From a new daily essential to see you through autumn/winter to an under-the-radar sea-inspired collection we are blown away by …
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NEW FROM NUNAÏA
Nicola Connolly’s (pictured above) Nunaïa is one of my favourite Irish skincare lines. I met her way back in early 2018 when she had just one product, the Nourishing Serum, which has steadily and quietly become one of Ireland’s best beauty buys, feted for its ingredients, sustainability (Nunaïa has just won the Marie Claire best sustainable brand award) and skin-nourishing qualities.
Now, Connolly is launching her third skincare creation which is the result of three years research and development. This is slow beauty, and all the better for it. Now, with a team of five, Connolly always takes her time to formulate, following a “soil to skin” philosophy, putting plants first, rather than following trends. “We’re sharing a different model of beauty” she says. In fact, she’s hitting a trend, or rather, a zeitgeist, as we move away from harsh acids and towards more simple skincare that focusses on regenerating our skin from within: “It’s about a sustainable approach to skincare. I’m passionate about “positive ageing” – so Nunaïa skincare is focused on supporting the skin to regenerate itself, and how plants can help to regenerate our skin sustainably.”
Following the serum and Nourishing Cleansing Balm, the obvious next step was a moisturiser. Earth Blossom Moisturising Cream (€70) is “a celebration of nature’s healing properties”, says Connolly, whose starting point is the plants she wants to use. Connolly worked as a sustainability consultant in the Amazon rainforest, Galapagos islands and Andes mountains over a decade, and also worked with traditional healers studying plants and herbalism, and Nunaïa is pioneering when it comes to sustainability, from packaging to sourcing of ingredients.
The key element to this cream is a natural alternative to retinol, one of three key ingredients sourced from the Amazon rainforest as part of a proprietary complex. Retinol is a synthetic ingredient, and it’s very hard to get the clinical tests behind natural retinol, notes Connolly, but this “performs better than bakuchiol” (one of the most common natural alternatives to retinol). “Our three per cent alternative retinol has the same results as synthetic retinoids, but without any risk of sensitivity or irritation. It will also enhance any other retinols you’re using. And because it’s a plant-derived retinol alternative, you can use it in the morning, not just at night as with usual retinol – there’s no photosensitivity,” she explains. It’s formulated to improve firmness, texture and tone, restore skin barrier and deeply hydrate and nourish the skin, and is suitable for even sensitive skin.
Ingredients also include Bidens pilosa, a rainforest plant that gently delivers retinol-like results to stimulate cell turnover and collagen production. And Buriti, which is used by native women in the Amazon rainforest as a natural sunscreen, as it contains a high concentration of beta-carotene and antioxidants to protect from photodamage. Cupuacu is an Amazon “super-moisturiser” that restores hydration and elasticity.
Earth Blossom might make this moisturiser sound a little airy fairy, but that is not the case. Along with all this plant goodness are actual results – this is a targeted active product. Clinical tests show reduction in fine lines, increase in skin density, elasticity and smoothness; it boosts the hyaluronic acid content in the skin as well as the ceramide content, and supports the skin barrier function. “And this is all plants!” marvels Connolly. “It’s amazing.” There’s a silky lightweight feel to the cream and the moisturisation effects are long-lasting. When you order online, you can choose a packaging-free option for a slightly reduced price – a great initiative that lots of people are choosing online, and that every brand should really be offering. Because so many brands are claiming to be green while still using far too much packaging. There will be a mini Earth Blossom cream on the way soon so you can take it travelling. NB When placing your order online, don’t forget the Palo Santo sticks. I really admire everything Connolly does, and have always believed that Nunaïa is something to shout about.
Available at stores nationwide including Avoca, Kilkenny Design and The Clean Beauty Edit; www.nunaia.com.
DR MAHER’S SKINCARE
This is quite possibly the best Irish skincare you’ve never heard of. I was put on to it by facial yoga expert Lydia Sasse, and also her client Sophie Anderton. They both raved so much about the Liberty Corrective Serum that I had to try it out for myself. So what’s the big deal?
Made in Co Kerry, the face and bodycare – which ranges from facial cleanser to moisturiser and body wash – has 30 years’ experience behind it. Biochemist Dr Neil Maher has spent the past three decades harvesting and researching wild seaweeds that grow along the Kerry coastline, and formulating and manufacturing a product range that is very rare in being 100 per cent natural. Dr Maher’s line is, let’s be honest, not much to look at. The plastic bottles are not beautiful, and the look of it all is pretty basic. But that’s the only downside. It’s rare to find skincare that’s this natural and also such a pleasure to use. All the products contain effective seaweed extracts, and they are concentrated formulas, so you only need a small amount of each.
The star item is the Liberty Serum, and it’s said to be especially ideal if your skin is sensitive, dry or irritated; it contains effective anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant oils and devotees find it invaluable for treating skin issues such as psoriasis, eczema and more. It’s mild and gentle with no added scent, and nourishes the skin with cold-pressed and virgin oils, kicking off with rosehip and including fruit and seed oils such as meadowfoam, blackcurrant, baobab, acai berry, argan, hemp, flax and much, much more. The ingredients list, in fact, reminds me of a book on wildflowers I had as a child, which made me love hedgerows: wild mallow, horsetail, sea buckthorn, calendula, elder … All these alongside seaweed extracts including Fucus Serratus and the romantically named Mermaid’s Tresses. In short, it’s a beautiful, rich elixir that epitomises a “surf and turf” approach to skincare – all the best of the sea and the earth. I absolutely love it. For more intense hydration, try the 7Berry Facial Serum. The washes are like an Irish beach in a bottle, so you probably won’t love them if you’re not keen on a seaside-y, seaweed smell – sea swimmers will love them.
All this for €32.50 (everything in the range is under €35). There is no doubt that if it was all packaged in pretty glass bottles, with a fancy gold logo and trendy name, Dr Maher’s line would be priced at five times as much … so enjoy this virtual visit to Co Kerry in your bathroom and stock up before they realise how good it is and put the prices up. A real hidden treasure. www.doctormahers.com
ESSENTIAL OILS ON THE GO
Voya has a new collection of aromatic rollerballs, a choice of calming, energising and relaxing essential oil blends for on the go. Rest, for example, features lavender, rosemary and citrus. They smell nice. But I have to say that I think they are very expensive (€32, 10ml). Small Irish company The Nature of Things does a range of rollerballs that are €12 for the same size, and feature the best quality essential oils in blue glass bottles. We love the Think Positive blend of organic ginger, lemon, geranium and pink pepper, and will be using it to brighten our mood throughout the winter. www.thenatureofthings.ie
