest, I did wonder whether a couple of very cold spoons would do the job though –? the very simple design feels expensive. While there are no facials available, though, this kit does encourage you to take time to do a facial massage at home. €99 at www.monicatolan.com.