Dr Pawpaw now does skincare – here’s what we think …
We met the co-founder of Dr Pawpaw, Pauline Paterson, in Dublin yesterday at the launch of the brand’s first skincare, called Your Gorgeous Skin. We all know Dr Pawpaw as the brand that does balm – the UK-made multipurpose soothing balms are a staple in our make-up bags. By the way, they were doing tinted balms, such as the delicious mocha ones, way before the current crop of celeb versions (and we currently have our eye on the Shimmer version, which is new to us – perfect for the winter season). The brand has only been going since 2013 – though it feels like we’ve used this brilliant pharmacy staple for ever.
The original balm, by the way, has been copied by discount supermarkets, but their super-cheap version is definitely not the same thing. If you want to spend the day with your lips suffocating in petroleum jelly, go ahead. You get what you pay for, in this case. The mini version of the proper original is less than a fiver, so it’s worth getting the real thing.
Dr Pawpaw balms – vegan-friendly, fragrance-free, 98 per cent natural – are affordable and useful. And so is the new skincare. We love the bright, cheerful packaging – it can really cheer up your bathroom amidst all the other coolly chic and minimalist monochromes (see also Q&A body care, similarly cheering and colourful). It might look young, but it’s very versatile, covering all the bases – there’s a day cream, cleansing balm and face serum, and each one has a multitude of uses. The day cream doesn’t just moisturise, but protect skin with SPF50 – it’s really light and easy to wear, so there’s no excuse for not shielding your precious skin from the winter sun and UV. It makes a great base for make-up, and is good value at €20.
It’s quite literally a feel-good range – the textures have been carefully thought-through, and there’s nothing too fragranced, which is great. Since the balm was originally developed to soothe the Patersons’ daughter’s eczema, natural and non-irritating ingredients are vital. They include their own Papayaluronic, a hard-to-say combination of fruit extract and hyaluronic acids. My 16-year-old daughter immediately slapped on the face mask (€6) – there are soothing, glowing and hydrating versions, and they’re all biodegradable.
At a bright, cheery and uplifting launch in the lovely light-filled room of Dublin’s Mont hotel, we fell for this new range of six skincare items, plus three face masks. For a new pharmacy skincare staple, we recommend these smart and sassy skin pick-me-ups.
By the way, just to go back to the balms, if you haven’t discovered the Dr Pawpaw pot of lip balm plus sugar lip scrub, you’re missing a trick. The (reusable) two-in-one packaging is genius, and it’s an addictive thing to have in your handbag. I’ve used it for years, and love its portability and pure usefulness. Don’t spend a fortune on a designer one – you just don’t need to. Keep your lips in good condition with this little yellow wonder. One of my favourite pharmacy buys, always.
Your Gorgeous Skin is available from McCauleys pharmacies, from €6.
