The best things in skincare this week, from brilliant moisturisers for winter to travel favourites plus a brand new store!
1. IRISH SEA POWER FOR YOUR SKIN
Dr Helena McMahon’s excellent Seabody skincare range continues to go from strength to strength – delighted to see it stocked in Brown Thomas. They have a beautiful new candle on the way for winter, which captures the divine smell of their bestselling Glycan Moisturiser. This is carefully considered skincare, “from sea to shelf”: everything from their deep violet glass jars to their marine-powered products is thoughtful and beautiful. It was a pleasure to meet face yoga expert Lydia Sasse at the Seabody press event last week – she is a serious testament to the impact that yoga and facial exercise can have, whether to tone up the face or else combat issues such as jaw-clenching. We had an animated conversation about the insidious marketing jargon that is “preventative” Botox. There is an alternative way to go. See Sasse’s tips on Instagram at @faceyogawithlydia www.seabody.com
Seabody Collection, www.seabody.com
2 … AND AN OVERNIGHT RESCUE
REN Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm (pictured here with other travel sized favourites) was one of the skin stars at Arnotts recommended by Caroline Hirons at an event last week. A rich and indulgent blend of olive, almond, borage and linseed oils, this unctuous balm has a wealth of lipids to strengthen the skin barrier and is ideal for sensitive skin, being both soothing and calming. It’s also cruelty-free and with an entirely natural fragrance. €45. Hirons also raved about The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser (€7.20 for 50ml) –simple and effective – and the Aveda Wooden Paddle Hairbrush (from €21). All are available at the newly revamped Beauty Hub at Arnotts, newly bright and spacious with a ton of brilliant brands, from Eve Lom to Barbara Sturm and Hello Sunday, plus Irish favourite Skingredients.www.arnotts.ie
3. THE SHINY NEW BEAUTY STORE
Along with the Arnotts Beauty Hub, here is another beauty destination not to miss. Planet Beauty opened quietly last week in Clarendon Street, just behind Brown Thomas Grafton Street. Gone is the Aveda blowdry bar, replaced by the brilliant edit of beauty you’ll have seen in the Brown Thomas Dundrum store. Don’t miss the new Sunday Riley C.E.O. Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Gel Cream, €65; Sunday Riley moisturisers are among the best there are – I’m still in love with the ICE Ceramide one, which smells fabulously almondy– and always beautifully luxurious to use. @officialplanetbeauty
4. THE RANDOM FACE CREAM I AM OBSESSED WITH
Meet Polypeptide-121 Future Cream by Youth to the People. I know the brand name is irritating – they make “merch” too, such as sweatshirts with the word YOUTH on in big letters, and they talk a lot about kale on their website –?but I got sent this brilliant vegan cream made in California and can’t stop using it. There’s a ton of hyaluronic acid in it and peptides (which probably do more for you than the pea and chia seed extract) and it’s incredibly beautiful and calming to use. €61 at?www.cultbeauty.com
5. MUST-VISIT
I’m planning a visit to Kildare Visit as they have a whole lot of new beauty arrivals, including Elemis –whose Pro-Collagen range is a godsend for anyone over the age of 40. I’m currently using their Pro-Collagen Eye Mask, which is one of the best things I’ve tried in ages; I don’t rate many things for the eye area, but I am using this religiously and find it brilliant. Forget wishy-washy creams – this is a properly bolstering gel texture that’s non-greasy and intensely soothing. Incidentally, with any massage or facial over 60 minutes at The Shelbourne, you can add an Elemis Frangipani hair and scalp mask for an additional €35; www.theshelbourne.com –sounds like a good idea, especially on dark winter days.
