Opera singer Niamh O’Sullivan talks us through her skincare essentials, stage make-up tips and beauty philosophy …
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My daily skincare essentials
“I have a very minimal skincare and make-up routine, mainly because of how much I travel. I try to drink as much water as possible and to get as much sleep as I can to try and look my best self. My routine is simply cleansing and moisturising. I cleanse morning and evening and never miss either one. I cleanse with either Elemis Cleansing Balm (€17) or Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser (€16.45). I’ve been using both of these products for maybe five or six years now and have never looked back. I use the cleansing balm for removing heavy stage make-up and the Kiehl’s for days I’m not performing. I change things up when it comes to moisturiser; I just always look out for a rather rich moisturiser as my skin tends to be quite dry from travelling. I love Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream (€40.95) or Vichy Mineral89 Rich Cream (€25). Both leave my skin with a lovely dewy look. Every two to three nights I’ll apply Dove facial gradual tan to give my face a healthy sun kissed glow all year round.
For body skincare, I am a bit obsessed. I never fail to bring at least six different body creams/butters whenever I fill my suitcases; these are always the reason my case is over the weight allowance! I have to lather my body in a cream after every shower. My favourites are Sol de Janeiro Delicia Drench body butter (from €21), which is just the perfect summer body butter; Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream (€4), which is lighter and quite a nostalgic smell for me, the scent has never changed; and also Dove Gradual Tan (€8). I apply this, like my facial tan, every two to three nights.”
My favourite make-up items
“Like skincare, I like to keep my make-up routine quite minimal, for travelling purposes. I have a make-up bag with around seven items in it and that’s it. You will never find me without my make-up bag – it is with me at all times, 24/7. Concealer (Tarte’s Shape Tape), bronzer (not fussy – always different), lip liner (Mac Whirl), lipstick (Huda beauty Power Bullet Matte in shade Rendezvous, €28), mascara (Benefit Rollerlash), and highlighter (Mac Soft and gentle).
I do the exact same make-up routine every single day and the only thing that changes between day and night is that I add some brown eyeliner for night. I use concealer as a substitute for foundation; I prefer the finish it gives me where I can still see my skin and few freckles. I just apply it lightly on a few blemishes and then finish my face with a good bit of bronzer and highlighter – I love a bronzed, dewy look!”
My signature scent
“I would say my signature scent for years was Chanel Chance Eau Tendre. My mum used to wear it and I used to always steal squirts of hers as a teenager – and I remember when I bought my own with one of my first paycheques as a singer. I wore it until about five years ago, and since then it was Jo Malone London Myrrh & Tonka, which I’ve got tired of in the last year. Recently I’ve been loving the intense Diptyque perfumes, in particular Philosykos (€119). I adore anything woody, tobacco, musky.”
My favourite treatment/salon/spa
“This is an area of my life I do like to splurge on. My friends all make fun of me for spending so much time in the hairdressers but I just love it. My favourite thing is to get a blowdry once a week if I can. My mum used to do it when I was a child and now I do it – there is nothing like the boost I get from a fresh blowdry. My hair is so, so thick and I find it quite hard to manage myself so this is always a treat. It’s harder when I’m away working because I notice particularly in Germany and Switzerland that getting a blowdry without a cut isn’t really a thing. In Dublin, Hermans on Grafton Street is my go-to. I was very lucky when I was working in Munich – I was an ambassador for a beautiful salon called Figaro where they would treat me all of the time! The other beauty treatment I could not live without is my lash-lift. I get a lash-lift once every two months and I just love the result. No need for much mascara and the curl it gives my lashes is so natural. I get my nails done once every three weeks and usually go for a chocolate brown in autumn/winter and lemon in spring/summer.”
The lowdown on stage make-up
“Stage make-up usually needs to be seen by thousands of people in a big auditorium so naturally it is a lot thicker and exaggerated. In my opinion, no amount of make-up is too much for the stage. Fake eyelashes are brilliant for stage – they straight away make the eyes bigger and dramatic. I also love white eyeliner worn on the waterline to add another layer of drama. And a darker foundation is a must because of stage lights: nothing is too dark when you see how pale these lights can make us sometimes. Just layer it on! A red lip also looks great. In general, anything bold and bright is perfect.”
My beauty philosophy
“A cliché, but less is more.”
Need to know: See Niamh O’Sullivan in the Irish National Opera’s concert performance of Berlioz’s Beatrice and Benedict for one night only in the National Concert Hall on Tuesday October 1 2024; www.nch.ie. This season she will also play Maddalena in Verdi’s Rigoletto for Irish National Opera.
