The Irish founder shares her beauty ethos and essentials …
If you haven’t tried the Hildun Beauty Silk to Set Kajal eyeliners, you’re missing out. Dublin-based Suzy Griffin Dunne founded Hildun in 2022, and it continues to go from strength to strength, with the recent Summer Nights by Hannah Martin collection flying off shelves.
So, what does a qualified make-up artist and beauty brand founder really use and rate? Suzy talks us through her beauty shelf …
SEE MORE: Beauty Notes – The Secrets Behind a Bronzed, Glowy Complexion
Key beauty staples or old favourites I’m never without: I carry my Ultra Violette SPF with me no matter where I am in the world. It’s always in my bag when I travel. It’s lightweight, but also really moisturising and doesn’t pill under make-up.
I try to have a decent cleanser on hand, one that won’t strip my skin or leave it irritated. I really enjoy the Melt the Day Away Cleansing Balm (from €38) from Ella & Jo. I also love a cleansing oil, particularly the Beauty of Joseon’s Ginseng oil and Dieux Skincare’s Ethereal.
At night, I absolutely love the Sunday Riley skincare range. I especially love their Good Genes Glycolic Acid treatment (€80). I also love a super-rich cream at nighttime like Skin Rocks’ The Rich moisturiser (€80). It’s thick and absolutely gorgeous on the skin, the perfect way to restore hydration while you sleep.
My favourite beauty investments: In terms of investments, I’ve had some LED treatments for my skin that I find amazing for brightening and evening out skintone. But I don’t actually spend that much time in salons because I’m always busy, so I try and concentrate on really good products that can do the work for me at home.
My most recent beauty purchase: I’m always buying new skincare and make-up – every single week! It’s my weakness. I bought the RoC Eye Balm (€26.66 at Boots) recently to try out as I’ve heard great things about it preventing concealer from creasing. It’s nice, but perhaps a little greasy for me. I also just bought the Skin Rocks eye cream, so that’s on my list to try out, too.
I’m a sucker for a new blusher; I have the new Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Blush Sticks (€36), which are definitely very nice, and I also bought the Summer Friday Blush Butter Balm (€30.51 at Cult Beauty).
My favourite places to shop for beauty: Again, I absolutely love any beauty and make-up stores. I adore Planet Beauty and Arnotts, and I always shop at the airport as I’m there maybe once a week, so I make time to check out new products. I adore a Sephora visit when I go to the States. We usually go once a year for a tradeshow, so I have to allow a half-day for that, to be honest.
My all-time favourite beauty item: For me, the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base (from €60) is cult for a reason as it’s gorgeous under make-up. It plumps up your skin and leaves it hydrated. And make-up just sits so well over it all day, while never flaking or drying.
I’m coveting … As my skin tends to be dry, I’m working on ways to keep it plump and hydrated. Make-up tends to sometimes flake and sit in lines during the day for me, so I’m upping my hydration and skincare prep as we head into autumn. With the central heating on and a drop in temperature, my skin always plays up a bit. I’m leaning towards some new bronzer formulas and am currently trying out the Natasha Donna Hysculpt Liquid Bronzer (€46) which I find great for sculpting the face. It doesn’t go patchy and is really beautiful on the skin.
I’m a big fan of face oils as well, so I’m keen to try Skin Rocks The Support Oil (€75) as my skin can get a little sensitive and dry in colder weather.
My favourite Irish beauty product: This is such a hard one, but I’m absolutely loving the Ella & Jo Hydrate & Plump Face Mist (€30). It actually wakes me up when I’m at my laptop and feel like my skin has gone grey from looking at a screen for hours.
The loveliest perfume bottle on my dressing table is: Giorgio Armani Indigo Tanzanite eau de parfum (€367). It’s a splurge, but every time I wear it somebody asks me what perfume I’m wearing – and that could even be at nine o’clock at night when I sprayed it first thing that morning. It lasts so well, with such a beautiful scent. I use it very sparingly, but I’m almost at the end of my current bottle. Maybe Santa will bring me a new one …
My favourite home fragrance: I have to admit, with three small kids in the house we can’t light candles anymore. Any time there’s a candle lit, they will come sprinting and blow it out instantly, so we’ve just given up on that for the moment!
One foundation I swear by is: I find the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick (€60) absolutely flawless. It’s one that I turn to when I need something to last all day, not flake or sit in lines, and keep my skin looking plump and hydrated.
My beauty ethos: For me, skincare and make-up is like therapy. I feel my heart rate slow down when I take those ten minutes in the morning to get my face on and make sure that I’m ready to face the day. In my teenage years, when my friends would call for me to go out, my dad would say she’s upstairs putting on her warpaint – and, to be honest, he was not wrong.
SEE MORE: What’s On My Beauty Shelf? Alyson Hogg Of Vita Liberata
We may earn a commission if you buy through affiliate links on our site.
